When is a nano reef not a nano reef any more?

[DriftingNemo]

I keep on seeing posts here about peoples 55 gallon+ tanks and surely tanks that size are mid range to large sized aquariums and certainly not nano's. My tank for example is a 14 gallon 2x1x1 tank which is nano sized. At what size does an aquarium stop being a nano?

[Nanofreak79]

Matter of opinion, but 20-40 gallons and above is not considered a nano anymore to me.

[DriftingNemo]

I've seen a 47 gallon tank in person (Juwel Rio 180) which in my opinion is a decent sized tank and I wouldn't call it a nano by any means. When I think nano tank, I picture a tank that's around the 10 to 30 gallon range.

[Alexraptor]

To me a nano is anything smaller than 26 gallons.

Tanks above that i consider fair size, and 80 gallons and up i consider huge.

[Fiesta90150]

depends what part of the world you are in too... i live in france, you tell someone you have a 130 Liter so 34Gallon tank and they say its big... Some people in the US have like500G tanks which is what 2000 Liters of water. imagin what some one over here would say lol

[GHill762]

I've always considered anything under 30g to be nano, and anything under 5g to be pico.. and anything under 1g is plain f'ng nuts.. 30-90 is fair/normal size, anything larger is getting pretty big IMO..

[Tamberav]

The reason you see larger tanks on nano-reef is often people start here but may upgrade or have multiple tanks. This forum rules so no reason to go anywhere else.

[doppelganger]

Everyone seems to define the word "nano" with respect to other aquariums. What about defining it as a term compared to the ocean's reefs?

 

Undoubtedly many of us here start off with a small tank due to costs and intrigue but then gets bitten by the bug and wants to upgrade to something more challenging and bigger. Doesn't mean we're still nano-reefer's at heart. Or keep that small little tank on the side so we won't be cast out

 

In the end it doesn't really matter if it's a 0.5 gallon pico or a 1200 Gallon tank. Any size tank can be beautiful in it's own way and I applaud anyone who can sustain a healthy reef environment and can bring a little piece of happiness and the oceans to us.

 

For the sake of argument tho... I'd say 20G or less haha.

[Beer]

I've always considered anything under 30g to be nano, and anything under 5g to be pico.. and anything under 1g is plain f'ng nuts.. 30-90 is fair/normal size, anything larger is getting pretty big IMO..

So what do you think about my half gallon cube?

[GHill762]

So what do you think about my half gallon cube?

plain f'ng nuts..

 

do you have a build thread for it? I always like seeing these little glasses of water with coral in them.. very cool..

[evanski]

Smaller than micro but bigger than pico.

[DriftingNemo]

For us Europeans, a typical home sized aquarium would be something between 5 to 20 gallons and the 20 gallon tanks are considered to be mid sized to large. You guys and girls across the pond probably have 30 to 55 gallon tanks as typical sized home aquariums. Most Europeans think of aquariums as furniture and not really consider it as a hobby or pet keeping. I think nano tanks are furniture-like objects because of the sleek cabinets and the "zero edge" look and the design that goes into them.

[Beer]

plain f'ng nuts..

 

do you have a build thread for it? I always like seeing these little glasses of water with coral in them.. very cool..

No. It's just a square vase with some sand, live rocks, a betta heater, and water. Some cerith snails and a couple frags of zoantids.

It's still fairly new so there isn't much in there.

 

I have a second vase that I am modifying and will transfer everything over once it is done. I may do a writeup on that one. I am drilling it for an overflow and making a sump out of glass that looks like marble. I am also making a LED light, temperature controller, and chiller with a peltier cooler so the thing doesn't boil during the summer.

Just something to goof around with until I get settled somewhere and can set up something bigger.

 

 

Smaller than micro but bigger than pico.

So a nano?

milli (10^-3), micro(10^-6), nano(10^-9), pico(10^-12)

[Gilligan]

I am going to start gathering parts for a 1 or 2 gallon jar-reef this weekend. Too cool. I can use some LEDs that are too small for much else that I have, along with some extra aragonite sand and Key Largo DR etc.

 

Then take it into work.

 

I wonder how many pairs of clownfish I can put in there....

 

20-30 gallons are regular everyday aquariums. 50 gallons are "big" tanks up here, but then so are 200 gallons.

 

5 up to 10 gallons would be a nano, I guess up to 30 would be nano as well.

 

Under 5 would be a Pico.

 

That being said people may have different views as some are accustom to describing freshwater tanks.

A regular 20 gallon planted tank would be considered a nano from a saltwater point of view.

 

Anyone know where the smallest Pico tank on the board is? Anybody smaller then 1/2 Gallon?

[malawian]

personally I think anything under 50 to be nano, anything over 180 to be large, 5 or less is pico. I use the 50 mark because for years that was the where we drew the "line" of minimum sizes of reef tanks.

[DriftingNemo]

The only problem I have with saltwater fish keeping in general is the small amount of fish that can be kept. When my 14 gallon tank used to be a planted tank, I had upwards of 10 fish at a time with good water conditions. All I have now, is an Ocellaris Clown, Green Chromis and a Royal Gramma which is pushing it.

[jservedio]

Anything where you need more than a single 5g bucket to do your water change or a tank you need more than one person to move. I don't really think a 55g or 60g cube is a nano.

 

 

I am going to start gathering parts for a 1 or 2 gallon jar-reef this weekend. Too cool. I can use some LEDs that are too small for much else that I have, along with some extra aragonite sand and Key Largo DR etc.

 

Then take it into work.

 

 

 

It's rediculous how easy a 2g tank is these days. I thought my 2g pico was going to be the hardest thing ever to keep alive and now it is half full of stony corals with 6 months behind me. It is the easiest tank I ever kept - including my old FW tanks in there. A Moe's fountain drink cup, some airline, a straw, an empty gift card, and some filter pad is all I need to do maintenance.

 

I remember even just a few years ago how preposterous a "Jar" tank seemed. GL!

[masterbuilder]

30 or <

[Gilligan]

Anything where you need more than a single 5g bucket to do your water change or a tank you need more than one person to move. I don't really think a 55g or 60g cube is a nano.

 

 

 

 

 

It's rediculous how easy a 2g tank is these days. I thought my 2g pico was going to be the hardest thing ever to keep alive and now it is half full of stony corals with 6 months behind me. It is the easiest tank I ever kept - including my old FW tanks in there. A Moe's fountain drink cup, some airline, a straw, an empty gift card, and some filter pad is all I need to do maintenance.

 

I remember even just a few years ago how preposterous a "Jar" tank seemed. GL!

 

Thanks for reminding me, I am going to Walmart right now! Hopefully they have something decent. Target appears to carry larger sizes online only.

 

I had a perfect antique jar that was kinda square with rounded corners like an melting ice cube. I moved recently and may have parted with it, I hope it is storage. If I find it, I can always swap it over I suppose. I kept that jar for close to 15 years waiting for a use, it was just too nice to discard. (Even though it is plain by most peoples standards)

 

Reasearch shows that lots are using these "Heritage Hill" cookie jars, probably what I will end up with.

[Gilligan]

OK I got some jars, but rather then threadjack I will start a thread with a few questions.

[Chew_Magna]

Back when I joined here the going thing was 5-40 is nano, under 5 is pico. Go over 40 for "large" and 125+ is, well, larger.