Nano Aquarium and Nano Aquascaping.
If you dream of keeping fish, but do not have space for a large aquarium, do not be upset – mini-aquariums were invented specifically for such cases. A nano aquarium is a small-sized container with a volume not exceeding 30-40 liters, and very often two to three times less. Truly small underwater worlds concentrate all the beauty of fishkeeping.
In their proportions, most popular nano aquarium models approach a cube (although various options are, of course, possible) and have straight walls. Already by this parameter, nano aquariums differ fundamentally from all sorts of glass bowls, glasses, and other unimaginable products available for sale that are sometimes mistakenly considered aquariums. The very ones in which it is difficult to see anything and in which it is impossible to create normal living conditions for fish.
By the way, this requirement is the third fundamental difference of a nano reservoir – it is a completely full-fledged aquarium in which you can install and disguise any necessary equipment and create a stable and comfortable environment for the life of plants, fish, and other animals. With the right selection of plants and animals, good equipment, and regular maintenance, these small aquariums can bring just as much pleasure as large aquariums, but at a much lower cost and with minimal space occupied. You can also easily change the design in your little tank if necessary.
The small weight, size, and enviable compactness of nano aquariums greatly facilitate the choice of a place for their installation. A bedside table, a desk, a kitchen shelf – many options for decorating living space are available, without the limitations imposed by traditional aquariums. Such an aquarium is very easy to move and rearrange. Except that proximity to an outlet is required, since a nano reservoir is almost always dependent on various electrical equipment. The installation place must be darkened, out of direct sunlight.
The most significant disadvantage of small aquariums is that problems in them can arise quickly, and often fatally, before they can be resolved. This is due to the small volume of water in which the fish live. Changes in water chemistry and temperature can occur within a few hours. Therefore, monitoring the state of water is of great importance. If water changes are not performed, toxins in the nano-biological system increase sharply and very quickly become fatal.
Any aquarium is not just a pretty underwater picture; it is a full-fledged biocenosis with its own rules, relationships, and living conditions. The main problem of nano-aquascaping is that in small volumes, maintaining a constant temperature and water composition is very difficult. And here, in fact, there are only two ways out. The first is to invest decent funds in aquarium equipment by purchasing a branded, fully equipped nano-cube. Such “wonders of technology” from 10 to 30 liters feature miniature filters, heaters, a diffuser, and a carbon dioxide supply system.
You can also limit yourself to a simpler aquarium, independently selecting an external filter, aerator, and lighting equipment for it. A small volume is very easy to overpopulate and pollute with waste products and food scraps. In addition, bulky equipment takes up a huge part of the space.
A nano aquarium is unthinkable without live plants, so the most important piece of equipment is lighting. There are industrial models with traditional design fixtures built into the lid. But most nano aquariums are illuminated by household and office clamp-on or flexible-neck lamps. It is best if they are designed to use compact fluorescent or energy-saving lamps.
Heaters for nano aquariums are also diverse. Many aquarium equipment manufacturers feature traditional-type automatic heaters with a capacity of 10-25 watts in their product lines. Sometimes nano aquariums are placed on a thermal mat. There are also more exotic ways to maintain temperature, and in some warm rooms, a heater is not needed at all for keeping unpretentious fish.
A nano aquarium is a stable biosystem capable of existing for a long time without drastic intervention and restructuring. This latter feature of a nano aquarium is largely determined by its owner. There are various filtration methods. The most minimalistic approach implies the complete rejection of any filters at all. At the same time, it is quite rightly believed that the best filter is live plants, which is why such a reservoir contains a large number of fast-growing aquatic plants. This approach requires regular and frequent “pruning” and, of course, aquarium experience.
Beginner nano aquarists are still better off using some kind of filter. There is plenty to choose from. The assortment of such devices specifically designed for nano aquariums is quite large. The cheapest and most affordable solution is a sponge filter driven by an air pump. This is a very good and effective solution, but unfortunately, such filters are not silent. For an aquarium installed, for example, in a bedroom, such a filter is categorically unsuitable. But internal nano filters made according to the classic model can be completely silent.
In addition to conventional internal filters, various designs of hang-on-back (HOB) filters are in use, with corner filters being the most convenient. And recently, even miniature external canister models have appeared, just like real ones, but very small. The effectiveness of such a solution is beyond praise. And it is easier to disguise this filter than others – since it is outside, and only the water intake and outflow are inside the aquarium. But, unfortunately, it is not always possible to find a place near the aquarium to install such a filter itself. Strictly monitor water purity; changing 1/2 – 1/3 of the volume per week is the golden rule for the comfortable existence of your pets.
There is other equipment for nano aquascaping as well – CO2 supply systems, miniature protein skimmers (marine setups are even created in nano aquariums), various accessories – nets, tweezers, tiny scrapers, micro siphons, etc. Air pumps are usually not used in such aquariums, as the filter is sufficient for optimal water mixing and oxygenation. To simplify aquarium maintenance, timers should be used.
The offering of various decorative elements for nano aquariums is even greater. These include specific-fraction substrates in small packages, flat and 3D background posters, natural and artificial driftwood, stones, grottoes, shelters, etc. So you can choose the decoration of a nano aquarium for any taste, focusing on a wide variety of criteria.
Who to stock in a nano aquarium? List of small fishes for a nano aquarium.
Avant-garde style aquarium. Wall-mounted aquarium. Table aquarium. 
