Are non-reef Marine tanks more or less stable than reef tanks. Basically my question, is about the role of living rock and so on. Does it act like plants in a freshwater aquarium, absorbing nutrients and maintaining stability, or does it in fact act as extra fish, increasing the biological load?

Thinking about a simple marine setup for some yellow tangs, but certainly can't get so involved as to have a full blown reef tank

Any experienced tang keepers?

Or also interested in any simple non-reef set-up with colourful fish

budgie wrote: a simple marine setup for some yellow tangs

that sounds likea great displ;ay tank. My LFS has something similar... really nice!