Sumps on a Nano: Still an Nano?

[NS Mike D]

Does adding a sump to a nano make it something other than a nano?

I started a few years ago with an impulse but at my local Petco with a basic 29gal Aqueon tank and stand/cabinet. I quickly added a CPR large (5gal) HOB sump. After struggling to keep up with trying to do too much in a nano, I added a DIY 10gal sump. The HOB is simply my pod factory with nothing more than cheato and culpera (showed up by hitchhiking) and a light (and second heater). The DIY has my filter sock, heater, GFO/Carbon reactor, rubble rock egg crate box with a DIY LED small light for additional cheato, BRS ATO and return pump. I went skimmerless last year. . In the tank I added 4 tunze powerheads to create multiple flow scenarios.

I also added a DIY side cabinet to house the Apex, wiring and aquarium supplies.


The set up is what it is and for now a successful experiment in keeping a mixed reef tank along with a mandarin dragonet.

While it remains in the original footprint of the 29 gal set up, I wonder if it fair to consider this a true nano.

Care to weigh in? Anyone else have a creeping expanding nano?

 

[Oscaror]

Does adding a sump to a nano make it something other than a nano?

I started a few years ago with an impulse but at my local Petco with a basic 29gal Aqueon tank and stand/cabinet. I quickly added a CPR large (5gal) HOB sump. After struggling to keep up with trying to do too much in a nano, I added a DIY 10gal sump. The HOB is simply my pod factory with nothing more than cheato and culpera (showed up by hitchhiking) and a light (and second heater). The DIY has my filter sock, heater, GFO/Carbon reactor, rubble rock egg crate box with a DIY LED small light for additional cheato, BRS ATO and return pump. I went skimmerless last year. . In the tank I added 4 tunze powerheads to create multiple flow scenarios.

I also added a DIY side cabinet to house the Apex, wiring and aquarium supplies.


The set up is what it is and for now a successful experiment in keeping a mixed reef tank along with a mandarin dragonet.

While it remains in the original footprint of the 29 gal set up, I wonder if it fair to consider this a true nano.

Care to weigh in? Anyone else have a creeping expanding nano?

Keep in mind there's no such thing as a nano really. Some people consider a 50 gallon a nano lol, back when I was getting into this a 50 gallon was astronomical. It's all up to your personal definition. I think that since the DT is where you're putting your fish and corals, no matter how big your sump you're still affected by the nano size constraints, so I still consider it a nano.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

It's a nano with training wheels.

 

[jrill]

I've got a 10 gallon sump on a 15 gallon tank and a five gallon sump on a 10 gallon tank. There both still nano.

 

[Ebslinger]

I have a 21 gallon display that I am planning on connecting to a 150 gallon sump...

Will it still be a nano?

 

[Aaron4890]

Well I don’t consider it nano tank... I think a nano should be 10 gallons volume of water or less. But then again in comparison to the ocean even the largest commercial aquarium is a nano lol

 

[SashimiTurtle]

I've read somewhere that a pico is less than 10 gallons and a nano is less than 30 gallons. Sump size does not change the fact that you have a smaller than normal display tank and are limited to what you can stock because of it.

I tend to think of picos and nanos as little AIO tanks or tanks with a HOB filter. I have seen smaller 15-20 gallon tanks with a 5.5 or even a 10g for a sump, just for a little extra water and maybe a fuge or a skimmer down below.

 

[Hemmdog]

I've read somewhere that a pico is less than 10 gallons and a nano is less than 30 gallons. Sump size does not change the fact that you have a smaller than normal display tank and are limited to what you can stock because of it.

I tend to think of picos and nanos as little AIO tanks or tanks with a HOB filter. I have seen smaller 15-20 gallon tanks with a 5.5 or even a 10g for a sump, just for a little extra water and maybe a fuge or a skimmer down below.

+1