I understand anything under a 55 is "considered" a nano according to other forums...What do we suggest here?

Part of me says under a 30...you?

When I think Nano I think small--under 20 gallons I guess. But I'm sure that there was some thought put into definitions when these SIG's were created. Right?

I think anything under 20. At times I feel like my 30 gallon is more work than a large tank.

Well, I've got a 29 gallon Biocube and still consider it a "nano", because I thought that anything under 30 gallons should be considered a "nano". But then, Red Sea Max has a 34 gallon and the owners of those post in the "nano" threads, so.... :unsure:

I personally think anything with a 20g display. But I was looking on wikipedia and they mentioned 40g.

I think for discussion purposes, if you face the challenges that folks have with nanos (e.g. equipment, stock, etc), then post your stuff here.

Any post i would say is welcomed... this was just a starter watcha think thread is all...

Just think about all of the others...pico, thimble...

But I think 55 is out personally.

I think under 30 myself-even though there are the bigger "nanos"

my original thought was 100 and under.....but to be fair I voted 30 and under.

To me it sounds like a really small tank, so I think under 20. If it's 20+, then I just discovered I have one upstairs and didn't even know it!

....umm Id say anything under a 20. i have a 29...and it aside from my novice tainting the waters...Temp problems have been my only prob...everything else is ok...BUT....I do run equiptment on it that is capable of running a 75gal....easy.

According to Wikapedia:
A nano reef is a type of Marine aquarium, a reef tank of less than 20 gallons. The exact limit that distinguishes a nano reef from a regular reef is somewhat ill-defined (some claim that anything less than 40 gallons would qualify), but 20 gallons seems to be the generally accepted limit.[5] Nano reefs have become quite popular in recent years among fish keeping hobbyists, primarily because of smaller size, maintainability, and the possibility of lower costs. The burgeoning interest in this niche of marine aquarium science has fostered several notable contributions ranging from specific consumer products such as specialized aquarium filters, compact high intensity lighting systems and smaller circulation pumps. Such equipment allows the aquarist to maintain an environment wherein many marine organisms are capable of thriving.

Any tank I can lift with water in it and not break the crap out of it... that is a nano to me. Anything under a 10g needs a new label maybe pico tank.

I have The Nano-Reef HANDBOOK by Chris R. Brightwelland it states that aquaria under 15 Gallons in total volume be given the moniker "nano-reef" aquaria, with nano-from the greek nanos, meaning dwarf.

But if nano means dwarf, i believe even the Georgia aquarium would be considered a nano in comparison to a natural reef.

I vote for anything under 30, but only because I just started a build thread on my 29G and have called it a Nano.

anything with a 3 or less as it's first number.

Any display tank, 20 gal or less is my vote.

I think anything under 20. At times I feel like my 30 gallon is more work than a large tank.


I agree completly! There are times that I think that it has been more work than a tank 4 times larger. I would say under 30 gallons, personally.

anything with a 3 or less as it's first number.

Does that mean a 399 gallon tank is a nano, first number starts with a 3 or less :)

I knew that was coming sooner or later :)

Mine is a 6 gallon -- it's a nano but suppose that counts for "pico" too (anything less than 10 gallons would be a pico?) .

For some reason I feel that doesn't qualify me as a "real" reefer, so I feel compelled to state that I am setting up a 55 .... slowly. (mainly because I am trying to decide whether or not to drill it, what kind of lights, etc)

Mine is a 6 gallon -- it's a nano but suppose that counts for "pico" too (anything less than 10 gallons would be a pico?) .

For some reason I feel that doesn't qualify me as a "real" reefer, so I feel compelled to state that I am setting up a 55 .... slowly. (mainly because I am trying to decide whether or not to drill it, what kind of lights, etc)
Saltwater, corals = Reefer :)

One of the main things I've seen when people discuss the difference between nano versus "normal" is the equipment and size restraints. I tend to agree with anything under 40 gallion per say as a nano tank simply due to the size of most power heads etc.

If you look at a generally normal power head that is capable of pushing 200+ GPH of water you won't tend to find them smaller than a 4x4x6" size. Even in a tank as large as 40 gallons that is a lot of area to be taken up by a single power head let alone two for cross current. Add in a deflector(hydor or the like) to this equipment so you don't have those power heads blasting in a single direction and you have a lot of room used up by supportive equipment.

I've seen people custom mod their "nano" tanks and add in overflows and drill those tanks, add in custom return flows, and a lot of space saving items like that. However you're still left with a rather large area taken up by supportive equipment. Now if you add that same equipment to a 50+ tank it tends to be much less area in respect to the size of the tank.

One major thing to consider about the discussion of nano versus normal would be the animals able to be kept inside of said tank. I know it's generally frowned upon to keep tangs and normal sized angels in anything less than a 50 to 75 gallon tank. so honestly looking at that situation anything less than a 50 would be coined acceptable. If you get into eels/and other predators anything less than 75g depending on the species would be look at as unacceptable in regards to the size of the animal, how it is built for life in the ocean, and overall well being. The last time I was able to get some information there was supposed to be a huge boom in the "nano" sized reef fish coming into the US from places such as japan. If you haven't seen some of the gobies and other diminutive animals it's worth looking up. I personally want to see if i can get some of the small angels or the like.

As far as pico tanks are concerned I'd probably go along with anything under 10 gallons as the restraints are even greater. I ran a 2.5g tank for quite some time with neon gobies in it that were reproducing regularly and eventually I moved those to my other tanks and separated them as the fry ws more trouble than I wanted.

I would like to see some more input on regards to animals and supportive equipment instead of looking at just the volume of water present.

One of the main things I've seen when people discuss the difference between nano versus "normal" is the equipment and size restraints. I tend to agree with anything under 40 gallion per say as a nano tank simply due to the size of most power heads etc.

If you look at a generally normal power head that is capable of pushing 200+ GPH of water you won't tend to find them smaller than a 4x4x6" size. Even in a tank as large as 40 gallons that is a lot of area to be taken up by a single power head let alone two for cross current. Add in a deflector(hydor or the like) to this equipment so you don't have those power heads blasting in a single direction and you have a lot of room used up by supportive equipment.

I've seen people custom mod their "nano" tanks and add in overflows and drill those tanks, add in custom return flows, and a lot of space saving items like that. However you're still left with a rather large area taken up by supportive equipment. Now if you add that same equipment to a 50+ tank it tends to be much less area in respect to the size of the tank.

One major thing to consider about the discussion of nano versus normal would be the animals able to be kept inside of said tank. I know it's generally frowned upon to keep tangs and normal sized angels in anything less than a 50 to 75 gallon tank. so honestly looking at that situation anything less than a 50 would be coined acceptable. If you get into eels/and other predators anything less than 75g depending on the species would be look at as unacceptable in regards to the size of the animal, how it is built for life in the ocean, and overall well being. The last time I was able to get some information there was supposed to be a huge boom in the "nano" sized reef fish coming into the US from places such as japan. If you haven't seen some of the gobies and other diminutive animals it's worth looking up. I personally want to see if i can get some of the small angels or the like.

As far as pico tanks are concerned I'd probably go along with anything under 10 gallons as the restraints are even greater. I ran a 2.5g tank for quite some time with neon gobies in it that were reproducing regularly and eventually I moved those to my other tanks and separated them as the fry ws more trouble than I wanted.

I would like to see some more input on regards to animals and supportive equipment instead of looking at just the volume of water present.

Not an avenue I went down to distinguish the difference but makes much sense!