What a long strange trip it's been....

Agu · 08/23/2020, 07:31 PM

Back when I was a moderator on the nano forum I set up a 5.5 gallon nano tank. At the time it was considered foolish because the tank would inevitably crash. The first ten years were wonderful. I had to frag the trumpets and frogspawn regularly because they out grew their space. Then the corals died and I don't know why. I let the tank sit fallow with one yellow tailed blue damsel, one snail, and one hermit crab. Every year I'd try a small frag without success. Finally I tried anthelia which turned out to be a plague in my tank. The tank decided for me. After 17+ years and five moves (all fully set up) the tank failed and started leaking.

So what would you do? Replace the tank, go bigger, or leave the hobby?

liverock · 08/24/2020, 04:04 AM

Get another mantis shrimp!

KafudaFish · 08/27/2020, 06:11 AM

Congratulations and condolences.

I hope you are doing well.

My suggestion is put the hobby on hold and become a lounger.

Sk8r · 08/27/2020, 01:26 PM

a fifty, especially a 52 bow (Oceanic if they still have them) is a real nice intermediate size. It would respond a great deal like your original nano, but with a little more leisure time in the maintenance schedule. Mine (with hood with large side gaps) evaps about a gallon a day in our climate.

NanoReefWanabe · 08/27/2020, 05:26 PM

I just shut down my 5g nano that has been going since 2008..had the exact same story...ran for about 5 years, Duncan's were over 100 heads, my light exploded, I sadly watched everything die, posted it all for free rehoming, no takers...it sat with water circulating for a year, I regularly topped it off still...finally bought a kessil and got it going again, was sad to shut it down...but really excited to get my 30g cube and everything moved into it.

08/23/2020, 07:31 PM	#1
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	What a long strange trip it's been.... Back when I was a moderator on the nano forum I set up a 5.5 gallon nano tank. At the time it was considered foolish because the tank would inevitably crash. The first ten years were wonderful. I had to frag the trumpets and frogspawn regularly because they out grew their space. Then the corals died and I don't know why. I let the tank sit fallow with one yellow tailed blue damsel, one snail, and one hermit crab. Every year I'd try a small frag without success. Finally I tried anthelia which turned out to be a plague in my tank. The tank decided for me. After 17+ years and five moves (all fully set up) the tank failed and started leaking. So what would you do? Replace the tank, go bigger, or leave the hobby? __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

08/24/2020, 04:04 AM	#2
liverock RC Sponsor Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Tampa Posts: 3,836	Get another mantis shrimp! __________________ Rock-On! Madelyn & Jocelyn www.tbsaltwater.com Find us on Instagram tbs_liverockrocks Current Tank Info: mixed reef

08/27/2020, 01:26 PM	#4
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	a fifty, especially a 52 bow (Oceanic if they still have them) is a real nice intermediate size. It would respond a great deal like your original nano, but with a little more leisure time in the maintenance schedule. Mine (with hood with large side gaps) evaps about a gallon a day in our climate. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

08/27/2020, 06:11 AM	#3
KafudaFish Cyprinius carpio Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 4,496	Congratulations and condolences. I hope you are doing well. My suggestion is put the hobby on hold and become a lounger.

08/27/2020, 05:26 PM	#5
NanoReefWanabe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 6,639	I just shut down my 5g nano that has been going since 2008..had the exact same story...ran for about 5 years, Duncan's were over 100 heads, my light exploded, I sadly watched everything die, posted it all for free rehoming, no takers...it sat with water circulating for a year, I regularly topped it off still...finally bought a kessil and got it going again, was sad to shut it down...but really excited to get my 30g cube and everything moved into it.