Nano Reef

[f1oored]

I am considering starting a 10-15 gallon nano reef tank. I've started looking around on the net and it is hard to sort through the good and the bad. I was hoping some people here could point me towards a few good sites or even (dare I mention it) books (they are made of paper and don't require electricity).

[thesarge]

I'm also in the market for a nano reef.

I was talking to lfs last weekend about them and I guess you can by the "nanocube" brand which is a fairly reasonable deal and of good quality, or you can piece one together yourself and save a little bit of money, but you don't have the nice compact design of the "nanocubes". Also, the typical "nanocube" package doesn't come with a skimmer so you can't put as much coral in the tank.

Also, I'm sure have noticed already, but there are A LOT of nano reef aquariums for sale used on the net.

Keep this thread going if you find any note worthy news about your search. I'm going to look at one tomorrw or the next day. It's a 12 gallon and I'm hoping to get if for $75, they're asking $100.00.

[f1oored]

There was a 12 gallon nano cube for sale on craigslist in my area for 75 but I didn't jump on the deal and now it's gone. Let me know if you find any good deals online or anything.

[Fishguy2727]

TFH has a Nano Reef Handbook. And basic saltwater knowledge is needed too, so I would also get The Complete Idiot's Guide to Saltwater Aquariums. There are probably a lot of other applicable books out there.

[thesarge]

TFH has a Nano Reef Handbook. And basic saltwater knowledge is needed too, so I would also get The Complete Idiot's Guide to Saltwater Aquariums. There are probably a lot of other applicable books out there.


What does TFH stand for?

The more research that I do, the more I find people recommending that a nano reef is NOT a beginner saltwater tank. Does anyone have one? and was it your first saltwater tank? and was it a success or a disaster?

[Severus]

NorthernBoy just got a NanoCube for X Mas. Unfortunately i do not have any Experience with SW, but i would love to have a SW tank in the future.

[NorthernBoy]

I like the nano although the biocube has seperate timers for the atintic and moon lights although i would have gotten a 20 gallon then..(not enough room). I think the deal on dr fosters is great for a small tank w stand. an btw you reallly dont need a protien skimmer for a tank that small and contrary to previous posts you will spend musch much much more parting together one yourself. Lights alone will be more that a nano cube!!!

[Severus]

Yea, if you are serious about a nano reef you might want to start with a nanocube

[cocoa_pleco]

I had a nano reef and it was easy to maintain. Just send me any messages for other questions

[Chrona]

What does TFH stand for?

The more research that I do, the more I find people recommending that a nano reef is NOT a beginner saltwater tank. Does anyone have one? and was it your first saltwater tank? and was it a success or a disaster?

They say the smaller a saltwater tank is, the harder to keep it is, because in larger tanks, the amount of water will dilute everything. Fish from the ocean have adapted to and thus require VERY stable water parameters compared to freshwater fish, so as long as you can keep the water parameters stable in your tank, you can go as small as you want.

[cocoa_pleco]

Ive seen beautiful 5 gallon tanks. My lfs actually sells 2.5g nano reef sets

[Fish Whisperer]

I haven't read this whole thread, so I 'm sure of your experience but....
If you have no experience with saltwater, then attempting a nano would be like trying to run a marathon before learning to walk. They are very delicate and difficult to maintain considering the small margin for error. Consider the fact that a nano's daily evaporation rate alone can play havoc on salinity, the slightest ammonia spike will kill everything in a matter of minutes, and so forth.
I would strongly suggest attempting a larger salt tank first.
If you have some experience and are still interested in a nano, PM me, and I steer you in the right direction.

[Glasstapper]

good advice, fish whisperer. I've always wondered if a nano cube would be all right for someone with no saltwater experience. I guess it goes the same with both fresh and salt: go with the biggest you can afford - more room allows for more errors.

Do you recommend someone trying their hand at a brackish tank before getting into saltwater? Or are they pretty much the same as far as for maintenance goes?

[Fish Whisperer]

I can't really speak to brackish as I've never kept one. Marine tanks have a reputation among outsiders as being very scientific in nature and practically impossible to maintain. In reality they can be very simply and cheaply set up. Once established they practically take care of themselves.

When I get some free time, I'll write a thread on starting a cheap, simple marine tank

[Drumachine09]

When I get some free time, I'll write a thread on starting a cheap, simple marine tank

Good idea!

[Chrona]

I can't really speak to brackish as I've never kept one. Marine tanks have a reputation among outsiders as being very scientific in nature and practically impossible to maintain. In reality they can be very simply and cheaply set up. Once established they practically take care of themselves.

When I get some free time, I'll write a thread on starting a cheap, simple marine tank

That'd be awesome! I'm thinking about getting into saltwater, just for the clownfish and blue-green chromis....heh

[cocoa_pleco]

i loved my clownie- i fed him cotton candy and corndogs since he was a clown-fish and all- lol

But yeah, for saltwater dont use anything under 33g since 10g's are tons more work and are very less stable

[Drumachine09]

Saltwater fish have WAY cooler colors than freshwater.....I want one..... BAD!:18: :18: :18:

[cocoa_pleco]

after my saltwater experience- i pass

[Severus]

When I get some free time, I'll write a thread on starting a cheap, simple marine tank

Ill be looking forward to that as i am very interested in eventually starting a marine tank

[Glasstapper]

Ill be looking forward to that as i am very interested in eventually starting a marine tank

ditto!


ok, my post is too short and I needed 10 more characters, so there.

[Chrona]

ditto!


ok, my post is too short and I needed 10 more characters, so there.

Yeah, I hate that. Now I know why cocoa_pleco always puts that fishing icon in.

[NorthernBoy]

While I agree a smaller tank is harder to control the water conditions it is MUCH less expensive than a big tank. Take live rock for example...a 12 gallon nano will run you about $100 for just live rock...another $100 for invertibrates...another $50 minimum for a fish or 2...not to mention the cost of the salt water and the tank. You can expect to spend much more than that for a larger properly live rock filtered tank. Add in the cost of a protien skimmer and more salt water and you can make many mistakes with a nano reef setup before the cost catches up to you. I have had my tank since december and am saving up for the rocks I want with live animals attached to them. It will run about $200 + my fish. IT IS NOT CHEAP SO BE PREPARED!!!

[cocoa_pleco]

my signature :1: or my signature:4:! lol

Yeah, what else can i put? these icons are neutral, lol

[*Sarah*]

While I agree a smaller tank is harder to control the water conditions it is MUCH less expensive than a big tank. Take live rock for example...a 12 gallon nano will run you about $100 for just live rock...another $100 for invertibrates...another $50 minimum for a fish or 2...not to mention the cost of the salt water and the tank. You can expect to spend much more than that for a larger properly live rock filtered tank. Add in the cost of a protien skimmer and more salt water and you can make many mistakes with a nano reef setup before the cost catches up to you. I have had my tank since december and am saving up for the rocks I want with live animals attached to them. It will run about $200 + my fish. IT IS NOT CHEAP SO BE PREPARED!!!

yeah, that's what kept us from going salt water in the beginning. We could get a used tank for a decent price, but everything else that is required is just TOO expensive...until we win the lotto :ezpi_wink1:

[cocoa_pleco]

what knocked me the most was the price of live rock. That was a real wallet buster

[*Sarah*]

what knocked me the most was the price of live rock. That was a real wallet buster

That and even the price of the fish..and the fact that LFS don't have any type of guarantee or refund policy for saltwater fish around here..so if it dies the next day, you're out of luck:flipa: Just can't be out $60 bucks for one fish, u know?

[cocoa_pleco]

My anenomes were expensive too. I really wanted a lionfish, but he was expensive and poisonous. Ive already been stung by anenomes enough

[*Sarah*]

Does it really hurt to get stung by anenomes? I touched an urchin at Big Als, it was soo neat how the little tentacle things felt my finger.

[Chrona]

I think I read somewhere that most types of lionfish sold for aquariums has a sting only slightly stronger than a bee sting.

[Drumachine09]

Just can't be out $60 bucks for one fish, u know

Ive actually noticed alot of REALLY reasonably priced SW fish. Most small good looking ones are about 10 bucks. I would be to afraid to get a 60 dollar fish and then have him pushin up daisys a week later.

[Fishguy2727]

It is much worse than a bee sting, every account of a lion sting I have read usually uses the word excruciating at some point. Urchins do not have soft little tentacles, those are anemones. Urchins usually have long, sharp, rigid spines.

[Chrona]

1.5 inch long Blue-green chromis are like 5 bucks at my LFS. Small oscellaris (sp?) clownfish are like 15, so they are definetly affordable.

About the lionfish - my mistake. I thought I read that somewhere...must have gotten confused with a different fish.