If you have ever heard of a Nano Reef Tank, you may have been slightly confused; many people fail to completely understand what a reef tank is, none the less a Nano Tank. A nano reef tank is a particular size of a coral reef tank. This type of tank is gaining popularity in many homes and places that would love to have a live coral tank, but need to save space, or money, by going with a smaller type.

Reef tanks in general look to the Great Barrier Reef for the inspiration for their design, attempting to have a showcase of sea life right there in the tank. While normal fish tanks look to focus on the fish, reef tanks focus on the live coral, with other sea life and plants that can accent the live rock itself.

A Nano Reef Tank is identical to a normal reef tank; the only major difference between the two tanks is the size of the nano reef tank. The exact size of the Nano Tank is disputed, as some think that anything under 40 gallons is a nano tank, and others feel that anything lower than 20 gallons constitutes a nano tank. Either way, the nano tank is a great alternative for people who do not mind putting extra work into their tank, but want a smaller tank with live coral.

You Cannot Ignore the Size

Obviously, the best feature of the Nano Reef Tank is the fact that it is a smaller tank than a normal reef tank. The normal reef tank will feature small fish as the focus of the tank is the actual live coral reef itself. Everything in any reef tank is going to be small anyways, so the size of the accessories (whether it be plants, fish, or fine particulate foods) will be necessary with the Nano Reef tank. Even small particulate organic matter is a hallmark of the Nano Reef tank and reef tanks in general, as everything in the tanks are small.

Think About Other Life in the Tank

While the Nano Reef Tank is a tank that focuses on the actual live coral, the other types of life in the tank still matter as well. Some of the life is based on need; you need phytoplankton and potent nematocysts to make sure that the tank runs smoothly, and is realistic. Mushroom polyps are also necessary; they attach themselves to the live coral. The soft corals are also important, obvious, as they are the basis of the Nano Reef Tank itself.

Clownfish anemones and cleaner shrimp can also be a major part of a nano reef tank, as do other sessile animals. Be sure to watch for aggressive fish, however, as they can tear up a tank.

Be Sure to Place Importance on the Tank

A great Nano Reef Tank absolutely needs a great tank itself. Making sure that what is in the tank, and what you do to the tank is spot on is just as important as the live coral and live fish in the tank. A good sand bed is crucial, as it is needed for the ecosystem of the tank to allow the coral to thrive.

A protein skimmer should be used to pick up any organic material and food from coral that can dirty a tank. If you want to make sure you help the ecosystem, be sure to have a good sand bed for the Nano Reef Tank. This sand is needed for all of the life in the tank, and also gives it a more realistic look and feel.