What's the point of keeping a nano tank?

[weekf]

Mannnn... advice to all new beginners here. WARNING!!! Don't get a nano tank and get at least a 55g instead.

I mean... this hobby is addicting. I started out 1 year ago with a 4.5g Two months down the track I couldn't stand on the size and set up another 20g high. Then 6 months down the track I, again couldn't stand on the size and finally got a 132g 6 footer. Upgrading like this cost lots of $$$. You will need to keep upgrading your gear and stuffs too not just the tank alone.

So my advice is: Get a bigger tank as you could possibly afford. That will save you some $$$.

The reason I started a nano tank 1 year ago? Was because I was worried that since I have got no experience in aquarium prior to that at all hence was just experimenting. I have got no dramas at all keeping the 4.5g (and tank with that size is extremely hard to keep) therefore it just boast my confidence and decided to upgrade.

 

[ellisz]

IMO, most nano tank owners already have bigger tanks Once you have one you want more.

 

[melosu58]

We keep trying to tell them but they wont listen. I`ve always said IMO always start with at least a 55 gallon tank. Then go with a nano if you want. The bigger the better.

 

[newfound77951]

Problem with a 55 is that some of us actually don't have the money for it....I have a 10 gallon FOWLR and that's all I'm gonna have for a while, since I'm in grad school and barely have enough money to scrape by. I do agree that a larger tank is easier to balance and offers more choices for livestock but I'd rather have my 10 gallon than nothing! No way I could have afforded the lights, equipment and LR for a 55 gallon.

BTW I'm a newbie to SW but not to freshwater, and am also a biologist and nutrient chemist.....so for a "real" newbie I also agree a bigger tank is better.

 

[melosu58]

I understand. I went to college also.

 

[Devilishturtles]

I think nanos are cool. But we do always atleast make sure someone knows that they are a lot harder to keep. It can be done. Swing by nano-reef.com and check out some of those tanks...some of those can blow a big tank out of the water.

Size is also a limitation, as are costs. I don't think its fair to say nanos cannot be done by newbies to sw. Harder, much harder yes. Not impossible.

 

[SeeDemTails]

I have a nano and a 37 gal reef....I still like my nano better!

I like to do it because it is harder....that is the same reson I am a tournament winning fly fishing flats guide....if I wanted to make it easy I would just use spinning rods!

I would advise anyone who wants a nano to get one, you will end up with a bigger tank anyway, but no reason why you cant have multiple tank!

I also love hearing when people say "They are so much harder, dont try one blah blah blah"........Puts a big smile on my face when people see my tank and have to spend 20 minutes looking at a 10 gal tank just to see everything! 8)

 

[newfound77951]

have to spend 20 minutes looking at a 10 gal tank just to see everything!

Yeah, I'm still finding stuff in my 10 gallon too!

Someday I will set up a larger SW tank, probably will convert my 55 to SW and get a bigger FW planted tank....but that's goign to wait until my thesis is done and I don't live in a teeny apartment!

 

[melosu58]

Puts a big smile on my face when people see my tank and have to spend 20 minutes looking at a 10 gal tank just to see everything! 8)

Stop talking and show me. I want to see some pics

 

[Speakerman]

I think I'm going to set up a nano tank, but it's going to be more of a fuge to my 125. I basically want to run my 125 and the 55 gallon sump, and then have another 20 gallon set up next to it with a clown/anemone tank tied into to.

 

[MyCatsDrool]

I didn't find my 20 gallon tank to be that difficult. I did 20 gallons for my first tank because I could not afford the cost of the live rock and such for a larger tank. This is an experiment for me....a launching pad. If this goes well, I will upgrade.

 

[angelscrx]

I started with a 10g, then went to a 29g, 55g, and finally my 150g. I didn't have a lot of resources when I first started so I learned a lot by trial and error. Fortunately for I had the money to upgrade several times as I learned more and things became available to me. All of my tanks were built on budgets too.

 

[weekf]

Argh sorry to stir things up. Don't get me wrong I was a nano freak myself so don't take this too seriously and I am definitely not against nano tank.

May be I will need to rephrase it to only if you could afford get the bigger tank possible in the first place. That way it could save you a fortune. Also ignore this if you are a nano fan because I know some people would like to keep thing small and simple and cute.... perhaps?

 

[Guest]

I think that many people get a nano(even if they could afford bigger) because they have a misconception that it is easier.

I started with a 30 and wish I started bigger. I already want to upgrade.

On the flip side, once I get some experience under my belt, I would love to do a small sea horse tank.

 

[SeeDemTails]

Stop talking and show me. I want to see some pics

I got close ups too!

 

[melosu58]

I`m not much of a nano guy but that`s a nice tank. Good Work.

 

[roka64]

WOW! Tails, very impressive!

 

[napydred]

i got a nano because i move around alot and only plan on being where i am for about another 9 months or so, anyone have much experience moving their tanks, nano or otherwise?

 

[SeeDemTails]

I have moved my tank before as you see it, with no crashes!

 

[Jarred Darque]

My first SW tank is a nano, 5 gallon...

I went with a very nano tank becuase...

I am in college, I live in apartment style campus housing. And this is my 4thtank....I have 75 and 2 10s, all freshwater. I wanted saltwater, couldnt convert the 75 for less than 500 bucks, and the 10s are breeding tanks.

trust me though, I already want another 75 to do saltwater with...

I started with fish a year ago in a 10 gallon. 2 months later, I added a 29 gallon. I moved a month later, and added a 5 gallon. I moved 3 months later to my current apartment, and since i should be in here for the next 2 years, got the 75, lost the fish in the 5 gallon, converted it to a holding tank fora bit, got another 10 gallon for breeding feeders for the 75...that plan still isnt paying off yet :/ have gotten 2 bad batches of guippies from differant LFSs Decided to convert the 5 to salt, I have live rock in it right now, getting clean up crew in 6 days, fish 2 weeks after that if cycle goes well.

I would at least recommend that anyone who is starting with saltwater to get a 29 gallon tank, or larger. larger is always easier, but costlier...until you start getting small...that can cost a bit as well :/ but larger is easier, and a 29 is a good balance of size/effort/cost. Not too expensive, large selection for livestock including corals, and enough water so that minor mistakes wont be deadly. For freshwater starters, would recommend a 20g high prolly, maybe a 10 gallon or even as large as a 29 there.