Nano Reef Tank

A reef tank is quite possibly one of the most beautiful types of aquatic aquariums that you can have. While many people would love to have these tanks in their homes, they can often be too expensive, or too big, for many people to have and take care of. That is where the Nano Reef Tank comes into play; the Nano Reef tank is just like a normal reef tank, but is only a fraction of the size.

Reef tanks in general look to the Great Barrier Reef for the inspiration for their design, attempting to have a showcase of sea life right there in the tank. While normal fish tanks look to focus on the fish, reef tanks focus on the live coral, with other sea life and plants that can accent the live rock itself.

The exact size of the Nano Reef Tank is often disputed, as you will hear different sized numbers depending on who you talk to. Some people feel that any tank smaller than 40 gallons in size is a Nano Tank. Other people feel that only tanks 20 gallons or smaller can be classified as Nano. Either way, the Nano Reef Tank is doing one thing; bringing a snapshot of the sea into a small tank. These tanks are beneficial to those who want a smaller or less costly tank. The Nano tank, however, does require more work; less water means more frequent water changes, leading to more work to keep the live coral alive and thriving.

Size Matters

A normal reef tank features smaller fish, as the focus of the actual reef tank itself is the live coral. A Nano Reef Tank takes that idea even further; because the tank is so small, size really does matter. Everything in a live reef tank, besides the live coral, is likely going to be smaller in size. This size allows for the tank to seem realistic, as it tries to recreate the actual reef in a small setting; fine particulate foods and small particulate organic matter are blueprints of the nano reef tank, as the tank is all about going small.

Think About Other Life in the Tank

The Nano Reef Tank is just like any other reef tank; the tank focuses on the live coral reef. Other life does need to be in the tank, however, so that the ecosystem can thrive, and so the tank can have a complete and authentic feel. Aggressive fish do not mix with clownfish anemones, cleaner shrimp, and other sessile animals; putting aggressive fish in the mix will cause massive problems with both the coral and other living creatures.

Clownfish anemones and cleaner shrimp can also be a major part of a nano reef tank, as do other sessile animals. Be sure to watch for aggressive fish, however, as they can tear up a tank.

The Tank is As Important as the Life

Making sure that the tank of the Nano Reef Tank is spot on is just as important as picking out the right type of live coral. For the coral to live and thrive, a good coral keeper needs to make sure the reef temperature and colony orientation is spot on.

To be a good coral keeper, you should make sure to check the reef temperature constantly, and watch colony orientation. Using a protein skimmer is key to take care of the food from corals and other organic material that can dirty a tank.

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