Nano-Tank Corals: At a Glance
Bonus content from the November 2010 AFI magazine article Cnidarians for Nano-Reefs.
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From the Editors of Aquarium Fish International |
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Zoanthids can be housed in a nano reef aquarium |
Not all corals will do well in a nano-reef. So if setting up a small reef tank, research your corals well. To be a successful nano-reefkeeper, realize that some corals will grow too large, and some will require constant pruning. Some corals produce slime and metabolites that can be harmful to themselves or others if not carried away by a strong water current. And because space is limited in a nano-reef, you must choose corals that will not outgrow a small aquarium, and these corals must be able to survive in such a small environment. Nano-reefs differ greatly from normal-sized tanks in that you may not be able to provide adequate lighting, trace elements or water movement.
Good nano-reef coral characteristics are easily pruned or fragged, not aggressive and are slow-growers.
Some good corals for nano-reefs include:
Large Polyp Stony corals
Acans (Acanthastrea spp.)
Pineapple corals (Blastomussa spp.)
Caulastrea species
Euphyllia species, such as E. ancora and E. paraancora
Soft Corals
Tree corals (Sinularia, Lemnalia and Litophyton spp.)
Sarcophyton species
Xenia species
Clavularia and Pachyclavularia species
Others
Mushroom anemones, such as Discosoma
Ricordea species, such as R. floridea
Rhodactis species
Zoanthids
Want to read the full story? Pick up the November 2010 issue of Aquarium Fish International today.
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Nano-Tank Corals: At a Glance