Having a slice of ocean in my living room
has always been my dream.
It’s beautiful, relaxing,
and more fun to stare at than Netflix.
Guessing by the fact you’re here,
it’s probably your dream too.
I have some good news for you: It’s totally doable.
This guide is based on Red Sea's 30 years of experience
in creating artificial coral reefs,
so if you follow these steps,
you will be able to create a successful reef aquarium.
We’ll guide you step by step, give you the essential info,
and most importantly, steer you away
from common mistakes that cost time and money.
But before we begin with the practical side,
it’s important to understand the logic
behind running a saltwater aquarium,
so you can make informed decisions as you go along.
As you can see, this aquarium is home to about 30 corals,
fish and invertebrates.
In their natural habitat, the lighting is just right,
their waste is carried away by the currents,
and they rely on several chemical elements
found in the water around them,
elements which never run out
since there’s plenty of water in the ocean.
When these marine animals are placed in an aquarium,
they lose access to the vast resources
and stable conditions of the ocean.
Our challenge then is to turn this aquarium
into an artificial ecosystem that constantly supplies them
with everything they need to thrive,
and we do that by doing the following:
1) Providing artificial saltwater.
2) Making sure it’s always at the right temperature.
3) Setting up the right lighting
with accurate light & dark periods.
4) Creating a continuous water flow in the tank.
5) Filtering the waste.
And 6) Replenishing and stabilizing
the chemical elements in the water.
Now, the easiest way to check this list
is to start out with a MAX NANO Peninsula, like this one,
which is a plug & play system that already comes
with the necessary lighting, filtration and circulation.
But whichever system you choose,
you can totally accomplish this.
Let’s go through this list
so you can understand what’s what:
1) Providing saltwater
Artificial saltwater can be bought at a pet store,
or it can be prepared by mixing water and salt.
The water comes from an RO system,
which takes tap water,
and turns it into nearly pure water.
We then mix it
with commercially available reef salt
that’s enhanced with essential chemical elements
found in seawater.
2) Temperature control
The temperature in a natural coral reef barely changes,
so we make sure the temperature in the tank
is a stable 25-26 Celsius, or 77-79 Fahrenheit.
3) Lighting
Corals rely on photosynthesis,
85% of their energy is derived from specific intensities
of blue and violet light energy.
A suitable reef light needs to be configured
to the blue and violet spectrum,
as well as be powerful enough to spread sufficient light
all around the tank.
4) Water flow and circulation
Corals are static creatures,
which is why we have to constantly move
the water surrounding them
to spread nutrients to all corners of the tank,
while pushing the waste towards the filters.
5) Filtration
There are 3 types of filtrations in a reef tank:
Mechanical filtration, for example sponge filters,
which works by physically removing waste particles
from the water.
Biological filters, for example live rock,
Which are areas that serve as growing beds
for useful bacteria that transform fish secretions
into less harmful elements.
And chemical filters, such as activated Carbon,
that adsorb and remove harmful compounds.
that pass through them.
6) Replenishing elements
Since corals consume elements from the water,
we need to replenish these elements
using specific supplements,
and then we need to monitor their levels
to ensure they remain stable.
We learn which supplement we need to dose with
and how much, by testing our tank water
and using test kits for each element.
And there you have it,
the basic guideline to creating a reef system.
Now let’s talk about tank size.
You should of course choose the size of your first system
based on your taste and budget,
but it’s worth noting that maintaining a smaller tank
is generally less demanding in terms of budget,
physical effort and time input.
But whichever size you choose,
it is absolutely vital that your desired system
can be placed in a space that complies with the following:
1) The system will not be exposed to direct sunlight.
2) There must be an electrical socket nearby,
preferably one designated for the aquarium.
3) The floor must be able to support the system’s weight.
And 4) The floor can be leveled on.
BTW, if you’re planning on placing your aquarium
on a piece of furniture,
it too must be able to support the weight and be leveled.
Also, the system should preferably be in proximity
to a water faucet and drainage.
And lastly, the equipment can be a bit noisy,
so it’s probably best not to place it a bedroom.
Next episode- we’ll review the essential equipment
you need to make this happen.
So check it out.