Reef Tanks

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

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