Where to draw the line, nano vs. regular tank?

reefdood · 09/23/2006, 02:28 PM

Is there a written rule somewhere or an acceptable rule in general, as to what constitutes a nano? I've always thought that anything under 10 gal was nano and everything 10 and above was a regular tank?

I have a 30 now and never really thought of it as nano, it's just a average tank to me sizewise. Not difficult to find lights to fit with enough par. Easy to fit 4 powerheads without blocking much if at all. Easy to aquascape in diferent ways. Able to fit an ample sump under the tank in the stand. True I can't keep large growing fish, but I can fit alot of gobies.

So what's the scoop, where is the line drawn? People with 75g tanks can't be considered small, people with 5 gal tanks can't be considered large, so where does a 30 fall?

Coraline2020 · 09/23/2006, 02:40 PM

In my opinion, 30 is still a nano...below 10 is pico...above 30 standard...Just my opinion though.

reefdood · 09/23/2006, 03:12 PM

I can live with that, just wondering everybody thought.

Kinda cool to have the biggest possible tank in any given category, I guess.

lol

RichConley · 09/23/2006, 06:33 PM

10 or below is a nano IMO. Theres just way too many 20H reef tanks for them to be anything but normal.

A 20g isnt particularly difficult either, its once you get down into that sub 10 range that things start getting really tough.

archie1709 · 09/23/2006, 06:39 PM

I have a 55G and I consider mine a nano. I consider anything above 90G regular, and anything else below that a nano. That's just me. Once you go 90G, in my opinion, husbandry and water parameters can be a whole new ballgame to maintain.

Michael7979 · 09/23/2006, 06:56 PM

I always thought if it was smaller than a 20 it was a pico/nano.

My $.02

ACBlinky · 09/23/2006, 07:44 PM

Folks over at www.nano-reef.com have discussed this before, most seem to agree that tanks under ~30g can be considered nanos. To be considered a pico, a tank usually has to be really small. I called my 5.5g a pico, but some people would still designate it a nano. I think it's definitely safe to say that tanks <3-4g are picos.

A lot of it seems to be related to 'all-in-one' type tanks. As an example, they make Nanocubes in 6g, 12g and 24g sizes, and the same company makes a 3g setup they call a 'Picotope'.

What makes a tank 'medium' or 'large' for me is the difference in setup and equipment. I think of my 65g as a medium-sized tank -- it's not small and I don't run it the same way (or have the same problems maintaining parameters) as my (now ex) nanos, but it's still just a simple setup with a HOB skimmer and fuge and some powerheads. Once you get into 125g+ tanks with more complex plumbing and electrical setups, tanks seem to be set up and run somewhat differently; as archie said things can change a lot with a tank when you get to a certain size. You can do a series of large water changes on a nano to deal with nitrate issues, but it's a different story trying to mix huge quantities of water to do the same thing with something ten times the size! Tanks over 250g or so can require some serious work and equipment, I consider those tanks 'very large', and another step up in knowledge. The day I can design, plumb and run a 300g reef I'll know I've really 'arrived'

09/23/2006, 02:28 PM	#1
reefdood Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Metairie, LA Posts: 1,553	Where to draw the line, nano vs. regular tank? Is there a written rule somewhere or an acceptable rule in general, as to what constitutes a nano? I've always thought that anything under 10 gal was nano and everything 10 and above was a regular tank? I have a 30 now and never really thought of it as nano, it's just a average tank to me sizewise. Not difficult to find lights to fit with enough par. Easy to fit 4 powerheads without blocking much if at all. Easy to aquascape in diferent ways. Able to fit an ample sump under the tank in the stand. True I can't keep large growing fish, but I can fit alot of gobies. So what's the scoop, where is the line drawn? People with 75g tanks can't be considered small, people with 5 gal tanks can't be considered large, so where does a 30 fall? __________________ ~I am Fragholio!~ ~I need species for my fraghole!~ Current Tank Info: 30g drilled display with a 20g sump, modded CPR skimmer in sump, Mag7 return, 1/4 hp chiller, Ranco DS, 175w Hamilton, (3) 3' VHO, IC 660, (2) hacksawed MJ 900's on a Waveaster Pro, LED moonlights, and an inch of sand.

09/23/2006, 03:12 PM	#3
reefdood Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Metairie, LA Posts: 1,553	I can live with that, just wondering everybody thought. Kinda cool to have the biggest possible tank in any given category, I guess. lol __________________ ~I am Fragholio!~ ~I need species for my fraghole!~ Current Tank Info: 30g drilled display with a 20g sump, modded CPR skimmer in sump, Mag7 return, 1/4 hp chiller, Ranco DS, 175w Hamilton, (3) 3' VHO, IC 660, (2) hacksawed MJ 900's on a Waveaster Pro, LED moonlights, and an inch of sand.

09/23/2006, 06:33 PM	#4
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	10 or below is a nano IMO. Theres just way too many 20H reef tanks for them to be anything but normal. A 20g isnt particularly difficult either, its once you get down into that sub 10 range that things start getting really tough. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

09/23/2006, 06:56 PM	#6
Michael7979 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Keizer,OR Posts: 923	I always thought if it was smaller than a 20 it was a pico/nano. My $.02 __________________ MIKE THERE IS ALWAYS MORE TO LEARN!! 240 RE-build in progress!.....(slowly) Current Tank Info: 240g, 4- 400w Radiums on PFO HQI ballasts, 4- 110w VHO on IceCap 660 ballast, Euro-Reef Skimmer

09/23/2006, 07:44 PM	#7
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	Folks over at www.nano-reef.com have discussed this before, most seem to agree that tanks under ~30g can be considered nanos. To be considered a pico, a tank usually has to be really small. I called my 5.5g a pico, but some people would still designate it a nano. I think it's definitely safe to say that tanks <3-4g are picos. A lot of it seems to be related to 'all-in-one' type tanks. As an example, they make Nanocubes in 6g, 12g and 24g sizes, and the same company makes a 3g setup they call a 'Picotope'. What makes a tank 'medium' or 'large' for me is the difference in setup and equipment. I think of my 65g as a medium-sized tank -- it's not small and I don't run it the same way (or have the same problems maintaining parameters) as my (now ex) nanos, but it's still just a simple setup with a HOB skimmer and fuge and some powerheads. Once you get into 125g+ tanks with more complex plumbing and electrical setups, tanks seem to be set up and run somewhat differently; as archie said things can change a lot with a tank when you get to a certain size. You can do a series of large water changes on a nano to deal with nitrate issues, but it's a different story trying to mix huge quantities of water to do the same thing with something ten times the size! Tanks over 250g or so can require some serious work and equipment, I consider those tanks 'very large', and another step up in knowledge. The day I can design, plumb and run a 300g reef I'll know I've really 'arrived' __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

09/23/2006, 02:40 PM	#2
Coraline2020 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hilton Head Island, SC Posts: 55	In my opinion, 30 is still a nano...below 10 is pico...above 30 standard...Just my opinion though.

09/23/2006, 06:39 PM	#5
archie1709 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 401	I have a 55G and I consider mine a nano. I consider anything above 90G regular, and anything else below that a nano. That's just me. Once you go 90G, in my opinion, husbandry and water parameters can be a whole new ballgame to maintain.