Hello reefing team,
I decided to start this discussion in here because I have talked with most of our regular nano members and they don't seem to have access to the magazine print in question, so I was hoping the general reef population may have a few more collective thoughts about the recent issue of Coral Magazine that has turned so many heads. Feel free to move this discussion if it turns out not to be general forum material...
First of all, let me say thanks to Mike Technoshaman for sending me the mag all the way from Austin, I really appreciate it Sir. I'll shoot ya a cold 20 bill back that way in an envelope for the efforts and shipping costs-couldn't have scored this issue without your help.
I'll start by saying I was AMAZED. They had several write-ups from Daniel Knopp and several german researchers detailing their nano/pico experiments--all the way from 3/4g up to 6 gallons. One of the most interesting features I noted was the length of time this experimentation has been going on. I remember a post in the Industry forum where John Brandt told me of a super-old nano reef dating back the 50's, around two gallons. I had no idea there were nano-reef aquarists back then when the reefkeeping industry was in it's sub-infancy stages, neat. Then in this recent Coral issue I read about the German aquarist who kept 2gallon nanos all the way back into the early 80's--again, much older experimentation than what I had thought. Did any of you know nano-reef attempts dated back that far? Tell me some of your stories if so...
One of the interesting things I observed was the formal introduction to serious pico reefing this issue provides--most people say "why ever go less than 10 gallons, things are too restricted at that point." Well, at least this issue points out there is a serious following of experimenters looking to break new ground for various reasons, both scientific and practical (small footprint=handy reef). Albeit most of them are overseas...
For those of you who have seen the magazine, what was your take on the pico reefs exhibited? What did you think about their cleanliness and apparent ease of care? Something that struck me was the absence of coralline, along with the absence of nuisance algae-very clean. How did your sandbed or CC substrate fare after six months of existence-I always found a little mud here as it was tough to keep out all the detritus.
Secondly, maintaining that diversity in such a small pico is quite a trick. Their LR chunks looked as diversified with microfauna/flora as any drip-fed phytoplanktonized 180g setup I've ever seen--just look at the live rocks and their various network of hydroid colonies, macroalgae growth & filter-feeder diversity of every type that one could possibly fit on a rock. That is incredibly hard to achieve in a pico setup, because making sure swater has the proper range and density of planktonic nutrient to support that kind of diversity also necessitates some pretty rigorous cleaning schedules, to prevent fouling and buildup of micro algae. I kept wondering if they grew that rock in the pico, or transplanted it into one. Nonetheless, to maintain that level of diversity in a pico for 6 months and more as they stated is truly quite an achievement.
In my experience, sub-gallon reefs tend to have a selectivity curve on which certain benthic animals will be tried, for the most part the diversity thins and selects for a few hardy LR organisms under the harsher conditions of the pico reef.
High points of the magazine:
-Reef picos that look like master Amano planted tanks!
-Interesting reef tanks such as tiny glass boxes and acrylic setups where the airline circulation system enters from the bottom of the tank, preventing that over-the-lip approach of the airline tubing coming from the top down below the LR structure.
-Picos built on turn-tables where they autorotate and show each side of the pico (Eric B. I remember you mentioning this on RC few years ago, did your idea get into this print--awesome!)
-Most of the featured setups had an amazing mix of macroalgae and soft corals, along with extremely diverse LR to boot. These pico reefs looked absolutely amazing and the coral life they featured appeared to do just fine in the tanks, corals we all have easy access to which makes personal experimentation all the more accessible.
-Pico and Nano systems ran only by windowsill light, a common question I see throughout the boards. These selected heavily for macroalgae growth along with several anemones and soft corals that appeared to be well-suited to their natural light environment.
-This issue showed the ingenious nature of the German aquarist back in the 80's who had to build her own circulation/cooling and heating system due to the lack of available nano-specific products. She had a goal and did what it took mechanically to meet that goal--and thought to document it with pictures that allows one a glimpse back into the real day of nano/pico birth.
-detailed lists of nano-faring organisms that are pleasing to work with, from shrimp varieties to coral specimens just in case a nano-builder is unsure.
-Article mentions a 2 gallon nano reef that is 40 years old. That just blows me away, it was a macro-algae focused nano driven by windowsill light, looked very dense and lush green with a few corals I believe.
I think there is a high possibility this is a typo, but if not, amazing and impressive to say the least.
Brandon M>
I decided to start this discussion in here because I have talked with most of our regular nano members and they don't seem to have access to the magazine print in question, so I was hoping the general reef population may have a few more collective thoughts about the recent issue of Coral Magazine that has turned so many heads. Feel free to move this discussion if it turns out not to be general forum material...
First of all, let me say thanks to Mike Technoshaman for sending me the mag all the way from Austin, I really appreciate it Sir. I'll shoot ya a cold 20 bill back that way in an envelope for the efforts and shipping costs-couldn't have scored this issue without your help.
I'll start by saying I was AMAZED. They had several write-ups from Daniel Knopp and several german researchers detailing their nano/pico experiments--all the way from 3/4g up to 6 gallons. One of the most interesting features I noted was the length of time this experimentation has been going on. I remember a post in the Industry forum where John Brandt told me of a super-old nano reef dating back the 50's, around two gallons. I had no idea there were nano-reef aquarists back then when the reefkeeping industry was in it's sub-infancy stages, neat. Then in this recent Coral issue I read about the German aquarist who kept 2gallon nanos all the way back into the early 80's--again, much older experimentation than what I had thought. Did any of you know nano-reef attempts dated back that far? Tell me some of your stories if so...
One of the interesting things I observed was the formal introduction to serious pico reefing this issue provides--most people say "why ever go less than 10 gallons, things are too restricted at that point." Well, at least this issue points out there is a serious following of experimenters looking to break new ground for various reasons, both scientific and practical (small footprint=handy reef). Albeit most of them are overseas...
For those of you who have seen the magazine, what was your take on the pico reefs exhibited? What did you think about their cleanliness and apparent ease of care? Something that struck me was the absence of coralline, along with the absence of nuisance algae-very clean. How did your sandbed or CC substrate fare after six months of existence-I always found a little mud here as it was tough to keep out all the detritus.
Secondly, maintaining that diversity in such a small pico is quite a trick. Their LR chunks looked as diversified with microfauna/flora as any drip-fed phytoplanktonized 180g setup I've ever seen--just look at the live rocks and their various network of hydroid colonies, macroalgae growth & filter-feeder diversity of every type that one could possibly fit on a rock. That is incredibly hard to achieve in a pico setup, because making sure swater has the proper range and density of planktonic nutrient to support that kind of diversity also necessitates some pretty rigorous cleaning schedules, to prevent fouling and buildup of micro algae. I kept wondering if they grew that rock in the pico, or transplanted it into one. Nonetheless, to maintain that level of diversity in a pico for 6 months and more as they stated is truly quite an achievement.
In my experience, sub-gallon reefs tend to have a selectivity curve on which certain benthic animals will be tried, for the most part the diversity thins and selects for a few hardy LR organisms under the harsher conditions of the pico reef.
High points of the magazine:
-Reef picos that look like master Amano planted tanks!
-Interesting reef tanks such as tiny glass boxes and acrylic setups where the airline circulation system enters from the bottom of the tank, preventing that over-the-lip approach of the airline tubing coming from the top down below the LR structure.
-Picos built on turn-tables where they autorotate and show each side of the pico (Eric B. I remember you mentioning this on RC few years ago, did your idea get into this print--awesome!)
-Most of the featured setups had an amazing mix of macroalgae and soft corals, along with extremely diverse LR to boot. These pico reefs looked absolutely amazing and the coral life they featured appeared to do just fine in the tanks, corals we all have easy access to which makes personal experimentation all the more accessible.
-Pico and Nano systems ran only by windowsill light, a common question I see throughout the boards. These selected heavily for macroalgae growth along with several anemones and soft corals that appeared to be well-suited to their natural light environment.
-This issue showed the ingenious nature of the German aquarist back in the 80's who had to build her own circulation/cooling and heating system due to the lack of available nano-specific products. She had a goal and did what it took mechanically to meet that goal--and thought to document it with pictures that allows one a glimpse back into the real day of nano/pico birth.
-detailed lists of nano-faring organisms that are pleasing to work with, from shrimp varieties to coral specimens just in case a nano-builder is unsure.
-Article mentions a 2 gallon nano reef that is 40 years old. That just blows me away, it was a macro-algae focused nano driven by windowsill light, looked very dense and lush green with a few corals I believe.
I think there is a high possibility this is a typo, but if not, amazing and impressive to say the least.
Brandon M>
