Choosing a nano aquarium suited to your project

A nano aquarium is a tank of under 60 litres, compact enough for a desk or a chest of drawers, big enough to hold a real landscape. For a first project, a volume of 20 to 30 litres offers the best compromise: the water stays stable enough to forgive a missed step, without taking over the room.

Two options are open to you. The bare tank, in extra-clear glass, lets you choose every piece of equipment: it's the ideal base for a carefully composed aquascape. The complete kit brings together a tank, filter and lighting sized to match, which makes getting started simpler, particularly for a shrimp tank. Vertical formats suit mountain-style landscapes, panoramic ones suit compositions with depth.

Whichever tank you choose, provide a flat, sturdy support, and respect the water's maturation period before adding any animals. The comparison Which aquarium for freshwater shrimp? helps you choose the format, and the project My first aquascape sets out every step.

What volume should I choose?

A nano aquarium generally refers to a tank of under 60 litres. Below 20 litres, temperature and water quality change faster and need closer attention.

Bare aquarium or complete kit

A bare aquarium lets you choose every element: filter, lighting, substrate. It's the right choice if you already have a clear idea of your landscape.

Points to check

• Glass quality: extra-clear glass renders plant colours better, and polished edges make the tank nicer to handle.
• Proportions: a slightly deeper tank makes composing and planting with tweezers easier; a vertical tank suits mountain-style landscapes.
• The support: allow roughly one kilo per litre of water, plus the glass, the substrate and the décor. The cabinet must be perfectly flat and stable, and a foam mat spreads the pressure under the glass.
• The location: away from direct sunlight and radiators, near a socket, somewhere you'll walk past and enjoy every day.

After setup

Whichever tank you choose, respect the maturation period before introducing any animals. The project My first aquascape sets out every step, from choosing the aquarium to the first plant trim, and the comparison Which aquarium for freshwater shrimp? helps you choose a format suited to shrimp.