Reef tanks fish profiles

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Reef tanks are usually kept at a temperature between 25 and 27 °C (75-80 ºF). Reef tanks can be

beautiful and exotic and for some a piece of nature. The primary filtration for reef aquariums usually

comes from the use of large amounts of live rock which come from various rubble zones around

existing reefs. Researchers are finding that saltwater fish aquariums have therapeutic health benefits.

The tanks are usually constructed from either glass or acrylic. With advances in modern aquariums

it's recently became possible to have a piece of coral reef at home and enjoy it in the privacy of your

living room without getting wet with saltwater aquarium. A reef aquarium or reef tank is an aquarium

containing saltwater fish, corals and other animals associated with coral reefs. Unlike the marine

aquarium, the main purpose of which is to house various types of fish, the true stars of the reef tank are

the coral and other invertebrates. As the aquariums we maintain contain more and more diverse animal

life, the need for more complete additives becomes more of a necessity, and the make-up of these

additives has to be more geared to the new type of aquariums, in order to satisfy the requirements of all

the animal life we now keep. Water movement is important in the reef aquarium with different types of

coral requiring different flow rates. Building water momentum using a gyre is an efficient method to

increase flow, thus benefiting coral respiration and photosynthesis. Some corals such as the

Mushroom Coral and Coral Polyps require very little light to thrive – conversely, LPS coral such as

Brain coral, Bubble Coral and Elegance Coral require moderate amounts of light, and Small Polyp

Stony Corals (SPS) such as Acropora Coral and Montipora  require high intensity lighting. Stony

corals, which are defined by their calcerous calcium carbonate skeletons (CaCO3), are the focus

of many advanced reef keepers. These corals require additional attention to water chemistry,

especially maintenance of stable and optimal calcium, carbonate, and pH levels. A reef aquarium

requires strong and direct lighting, water movement, and more stable water chemistry than fish-only

aquarium.

Photo by: KAISER_T

Nano reefs are very commonly sold as complete kits which contain the tank, stand,

power compact T5, T8, PL lamps or Metal Halide lighting, protein skimmer, UV sterilizer, 3 or

more stage filtration, a heater and a water pump or power head. However, many Nano reef

keepers decide to upgrade their aquariums with better quality equipment such as a more powerful

protein skimmer or lighting. These tiny tanks require even more diligence with regard to water

changes and attention to water chemistry because the small water volume provides little room for error. 

Care must be exercised when stocking these tiny tanks because too many inhabitants can easily

overload the tank's ability to process wastes effectively.