Reef Aquarium Or Marine Aquarium?

A fish tank has seemingly become an important staple for any household. Many homes have fish tanks; some have smaller fish tanks with only a few fish, while others have large tanks with a large amount of fish, plants, and accessories. A type of tank that many people do not consider having, however, is a Reef Aquarium.

Many people, however, do not even know what a Reef Aquarium is. A Reef Aquarium is different than a normal fish tank in the sense that it puts the focus of the tank on the live coral reef living in the tank, as well as the small fish that live in and around that coral.

What is a Reef Aquarium?

Reef Aquariums are different than a marine aquarium in the sense that a marine aquarium focuses on the fish, and the coral aquarium, or Reef Aquarium, focuses on the live coral reef itself. Fish and other things such as rocks and plants do find their way into a Reef Aquarium, but the main purpose of the tank is to showcase the coral, as it is an interesting and beautiful organism. The Reef Aquariums are saltwater, as that is the water from the sea that they thrive in.

The Reef Aquariums come in different sizes. While there are regular sizes, those that are less than 40 gallons are often referred to as Nano Reef tanks. Those under 20 may have another name, such as "pico reefs". Pico reefs are the smallest reef available. It is important to note that the smaller the tank, the more work that is needed in the upkeep of the tank as far as water and cleaning is concerned.

Things that are Found in a Reef Aquarium

A Reef Aquarium focuses on the live coral reef itself, so you know that you will be able to find that in any Reef Aquarium that you come across. The coral is not the only living thing in the tank, however; there are plenty of other interesting things to be found. While other types of coral may be found in the tank (like leather coral), there are other types of fish and seal life that are beneficial through looks, and to the ecosystem. Marine fish, maxima clams, and arrow crabs are only a few of the many additions that could be put into any tank. Some people may have seen seahorse aquariums; seahorses are things that can actually be found in a Reef Aquarium.

Taking Care of a Reef Aquarium

A Reef Aquarium requires a lot of maintenance; often, this maintenance is more intense than a normal type of marine aquarium. One thing that is required for a full functioning Reef Aquarium and aquarium ecosystem is a protein skimmer. This skimmer takes care of the organic material that can not be taken care of by a normal filtration system; the living coral, and other life in the Reef Aquarium almost make a protein skimmer a requirement.

Taking care of the water in a Reef Aquarium is also important, as the coral can wind up being very sensitive to its surroundings. PH and temperature are two things that should always be checked and kept relatively consistent.

Other Things to Know About Reef Aquariums

There are other things that are important to a Reef Aquarium. Sand used at the bottom of the tank is very important; aragonite sand is the best type of sand to use.

Also, one thing to watch out for in terms of life is the aggressive fish that may live in the tank; these fish can tear up the other fish in the tank, and the live coral, causing issues and destruction with your Reef Aquarium.