Starting a Reef Aquarium

This helpful link will ease you to make the right steps towards your new reef 

1- Choose your aquarium size

2- Equipment needed: 

• Skimmer (optional) Removes excess organic waste.
• Water circulation pump keeping constant movement in the aquarium.
• Phosphate Reactor, Helps keep your phosphate levels low, wich will control algae growth 
• Heater.
• Lighting, recreates the suns natural light for  coral growth and color.
• RODI,(reverse osmosis deionized water)  tap water contains harmful minerals and other contaminants, such as chlorine, chloramines, pesticides, nitrates and more. This system filters your source water and allows your reef to prosper on a long run.

3- Sand (personal choice) Absorbs micro particles that are floating in water.
Rocks, (Live rock, base rock or ceramic) Helps filter the water and makes hiding places for bacteria and pods to reproduce.

4- Add bacteria to help your system cycle much faster.

5- PATIENCE! The cycle must be completed before adding life to the aquarium
because this step is toxic for fish, corals and will harm them.
(It is completely normal that the sand, rocks and windows get brownish algae on them.)

6- Add pods, adding pods at this stage will help with the settle in and creating a reproductive habitat before any predators arrive.

7- Clean-up crew,  they eat the leftover food that falls on the sand, rocks, instead of them decomposing and raising nitrates and phosphates levels. They
also eat algae off of rocks.

• 1 Hermit Crab per 2 Gallons of water
• 1 Snail per 4 gallons of water
• EX: You have 60 gallons; you will need 30 Hermits and 15 snails.

8- 7 to 10 days after the clean-up crew cleaned your rocks and sand you may start with your first fish. It is recommended to start with hardy species.

9- The week after, you can add your corals