Nano Nano No No
By Richard Hilgers

There's been an awful lot of hype lately about the saltwater nano aquarium.  For clarity's sake in this article, a nano aquarium would be anything 30 gallons or under.

Great strides have been made in the last twenty years in keeping a diverse coral reef display right in our home aquarium.  In the last ten years we have gained the ability to shrink our coral reefs into smaller and smaller aquariums, some as small as one gallon.  How is this possible?  Is it ethical?  Moral?  Who should own such an aquarium?  More importantly, who should not!?

These are the questions we will explore in, "Nano Nano No No".

Clarifying My Position on Nano Aquariums

I am not against Nano aquariums when they are in the hands of experienced aquarists because they will be set up with a thorough plan for success.  I am totally against a beginner (newbie) having a Nano.  You will understand why by the end of this article.  Hopefully, you will stay away from a Nano aquarium until you gain some experience with a larger system, 35 gallons and up.  My goal is not to keep you out of this fascinating hobby but, to save you from being disappointed in your experience and save you money in the journey to more experience.  This is not a cheap hobby!

Perception Does not Always Meet Reality

A well thought out Nano reef aquarium, maintained by an experienced hobbyist is a thing of beauty, a living, thriving coral reef in miniature.  Below is a good example of what can be accomplished with a Nano.

This aquarium was set up new in April 2005. It won Tank of the Month for October 2006 on Talking Reef Forum the most helpful and friendliest reef forum on the Internet.  The link above will take you there.  I invite you to check us out, join the fun and learn the right way to set up a successful coral reef aquarium.

What Makes a Nano Attractive yet Difficult for a Newbie?

The Attraction: Looking at the aquarium above is enough to attract people into the reef aquarium hobby.  With it's relatively small size, it's easy to think WOW, I can have a coral reef and it's not going to cost me much money.  That would be a WRONG assumption.  To have a successful coral reef system means to buy the right equipment.  There are ways to cut costs but, not by  cutting corners.  I'll cover cost cutting ideas later in this article.
 

Problems, Problems, Problems!

If there are so many problems with Nano aquariums, why is it the fastest growing segment of the aquarium industry?  The answer is simple. Cost!  While the saltwater aquarium is not a cheap segment to get into, the Nano offers a much less costly endeavor than a larger set up.  As you go up in size, the cost goes up exponentially.  People are totally and utterly in shock when I tell them I have $15,000, minimum, invested in my 135 gallon reef aquarium, pictured below.  It's true.

 


Still want to get into this hobby?  Sure you do and now more than ever you know the Nano is the way you are heading, right?  Not so fast.  We haven't covered the PROBLEMS with a Nano, yet.  Let's do that now, BEFORE you head out to your local fish store (LFS).  Here's the number one problem you face, right at the get go.

1. Your Local Fish Store

What???  It's true!  The most likely place for you to start is your LFS.  The problem is, that could be the worst place to begin this adventure.  Easily 80%, maybe more, LFSs do not have the expertise to set you on a successful course for a saltwater aquarium much less a coral reef aquarium.  That certainly must sound totally foreign to you but, sadly it's true.  Yes, they have some of the equipment but, most have not stayed up to date with new technology.  In addition, they cater to the new hobbyist, selling hobbyist level equipment because it's cheap compared to better equipment.  It the "better" equipment you should be looking for.  And therein lies the TRAP! Afterall, you must look at the total cost of this thing that doesn't even have water in it yet, don't you?

Okay, your at the LFS asking questions, you've expressed an interest in having a reef tank.  The LFS employee (you seldom find the owner working the floor) will eventually ask you what size.  Your answer will be, I'm not sure but not too expensive.  The employee will begin  showing you a selection of aquariums beginning with a 55 gallon because it's the most popular size, an old time favorite.  He states the cost of stand, tank, and canopy and you freak out.  After some discussion about total cost of this 'thing" and he suggests something smaller.  He'll say, "You could always go with a Nano aquarium.  They're very popular".  You begin comparing costs and you settle on a Nano of what ever size, 12, 16, 20, 26 or 30 gallon.  When he totals up your new reef tank, you still suffer from sticker shock.  You've easily got $1000 in a Nano tank and equipment.

The costs continue to pile up.  He, one of the better stores, tells you that you can't use your tap water to mix the salt with.  WHAT???  Why not, I drink it.  What's wrong with it, you ask.  It's got NITRATES or some other bad thing for your delicate saltwater (SW) creatures.  How do I get around this problem, you ask.  We "sell" RO water, he proudly states.  How much is that, you ask.  Fifty cents a gallon, he replies.  How do I haul it?  You have to buy 5 gallon water bottles and come and get it.  And your costs climb again.  Are you getting the picture?  Your LFS spills the truth in little sound bites over a period of time.  You've already spent $1000.  You can't back out because you will take a heavy loss.  So you push on, wondering when the next surprise will be sprung.  Don't worry it will happen. (I guarantee it!)

This is the number one problem facing the beginner with marine aquariums, believe it or not.  If you begin at your LFS you will eventually come to this realization, unless you happen to find one in the other 20%.  Those are not good odds.  The costs will remain about the same but, they will take the time to educate you before you plunk down the plastic.  At least a lot more thorough than the LFSs in the 80% group.

Solution: Fortunately there is a simple solution to this problem, the Internet.  There are many "reef forums" on the Internet with experienced members eager to help anyone willing to join (it's free) and ask questions.  Some times you will get a multitude of answers and you can make an informed decision based on those answers.  So why not just take your chances with the LFS?  The well meaning employee (or especially the owner) at the LFS has an incentive to "sell" you something, whether it's appropriate for you or not.  Forum members do not have that incentive.  They get their kicks by helping people.  Even forum members that own an aquarium related business have less incentive to "sell" you on something you don't need because of the self policing that happens on the forum.  You can report any sale that goes bad.  We also encourage reporting "good" dealers.  That's how we learn where to buy.  Where to get the best deals. Where to save some money!

I belong to 26 reef forums (there are more) but frequent only a few (5).  The best forum I have found is the Talking Reef Forum mentioned earlier.  You will do yourself a huge favor by joining and asking questions.  My on-line ID is, Amphibious.  If asked who referred you just type in my user name.  Thanks!

2. Water Stability

It would be safe to assume that a larger body of water is more stable than a smaller one.  Therein lies another problem with a Nano aquarium.  Saltwater fish, corals, indeed all marine life need clean, non-toxic, stable water conditions.  Ten, twenty even thirty gallons of water can change very rapidly.