I have an 8 gal BC. It is the smallest of my 4 tanks. If you are getting LR, be sure to get around 12 lbs of cured LR for that size tank, it will save a lot of headaches in the future. Also get rid of the bioballs, these things are nitrate factories. You can use crushed LR, I used inTank's media baskets. They are great. I used the 8 gal as a holding cell for my fuzzy dwarf for about a month and a half before I moved him to a much bigger tank. If you are looking for something to be in there as a permit home, your choices will be limited. Stay away from damselfish, they will own the tank, and the older they get the more aggressive they will become.. Good luck on the best hobby in the world..