Wanting To Start A Nano

[LoachLover!]

I am reasonably experienced with freshwaters and currently keep a 50 gal. I am looking at setting up a couple of nanos. I just thought, could I make one of these saltwater?

Basically, I want to start small (I know you should start bigger, but budget dosen't allow) I was looking at the TMC tanks. There is this one here:

http/85.133.58.150/Catalog/Product/173

And there is also a 30L version of this, which could be possible. Is it ok doing a small tank like this? I know it would be very limited in terms of livestock (Gobies etc?) but I would just love to set up a saltwater set up.

Please could I have some advice on setting up a nano? Is it too unrealistic?

Thanks! Any advice at all is appreciated. SHould I just stick with freshwater?

BTW I won't be able to go over about 30L

(I've read the stickies and other places online, beginning to think it's not likely - is it impossible?

 

[RossC]

I've no personal experience with marine but I know for a fact that a tank <30L is going to be really hard to maintain and keep stable. You have so little room for error. I've currently got a 11L cycling and its just got plants in, I'm planning for just shrimp but even that will be tough. Marine is going to be a HUGE challenge. Would be very interesting though if you go ahead with it, I'd definitely watch that journal. I hope someone can offer you more useful advise.

 

[crazyforcordoras]

Ive got two 10 gallon nanos. They are a pain in the but, with weekly waterchanges, tests, and almost constant topoff. For beginners in saltwater, its best to start with at least 50 gallons. A small tank is still expensive, mine were about 300-400$ each. If you cant start with something bigger, it might be best to hold off until you have more experiance. I started with nanos because i have 9 years of freshwater experiance.

 

[jeasko]

This really is going to come downtown how dedicated you are to the hobby.

It's entirely possible to do and I've seen smaller as small as 7L with small coral and fish but it's just a real art to get right, with the ethical side of this hobby always coming into play I'd be more inclined to save and go bigger, but realise its not always possible, if your going to do this go for the biggest tank you can and make sure you dedicate enough time to it and whatever else happens take your time and get it right as the last thing anyone wants to see is something die, I'm currently setting up a 60L nano and I have concerns over that and I've gt a 250L reef that's been running for best part of 8 years so I'm fairly versed in marines, but I know the 60l will be a challenge


Whatever you do keep us all updated or even start a journal

 

[lljdma06]

I have two 8g and a 5.5g. These are tough tanks to keep going. And this is a person with 23+ years in the hobby talking! With experience in high tech planted tanks of a similar size. I'm not saying it's impossible, though, just a challenge.

I'm finding that the most difficult thing isn't keeping the water clean, but salinity changes. No forgiving a bad bout of evaporation. You must be on top of your top-offs. LOLOL

If you were going to do this, I'd say really do your research and start off with easier corals and organisms first. And really have your own source of water. I don't think I'd be doing sps or lps corals in multiple tanks if I didn't have my own RO/DI unit. Yes, you can easily get water at the lfs, but I find that I have so much more control with regard to maintaining good water quality by doing it on my own.

l

 

[jeasko]

Lljdma06 is absolutely right with the RO water supply, I ran my reef for years on water from lfs but from time to time it was a real drag getting RO from them so much so on occasion I'd leave my tank without topping up for up to a week (in winter months) my saving grace is that the system was big enough tO cope with minor salinity changes, but on a nano there is no choice but to stay on top of it!

 

[crazyforcordoras]

Yeah, since mine are both small, i can get 5 gallons of RO water and it lasts me for a while. In fact, im due for some more. I top of my tanks a least twice a week.