Is a nano tank right for me?

Nano is greek for dwarf and refers to small, compact aquariums not exceeding 30 gallons. Most common are 10 gallons or less. Nano tanks are integrated systems, equipped with all accessories needed for a specific habitat.

As the aquarium size shrinks so does the number of suitable fish and other livestock options. The need for space is usually predicated on the fishes’ size, activity level, and other behavioral traits. Aggressive and territorial fish for example are a poor choice for the nano tank due to the lack of hiding spaces for the more docile species.

Check out this nano tank after being treated with Algone:

Most fish are not suitable, so some research is required prior to setup. The old saying that a juvenile fish will only grow to the size of the aquarium is not true, so base your choices on the adult size of the species. Suitable fish for small freshwater tanks are guppies (caution: they can breed quite quickly) danios, tetras, mollies, or platies. Gobies would be a good choice for saltwater nano tanks, as are snails and crabs.

Nano tanks are not good beginner aquariums. Especially those on the smaller end of the scale. Smaller fish tanks are far less forgiving then their larger counterparts. Everything done in a small tank, i.e. feeding, water changes, number of fish stocked, etc, will require much greater precision in order to keep a healthy balance of the environment.

Temperature for example changes quicker compared to a larger body of water. Water values such as pH, dissolved oxygen, ammonia, CO2 fluctuate much easier. Water will evaporate quicker resulting in a hardening of the water.