Are nano reefs truly viable?

[gramma royale]

OK, I've heard and seen a lot of things about nanos. I've been to tons of sites that show brilliant photos of nano reefs as small as 2.5 gallons. What's strange is that after about 6 months to a year, the nano owners stop posting and updating their site with photos and the ones that do post within that period talk about how their nanos crashed. I brought this up with my LFS reef specialist, and he said that any nano less than 15 gallons will usually fold within a year. I'd like to know if this is true. I know nanos are extremely delicate, but some of the photos I've seen are nanos with coralline algae caking nearly every surface of the tank! Please let me know what your thoughts are, I'm extremely interested. Thanks again guys!

[Callie]

With the right care, I imagine a nano can go on as long as larger tank.
A nano needs daily care and some people probably slack off as time goes by and the newness wears off. I have a 7gal nano. I have only had it up a few months, it is mainly a dwarf seahorse tank but also has a couple gobies, peppermint shrimp and corals (mushrooms, zoanthids, button polyps, montipora and cabbage leather). I'm trying to keep it as simple as possible. We'll see how if fares 6 months to a year from now.

The LFS I go to has a nano display set up. It has been up at least a year (as long as I've been going there) maybe longer. It's gorgeous, coralline all over the back wall, lots of shrooms, zoanthids, a few other corals, macros etc. They keep seahorses in it when they are available, but also a few small fish.

If you want to start a nano be prepared for daily maintenance and frequent partial water changes. Try to keep with low light corals, the more light you need the harder it is to control the water temp, be carefull not to overstock and use macros if possible to help with nutrient export.

Kathy

[gramma royale]

Really. Thanks for the info. Now does that nano in your LFS have a sump or refugium or something? I'm totally for doing daily water changes and stuff, but my LFS guy says a succesful nano needs a sump. I'm not too sure about that.

[Callie]

I do not think the LFS has a sump. I will check next time I go. They use a remora HOB skimmer and 1 55watt PC.

I'll try to get some pics of mine up tomorrow.

Kathy

[gramma royale]

cool, thanks alot

[Callie]

Here's a pic of mine. Doesn't look like much yet, but I'm in no hurry to fill it up. I do plan on adding at least 4 more dwarf seahorses as soon as my LFS has them in stock again.


Kathy

[gramma royale]

not bad. How much did the set up cost, if you don't mind my asking.

[Callie]

There isn't much to the system. I bought the 7 gallon bowfront at petsmart $59.00, had the sand on hand, had some extra LR, corals came out of the main tank, right now I'm using a 27w LOA PC eventually I'll switch it for something a little brighter. All I'm running in it right now is an airstone, Dwarf seahorses like little to no current. I'm going to keep it skimmerless as long as possible, if I have to get a skimmer down the road, I'll probably go with the Prism.

Kathy

[CrazyAce]

i have had my 10g for just under a year. I have no sump and just a power head for water movement. It is true you begin to slack off as time goes by. I should probably update my tank specs and will do so after posting. The only problem I have with my nano is the coraline algea begins to take over the glass and it is sometimes hard to get to certain areas to clean it. As far as other algea there is only small amounts probably due to my slacking off. HTH.

ACE

[MonkeyBoy]

I've been running a 2.5 gallon nano at the shop for over a year now and it's still going strong. Light is provided fron 2x9w pc's (coralife mini might) and flo is provided by an empty outside powerfilter with the top half of an in-tank skimmer inside. I used to do small w/c's weekly then slacked off so it gets a small water change every month or so. It houses several orange ricordia, a small toadstool, encrusting gorgonian, a nice yellow torch which has split, a medium sized leather, several hermits, a few snails, and a tiny golden coral banded shrimp. This tank rocks! Theres around 5 or so pounds of LR and around a half an inch of sand loaded w/ worms. It grows coralline like crazy and i have never wiped algae, the snails take care of that. The only maintenence i do on it is periodically take the rock out, scrape coralline, and rebuild w/ the same stuff. Additives used are all kent: liquid ca, sr., I, pro Buffer. I'll get a picture of it but not now because the temp went up and the leather bleached. All corals have been in there for at least 8 months.