7 Things I Wish I Knew BEFORE Getting Nano Tanks

[@jazzkatt1919]

Yes, yes, yes to putting your tanks where you are! I know lots of serious hobbyists have designated fish rooms, but I have never been attracted to that idea, because so many of them look like warehouses, filled with rack after rack of aquariums, as opposed to places where someone actually *lives.* Visiting a room like that would feel like a chore, not relaxation, and certainly not an activity that integrated seamlessly into my life. Best. advice. ever. That kind of goes along with the whole rack thing, in general, I guess. Perhaps you can have more tanks that way, but again, the look is too "warehouse-y" for me. I'd feel like I was living/working in a pet store 24/7. As attractive as they are, I think most cube tanks, and certainly most portrait tanks would be better as something other than a fish-only (or water-only, if you have inverts) setup. They'd make a great paludarium, though.

[@JimSturdivantWoodButcher]

All good information. The ADHD part of me loves the way you get right to the point and don't just blab on and on. Keep'em coming, I'll watch them all.

[@thesmallscape]

Adhd’ers unite! 💪 I hear ya, I appreciate that and try to! ☺️🎅✨

[@theresaabshire711]

All excellent points ! I just have one tank now. It's a 5 gal heated, filteted tank with a single male betta in it. I downsized after my health problems. I broke my femur in 2 places, had to have surgery, & then had a pulminary embolism that all laid me up for a few months. It was awful trying to maintain them & I was so worried about my fish's health & well being as well as my own. I'm not a spring chicken anymore & don't want to rely on my kids, who are not really fish people to take care of them. I have dogs & cats too so when I was laid up, they had a lot of stuff to do to help me. I do really enjoy my one tank & LOVE my solid black HMPK, Marty. I will prolly always have 1 betta tank. The 5 gal is easy for me to maintain & it is in the living room where I spend most of my time. I could easily see me having a few tanks but those days are over so I just really enjoy the one I have. I love bettas so the 5 gal works out great for those. I can move it around if I need/want to by myself so it all works out good for me too. 😁❤

[@FlyTyer1948]

That many tanks would drive me nuts & leave me so exhausted I wouldn’t enjoy them. Paring them down & going larger makes so much sense.

[@tabathatammaro9187]

Great video and very good suggestions. With regard to viewing angles, maybe this will help someone… I have my desk aquariums (one on each side of my computer) sitting on mini turntables (ones typically used for small televisions and such). This gives me the option for different angles, but also helps me easily see what’s going on at the back of my tanks. I make sure to turn them slowly so as not to freak out my inhabitants, and this system works great!

[@jonisolis9645]

I like that idea of a nano tank on a turntable! Thank you.

[@Boja23]

That is such a great idea, and basically negates one of Joanna's suggestions, lol!

[@nyteflyer5016]

what do you do about cables and tubes?

[@tabathatammaro9187]

@@nyteflyer5016 I have everything plugged into a powerbar not far from the tanks and I cut the airline tubing a little bit long. The tubing and the cords really aren’t a problem. I’m only turning the tanks about 180 degrees either way and the lighting is clamped right on the tanks. Does that make sense?

[@nyteflyer5016]

@@tabathatammaro9187 Yes, thanks

[@jamesjamesnet]

Video so true

[@rodneywalat8956]

Great video Joanna. I agree. Nothing like the voice of experience. I envision your Nano Nook being transformed into a rack filled with 20 gal. longs and an arm chair like Rachel O'leary's.

[@BLUEGREEN65]

Great video! Good info! I have a 13 gallon widescreen tank. It’s a few years old. Yesterday I just got a 3 gallon betta tank because my betta wasn’t doing well in the 13 gallon, I believe the water movement was too strong for him. Slowly his fins were getting shorter and shorter. I never saw any of the other fish picking on him. So I think it’s either caused by stress or could be fin rot. So I got the new tank for two reasons, the filter is super gentle and so I can treat him with meds where it won’t affect my other fish or my African Dwarf frogs. Even though it’s only been a day, he seems more content in the new tank as he is swimming around more. He is still eating well so hopefully I can get his fins back in tip top shape. 😊

[@alisonnicholson]

Got 5 tanks now down from 13. Due to rising costs in UK. 3 are nano have all my tanks in my lounge so I can see them all and appreciate them all. Plus wherever I look theres a tank and it aids my relaxation.

[@aquajuwel7098]

Great info…I would also say, as a rule, never listen to what they say in pet stores. Do your own research. They generally want to push products and many have no clue or even interest in fish, plants and so on. The bigger the aquarium the easier it is to maintain balance in the tank. It’s all about balance, and for me, having live plants, not overstocking, weekly water change, and adding bacteria to the filter works for me in my nano tanks.

[@jmdq1]

The larger the tank the less frequently you have to do water changes, If you don’t overstock. I have all small fish and one honey Gourami in a 36 gallon planted bow front. In my living room. I have a 3 gallon long quarantine tank in the bedroom , right next to the bed on a night table. I only use the quarantine tank for new fish, or to treat a sick fish. When I need it I just put RO water in and stability . A Rock a heater and a small light. A few plastic plants they can hide behind. No substrate. So when it’s not in use it just gets drained cleaned and back in the box. I have a dog , a cat , plants and a husband . 😂 So one larger aquarium makes it easier on me. I’ve been keeping fish since 1976 . If you only have time and money for a small tank that’s perfect for you. It does need dedication to keep any tank healthy for the inhabitants. The larger tanks do have a larger initial investment, but from my own experience the bigger the easier. And I’m talking up to 55 gallon tanks. Nothing above that for me, my house is not big enough for any larger than that. My first tank was for a betta, just 10 gallon with a couple of Cory’s. It was harder to maintain than my 20 and 30 longs that I kept after that. Enjoy your tanks and thanks for all your great advice .

[@KentAJDK]

Wise thoughts as always. You defintly have been doing some thinking. Thanks for sharing. 😊 I mostly have to keep in mind my old woodenfloor, weight and that they can bounce up and down a little. 😅

[@sandymouse73]

Very good video that brings up some very important points. I have several 5 &10 gallon tanks. They're nice but they have limits on scaping and fish as you said. I recently set up a 35 gallon 'nano' tank and I love it! Several types of nano fish swimming in an environment that seems more realistic. Wish I could add a picture.

[@herbieonline_]

YES, great points that need to be talked about more in this hobby. Long over portrait and no fish in tiny tanks. It’s 2022! Let’s get with the program people :)

[@Laura-ed5kf]

@ 4:15 - “larger is better.” Yup. Every tank I’ve set-up, w/in days I wish I had gone the next size up. My newest 5.5, wish for a 10. On the 30, wish I had gone 55; on the 90, want a 125. On that last though, my floors and free-help would have drawn the line at a 125. 😂

[@thesmallscape]

Oh my goodness, Laura! You said it perfectly!! 😂

[@williamleidy6713]

This is timely for me. Just started setting up a frameless 14 gal cube.

[@LK50634]

Very awesome video amazing information 👏 👌 great 👍 job thnxs for sharing cool 😎 tanks

[@melaniedc_]

I agree. If it’s not a high traffic area I don’t enjoy them. I have my 75 g in my office- which all nano schooling community. On my desk is my 5 gal shrimp. My kitchen has a 5 gallon shrimp. My dining room/living room 73 gallon clown loach. My non fish family likes to watch them.

[@thesmallscape]

Oh wow, nice selection! Thank you so much for taking time to share your really nice collection. ☺️ Ps - love the shrimpies in the kitchen!

[@shesellsfish]

I love the Itty bittees, but nano tanks do take more time and upkeep than a 10 or twenty gal. I've had a bunch of just rough life events hit in the last couple of months, and then the flu which I'm still not totally over. My tanks and houseplants got bare minimum care and it really shows. I never realized how much time and effort I need to put into them to keep them thriving. I'm doing some serious rethinking about downsizing both tanks and houseplants, maybe combining some, not sure yet, but I am going to be making some changes for just some of the reasons you mentioned. 👍💖👍

[@wendihamlett105]

Great affirmations! I usually spend a whole day just doing maintenance.

[@thesmallscape]

Oh yes, been there! 😌😌😌

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

Joanna, this is a very good tutorial for someone wanting to start an aquarium. Better to take care of one tank, then not being able to take care of many.

[@kathleenbronson9849]

Great insightful video! I agree, i have 2 40g dirted breeders I use for nano fish.....

[@SarumanDeWhite]

Kudos to all these very practical tips. Excellent indeed, thank you!

[@coreywest1183]

Thank you for these wonderful comments about nano tanks. I have always had larger tanks, but it seems nano tanks require a bit more thought.

[@thesmallscape]

They kinda do, yup. ☺️

[@rockyandmiles9889]

I’ve been wanting to create a fish room in my basement for awhile now, but have hesitated because I just don’t spend time in it besides doing laundry.😅 The 6 tanks I do have are spread around the house and easy to access and eye level. I like these “real life/tank probs” vids 😁

[@johnjwedrall4290]

I agree 💯 with you on each of the topics you are speaking of in this video 👍 👍🙂❗️

[@glentoner3689]

So many good points : ) Thank You : )

[@thesmallscape]

Well, thank you for stopping by! Merry Christmas!🎄

[@TrueNorf]

GREAT VIDEO J! Love the music and the feel! Video looking super clear! Did you change something??

[@Trains-With-Shane]

Having had tanks of all sizes all the way down to 2.5gal I think the 20 long is optimal for the average use case. Most specifically for how you mentioned fish zooming around from one end to the other. Portrait tanks aren't as conducive to that. Going to be getting back into the hobby after the new year, hopefully. And am going to stick with a single 20g long.

[@kaleidoscope_nature]

My first tank is an 8 gallon with celestial peral danios and shrimp. I love it, but I definately feel a little limited. I can't really keep more cpds or other fish as tank mates in that small size. And I want my fish to have a lot of room. I don't want big aquariums and love the nano thought, but I'm definately going for 15 gal or 20 gal as my next tank and upgrade the cpd:s. Will probably never go bigger than that since I don't have a lot of space in my house for big tanks - 19th century Swedish house with a lot of windows.

[@nyteflyer5016]

I really enjoyed this, it gave me ideas to consider, and perhaps changed some plans. Due to wallet and space constraints, I am currently spending more time planning my aquariums than building them, but someday.

[@Boja23]

These were all great suggestions and I really appreciate them. Helping me to manage my MTS. Another suggestion might be to create your own stands. I use the white laminated particle board in 8 foot by 1 foot sections, and have tanks right in my face. I've built 2 so far, the last one to house my brine shrimp hatchery, while putting a 5 gallon in my face. It will sit on my mini fridge I use for fish foods. It's fun and beats the incredibly overpriced ikea-style furniture, plus you can make it to fit your needs. The other stand puts my 14 gallon perfectly at eye level, which is great, since it's an amazing tank.

[@janellechew6193]

Thank you for being so realistic!!! I just scaled-down due to unexpected surgery. I will be able to catch up on the videos while I am down

[@paulsmith8510]

I just found your channel! So helpful! Greet work

[@thesmallscape]

Thank you, Paul - welcome!! 🌱☺️🌱

[@glentoner3689]

You are Too Funny : ) You sound like an addict : ) I am so can laugh at some of the stuff You are saying : ) Keep going and I enjoyed this video : )

[@thesmallscape]

😆lol, glad you get it haha - Merry Christmas!!🎄

[@carolebraswell982]

Great tips! I have found that the maintenance of a nano tank can be more challenging than the slightly larger tank also.

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

Joanna, did you see the mini blue glass substrate that is out. The size of a period (just a bit bigger), like tiny marbles. Really cool. Might make a nice substitute for a sand aquarium only glass sand size marbles.

[@akahina]

I love my little fluval! ♥️ It's in a kitchen pass through visable from two sides. It's all my apartment will allow. When I had a house I had a 90 gal.

[@pelhamsaquatics]

I have mostly gallery style, I do have 1 rack. But the other 21 tanks are on 1 level easy to see easy maintenance 🙂⭐️

[@lindataylor8302]

Thank you

[@LushSaltyAquariums]

Facts. A person has to love the process. If it becomes a chore game over. PS: Great meeting you both at Green Water Swap! Everything I got from you is alive and well! Thank you also for your support for all of in the hobby.

[@thesmallscape]

Hi there!! Yes it was great meeting you as well! It was a funnnnn swap! ☺️

[@LushSaltyAquariums]

@@thesmallscape Have a lovely Thanksgiving and see you in December!

[@jmdq1]

Look up the Tiny Menagerie, loads of cute fish for everyone in their little tanks.

[@cherylbelott]

Hi Joanna 😊 Tips 1 - 7, I agree 💯!!! And what a stellar piece of driftwood! 😮😃

[@thesmallscape]

Hi Cheryl! Such beautiful snow we’ve been getting! So glad you agree - it’s such a cool piece of driftwood, now for the tank…☺️

[@cherylbelott]

@@thesmallscape Such fun! And yes - a beautiful snowfall! We got a lot more than I thought we would!

[@macnelson298]

The fluval flex 15 was my very first fish tank and I feel like it perfect for that "nano" feel but actually has some nice space to scape in and looks super nice in my common area

[@mikekayanderson408]

Hi - you sound as if you are apologising to us all!!!! You are allowed to change your mind on things and to grow out of one phase into another in your hobby!!!!! Its a journey and there are many routes for you to wander down!!!! Our "style" changes 🤣 What size tank is your Betta in on your desk??? I have ended up putting a female betta into a cube 14Lt tank out of necessity - long story!!!! - is that sufficient for her????? only have 4 tanks - the 14Lt I have just mentioned - 2x 25LT (5gal) and one 38Lt (10gal) and that's enough work for me I think!!!! K

[@jread3312]

I have a 14 gal. cube that I really like but would not want more. 14 gal. is big enough to do some scapeing , and the roots of the floating plants don't infringe on swimming space as much. There are about 20 male endlers in there, a fish that really works because they just go! They don't care which direction :) ! Also there are 4 clown killies, 3 panda cories , and 1 red male cherry barb (happy as a lark to feel king of his own space)

[@jread3312]

Oh, hadn't decide what to name my new pea puffer. " Peanut " it is :)

[@littlemidwestrebornsdolls]

You are correct about one hour per week tank. Gina 🌹❤

[@audrameyer9558]

These are excellent tips!! Thanks so much 🤗

[@JKFishKeeping]

Yea definitely that taste changes. I went half breeding set up and half display setup. Over the whole time of my fishroom, I’ve rearranged multiple times. Now my taste has changed again and I’ve been contemplating how to scratch the itch this time 😅

[@BeeKayCee911]

Thanks👌🐠⚘️

[@johnlasco894]

Awesome video and all very vaild, common sense suggestions for setting up any aquarium. My favorites indeed are all of the aquariums in my kitchen, which have two separate bettas, and a nano with ember tetras. I'm seriously thinking about making my fry grow out tank there a permanent one. I love watching the (platy) babies grow up and be happy and healthy before I send them off to friends or Petco (they sell them and give the money to the Humane Society), if I'm not keeping them.

[@michellebarnhill5130]

I love the tips! Definitely food for thought!

[@BardstaleGoldens]

Great tips!

[@chriscyr4982]

Totally in union with your opinions, can't stand 'knee' level tanks ( lesson learned 35 years ago ) I like landscape ......and fewer tanks built to perfection, covering all the little things. Great 'brave' video THANKS

[@thesmallscape]

Haha. Yes. Glad you get it, Chris. ☺️

[@jessicasinclair323]

Much prefer a long tank to a high tank. As you say it does give you many more options of inhabitants and scaping choices. But never managed to get any eyelevel yet unless I am sat down. But then if I did have them eyelevel for standing up they would be impossible to clean out! I actually gave away my large tall broad corner tank for the very reason of having to stand on a stool to reach down into it and even then couldn't reach the bottom. So much happier with my 4ft low boy on the kitchen counter and my 15 gallon on the bedroom dresser and my 8 gallon needs a better place as it's currently not well positioned at all

[@ohguy1991]

Hi Joanna! Another great video, Thank you!

[@ShadowMan.427]

Enjoyed this video! Good food for thought. I really enjoy the fuller length videos like this or longer which actually have useful educational information, ideas or How To. The video shorts that have been hitting my notifications lately from another channel? Not so much. To me, those shorts are just "click spam". Looping 10 seconds or less of video with a tagline is not engaging. There is nothing to learn. Anyway... Thank You! Great Video! I subscribed!

[@lizettebusquets4305]

I think your 1 hour/week/aquarium is close to my experience. I love my 20 gallon tanks, high and long, and prefer them over the smaller ones. They provide more flexibility. And, for sure, I hate having tanks on the lower shelves! Can't enjoy them as much as the ones on higher shelves.

[@thesmallscape]

☺️ the 20g is a super duper size! ☺️

[@angiebear8727]

I prefer longer rather than tall. Seen some tall tanks done really nicely though❤ always enjoy your insights into the hobby

[@thesmallscape]

I agree - there are some beautiful, tall cylinder tanks that I’ve seen ☺️

[@oretho6406]

I like the small tanks since they're faster to take down... If you want to change the scape, they're much easier to do so. You don't want to do this in larger scapes, that are working, why would you, even? I love scaping tanks though, so your mileage may vary, and I am more focused on plants and shrimp...

[@TripleJAquatics]

FISHtastic video, as always

[@johnbessemer3777]

Anyone who's been doing fish geeking long enough. They all eventually burn out, and drop down to 1, or 0, aquariums. As far as nano tanks. Their biggest strength, is also their biggest drawback. Size limits stocking, but also makes things very interesting. It also forces one to think, scape, design, and stock, in a completely different way.

[@thesmallscape]

Kind of a roller coaster I suppose. And I agree on your nano tank thoughts…they can be like little 🧩 puzzles. ☺️ Thanhs for the comment and Happy 🦃 Day!

[@bookmouse2719]

I have 4 small aquariums and one very small terrarium. My fish keep having babies ....black mollies, guppies. I love my tanks and I think I have just reverted to my childhood. I don't care about the curved sides making my fish appear weird, it's part of the charm.

[@frankvee]

Yes, women love the itty bitty little aquariums.. oh look it’s soooo cute 🥰, and they think it’s tiny so it’s easier to maintain, but in reality when it’s so tiny it’s more difficult to maintain stable water parameters.

[@amymandeville8342]

MTS is a serious problem for me! 🤣

[@thesmallscape]

I know the feeling. ☺️

[@budiawan1784]

I try to avoid put tanks in my kitchen. Mistakes can be happen: put fish in frying pan.

[@jmdq1]

😂😂😂😂

[@lizdyson3627]

I definately agree with the eye level tip. i'm in a wheelchair so i'm at coffee table height. my 20 long is on a low sideboard.

[@thesmallscape]

Absolutely! So many ways to make the aquarium hobby work perfectly for each one of us - eye level starts the show!☺️

[@firstsecond3126]

I love nano tanks but… have my own one fish per nano tank rule Don’t like the busy look + fish being aggressive/territorial to each other 😮

[@ngarci8040]

I have a 3.5 & 5 gallon REALLY REALLY wanting to jump into a 20 long but my better half isn’t having it… 👎

[@thesmallscape]

Oh good luck. It actually took me a while to warm to the idea of such a “big” 😆 tank too.

[@comment.highlighted]

I love my 3 Nano Tanks 🥰 Edit: I worked hard at getting them balanced so my maintenance is very minimal once every 2-3 weeks.

[@thesmallscape]

Good for you! Very nice ☺️

[@comment.highlighted]

@@thesmallscape With your help 😊 Your Videos have helped very much, Thank you 🙏

[@carrielange2692]

I wish I had known you can't have just one... 🤣 And really, everyone talks about how to get your cherry shrimp to breed, but not what happens after, when you have to set up a 10 gallon just for the over populated f'ers, and then that only makes the problem worse... ahhhhhhh! what do you do with all the dang cherry shrimp? I can't be the only one with this problem??? 😳 I got a betta - he literally lets them crawl over his nose.

[@jamesparadigm]

💚💚💙💙

[@pkendlers]

If you aren't a breeder, more than three tanks is trouble.

[@chikararexzpo]

No water change no filter just plants 🖤🌱💚

[@thesmallscape]

Even better!

[@Laura-ed5kf]

Dirted tanks or no? What about lighting. I have 2-dirted tanks, one just two weeks old, the other probably 3 to 4 months. Live-plants, but how do I know at what point I can remove the filters?

[@pkendlers]

Mosses are full of water bears

[@JohnWood-tk1ge]

What,more is not better? He/she who dies with the most tanks wins 🥸😋😛😝😜🤪🥳!

[@thesmallscape]

😂😂 lol.