Nano reef aquariums refer to all tanks that are less than 30-gallons in size. These nano reef tanks have a lot of fun. The challenges of establishing and maintaining a nano reef tank can be disproportionately large. The main challenges are the filters and the equipment that ought to maintain stable conditions within the tiny reef tank.
When it comes to setting up a reef tank, the type of corals you choose to stock your tank will have a direct impact on your success. Newbies tend to star up with a few hardy species of coral and work their way up to the more advanced species. Unless you do a little bit of research, you may not have a glimpse of what type of corals may be ideal for your nano reef aquarium.
How you initially stock your nano reef aquarium determines your success or failure. The fish selection is vital to the success of any nano reef tank. Although there may be a wide variety of fish, the corals might be few, and that poses a challenge. The corals are suitable for the success of a nano reef tank.
This article focuses on the best corals you can have for your nano reef tank. The corals are divided into two; the soft and the hard corals.
Best Corals for Nano Reef Tanks
Mushroom Corals
Mushroom corals refer to species such as Ricordea, Rhodactis, and Actinodiscus. The mushroom is one of the first corals an aquarist adds to their nano reef tanks. They are colorful and hardy, and most of them like spreading. When spread to neighboring rocks, the mushroom corals are difficult to remove. Some species like R. Yuma are very aggressive.
When you are considering the best mushroom coral for your nano reef tank, elephant ear mushroom should not be an option. These types of mushrooms are blatantly too large for a nano reef. The best choice of mushroom corals for a nano reef is the Ricordea Florida. These types of mushroom corals do not spread as fast as the other species. To avoid the polyps from dominating your tank, you should begin with one or two of them.
Mushroom corals require little maintenance, which makes them a good option for a nano reef.
Gorgonians
These species are still the best corals for nano reefs though they are demanding in terms of lighting and flow. Some species of this type of corals include; Muricea, Pterogorgia, Eunicea, Plexaura, and Pseudopterogorgia. Pterogorgia and Pseudopterogorgia are frilly and have a branching structure that is proportionate with smaller reef tanks. You can prune the cuttings of photosynthetic gorgonians to blend in perfectly on any miniaturized reef.
The gorgonians corals are very hard to keep in large reef tanks. In nano tanks, meeting the specialized flow and dietary requirements is very hard.
Zoanthids
They are colorful, hardy corals with a small size. They have a perfect polyp size for a nano reef aquarium, and their small size helps them replicate a smaller reef. Zoanthids do not produce sweepers though they sting other corals they come into contact within an aquarium. They are strenuous to control. They spread to neighboring rocks rather too quickly and are difficult to remove. If you want to remove them, make sure to remove the decor first. You should then peel and scrape the invading coral. A wire brush will remove the tissue completely.
You should be careful when removing these corals. Zoanthids contain neurotoxins that may bring you ailments. If you don’t want to remove them, you can allow them to colonize the rocks as you plan to trade or sell the coral as a whole.
Leather Corals
They are an ideal choice for a nano reef. These corals are soft branching corals that do not produce sweeper tentacles that could sting neighboring corals. One can obtain small pieces of these corals by taking cuttings from the main display. Leather corals grow but are easy to prune.
Examples of other branching corals are Kenya tree coral (Capnella spp.), devil’s hand (Lobophytum spp), and colt (Alcyonium spp.) Cult coral is the most difficult to prune, while the delicate of the three is the Kenya tree. The three corals can be a fine addition to the nano reef too. Toadstool corals (Sarcopython) are also other terrific corals that are ideal for a nano reef tank and are also easy to prune. Their heads are snipped off when the coral gets too large. The left stalk will regrow its crown in no time.
Star Polyps, Anthellia, and Xenia
These types of corals are vigorous, colorful and their small polyp size makes them ideal for nano reefs. The corals spread quickly and are difficult to prune back.
If the coral invades neighboring rocks, you can try scrubbing the coral or swap encrusted rock for sale or trade. These corals, if allowed, can spread from rock to rock until they dominate the entire tank.
Acropora
They are delicate corals that require the aquarist to have a great deal of knowledge and expertise. The corals can be kept practically in any tank size as long as the suitable conditions such as water flow, light, and stable water quality. Meeting all these needs in a small tank is hard may be hard and challenging. However, with dedication, this is something that can be done.
Bubble corals
The coral is one of the hardiest stony corals. The corals require relatively minimal caring provided that it is not subject to strong direct water currents. The species should not be brushed against hard surfaces when handling. The action is done to protect the delicate polyps. At night, the bubby polyps retract while the narrower tentacles expand to catch zooplankton prey. The bubble corals may be positioned in lower or shadier parts of the nano reef since they tolerate subdued lighting.
Open Brain Coral (Trachyphyllia geoffroyi)
The coral contains a single, massive, fleshy polyp on a small skeleton. It rests over the substrate at the bottom of the tank and is tolerant to lower light levels. It has a bright coloration amidst its physical and physiological resilience.
Hammers and Frogspawn
The hammers and frogspawn belong to the Euphyllia family. They are resilient and can survive in a nano reef environment. Their branches are easily pruned, to allow the selection of the right-sized specimen. Pruning also helps to control future growth. The hammers and frogspawn corals are capable of producing sweeper tentacles that may be eliminated by selecting small coral specimens. The selected coral species are then isolated to avoid contact with other corals.
Brain Corals
They (open and closed brain corals) are hardy enough to be included in a well-maintained nano reef. The downside of the corals is that they suffer more quickly from neglect and are more difficult to save in case their health starts declining. Obtaining a nano-specimens of this coral can be a challenge because these types of corals are not fragmented. A great example of the open brain coral is the Trachyphyllia spp. This one fits perfectly well in a 20-gallon reef tank. However, in anything smaller than the 20-gallon tank, this species will look out of place.
Another example of the open brain coral that will be ideal for your nano reef is the species called Blastomussa. If given adequate space, this species grows into a proper spherical ‘brain’ shape.
Montipora
There are a lot of branching varieties of this coral that can be kept in a nano reef quite successfully. An example is Montipora Digitate regarding variety. Montipora corals are hardy and nonaggressive. They can be pruned when needed. The foliate or planting Montipora is coral can also do well in a nano reef. The necessary conditions to be provided to Montipora corals so that they can thrive in your nano reef include; water motion, light, and adequate water quality.
One species of the Montipora corals that are not suited for a small tank is the M. capricornis. This one can grow to the size of the dinner plate in a year.
Trumpet Coral
The coral is a brilliant choice for a small tank. The trumpet coral does well with low to moderate lighting, and water movement, or similar reef tank conditions. Its branching structure makes it easy to prune, and the frags of this hard coral are traded among hobbyists.
Final Thoughts
If you need the best coral for your nano reef, there are a wide array of corals to consider. But before you choose the best coral that suits your nano reef aquarium, you should understand the determining factors when considering a specimen. The qualities are but are not limited to polyp and colony size, aggressiveness, and sustainability. The coral chosen should look natural in your nano. Keeping nano reefs is as addicting as regular reefs.
Always handle the corals with care. Put on gloves to protect yourself. Some corals produce a potent toxin referred to as palytoxin. Always wash your hands after handling them or after working in your aquarium.
