Semi-Self Sustaining System?

How difficult would it be to create a semI self sustaining system in a tank? You know, but plants that would serve as food for smaller creatures that would feed the bigger creatures whose waste would feed the bacteria that would feed the the plant... etc. etc. etc. Except one big enough to include fish, coral, anemones, cleaners, shrimp (such as brine shrimp), plankton....

Has anyone here tried it? What was your experience? I realize it must be a bigger task. How successful were you? How big of a tank is needed for a task this big?

 

wow that would be so cool! id love to have a room where three of the walls were one big tank.... think that would be big enough....lol now I just have to win the lottery.....

 

I know this is not what your talking about but its still neat...I was looking for info on semI self contained systems....

 

Ooooh! Still, I'm drooling!

 

Ok, so now, after a few weeks of research, I know that what I basically want is a mini-reef with refugium for breeding lots of copepods and macro algae. Who here has this kind of set up? What can you tell me about it? Troubles, pleasures, routines, tips, tricks of the trade, etc.