What Size Aquarium? Part 1

The Ultimate Showdown
Small vs. Large Aquariums
Part 1...Nano & Pico Tanks

It is one of the eternal questions...does size matter? At least in the realm of home aquaria it sure does. At the onset of any new aquarium, one of the first paramount decisions which will be made is the size of the tank. Size of the aquarium will impact just about EVERYTHING surrounding your aquatic domain including:

• The species of fish you can keep
• The number of aquatic inhabitants you can house
• Aquascaping capabilities
• Time dedicated towards maintenance
• Expense of system

In order to help you determine which size aquarium best fits your lifestyle, we have developed a few comparison guides to assist you with your decision.

Nano & Pico Aquariums
First let’s explore Pico & Nano tanks. Pico tanks are typically classified as 5 gallons (19 L) or less. While nano tanks are ranged between 5 - 20 gallons (19 - 76 L). However some classify tanks up to 30 gallons (114 L) as nano tanks as well.

Pros 
Several benefits exist for choosing a small aquarium. The start up cost on nano and pico tanks is significantly smaller in comparison to larger setups. Larger aquariums cost significantly more and that is just for the tank! Pricing on necessary equipment such as heaters, filters, & powerheads also increases along with tank size. Not only is the aquarium and equipment costs on pico and nano tanks reduced, but several kit options exist to potentially save you more money. Many smaller tanks can even be purchased as a kit including fundamental items such as lighting, heaters & filtration. Aquarium kits are a great budget friendly, all-in-one resource that will easily get you started on developing a small tank. Remember money saved means extra money you can spend on selecting your fish!
​

Stunning aquariums are quickly become a popular option for home decor. Part of the aesthetic appeal is the design of the tank itself. Manufacturers such as: Mr Aqua, Fluval, AquaMaxx & Innovative Marine; to name a few, are taking elegant tank designs into consideration when crafting their smaller aquariums. A greater variety of dimensions and designs exist on the market for smaller aquariums. This provides you with a wider selection to choose from for your perfect look. Larger aquariums require stronger structural support to encase the sheer pressure generated by the greater water volume. While larger elegant tanks can still be achieved through custom orders; you know what that means, more $$$. Therefore larger tanks found sitting on most retailer floors are the standard glass with black plastic bracing along the top and bottom. A classic, though arguably dull, design.
​

Fluval Spec V is an aquarium "kit" that includes lighting and filtration with the aquarium.

Speaking of water volume, nano tanks provide all the benefits accompanied with having a smaller mass. Weighing less means that many positions around the house become available to an aquarium, including higher stories (an absolute no go for most big tanks without proper building support). Smaller dimensions also enable pico and nano tanks to find themselves in locations such as kitchen counters, bedroom dressers, night stands & office tables. Just keep in mind that before you position your tank, check to make sure that the surface you will be placing your tank upon is strong enough to support the weight. A gallon of water weighs 8 lbs. (4 kg), therefore a 10 gallon (38 L) aquarium weighs roughly 111 lbs (50 kg) including the weight of water and the tank. But the good news if you are dubious if a nano tank’s current location can support the weight, small tanks are easier to move.
 

Finally, all aquariums require general maintenance such as water changes, cleaning the glass of algae and filter maintenance. However these endeavors require less time for pico and nano tanks. Draining and refilling a small aquarium involves less time. Additionally, less glass surface area equates to less time spent clearing the aquarium walls of algae.

Cons
While there are several attractive aspects towards owning a small aquarium. Several drawbacks and adversities exist which should be considered before rushing out to purchase that tank.
​

As all aquarists recognize, water chemistry is key for maintaining a healthy and thriving aquarium system. Ammonia, nitrite & nitrate levels must be carefully monitored at the beginning of every aquarium. Even once a tank has been fully cycled, nitrate levels are a constant concern. Even more water chemistry parameters will need to be observed in any tank that houses inhabitants beyond fish. Planted freshwater and reef tanks have their own sets of parameters which need to be maintained in order for aquarium occupants to thrive. The issue with small tanks is that water chemistry can change very quickly. With such little water volume, this leaves very little margin for error. Problems happen, a heater malfunctions and begins to warm the water just a little too long or a fish dies without your immediate notice and begins to decay. Suddenly, once stable parameters such as temperature or nitrate levels can instantly change potentially leading to a total tank collapse. Smaller aquariums will be less forgiving when untimely incidents occur. ​
​

Along with less water volume comes the necessity to conduct more water changes in order to maintain proper water chemistry. With less water volume, contaminants and waste build within small tanks more quickly. It's certainly a good thing that small tanks require less time for water changes, because you will probably be engaging in this chore more frequently than larger tank owners. Pico and Nano aquarium owners need to be prepared to conduct weekly water changes. Additionally, filtration for nano tanks will also be exceedingly important to try and assist in maintaining necessary water chemistry parameters.
​

We've found the Python Pro-Clean Mini is a great resource for water changes on nano tanks.

Small aquariums also provide less room for both your design aspirations and fish movement. Part of the enjoyment of establishing a tank is designing a naturalistic piece of art to remain within your home while observing fish as they enjoy their home. Smaller tanks limit the materials (e.g. driftwood & rock) which you can utilize to develop an aquatic landscape due to spacial constraints. While aquaqscaping, you will also need to bear in mind that fish will already be limited in swimming space. Aquascapes need to leave sufficient room for fish to maneuver or hide.
​

Finally, smaller aquariums also mean a sacrifice towards the best part of owning a tank, the fish! There is a much greater limitation on the species of fish you can choose from when stocking nano tanks. Fish should not be placed in pico tanks...period. Every fish has a minimum tank size within which they should be housed. Many fish require either 30 gallons (114 L) or more due to their size and behavior. This constraint can make it difficult to find suitable tank inhabitants. To assist you with this endeavor, in the chart below we have included a few aquatic species to consider for both freshwater and saltwater tanks.

As with most options in life, Pico & Nano tanks come with their own array of pros and cons. For those living in apartments or college dorms, small aquariums might be your only option. Despite the drawback, pico and nano tanks have their own unique appeal. Our first saltwater reef tank was a nano tank with a sump bringing its total water volume to around 15 gallons (57 L). Nothing can quite match the serenity or allure the tank brings us.

That’s it for part 1. Make sure to check out Part 2: Pros vs. Cons of Large Aquariums!

Until next time, Keep Krill’in!