As we have mentioned before, one of the most common questions among aquarium hobbyists is How to start a reef aquarium?The important thing is not to simply ask yourself how to start it, since that is the least complicated, but if you will really have the patience needed to wait for the tank to mature. The maturation process is key to a healthy reef aquarium.
Many people with experience in freshwater aquariums tend to transfer that knowledge directly to a saltwater aquarium. This often leads to mistakes, such as introducing fish too early. Reefs are a complex and delicate ecosystem that requires a very different approach. Below we will explain Step by step how to build your own reef tank so you can enjoy the wonderful world of marine aquariums.
Materials Needed to Start Your Marine Aquarium
The first thing you need and cannot forget are the essential materials. These are the basic ones required:
- Silicone without fungicide: Avoid using any silicone that includes anti-mold products or antiseptic agents, as these can be fatal to fish.
- Glass: The choice of glass type and thickness is essential. It will depend on the height and length of the aquarium you want to build to avoid deformations or breakages. It is important to find the balance point, since too high a thickness distorts the view, while too low a thickness increases the chances of breakage.
- Acetone: Use it to remove any grease or dirt residue from the edges of the glass before sealing it with silicone.
- Special sandpaper for glass: Necessary to polish the sharp edges of the glass, thus avoiding cuts and improving the adhesion of the silicone.
- aluminum profiles (optional): If you want greater reinforcement and a more aesthetic design on the edges of your aquarium, you can use this material.
Gluing and Mounting the Aquarium
Before you start gluing the glass, make sure that all the edges are well polished with glass sandpaper. This will not only protect you from accidents when handling the material, but also ensures better adhesion of the silicone, since an uneven or contaminated surface will make perfect gluing difficult.
The next step is Clean all edges of the glass with acetone. This step is crucial to remove any grease, dust or dirt residue that may interfere with the adhesion of the silicone. Be careful to let the acetone evaporate completely before you start gluing.
If any of the crystals don't adhere properly, you could be facing a major leak. You don't want to have a filtration problem where water (and possibly fish) ends up outside of the tank.
Glass VS Acrylic for Your Aquarium
One of the biggest debates among aquarium hobbyists is whether to build an aquarium with glass or acrylic. Both materials have their advantages and disadvantages, and the choice will largely depend on your needs and preferences.
- Glass: It is cheaper and more scratch-resistant than acrylic. In addition, it does not deform over time due to its rigidity. However, glass is noticeably heavier than acrylic.
- Acrylic: It is lighter than glass and can be a great choice when weight is an important consideration. However, its biggest disadvantage is that it scratches easily, which can be a problem in the long run.
If you decide to use glass, remember that the thickness of the glass will vary depending on the size of the aquarium you plan to build.
Location of the Aquarium
One of the first things you need to consider is where you will place your saltwater aquarium. The site should have certain characteristics to avoid problems later on. Here are some key tips:
- Avoid direct sunlight: Direct exposure to sunlight can encourage excessive algae growth and may also increase water temperatures.
- Adequate space and ventilation: Make sure there is enough room to maneuver around the aquarium and to place the necessary equipment.
- Make sure it supports the weight: A fully assembled aquarium can be extremely heavy. Make sure that the stand your aquarium will be placed on is capable of supporting the weight of both the tank and the water, rock and substrate.
- Exhibition site: Finally, consider that the aquarium will be an important decorative piece, so choose a place where visitors can appreciate it.
Creator of Current and Filtration
Water movement is crucial in a marine aquarium, especially one with reef corals. In its natural environment, water is constantly moving, bringing in fresh nutrients and removing waste. Therefore, installing a circulation pumps simulating ocean currents is essential.
You will also need to purchase a protein skimmer o skimmer. This device filters out most organic waste (such as leftover food and fish waste) before it decomposes. This waste, if not removed, can lead to elevated levels of ammonia and other toxic compounds.
Also, many fans use living rock, which serves as a natural biological filter. Live rock is home to beneficial bacteria that aid in the nitrogen cycle and other natural processes.
Lighting Installation
For a reef aquarium, lighting is a vital factor. Corals and other photosynthetic organisms depend on proper lighting to survive and grow. It is advisable to use high-power lamps such as HQI or fluorescent tubes T5, which emit light suitable for corals.
Lighting in an aquarium is not only aesthetic, but also functional, allowing photosynthesis in organisms such as zooxanthellae, which are essential in corals. It is recommended that lighting have a color temperature of 10.000 K or higher to mimic the natural sun of the reef.
Water Parameters for your Reef Aquarium
Before introducing fish or corals, you need to make sure that the water parameters are correct. Seawater has very different characteristics to freshwater. Some aspects to keep an eye on are:
- Salinity: It should be maintained between 33 to 35 grams of salt per liter of water, which is equivalent to a density of 1.024 to 1.026.
- Temperature: Most marine aquariums require a stable temperature of between 24 and 26ºC.
- pH: The pH level should be kept stable between 8.0 and 8.4.
- Football: Corals need calcium to form their skeletons. The calcium level should be between 400 and 450 mg/L.
- Magnesium: Keep this parameter around 1250-1350 mg/L for a balanced aquarium.
Adding Fish and Corals
It is important wait for the aquarium to cycle properly before adding fish or corals. The nitrogen cycle, which takes about 4 to 6 weeks, is essential for converting toxic substances into less harmful ones, such as ammonia into nitrites and then into nitrates.
During the first month, we recommend that you introduce resistant species and low cost, like the fish of the family Pomacentridae, which tolerate the initial fluctuations of the aquarium better. Corals and other more delicate invertebrates should be introduced once the aquarium has fully matured.
Marine Aquarium Maintenance
A marine aquarium needs regular maintenance to ensure that the water conditions are safe for its inhabitants. This includes:
- Regular water change: Changing 10-20% of the water every two weeks keeps nitrate and other compound levels stable.
- Equipment review: Equipment such as the skimmer or movement pumps must be cleaned regularly to ensure proper operation.
- Monitoring water parameters: Using test kits to measure salinity, pH, calcium, nitrates, etc. levels is vital to maintaining optimal conditions for fish and corals.
As your aquarium matures and grows, you will be able to experiment with different types of corals and more complex fish, making your tank even more spectacular and varied.
hello, I have a telescope and a dorado I think, in a 10-liter aquarium but for more than a year and they have grown a lot, I want to make them a big massss myself since we want to have more. at the beginning there were 5 but they were dying. I want to know what you recommend, what plants I can put in it, where I live the temperature drops to 10 or 8 degrees, sometimes the water feels very cold. Every 15 days I take them to a bucket with new water with their treatment to wash the aquarium since it gets very dirty. What vegetables can I give you?
what a shame so many questions. I really liked your page!