Reef Aquarium Setup

Reef aquarium is a fish tank that sports live corals and marine invertebrates along with reef friendly fish types that are important to maintain the coral reef environment. A saltwater reef aquarium setup at home is actually a great and expensive idea to fantasize. A reef system demands a consistent water supply with a great water quality. This thing makes the reef aquarium a 'VIP' choice that is not for everyone. Still, if you have decided to design your own aquarium, you are always welcome for the 'courage' you are showing.

If one learns proper management techniques to maintain the beautiful colors, shapes, sizes, numbers and patterns of algae, then it is very easy to set up the reef aquarium. Though a part of marine aquaria, care and maintenance for reef aquarium is far more different from ordinary saltwater aquariums. Reef aquarium requires appropriate lighting, constant water flow and third and most importantly, the reef animals that you decide to select for your aquarium.

Reef Aquarium Setup

Here are several priceless tips for those who are wondering how to set up a reef aquarium.

Light
Light is the key factor in your marine aquarium. Light setting depends upon what kind of photosynthetic animals you have decided to bring for the aquarium. Try and arrange a full spectrum fluorescent lights. This will take care about the intensity and quality of the light. To increase system brightness and visual value of the aquarium, fix metal halides and such novel illuminations. To set up lights in the reef aquarium, one has to have detailed study of the reef life and see what animals live near the water surface, as they need more bright light. The animals that live deep down the water surface will surely require less light, it is very important to plan the positions of the lights, accordingly. You can also use natural lighting if possible.

Filters
Water filtration in the aquarium is a must as the filters will let the water swirl and they will cause mixing of air and calcareous materials into the water which are important for most of the photosynthetic reef, especially planktonic algae. Maintain high pH levels, redox, conductivity with no chemical nutrients like ammonia, phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, phenols and cresols, etc. You will have to maintain the same oceanic water currents into the aquarium as it is the basic thing for the organisms to web, absorb, net, distribute and accumulate, etc. So, make sure that the artificial filters that you install are vigorous and have the capacity to remove excess chemicals and materials from the water.

Water Circulation
There are many sub types of the reef aquarium systems, such as a cold water aquarium, but in all types of reef aquarium setups, energetic water circulation is what is necessary. Always remember that reef organisms are stimulated with heavily circulated water flow. Also, heavy water movements also diffuse and distributes oxygen and other materials like waste. So, it is always necessary to maintain good water circulation for a healthy and quality aquarium.

Live Rock
This is the basis on which the fish tank will be called reef aquarium. Use calcareous rocks or sand as it meliorates the life of the reef aquarium, physically as well as chemically. Water pH gets buffered by this calcareous matter and hence, the water becomes more nutrient free (this is the normal biological process). One can decide to add almost any reef organism into the aquarium. People popularly add octopus, sponges, mantis shrimp and several kinds of fish to their aquariums. Breeds like fire corals, fire-worms and mantis shrimp are the most desirable reef organisms. Always remember that the live rock and sand are an inevitable part of a living reef aquarium setup.

Maintenance of the Aquarium

Once you know how to set up a reef aquarium, you must also digest the tips to maintain the aquarium. A functional aquarium processes metabolites to non-noxious forms, quite easily. Always remember and understand the connection between the water circulation and the introduction of the aquarium fish into the system. Make sure you install the protein skimmers into your reef aquarium and that too before the introduction of any livestock to the tank. After making sure that all the filters and water circulation is working correctly, for a week, put the livestock and the sand into the reef aquarium. Before putting the sand and the livestock into the reef aquarium, make sure to dip them, for a while, into clean seawater.

You will have to wait for more than 2 weeks for the organisms to get accustomed with the setup and to start eating and living together. After the initial livestock gels up nicely with the setup, think of adding some more algae and fish into it. A perfectly installed aquarium is actually totally maintenance free. Still, being an average reef aquarium holder, one has to spend a few weekly hours in maintaining water chemistry, feeding the livestock and just playing around without setting any time limits!

Those who don't think they can carry the full-fledged reef aquariums can always go for the nano setup that is smaller in size, less expensive, and easy to maintain as well. You can also join the free online reef keeper groups and participate in the conversations in order to keep yourself updated.