Nano Reef
|
| A great looking nano-reef. |
Introduction
A nano reef is the name generally given to reef tanks smaller than 75 litres or 20 gallons. Like many things in the hobby, this is not a hard and fast rule. The only real difference between a nano reef and a normal reef tank is the size, the same equipment is required, every thing is just on a smaller scale. This does not however mean keeping or owning a nano tank is actually cheaper than a larger reef.
Considered ideal for office desktops and table features these mini-reefs have both advantages and disadvantages. On the good side, water changes are usually very easy with a smaller volume of total tank size but this smaller tank volume also comes at a price. Changes in water parameters are much quicker in a smaller volume of water, salinity swings can be tricky to maintain with freshwater top ups. Temperature swings are much sharper too and depending on your local climate a chiller may be required to maintain an adequate temperature range.
A large number of nano and pico tanks use attached sumps to provide the additional stability that comes with volume, or are all-in-one tanks with segregated areas for a mini-refugium and additional bio-filtration. In terms of all things nano, the larger the tank and volume the easier and more stable it is to keep and maintain the welfare of the inhabitants.
Resources
FAQ
How small can a nano be?
The size of the tank is generally limited by the size of an appropriate light source. Recent availability of power-compact fluorescents for marine tanks has allowed tanks as small as 10 litres to be possible although these are generally referred to as pico-reefs.
Do I need a skimmer in my nano?
As with all reef tanks a skimmer is preferable but one of the advantages of the nano is that regular water changes are so easy, often a skimmer is not used. By the same token a heavy bioload may make a skimmer a more desirable feature of a nano.
How bigger fish can I keep in my nano?
Fish size is a strong dictating factor in keeping fish in nano tanks, while not all aquarists agree that it is ethical to keep fish in smaller tanks, with appropriate water changes and monitoring of bioload this is possible with appropriately sized fish. To explore a possible list of fish appropriate to your size of tank see Recommended Fish for a Small Tank
