What is considered a nano?

[rivank]

I've always wondered but never asked. What size tanks are considered nano? I run a 46 gal bow front tank and have been told by some that it to is a nano. While I have a reef ready 125g. tank I don't have the $ to get it up and running. So I have been toying with the idea of starting a really small one for now to get the Mrs. quiet about another tank and to use for frags as well. Anybody got any insight for me. And yes I understand the smaller the tank the quicker the mistakes!

 

[salty3]

not for sure but i think any tank under 55 gal is nano and any tank bigger is a mini

 

[sir_dudeguy]

55 is no nano. 55 should be considered "normal" (along with 46). IMO, anything less than like 25 is a nano, while they do have those picos that are 3 (and some people call 5 gallons pico's, so i guess those could be).

But imo, you definately dont have a nano. You have a "normal"

If you want to start a really small one, get one of the jbj picotopes. I just got one and like it a lot, altho it didnt have a heater and the filter that it came with is useless for flow so i just put a whisper 20 on there and it is perfect flow when turned on full blast. The light should be ok for stuff like zoas shrooms, maybe xenia and stuff like that. I plan to get another of the same light tho to double it.

 

[israelnajar]

So a 10,000 gallon tank is a mini tank? Sorry that made me laugh.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8816633#post8816633 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by salty3
not for sure but i think any tank under 55 gal is nano and any tank bigger is a mini

 

[jun_celis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8824775#post8824775 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by israelnajar
So a 10,000 gallon tank is a mini tank? Sorry that made me laugh.

I think salty3 meant mini reef, not mini tank.

 

[israelnajar]

Well wouldnt a 10,000 gallon also be a mini reef? Compared to a natural reef. Even so I got a chuckle.

 

[[17]shawn[17]]

anything under a 29gal is a nano

 

[Jacsubi]

It is interesting how their isn't an actual forum for people with "mid-size" tanks. I see the large reefs forum and it seems that 120 is the minimum size for that section, where does that leave the rest of us?

 

[sir_dudeguy]

where does that leave the rest of us?

"normal"

But there are no set rules written in blood that say "all you with 29 or smaller have nano's, and all with 120's or higher have larges" or anything like that. Its all personal opinion, but like i said, i personally think that anything bigger than 25 or so is just normal (up untill you get to like 120 or so and then it changes to large or whatever...just added that bit so that israelnajar would be happy )

 

[israelnajar]

LOL...I am pretty much always happy. But thanks for thinking of me anyway.

This thread interested me since I was thinking of starting a nano or pico tank. Something interesting like a 50 or 100 disk cd container. Something to that effect, you know a clear item that you might have laying around the house.

 

[rivank]

Okay.... so the general opinion would be 29 and under?

 

[fishes2889]

What about like a 33g long?? Wouldnt that be considered a "nano"?

Steve

 

[israelnajar]

I guess a nano would be any that holds as much water as the retail 'nano' tanks.

ie - what is the largest retail tank that is a nano?

 

[EdKruzel]

For this forum, the official size limit is 30gal maximum.
I've mentioned this before but will reiterate:

Julian Sprung, famed author, hobbyist and researcher first coined the phrase at a much earlier MACNA.

His terms were tanks up to 20gals as Nano.
Being the first to use the phrase, I stick with his recommendations.

 

[ALIFER]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8838058#post8838058 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by EdKruzel
For this forum, the official size limit is 30gal maximum.
I've mentioned this before but will reiterate:

Julian Sprung, famed author, hobbyist and researcher first coined the phrase at a much earlier MACNA.

His terms were tanks up to 20gals as Nano.
Being the first to use the phrase, I stick with his recommendations.

Julian is my reefer hero, his :smokin: 15 G nano (or mini-reef as they were still called back in the early '90s) inspired me to start my own 12 G cube nano back in the mid '90s. So I say we give the boot to any reef larger than 20 G, not counting fuge.
click here for poor pic of ‘90s 12G cube nano

 

[calvin415]

IMO it's has to do with dimensions not gallons as your dimension determine your stocking limitations... I plan on putting a total of about 26 feet of 10" wide by 10" tall tanks in my basement and I will be calling it a really really really long nano...