warloc4326
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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.
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.
