What Do I Need To Start A Coral Reef Tank?

What Do I Need To Start A Coral Reef Tank And What To Know

Freshwater aquariums are stunning and require some work to keep them in good condition. Saltwater aquariums are even more beautiful as their freshwater counterparts, but they require more effort to maintain. When you go to your local pet shop, you will notice that saltwater varieties are more expensive. Before you start this hobby, it is important to consider the cost. When your $3 goldfish dies it’s one thing, but when you lose your $35 or $100 fish, you might be reluctant to buy a new one.

The monthly costs of running a saltwater aquarium, if properly maintained and set up, can be hundreds of dollars. It doesn’t mean you can’t keep a small and inexpensive fish tank. If you’re not prepared to spend the time and money necessary to get it right, you should avoid this expensive and beautiful aquatic hobby.

It takes a lot to maintain and plan a saltwater tank, but it can be a fascinating hobby to observe. You don’t have to be intimidated by costs or work involved in maintaining a saltwater tank. It can be a fun, rewarding and educational hobby.

If you decide to invest in this fun and rewarding hobby, you should know that your saltwater aquarium’s success will be largely dependent on how well you understand your system, its inhabitants, and the attention you give it.

Plan ahead before you start. Whether you are setting up a brand new aquarium, changing an existing freshwater tank to saltwater or upgrading a fish tank to a coral tank, planning is essential. Then, start assembling your system. Research all the different system designs available and what supplies and equipment are required for each.

Here is a list with the most basic components required to set up a saltwater aquarium:

• Tank
• Stand by
• Canopy (cover for tank)
• Filtration system
• Protein skimmer
• Backup power supply
• Substrate
• Lights

TANK AND STAND

The size of the tank is important for stability. The larger the tank, the longer it will take to change it. This is true for many things.

A beginner saltwater aquarium should not be less than 55-60 gallons. Two main reasons:

1. Lack of stability (changes are too rapid) and cost to setup a smaller tank.
2. The cost of livestock is the same for both tanks, so there are no savings.

You may not have as much success with a small tank, so you might not continue this hobby and graduate to a larger tank. The larger tank is easier to maintain, and you will be more likely to stick with it if you start with a bigger tank.

Tanks are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and materials. The majority of fish shops will have a standard line of tanks in sizes ranging from 10 to 100 gallons. Shapes range from square to hexagon, and oblong to rectangular. Acrylic tanks are the new trend. In the past, glass tanks were the most popular. Acrylic tanks are stronger because they use solvent to bond the corners instead of silicone. Acrylic tanks are harder to clean, because algae can be difficult to remove. Acrylic tanks are also very scratch-prone. However, you can polish them out, unlike a glass tank. The choice will come down to personal preference.

The stand must be strong enough to support the weight of the “filled” tank with all its equipment. The stand shouldn’t wobble or be in a place where it could be bumped. While wood stands are strong, they can be damaged by spilled liquids when cleaning or feeding fish.

FILTERING SYSTEM

Two of the most common methods for filtration in marine aquariums are “under-gravel combined with a canister” and “external trickle wet/dry filters”.

Filters under-gravel or canisters have been used for over 30 years. They are easy to install and work well. Over the years, canister filters have evolved to be much more than just a mechanical filter. These filters combine mechanical, biological, and chemical filters in one compact package. A single canister unit is simple and efficient. It can solve all your filtration requirements.

The plumbing requirements for Wet/Dry trickle filters are more complex, but their effectiveness is much higher. These “Trickle” or Wet/Dry Filters are very simple devices that increase the amount of DO (dissolved oxygen) in tank water. These filters are very popular among saltwater aquarium hobbyists. They are also easy to install.

All aquariums have a tendency to accumulate various organic compounds such as proteins and enzymes at the surface. These compounds create a layer that prevents gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide from being transferred between the water and atmosphere. A box or pipe is placed in the middle or corner of the aquarium. The Overflow can be angled upwards or rise from the bottom of the aquarium. The Overflow allows water to be skimmed or dropped into the surface of the tank. This removes the organic layer and allows the tank to breath. The water from the Overflow is routed down the Wet Dry Trickle Filter system and out the bottom.

Acrylic tanks with canister filters and under-gravel filtering have slots along the back of the tank, at the top edge, to allow for the power filter, canister filters, airlines and power cords.

If you have a glass tank or if you have one already, but do not wish to drill holes into it, there are external overflow systems. These units are made up of a surface skimming box that is sunk into the water and allows the surface water to drain off. This External unit draws the skimmed-off water from the skimmer as the water fills it. It then sends the water over the edge of your aquarium and into the pre-filter.

The external system is more complex and requires more maintenance. This is because the siphon tubes are prone fill with air. This can affect the flow of water all the way to the return pump or stop it from siphoning.

In the Overflow Box or External Overflow one can place a filtering media such as a spiral pad to separate out or trap the large debris pieces that are drawn into overflow system. The mechanical filtration is the first filtration type. This media, called a ‘prefilter’, is used to separate or trap large pieces of debris that are drawn into the overflow system. Mechanical filtration uses a media to trap particles while allowing water to pass. This pre-filter must be replaced or cleaned on time.

The Under gravel or Canister Filter approach has a glass tank with a plastic strip that can be easily cut to fit the canister filter, the power filter, the airline, and the power cords.

PROTEIN SKIMMERS

The second most important part of a healthy marine system is protein skimming. There are systems which claim to be “skimmer free”, but DOC (dissolved organic compounds), phenol oil, and other yellowing agents can cause a nuisance. Only a active protein skimmer will eliminate this. Protein skimmers remove biological waste before it is processed by your biological filter.