Coral Reef Care Tanks Aquarium
When you want to create that aquarium for your dreams, you might be tempted to buy the most
beautiful, rare species of fish and the more expensive crustaceans or shrimp. Creating a whole
underwater world alive with incredible color and brilliance seems appealing. However, this
probably is not the best place to start for beginning your aquarium hobby.
Aquariums that contain coral reefs require far more care and attention than just the freshwater
or saltwater tanks do. Usually, freshwater fish can handle variation in water temperature and pH
better than other marine species and are therefore a better place to begin. Unless, you are a
really interested in the hobby and have a lot of experience, you probably should not try to start a
coral reef aquarium.
It may take several months before the right water pH is reached and the correct lighting and
water temperature is set. Begin the process by adding sea salt available at many pet stores to
regular tap water.
You will want to have the salinity of the tank at a point between 1.023 and 1.004.For optimum
temperature for a coral reef aquarium, keep it between 75 degrees and 79.The pH is the most
important part of the whole process. The ideal pH level for a tank like this is between 8.3 and
8.4.
Testing kits for pH can be bought online or from your local pet store. The pet store will also have
chemicals that can be used to adjust the pH levels in the tank. Because there is not a lot of
room for error in the ph level, it is very important that you be patient and get are the parts
correct. Otherwise, a mistake will be quite costly.
Do not under any circumstances add marine life to the tank until everything is perfectly in order.
After everything is perfectly ready, introduce the anemones and clown fish. That's right start out
with Nemo. He and the anemones are the toughest of the reef dwelling species.
Keep a very close eye on the wildlife and look for signs of stress of any kind. Stress manifests
itself mostly in the sickness of the fish. These creatures have been taken directly from their
native habitat and placed in your tank so it may be while before they are totally acclimated to the
new environment.
Another major cause of stress is overcrowding. Permit about 10 gallons of water for every inch
of fish, being careful to take into account the final size of the fish, rather than it's size when
purchased.
The time is takes for the fish to show signs of sickness is about 30 days. After a month or so, if
everything is OK and the fish seem well-adjusted, then you may begin to add new forms of
marine life. When adding new species to the tank, be careful to choose them based on how
compatible they will be with other creatures in the tank.
For example, a mandarin fish or dwarf angel fish may be a good fish to add in with the clown
fish because they get along pretty well. The fish must also be compatible with the water
temperature and pH, but even more importantly, their food source must be compatible.
Ensure that current tank members have plenty of time to acclimate to their new home and their
new tank mates. The best way to build a great marine life aquarium is to do a lot of research
into what creatures are compatible with your existing collection.
With time and effort, you will have a great aquarium that you can be proud of.
