Differences between Nano tanks and larger tanks

Coastie Reefer · Jan 5, 2017

Surfandturf said:
I agree with you. I guess what I mean by harsh is that a water change of 1 gallon is a much larger wc for a 10gal with 12 lbs of live rock and a deep sand bed as opposed to the same 1 gallon wc to a BB tank with 8lbs live rock. I would consider it less of a shock to the system because there is more water volume. Basically a larger wc compared to a smaller wc. I have always been told that its not good to do large water changes.

Gothca, makes sense to me. I'm a fan of small more frequent water changes myself. When the Mrs. and I finally build our house I'm wanting an auto water change system, changing out a few gallons every day. She's already given me permission for a music/aquarium room, CAN'T WAIT LOL!

Surfandturf · Jan 5, 2017

Coastie Reefer said:
Gothca, makes sense to me. I'm a fan of small more frequent water changes myself. When the Mrs. and I finally build our house I'm wanting an auto water change system, changing out a few gallons every day. She's already given me permission for a music/aquarium room, CAN'T WAIT LOL!

Wow! How does the auto wc system work?

Coastie Reefer · Jan 5, 2017

I don't have any experience with one myself, and I've only read a little about them. Basically it's hooked up to a source of fresh saltwater and it pumps out tank water and pumps in new water. I'm pretty sure it has to be plumbed to a drain unless you want to haul off changed out water, which kind of defeats the purpose. Supposedly adds a great deal of stability to a system too.

I have a couple years before we start building so I have time to get up to speed on them.

hart24601 · Jan 5, 2017

I have not run them on a nano, but I use awc on my FW tank and my larger reef. It's very nice to have. I use an apex DOS for one and a masterflex 2 headed pump for the other.

BRIAN UHLER · Jan 5, 2017

i saw earlier in this thread we talked about turning over the sand bed in a nano, i have about a 1" bed in my 13.5 gallon, any inverts i can buy for this size?

Coastie Reefer · Jan 5, 2017

Nassarius snails do an okay job at stirring sand...

BRIAN UHLER · Jan 5, 2017

I had read about them, didn't know how truly effective they are.

Surfandturf · Jan 5, 2017

Is the sand relatively clean or is it newer? If it is newer you can stir the sand bed or even vacuum it. Be careful though, the sand beds can grow some pretty narly stuff that can quickly nuke a nano.

Nano sapiens · Jan 5, 2017

I had a 55g reef tank running for 9-1/2 years and currently a 12g nano for 8-1/2 (both mixed reefs). The differences between these two 'natural' systems (only live rock and live sand) isn't so much in the setup (other than larger everything for 55g), but mainly in the approach to maintenance. With the 55g, I could get away with 10% water changes every few months (if that), but the nano gets 5%/2x week, consistently. The 55g had the shallow sand bed and sump vacuumed maybe 2x/year, the nano once a week, every week.

Although the nano requires more frequent care, the size and volumes involved are small and easily manageable. The opposite tends to be true for a large systems. Whether small or large, each is challenging in it's own way.

BRIAN UHLER · Jan 5, 2017

Surfandturf said:
Is the sand relatively clean or is it newer? If it is newer you can stir the sand bed or even vacuum it. Be careful though, the sand beds can grow some pretty narly stuff that can quickly nuke a nano.

New tank, couple weeks. is there a special vac or just a gravel vac?

BRIAN UHLER · Jan 5, 2017

Nano sapiens said:
I had a 55g reef tank running for 9-1/2 years and currently a 12g nano for 8-1/2 (both mixed reefs). The differences between these two 'natural' systems (only live rock and live sand) isn't so much in the setup (other than larger everything for 55g), but mainly in the approach to maintenance. With the 55g, I could get away with 10% water changes every few months (if that), but the nano gets 5%/2x week, consistently. The 55g had the shallow sand bed and sump vacuumed maybe 2x/year, the nano once a week, every week.

Although the nano requires more frequent care, the size and volumes involved are small and easily manageable. The opposite tends to be true for a large systems. Whether small or large, each is challenging in it's own way.

my 13.5, I've been hitting a gallon every week in water changes.

Surfandturf · Jan 6, 2017

Since I stopped using vibrant I have gone to 2 x 10% per week in my 10 gallon. Nothing but filter floss, live rock in the back in one of the 3 chambers I have and some chemiblue 2 x small packs. 2 fish, and about 15 corals mostly lps and zoas. I do have 1 leptoseris. Tank is clean as a whistle. Oh yea, its bare bottom lol.