Considering a Nano

[CutthroatKid]

I'll be in south TX for the next couple years, which as you all know, is too long to go without an aquarium. So I'm considering a nano (shouldn't need much maintenance?)...
Anybody have one or know where I could make a deal on one? I'm coming home for a week before driving down there...

[twisted]

nano's are great for those that have had alot of xp in saltwater. they are actually harder to maintain than a larger tank since it doesnt take much for them to go south. i had one for a while and will say that you gotta really be on top of the chemistry and make up water. with the right equipment and alot of attentiveness, it would work out great for you

[Ninong]

As far as maintenance is concerned, it's pretty much the same regardless of the size of the tank. It just means that the amount of water you need for a water change is smaller and you have less glass to clean.

Evaporation will have to be topped off almost daily if you want to avoid spikes in salinity. If you're not running a skimmer, you should probably do weekly water changes of about 15-20%. So water changes are more frequent the smaller the size of the aquarium.

One good thing about small tanks is that you can use the two-part calcium-alkalinity products to maintain calcium and alkalinity. They would be too expensive if you had a large tank.

Lighting will depend on what you intend to keep. The light requirements of corals is the same regardless of the size of the aquarium. The only thing that matters is the quality/intensity of the light that strikes the surface of the coral, not the volume of water. Obviously the distance between the coral and the light source is important but it's exactly the same consideration as it would be in a large tank. Eight inches below a light of x-intensity is the same whether it's in a 20-gal tank or a 200-gal tank. The corals don't know the size of the aquarium, nor do they care. There is a false assumption on the part of many people that they can run say a 20-gal aquarium with just a couple of fluorescent tubes because, after all, it's x number of "watts per gallon." "Watts per gallon" is totally irrelevant.

So lighting a nano tank can be trickly. Trying to get adequate light without boiling the water can be a problem, depending on what you want to keep. That's why so many advanced aquarists who keep nano tanks use 70w or 150w metal halides over their nano tanks. A single 150w 50,000K medium base Iwasaki lamp is perfect all by itself for say a 20-gal nano tank. Don't let the 50,000K rating fool you. Its appearance is more like other 14,000K or 20,000K lamps. In fact, it's not as blue as most 14,000K and 20,000K lamps. And you don't have to worry about running actinics with it.

Don't think that setting up a nano tank will be really cheap, because it won't if you do it right.

Anyway, good luck with your nano tank. Just remember, you won't be able to be away from it for more than about 48 hours at the most. Unless you have auto top-off.

[CutthroatKid]

Great points. Most of which, I have been told. I guess what I meant by less maintenance was smaller maintenance... Haha.
I was hoping someone in the club would have a setup they weren't using, but if I need to build it myself, that will be alright.
My only major question is on the lighting recommended. I'm pretty big on t5 and was thinking that's the route I would go. Wouldn't 150w 50000k mh be a bit excessive? Or boil the water? Haha.
Also, I will probably go sps or lps. I don't want to "manage" any softies. That gets old quick.

[charlie]

My personal feeling would be that T5 would be good for you. Some of the all in one nanos are pretty nice looking. You may want to get in touch with Michael over in Spokane, he can fill you in as to what he did with Angie's nano.

[Parrothead]

I agree with Charlie, there are some really nice nano all in ones out there, from experience look into the bigger ones, I had a 14 and there is just so much you can do with something that size.

[CutthroatKid]

Alright. I forgot they had one. I do want one in that 20 gallon range, but don't intend to do too much. Just a couple fish and a few coals.

[Ninong]

A 20-gal nano tank can be lit with T5s. It can also be lit with a single 150w metal halide, such as the 150w Iwasaki 50,000K medium base lamp. It's all just a matter of positioning your light(s) at the proper distance above the water's surface.

Looks like Iwasaki is now making the 50,000K in a 150w DE version, too, but I've never seen tests or photos of tanks lit with that one yet. Dana Riddle did a review of the medium base Iwasaki 150w 50,000K lamp several years back when it first came out and he included side by side pics of a 20-gal reef tank lit with it vs. other options. Obviously a 50,000K lamp is not nearly as strong as a 10,000K lamp of the same wattage when it comes to both light intensity or PAR but it's great for smaller tanks as a stand-alone light.

[charlie]

Alright. I forgot they had one. I do want one in that 20 gallon range, but don't intend to do too much. Just a couple fish and a few coals.

You will be fine with whatever you choose, and you know it.

[CutthroatKid]

That was mighty inspiring, Charlie. ;)
I suppose If nobody has anything here, I'll just try to find one down there. I'll surely let you folks know what I do. I will probably stick with T5 just for financial reasons, but haven't completely put off MH if I find the right price.
The input helps a lot, thanks guys.

[charlie]

Maybe give Kevin a jingle, he always seems to know someone that is breaking something down. Stick with the T5's, you know what they are capable of.

[returnofsid]

I agree with most of what's been said! However, you will probably run into issues, depending on the size of Nano you get, with T5 lighting. Unfortunately, there's only 1 manufacturer that makes a 20" T5 fixture and it SUCKS!! It's not so much that the fixture sucks, because you can change out the ballast, for a better ballast. However, this is also the only company that makes 20" bulbs, and their bulbs DO SUCK!!

So, if you do decide to get into a Nano, while T5 lighting IS the way to go, you'll have to either find a 24" wide tank, or let your 24" fixture hang over, 2" on each side, since the most common AIO Nanos are 20" wide.

Angie's nano is a 24 gallon Aquapod, with a 150MH Sunpod fixture over it. Unfortunately, Corallife, who makes the Aquapod and the Sunpod, has discontinued those, so you'll have to find a used one, if you decide to go that route. To be honest, I've been looking for a way to change out the lighting, to T5s, but so far, haven't found an option I'm happy with, yet.