Things You'll Need
- Small glass aquarium (5 to 20 gallons)
- Aquarium lid or hood with built-in lighting
- Marine or reef salt
- Canister filter
- Tank-mounted protein skimmer
- Two small powerheads
- Submersible aquarium heater
- Live sand (one pound per gallon)
- Live rock (one pound per gallon)
- 4 to 6 saltwater fish
- Water conditioner
- Standard power filter
- Aquarium sand or substrate (one pound per gallon)
- Artificial or live tropical plants
- Additional aquarium decor
- 4 to 6 tropical fish
Instructions
Setting Up a Saltwater Nano Tank
Place your aquarium on top of a sturdy table or on an aquarium stand and fill it about three-fourths full with salt water. Carefully follow the instructions on your container of marine salt or reef salt to be sure you achieve the correct ratio of salt to water. Once your tank is full, thoroughly check your tank for leaks before moving on to the next step.
Install your canister filtration system along the back wall of your aquarium by following the instructions on the box. A canister filter combines the components of a chemical, mechanical, and biological filter into one easy-to-use device, thus eliminating the need for several different filtration systems that larger marine aquariums may require.
Install your tank-mounted protein skimmer by following the packaged instructions. The protein skimmer is one of the most important contributors to keeping your tank healthy - it helps to remove dissolved organic compounds and other waste products from the water in your nano tank.
Set up your powerheads on opposite sides of the tank and install them by following the manufacturer's instructions. By placing one powerhead on each side of the tank you will achieve maximum water flow which is essential to the growth of live rocks and corals.
Install your aquarium heater by following its included instructions. Plug in the heater and set the temperature between 75 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Allow the temperature to stabilize for at least 24 hours before introducing any fish.
Allow your nano tank to run for a week or so to ensure that all of the individual devices are working properly before you add sand, rock and fish. Once your tank is ready cover the bottom of your nano reef tank with live sand and live rock--use approximately one pound of each per gallon of water. Let the tank sit for an additional week or so to allow the sand to settle and the water to clear.
Introduce the fish into your nano tank by first placing them in a quarantine tank filled with water from your nano tank. This will allow the fish to assimilate to the temperature of the tank slowly, before they are introduce. Choose species of fish that are compatible with each other and with the size of your tank--research compatibility charts and saltwater aquarium books to determine which species of fish to purchase.
Setting Up a Freshwater Nano Tank
Place your aquarium on top of a sturdy table or on an aquarium stand and fill it about three-fourths full with lukewarm water. Pour in the appropriate amount of water conditioner to remove toxins and chlorine. Check your tank for leaks before moving on to the next step.
Install your standard power filter on the back side of the aquarium by following the manufacturer's instructions. For aquariums between 5 and 10 gallons, a small or medium power filter will be adequate, but aquariums larger than 10 gallons may require a large model.
Install your submersible aquarium heater on the back wall of the aquarium. Turn on the heater and set it to a temperature between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (this depends on which species of fish you'll be keeping). Allow the tank to sit for at least 24 hours so the water temperature can stabilize.
Fill the bottom of your nano tank with substrate or aquarium sand--approximately one pound per gallon of water in your tank. Rinse any sand or substrate before putting in into your tank and let the tank sit for 24 hours or more to give the sand time to settle.
Introduce any live or artificial plants you plan to use as decoration for your aquarium. Inspect live plants carefully for snails before placing them in your tank. If using live plants, you may need to purchase fertilizer or some type of plant food to keep your plants healthy.
Add any additional decor you want to include in your aquarium. Wash any decorative rocks, plastic figures or pieces of driftwood to be used as decorations before placing them in your aquarium.
Introduce the fish into your freshwater nano tank. The number of fish you can safely keep in your aquarium depends on the size of the aquarium and the size and behavior of the fish.