Nano Craze

[KMP]

tony,

i also was wondering what a nano was and thanks to these guys/gals i eventually learned it was a tank 30g or less. the second part of your post [as you are aware] is one of the main points in this thread - responsible reefing. i agree with you and the rest, we shouldn't take for granted the fact these are live creatures and should be treated with care. regarding america and condensed housing - that may apply in some more populated areas, but i think it's more a case of...i want it now mentality and corporate America is catering to the market instead of trying to promote responsible reefing. these folks are hoping to get the word out to preserve the hobby and more importantly the critters we are bringing into our homes.

and how cool is this - i can chat with folks all over the world. i'm taking a liking to this place.

kenny

[mps9506]

Originally Posted by KMP

tony,

i also was wondering what a nano was and thanks to these guys/gals i eventually learned it was a tank 30g or less. the second part of your post [as you are aware] is one of the main points in this thread - responsible reefing. i agree with you and the rest, we shouldn't take for granted the fact these are live creatures and should be treated with care. regarding america and condensed housing - that may apply in some more populated areas, but i think it's more a case of...i want it now mentality and corporate America is catering to the market instead of trying to promote responsible reefing. these folks are hoping to get the word out to preserve the hobby and more importantly the critters we are bringing into our homes.

and how cool is this - i can chat with folks all over the world. i'm taking a liking to this place.

kenny

[roadrunner1659]

Wow what a great thread! There is so much i could say about this thread!

[Witfull]

we are considering our audience it hope...we want people to be happy with the hobby and to help preserve it. if seeing a Nano got you interested into this great thing we call reefing, Great. we just want everyone to be successful and happy and that animals live. striving to help and teach is the goal. be it from answering questions all the way to thought provoking threads.

disagreements on persepective are openly encouraged. calm rational discussions are what makes everyone learn and see things differently than we may have before.

i have said it before, corperate america is pushing the issue to an extent. but it has always been there in the fresh water market. walk into any walmart/kmart/department store and you will see the boxed up all in one "starter" tank kit. for fresh water, its the worst stuff you can get...to see 10gallon tank kits that use a tiny bubble filter in the year 2006,,,come on~ but its the market that propegates this as well. the picture on the box shows it,,,so it must be true.

sometimes we may not agree on something, thats human nature, to talk it over so we can get to the big picture,,,thats progress!

[roadrunner1659]

I have a 26 gal tank and i guess that's a nano for most 30 gallons or less...anyway i got my tank almost 3 years ago when i graduated from high school. My step dad was my influence! I purchased my tank and almost everything i needed at the time with the money and space i had! I would love to have a large beautiful tank, in which you see here, but for the time being it's just not possible for me due to space!

Being that this was my first tank, i new that it would be difficult anyway i looked at it. I knew that i wanted a reef tank, but honestly knew nothing about it. This is were i began searching the interent for information. I came across a few internet forums and then i finally found RS were i now reside! I have learned a great deal of information, but i know that i still have a great deal of information to learn!

My tank has been an extremly slow process, but thats ok with me! I have had my share of ups and down, and i've learned from them!

Nano tanks are difficult and they must be managed carefully! My tank has gone through a complete comformation through the years. I started with a 26 gal AGA tank with a stand and standard hood lighting. My step dad gave me his old tetra tec HOB filter. I quickly upgraded my lighting to a current orbit 2x96 watt light. Alot better then the standard and it would allow me to keep softies and LPS corals. I also learned about protien skimmers, and soon bought my Aqua C Remora. After sometime had pasted a buddy gave me a canister filter, so out went the tetra tec, and soon after that i built and installed my sump/fuge! I have also purchased an Ro/Di unit!

My tank has come a long way over the past 3 years, but more so on the stabling and maintinance on my tank. My fish are my fish, i lost a few in the beginning, and now i have my special 3 and soon to add the fourth and final fish! I am also reading up on and trying my best to learn about LPS corals too, since i am now thinking about getting my first!

Keeping a tank is deffinetly no over-night project! It takes alot of time, money, and dedication! I started with a tank of 26 gals, i hope to continue in this hobby, into bigger and better tanks! I love and enjoy this hobby and i hope to become a lifer like some here are (witfull)!

[JasonL]

research, research, research. No matter what people will buy what they want and that will never change. The reef sanctuary is doing what it can in the battle of ignorance but really, isnt that what makes this sight so great. Uneducated people that buy these tiny tanks come to your webpage to get information on whether or not they can keep a shark and eel in a 12 gallon Nano cube. Its is our job to educate that person and send them away with new knowledge. Without those people, This hobby just would not be fun. We were all new at one point so look back and help these people from making the same mistakes that we did. Instead of telling them that they shouldnt have bought the Nano, tell them how to care for it. This webpage has taught me more than any of the hundreds of books I have read. Keep up the good work.

[Charlie97L]

^^ i totally agree.

it's really fun to watch how people appreciate it more when they know a little bit about it.

my roommates, who just viewed saltwater as "expensive and a PITA to keep" before i set mine up, went with me to the baltimore aquarium this weekend, and now that they had some working knowledge, really enjoyed it a lot more than the previous times they had gone. Their favorites were the two reef tanks, trying to find my fish in them. they stood at the one for about 20 minutes, trying to find the purple firefish in an 1000 gallon reef tank. hahaha. they did! it's just so great. and they kept pointing at fish they wanted me to put in my tank, which unfortunately, were mostly tangs... but the understood why I couldn't put them in, and accepted it, which I guess is one of the points of all this.

i think nanos can be great, the frustrating thing is when people ask what to do, the answer doesn't agree with their expectations, and then they go ahead and do the stupid thing anyway. that's irritating... but hopefully next time they'll listen. i learned the hard way from building cars to listen to the veterans on forums.

[bbatis]

WOW! I took the time to read every post in this thread. I will first tell you that I have never owned a SW tank in my life. I will also tell you that I have dreamed of having a reef tank for the last 6 years but have never made that a reality.

I have been doing my research on this subject like everything else that interests me. I understand that this is a serious hobby not to be taken lightly. One of the articles that I read from a very knowledgeble source stated this: There are as many opinions about reef keeping as there are aquarists. Isn't that the truth!

I'm not saying that any of the opinions said on this thread are not valid. That would be insulting people who have a lot more experience than I do at this hobby. But there seems to be one common denominator with all of the posts that I have read. That being someone just getting into the hobby who isn't not only prepared and who hasn't done their research, but is not in it for the long run. I think we can all agree on that.

With that said, I will say this: It doesn't really matter that much what tank size you start-off with. What matters is how much effort you are willing to put into this serious and beautiful hobby that we call reef-keeping.

The bottom line is, if you don't have the time that is required to succeed at this hobby, then you have no business attempting it. Not only is it a waste of one's money, but more importantly, a waste of God's creatures that we have been ordained to take care of.

Brian

[lcstorc]

Glad to hear you have been doing your research and have the commitment needed to make it work and work well.
Just remember the most important quote. "Nothing good ever happens quickly in a reef" and you will be well on your way. This hobby takes lots of patience, and for me self control since of course I want it all.

[mps9506]

Originally Posted by bbatis

WOW! I took the time to read every post in this thread. I will first tell you that I have never owned a SW tank in my life. I will also tell you that I have dreamed of having a reef tank for the last 6 years but have never made that a reality.

I have been doing my research on this subject like everything else that interests me. I understand that this is a serious hobby not to be taken lightly. One of the articles that I read from a very knowledgeble source stated this: There are as many opinions about reef keeping as there are aquarists. Isn't that the truth!

I'm not saying that any of the opinions said on this thread are not valid. That would be insulting people who have a lot more experience than I do at this hobby. But there seems to be one common denominator with all of the posts that I have read. That being someone just getting into the hobby who isn't not only prepared and who hasn't done their research, but is not in it for the long run. I think we can all agree on that.

With that said, I will say this: It doesn't really matter that much what tank size you start-off with. What matters is how much effort you are willing to put into this serious and beautiful hobby that we call reef-keeping.

The bottom line is, if you don't have the time that is required to succeed at this hobby, then you have no business attempting it. Not only is it a waste of one's money, but more importantly, a waste of God's creatures that we have been ordained to take care of.

Brian

You are absolutely correct.
I think the main concern of serious hobbiest with the nano tanks is that the industry is pushing for the SW tank to be an impulsive purchase (like the small goldfish kits) and make customers think it is an easy hobby. While it doesn't have to be a hard hobby, it is a hobby that requires proper research and dedication if you really care about the livestock that is going into your care (which not everyone does unfortunately).
This all gets into making sure the hobby maintains sustainable practices here and overseas. We must make sure that we promote a hobby that is ethical and sustainable and does not make a significant impact on the native habitats that our specimens come from. And IMO promoting quick impulsive purchases is not in the hobby's best interest for the long run.

[saltwaterfarm]

I had dreamed of having a reef tank for a very long time. But, had it not been for the "nano craze", I would still be dreaming about a reef tank. In hind sight, I believe that the nano systems are not the easiest way to get your feet wet. But, I believe my nanos have tought me how to be truly dedicated to the pieces of the reef that are in my care. I love all of my nanos and will continue to keep them. But the key is to STOCK and CARE for them in the right way. Everything that is put in one of these tanks has specific needs and some of these systems are not capable of supporting it. I know this because I have done it (and fixed it). I do believe that nanos are great... but they have their limits. So long story short, don't think that the cast of "Finding Nemo" can live in your nano system.

[BrothaWolf]

Originally Posted by saltwaterfarm

I had dreamed of having a reef tank for a very long time. But, had it not been for the "nano craze", I would still be dreaming about a reef tank. In hind sight, I believe that the nano systems are not the easiest way to get your feet wet. But, I believe my nanos have tought me how to be truly dedicated to the pieces of the reef that are in my care. I love all of my nanos and will continue to keep them. But the key is to STOCK and CARE for them in the right way. Everything that is put in one of these tanks has specific needs and some of these systems are not capable of supporting it. I know this because I have done it (and fixed it). I do believe that nanos are great... but they have their limits. So long story short, don't think that the cast of "Finding Nemo" can live in your nano system.

O crap Do you have any idea how long it took me to stuff Ellen Degeneres into my BioCube? Now youre saying I cant keep her?

[saltwaterfarm]

Originally Posted by BrothaWolf

O crap Do you have any idea how long it took me to stuff Ellen Degeneres into my BioCube? Now youre saying I cant keep her?

You, of ALL people know better... Is that why you're getting a bigger tank? Ya need some more room?

[ramora]

Hi Its ramora

Well I know with the small size of a nano stability is big issue however I am considering a 12 gallon aquapod with good skimmer & spartan fish population. However with weekly water changes which I personally love to do one can still have a thriving reef.

However I also agree that those who aren't willing to put into a tank this size the hard work necessary
should go with a tank of a larger size as a general rule.

However I also believe that they do have their own advantages.

Pros And Cons For Nano tanks

1. ease of water changes.
2. most of the necessary equipment is included.
3.cost.

1. extra labor intensive.
2. Often overstocked by uninformed beginners.
3. Less species of fish & sessile invertebretes can safely be housed togather.
4. Low margin for error.

Pros And Cons for larger tanks

1. Greater Stability.
2. Higher stocking ratios
3. Easier to find equipment for.

1. Often not allowed in top floor apartments{water issues}
2.Higher Cost.
3. space.

[ramora]

Well That is not necessarily true the ones I have seen have pretty good lighting for polyps and maybe Some low lght corals & can be updated to MH Easily later on however some that I have researched have not. After all the aquarium hobby is all about attention to detail and experimentation.