A Complete Guide on Setting up a Reef Tank

Ocean life is a beautiful and different world on the bed of the ocean or the seas. You must be willing to create your small aquarium at home. You can create a saltwater reef tank if you want to get the closest glimpse of ocean life. Generally, a reef tank is a saltwater aquarium with many corals and saltwater fish. It makes the aquarium look like a coral reef in the sea.

Before making a reef tank, you must do some research about the species on their wilderness and getting along with other fish. Some species of fish are predators, while others become hunted. While seeking shelter from the predators, often time’s fishes hide behind the reefs and the environment. You have to create an environment for the fish where they will stay together in harmony and not obstruct each other.

A reef tank mainly consists of live rock and fish, and the whole thing requires a filtration system and higher-quality lighting. Perfect lighting is necessary to keep the fishes in the tank happy. This entire process can be menacing for beginners.

This article is perfect for you if you have never owned an aquarium of any type. The post provides a complete guide on setting up of reef tank that includes, which fishes go well, which container is better and will also share some detailed insights on setting up a reef tank.

• Consider Aquarium size

Depending on your personal preferences, the first thing you will have to consider is picking the right aquarium size. You can go for at least 30 gallons or 55-gallon tank if you are not acquainted with the size of the container. The larger tank allows you to more freedom and does not even overstock the population in the tank. Beginners who consider purchasing small tanks of size 10 gallons to 30 gallons end up creating an overpopulated container. Due to this, fishes struggle to get their living space. Smaller reservoirs are complicated in water chemistry and the amount of water compared to the larger containers. Therefore, if you are a beginner, try going for a larger box for better management of the fishes.

• Aquarium filter

An essential aspect of setting up an excellent functional tank is the filtration system. Your filter screen must be strong enough to eliminate the impurities from the water and make the fishes healthy and happy. A good filter will also exempt you from cleaning the tank very often. When considering the giant size aquarium, you should go with a filter screen that is suitable for 100 gallons of water. Though it is a bit higher than required, it is going to prove beneficial in the future.

• Lighting in the aquarium

The next important step in setting up your aquarium is good quality lighting. Make sure for larger tanks; you have adequate lighting. It helps to keep the fish happy and recreate the conditions of real-life saltwater areas. Do not save money on cheap lighting, which can result in more costly maintenance charges in the future. There is much sturdy and long-lasting lighting in an online marine aquarium store. Be sure of providing the best quality lighting for your tank.

• Right Salt Mix

The salt mix is a mixture of ingredients that must be mixed into the water to make it appropriate for a reef tank. The proper blend helps in getting a close resemblance to the saltwater conditions. The salt mix must contain three essential ingredients, and those are calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity ingredients. The combination must also include some minerals. Calcium allows the corals to develop their shells correctly and build stony skeletons. Saltwater is considered as alkaline; therefore, there must be enough elements of alkaline in the water.

• Live rock

Live rocks are not only the decoration piece but also play a significant role in helping the fish settle quickly in your tank while also providing minerals to the water. Aragonite Natural rocks have natural holes. It is a great décor piece that provides some natural filtration and reduces nitrates in your water, making it more appropriate for the fish.

• Including corals and livestock

Choosing livestock and coral is the most exciting task. It is your choice in the selection of fish and types of corals you want to include in your tank. It is essential to research about some of the characteristics of fish like behavior, attention, and time. It might go wrong if you do not pay attention to this detail. As far as corals and other decorations are concerned, there are many online coral stores for your needs. Pick according to your choice, keeping in mind that they are not too large and neither too small for your tank. The only thing you have to keep in mind is to give enough space for the fishes to live.

• Cycling reef tank

Tank cleaning must be an essential part of your task. There must be regular maintenance checks, and cycling the water should be your top priority. Washing will help prevent harmful bacteria from developing in the water. Even with the effective filtration system, it is essential to cycling the water regularly. Fishes produce debris and waste regularly, and water cycling can get rid of that. Also, you can eliminate the ammonia, nitrate, and nitrites in the water. Cycling is an integral part of cleaning the water and making it appropriate for the fishes to live.

• Water heater

Proper heating for the fish is also necessary. Making a favorable temperature of water for the fish is essential to keep them happy and healthy. You should check the water temperature regularly to know the temperature preference of your fish. When you are placing the tank in a cold region where there is no adequate sunlight, it is crucial to set up a water heater. Also, keep in mind the temperature does not get too high; this can also hurt the fish.

Conclusion

This article might have given you enough information on getting started with your new reef tank. I hope you get started on it right away if you need any help with corals you can buy coral frags online.