Life with wildlife!

One thing about living in the wilderness of Yosemite is the visitors who come a'calling!

Since we have large 25 gallon tubs in our bathroom, we often get visited by the various frog and toad life.

I must remove 2-3 a day! Some are repeat offenders!

FAQ's

"Why are the animals so small? I can barely see them!"

** The NanoNano system is started with young animals and plants to ensure you get the most out of every moment!

We select young, healthy shrimp and snails, about 1-2 months old, and set up the ecosystem. Then, we carefully observe the system to ensure everything is thriving.

So, your shrimp and snail aren't fully grown when you get them.

Don't worry! The animals will reach maturity at 4-6 months of age.

The shrimp will get about an inch in length, and have vivid coloration.

The snails will get to be an inch or more in diameter, and the coloration and other characteristics will be more apparent.

"Are you SURE I don't need to feed the shrimp?"

** The main problem with shrimp keeping, aside from the water, is overfeeding. They will keep right over if given too much food!
Believe me, I've done it!

The amount a shrimp needs to survive each day is miniscule. If you watch, you'll notice that the shrimp and snail are always moving around. The shrimp can be seen "harvesting" the algea with it's front feet.

There is plenty of food available for your animals in your NanoNano.


"Don't I have to air it out or something?"


** That's the beauty of the NanoNano system!
ABSOLUTELY NO CARE REQUIRED!!!
Aside from the occasional dusting, nothing needs to be done.


"Do I need to add water?"

**Please DON'T add water!

The NanoNano system is specially created with exactly the right parameters to assure it will thrive.

Adding ANYTHING to your NanoNano system will void the warranty, and most likely cause the system to fail.


"Can I add fish?"


** We've found that fish create a lot of waste that can quickly overwhelm the ecosystem. They are better suited to a larger aquascape. We'd be happy to help you design and set up your dream aquatic garden! Drop us an email.

"Why does it cost so much? It's just a bottle and stuff!"


**The smaller NanoNano has 2-4 species of plant, a shrimp and a snail, plus the specifically formulated stratum and a mineral rock.
To make this yourself would cost:
Bottle: $1
Plants ($5 ea) $10
Shrimp (live fish store) $15
Snail (live fish store) $12
Stratum (5 oz) $10
Mineral stone $5

Grand total----------> $43 plus tax
Not including water.

For the larger size, add another $15 for plants, $30 for shrimp.
Grand total----------> $88 plus tax.
Again, not including water!

"Can I put my NanoNano outside?"

**If placed out of direct sun, you can certainly enjoy your
NanoNano outside! Keep away from children and pets.
Do not leave outside if temperatures are below 60 at night.

Our services!

Our Services

We offer more than our NanoNano systems!

For you aquarium owners, we offer wide variety of unusual aquatic plants!

Picked for their beauty, color or flowers,  our plants will instantly transform your aquarium into a centerpiece!

Need ideas for your existing aquarium, or want an entire system design and set-up, contact us!

Pricing upon request.

Outdoor water gardens designs, fountains, filtration, mosquito control.

Did you know...??!?

It takes over a month to develop a NanoNano system!?

We prime each container with our own water, harvest the plants for each, mix the special stratum, and let sit. The animals are added, and the NanoNano system is observed daily to ensure everything is thriving and the NanoNano is ready to sell.

Since we breed our own animals, and cultivate our plants, supplies are limited.

ALL PROCEEDS GO TO OUR HORSE RESCUE, HAVEN EQUUS.

NanoNano REPLACEMENT POLICY

If the shrimp or snail should die within the 6 month Replacement Policy 

period, which begins at the time of purchase, NanoNano Inc.

 will replace the unit free of charge.

TO CONTACT US:

email: nanonanotanks@gmail.com

OR

     Check us out on Facebook at:  NanoNano aquatic systems

Creating a new NanoNano system

Welcome!

Thank you for purchasing a NanoNano system! All proceeds go toward our horse rescue, Haven Equus.

Our NanoNano systems are created here in Mariposa, CA.

We breed our own shrimp and snails, as well as cultivate our plants here, in the wonderful Sierra mountains!

The idea

I have always had some type of aquarium, even growing up. The trouble came with power outages, bad water, old animals, and the time and money  required to maintain the system! 

We run a horse rescue, Haven Equus. We bought a beautiful place, with acreage for the horses, and a small farm house for us.
My husband and I were newly married and

 had two households to blend and worked hard  to make it fit into a 800 square foot house. 

We missed having an aquarium. But we have no place for one, much less a dedicated electrical breaker and wiring for a good one.
And money!
Any additional money we have goes to our horse rescue.

Soooo....

I got the idea last winter to bring our outside pond plants and goldfish to overwinter inside.

It started with one 20 gallon plastic tote tub. Add in 2 water plants, and 5 goldfish. 

This was fun for a short while, watching the fish swim around. However, goldfish really foul up the water, and there is a huge amount of waste.

Soon, we noticed that the fish were tearing up the pond plants, so, tub #2 was introduced.

The plants went in one tub, gold fish in the other.

Algea started growing.

I bought some apple snails. The fish attacked the snails. 

The fish attacked the plants.

Goldfish are jerks.

So, goldfish go outside, back in the pond.

Half the apple snails go in one tub, half in the other.everyone seems happy.

I decide to add shrimp.

Then more plants. The pond plants overcrowd the tubs. Out they go!

Two tubs, both with apple snails. The shrimp like the apple snails alot. They really like the mucus the snails produce, and agitate the snails to produce more. Snails get stressed out, and there are runners of mucus in both tanks.

Rethink.

Bring in third tank.

Divide plants.

Add filtration and heaters. Seperate snails from shrimp.

Do more research.

Shrimp don't breed true with other colors of shrimp. Separate colors. Get new shrimp.

I delved into the aquarium world, specifically shrimp. I asked questions and observed. I learned about stratum, ph balances, minerals, and learned many lessons!

I learned about shrimp communal and societial behaviors.

They interact with one another, and seem to nurture the young.

The yellow shrimp have taken their jobs as nursery attendants seriously!

When an egg case is placed in the water to hatch, the shrimp will immediately swim over and start picking apart the calcium casing, freeing the snail fry within. As the fry grow, the shrimp continue to interact with the snails, swimming over to groom the shell of one or another. The fry aren't stressed, so it seems being raised with shrimp is working.

As wonderful as the tubs were, A) it was costing us money we should be using elsewhere! B) The tubs are in the bathroom. So, limited viewing potential.

(Yes, the bathroom! Inexplicably the largest room in our NanoNano house, it is also the only one with the electricity and water needed!)

I had seen small glass globes filled with water, a branch, a fish that sold for $100 and up.

I liked the idea, but it bothered me that it was completely enclosed, so when the animal died, you had a glass globes full of ew! It just bugged me.

 I had a few old milk bottles with lids lying around.
I play with strata and plants.
The first NanoNano system is created.

I catch a yellow shrimp and a tiny nehrite snail, some plants and substrate, and set it in a bright spot.

I make more, and my window sill looks like this:

The systems worked!

I made more.

I located gallon sized glass containers, and added more shrimp per system, and a wider variety of plants.

I had a small 5 gallon aquarium that had hard water deposits along the edges. I scrubbed it clean, added stratum, water and plants. I set in in a bright area, and let it "prime" for a few weeks before adding shrimp and snails.

I didn't add filtration or heat, just let the tank sit at room temperature, and exist.

I have done a few water changes, but as of today, that need seems to be waning quickly.

(The spot i placed the aquarium in gets a LOT of light, and that caused a bacterial bloom. Moving the tank wasn't an option, so water changes every few weeks brought the water to almost  crystal clear.)

Our mission?

Our hope is to bring these tiny tide pools to everyone!

There has been scientific research done on the benefits of watching an aquarium.

Your blood pressure quickly lowers, heartbeat slows, and you rela into a meditative phase.

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-33716589

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/07/150729215632.html

http://www.businessinsider.com/research-fish-aquariums-health-benefits-2015-8

https://phys.org/news/2015-07-aquariums-health-wellbeing-benefits.html

You get the picture.

I love doing this, AND I can finally express my artistic side!

Did you know...??!?

It takes over a month to develop a NanoNano system!?

We prime each container with our own water, harvest the plants for each, mix the special stratum, and let sit. The animals are added, and the NanoNano system is observed daily to ensure everything is thriving and the NanoNano is ready to sell.

Since we breed our own animals, and cultivate our plants, supplies are limited.

ALL PROCEEDS GO TO OUR HORSE RESCUE, HAVEN EQUUS.

What's inside your NanoNano system

Welcome!

Thank you for purchasing a NanoNano system! All proceeds go toward our horse rescue, Haven Equus.

Our NanoNano systems are created here in Mariposa, CA.

We breed our own shrimp and snails, as well as cultivate our plants here, in the wonderful Sierra mountains!

What IS a NanoNano system?

Any aquatic environment under 10 gallons is considered a nano tank.
Our NanoNano system is different from the standard aquarium in that the NanoNano is completely self sustaining. No outside interference except for bright light is required. Everything has been specifically engineered to work together to sustain the ecosystem.

PLEASE NOTE:

 To ensure that your NanoNano lasts as long as possible, young animals are used. They will grow to full size in a month or two.

Meet the fauna!

Our shrimp.
Since we breed our own animals, and cultivate our plants, supplies are limited.

The shrimp are the custodians  of the NanoNano. They can withstand a wide range of temperatures, and cohabitate well with the nehrite snails. They can live 1-3 years.
They grow to around an inch in length.
Shrimp have an exoskeleton, which it will moult every so often. The shrimp, snail and plants will eventually use up the components of the exoskeleton.

If you have the gallon sized NanoNano system, you have three shrimp, and under the right conditions, they may breed.
The males deposit sperm on the female, and she fertilizes her eggs. She then moves the eggs to under her tail, where she will incubate them. She will constantly fan them with her legs and tail to keep them oxygenated.
The babies hatch in about 3 weeks. The young, called "fry", are completely self reliant at birth.
They will hide in the Java moss until they are older, and can be seen interacting with the adults.
Shrimp seem to have social and community skills, and seem to work together.
We have yellow shrimp in our apple snail nursery tank. The shrimp will care for the egg sacs we deposit into the water for hatching. They turn the sacs, and pick away the calcium membrane to release the young snail fry. They seem to watch over the snail fry as well.

 red Sakura 

Neon yellow davidi fry

Red rilli

Our snails

Since we breed our own animals, and cultivate our plants, supplies are limited.

Our snails are specially chosen for their ability to eat algea at an amazing pace, an can remove hard water deposits from glass without a mark! These snails can get to the size of your thumbnail. They cannot breed in freshwater, but require salinity and high temperatures to breed. These snails can live 3+ years.

Horned nehrites

Tiger nehrites

Red, gold racer nehrites

∆*** DID YOU KNOW...???

Red racer nehrite snails are among the rarest snails on Earth? 
We're doing our best to get this species thriving here!



Meet the flora!


The plants
Since we breed our own animals, and cultivate our plants, supplies are limited.

Chosen for their eye catching beauty and uniqueness, our plants serve to oxygenate the water, reduce nitrates, and provide food as well as a surface for algea and biofilm to grow on.


Java fern

Narrow leaf Java fern

Mass planting of java fern

Beautiful by itself or in a mass planting, the vertical symetry of the long tapered leaves add interest to an aquatic ecosystem, as well as provide a surface for algea growth and a hiding place for shrimp and small fry. Java fern reproduces with new plants starting at the tips of mature bunches.

Brazilian pennywort

Brazilian pennywort

The sweet round, scalloped leaves with gentle tendrills of root of the pennywort provides food and a great algea growing surface. The pennywort grows slowly, with a new leaf budding at the end of the stem .

Java moss

Java moss

Java moss is a very important component of any aquatic environment. It acts as a living filter, catching debris and plankton in itsidelicate fronds. It supplies a safe space for berried females and for small fry.

Marimo moss

Marimo moss

Marimo moss is not a moss at all, but a colony of algea that grow together. These act as a water filter, and provide a wide variety of food for the shrimp fry.

Other plants
Since we breed our own animals, and cultivate our plants, supplies are limited.

*NOTE: The following plants do not come in our NanoNano systems. They ARE available for purchase.


Hairgrass

Hairgrass

A finely textured plant, hairgrass gives a fine visual accen. It provides shelter for small fry.

Flaming sword

Flaming sword

The flaming sword is a striking plant that grabs and holds attention. Large gently tapered leaves change color from green to purple to bright fall red. 

_***NOTE: This plant is not available in the nanNanoN systems curre. These plants may be purchased sepersepar.

Banana plant

Banana plant

Flowering banana plant

The banana plant is one of our favorites! An odd looking plant, the Lily pad shaped leaves are launched from the center of the plant on a  5"-8" long, fine stem. If the leaf becomes detached due to water movement, the detached leaf will start to grow roots and become a new plant. Banana plants are so named for the banana like tubers that appear at the base of the leaves. These tubers store nutrients and are actually not the root system, but act as more of a pantry.

Another wonder is the fact that this plant flowers as well, with a mallow  type bloom.

Anubis Nana

Anubis

Flowering anubis

Most water flora doesn't actually flower, but the anubis does!  Small white calla lily type flowers appear under the correct light and temperature.

ALL PROCEEDS GO TO OUR HORSE RESCUE, HAVEN EQUUS.

NanoNano REPLACEMENT POLICY

If the shrimp or snail should die within the 6 month Replacement Policy 

period, which begins at the time of purchase, NanoNano Inc.

 will replace the unit free of charge.

TO CONTACT US:

email: nanonanotanks@gmail.com

OR

Check us out on Facebook at:  NanoNano aquatic systems

What the heck IS that thing?!?

You may notice something in the NanoNano system that looks odd. Here are a few common sights you may see!

Red shrimp with exoskeleton

Shrimp have exoskeletons that they shed as they grow. The shed skin contains minerals the shrimp require, so the shrimp and snail will eventually eat it.

Hydra

Hydra

Hydra

Hydras are jellyfish--ike creatures that live in freshwater ponds and lakes. Hydras eat plankton and algea, and will not harmful adult shrimp, but do pose a threat to newly hatched fry. Generally, hydra will "root" on the side of the nanNanoN, or may settle on wide  leaves.

Water fleas

Water flea

Water flea

Water fleas, also known as water spangles, are of the family Cladocera. They can reproduce both by mating and by asexual reproduction. They eat plankton, and are a sign of a thriving ecosystem.

Cuttlebone

A pice of cuttlebone is added to each NanoNano system. It provides calcium and minerals essential to healthy shell and exoskeleton development. It also provides a fertile area for algea and biofilm to grow.

Tubifex worm

Tubifex worms

Tubifex worms are tiny reddish worms that occur in soil in ponds and natural waterways. Prized by aquarists as a prized food for fish, the works pose no problem in the ecosystem, and help digest the waste and plant matter the shrimp and snail don't eat. 

Instructions for the NanoNano system

Welcome!
Thank you for purchasing a NanoNano system! All proceeds go toward our horse rescue, Haven Equus.
Our NanoNano systems are created here in Mariposa, CA.
We breed our own shrimp and snails, as well as cultivate our plants here, in the wonderful Sierra mountains.

.

Place NanoNano in bright, INDIRECT light.

DO NOT PLACE IN DIRECT SUNLIGHT

Light allows algea to grow, 

which is what the animals eat. Your NanoNano should receive 6+ hours

 of bright light per day. 

If you notice algea on the glass, you are getting plenty of light. 

If the algea growth is heavy, there is too much light, and you will need 

to move the NanoNano to a less brightly lit area for a while to let the animals catch up and eat the excess.

Do NOT let the algea grow too much, as heavy algea

growth will change the pH balance in the NanoNano.

Keep your NanoNano in room temperatures between 60° 

and 80° F.  

Do NOT place your NanoNano on televisions, stereo equipment, 

fireplace mantels, near heating radiators, computer equipment, 

or anywhere it could get jostled or shaken.

Do NOT remove the  top of your NanoNano,  Do NOT feed the animals.feed the animals or change the water.

It is a 100% self sustaining ecosystem.

Do NOT add water to the NanoNano. The water inside is the ideal pH.

Water with different pH balance could change the delicate

balance of the ecosystem, and cause failure.

If the water gets very cloudy, take the top off

of your NanoNano, and sniff the water. If there

is a noticably disagreeable smell, the system has failed.

Contact us for replacement if still under warranty.

WHAT IS IN THE NanoNano?
(For pictures and info, read "What's in your NanoNano system" page)

The NanoNano contains shrimp, one snail,  plants,

manzanita, a fluvial and a calcium substrate.

All of the surfaces are places where 

micro-organisms and algae can attach themselves. 

The Manzanita branch keeps bacteria growth in check as well as

providing a fungus that shrimp love.

The substrate provides calcium and minerals the animals require 

for a heathy shell/exoskeleton. It also provides a rooting structure 

for the plants.

HOW DOES THE NanoNano WORK?

The NanoNano works on energy. It is a small 

biological battery, storing light energy converted biochemically. 

Light, together with carbon dioxide 

in the water, enables the algae to produce oxygen. 

The shrimp breathe oxygen in the water and eat the algae and

decaying plant matter. 

The snail eats biofilm, plant matter and algea, as well 

as any mineral buildup on the glass. The snail breaths air, and has 

a set of gills.

Waste matter is converted into food for the plants.

Bacteria break down the animal waste into nutrients which the mosses

and algae utilize. The shrimp, snail and bacteria also give off carbon 

dioxide that the algae use to produce oxygen.

DO THE ANIMALS AND PLANTS REPRODUCE?

Both the shrimp and snail need tropical temperature water

in order to reproduce. The snail may lay eggs on the branch, 

which look like tiny rice grains, but they will not hatch.

The plants may clone themselves.

HOW LONG WILL THEY LIVE?

The animals will live anywhere from 1-3 years.

CLEANING YOUR NanoNano

Wipe outside with soft towel and water.

Do NOT attempt to clean the inside!

WHAT IS THAT THING?

Occasionally, you may notice something odd in your

NanoNano.

The pale shrimp-like objects sometimes seen lying 

on the bottom of the NanoNano are exoskeletons. 

Shrimp wear their bones on the outside. As the shrimp

 grows, it moults it's old skin.

After the old exoskeleton is shed a new one expands 

and hardens. The shrimp will eat the shed exoskeleton.

You may see runners of mucus from the snail's meanderings.

The shrimp love this protein treat! It should dissipate 

within a few days.

WHAT IF THE SHRIMP OR SNAIL DIES?

 The most common causes for shrimp and snail 

death is too high a temperature or too 

much direct sunlight.

 Your NanoNano has a 6 month warranty. Should

the system fail, contact us and we will replace it 

FREE OF CHARGE. 

NanoNano REPLACEMENT POLICY

If the shrimp or snail should die within the 6 month Replacement Policy 

period, which begins at the time of purchase, NanoNano Inc.

 will replace the unit free of charge.

TO CONTACT US:

email: nanonanotanks@gmail.com

OR

Check us out on Facebook at:  NanoNano aquatic systems

ALL PROCEEDS GO TO OUR HORSE RESCUE, HAVEN EQUUS.