Reef Aquarium-- The Bare Basics of Setting Up a Reef Tank Aquarium

If you are getting bored with your plain old salt water tank, then building a reef aquarium may be the way to go!  A mini reef tank is an aquarium that contains fish, coral, invertebrates, plants and "live rock".  Because of the abundance of life, reef aquariums can be more beautiful than a marine aquarium that only contains fish and coral skeletons.  However, creating and maintaining  a saltwater reef tank is not easy and requires much research and planning before diving in.  This article addresses the basics of setting up the equipment of a reef aquarium as well as the type of organisms recommended for a beginner reef tank aquarist.

Setting up a reef aquarium can be both challenging and expensive, so it is imperative that you are prepared with research and planning beforehand. Setting up and maintaining a reef tank is a huge responsibility, and you can have a direct impact on the life and death of your aquatic organisms. Ultimately researching every aspect of reef tank care can not only save the lives of your fish and invertebrates, but avoid wasting money. I highly recommend reading a variety specialized books and websites to understand exactly what you would be getting into.

Creating a reef tank may get pricey, starting with a minimum start-up cost of $1300 (not including plants and animals). You will need the following to set up your saltwater reef aquarium:

• Aquarium tank
• Filter
• Sand
• Live rock
• Lights
• Hydrometer
• Water testing kits (pH, calcium, alkalinity, mineral level in water)
• Food, nets, and scrapers
• Water movement heads
• Protein skimmer
• Quarantine tank
• Reverse Osmosis filtration system
• Refugium

The first step of planning a new tank is determining what type of animals you want to have. The size, shape, and species of the animals will help determine the height, length, and depth of the tank you will need. It is best to choose species that are compatible and would be found in the same area of the natural habitat. Mixing species from different parts of a natural coral reef may cause unforeseen problems down the line.

Next, you will need to determine the lighting set up based on the aquatic animals you wish to have. Research the types of light needed for each individual organism to make sure that the animals you want can actually be together.

Once you have done your research and planning, you can start setting up your tank. The first thing you want to do is choose an area in your home where you want the tank to be. Try to avoid setting a tank in front of a window or direct sunlight to prevent overheating and algae overgrowth. You should buy the largest tank that your space and budget will allow. Generally, the bigger the tank, the better. When choosing a space, keep in mind that a tank weighs between 8-12 pounds a gallon, which can quickly add up.

Once you have your tank located in the perfect spot, it's time to test it for leaks. To test, partially fill the tank with tap water and run all the pumps. You also will need to determine the maximum level of water that can be in your sump before overflowing. Once your tank passes the test, fill it up with artificial seawater. Create the seawater by filling the tank about 2/3 full of reverse osmosis or dechlorinated tap water. Add aquarium sea salt to the water according to the manufacturers instructions.

The next steps you will need to do is add live rock to the bottom of the tank, clean and add the sand, and adjust the water flow. Then you will set up the light system, sump, refugium, and protein skimmer. Once you have everything in your tank up and running, you will slowly add cleaning animals and fish. Coral and anemones should be added when your tank is a few months old.

For extensive step-by-step aquarium reef tank setup instructions, click here.

The very first organisms you will need to add to your saltwater reef aquarium are the cleaner creatures.  The clean-up crew will help to maintain the cleanliness of the tank by cleaning up detritus, keeping algae under control, and sifting through the sand.  Some popular cleaner fish/animals include nassarius snails, turbo snail, emerald crab, skunk cleaner shrimp, and peppermint shrimp.  You should have at least one snail per gallon and one crab per four gallons.

Selecting fish is one of the most important and exciting aspects of starting a reef aquarium.  There are a variety of fish readily available at your local pet store, but be prepared to shell out extra cash for tropical fish.  You should choose fish that appear to be vibrant, active, and healthy.  Try to avoid fish with torn fins, strange marks, lumps or spots.

Good beginner fish for your tank can include:

• Angelfish
• Bicolor, tail spot and linear blenny
• Cardinalfish
• Clownfish
• Gobies and Dartfish
• Pseudochromis and basslets
• Tangs and foxfaces
• Wrasses

Good beginner coral that should be added after a few months of setting up your tank can include:

• Mushroom and leather coral
• Sea mat and button polyps
• Star polyps, green star polyps, and daisy polyps
• Finger leather and colt
• Toadstool, leather and mushroom
• Close and dented brain