Having the proper lighting for reef aquariums has been a debate that is as old as the hobby itself. Everyone seems to have an opinion on what the best lighting is. Often times they are basing this opinion on their own set up.

Probably the most important factor when picking your reef tank lighting is to have your mind made up as to what kind of corals you want to keep in your reef aquarium. This is a step that many new saltwater enthusiasts miss.

Instead many set up their mini reef systems based off the opinion of others or what they think they may need and then only later discover that the reef tank lighting they bought will not support the types of corals they like. Or worse yet be to powerful for the coral they like. This will end up costing the person more money to get their set up right.

Types Of Reef Tank Lighting For Different Corals

Soft Corals- Many soft corals will do well under power compact lighting, T-5 lighting and 175 watt metal halide bulbs. There are however some species of leathers that need bright lighting so keep that in mind if you want a tank full of soft corals. Some soft coral like mushroom polyps actually thrive in lower light and some of the brighter systems may cause them to not fully open.

Large Polyped Corals- LPS corals are common in the hobby and also have a wide range of lighting requirements, as a rule of thumb many can do just fine under power compacts,T-5 lighting and 175 watt metal halide bulbs. If you are interested in this type of coral research the lighting requirements for the type you like and choose your lighting from there.

SPS and Clams- Small polyped stony corals and clams are gaining more popularity as the hobby improves. Once thought impossible to keep alive many people are now growing these and selling or trading them. This type of coral will demand the most intense lighting you can afford.

Many will do well under 250 watt metal halides but some may actually require 400 watt bulbs in order to keep their color and grow well.

When choosing proper proper lighting for reef aquariums keep in mind that each lighting system also has its own positives and negatives that may also affect your final coral decision.

Want a thriving reef aquarium full of colorful fish and coral? Our Reef Aquarium Guide will show you how to set up your tank correctly and avoid the common mistakes that lead to fish death, algae and an ugly tank. To get the secrets to creating a stunning reef aquarium visit www.dseventures.com/reeftankguide

I recently started doing guest post at a great reef tank blog that offers great in formation and a forum thats packed full of information for both reef aquarium keepers and fish only tank owners.

The topics of my guest posts are on various subjects like algae control and avoiding beginner mistakes in your reef aquarium and are all written in my short to the point style.

I hope to be doing more guest posts for the this great saltwater aquarium blog in the near future.

You can view my guest posts here

http://www.thereeftank.com/blog/prevent-algae-in-your-tank/

http://www.thereeftank.com/blog/dont-lose-money-on-a-new-tank-watch-out-for-these/

And by all means if you have any ideas or recommendations for post topics please let me know!

What the  proper lighting is for reef aquariums is an age old debate that continues on everyday. Every reef keeper seems to have an opinion on what the best lighting is. Often times they are basing this opinion on their own set up.

Probably the most important factor when picking your reef tank lighting is to have your mind made up as to what kind of corals you want to keep in your reef aquarium. This is a step that many new saltwater enthusiasts miss. Instead many set up their mini reef systems based off the opinion of others or what they think they may need and then only later discover that the reef tank lighting they bought will not support the types of corals they like. Or worse yet be to powerful for the coral they like. This will end up costing the person more money to get their set up right.

Types Of Reef Tank Lighting For Different Corals

Soft Corals- Many soft corals will do well under power compact lighting, T-5 lighting and 175 watt metal halide bulbs. There are however some species of leathers that need bright lighting so keep that in mind if you want a tank full of soft corals. Some soft coral like mushroom polyps actually thrive in lower light and some of the brighter systems may cause them to not fully open.

Large Polyped Corals- LPS corals are common in the hobby and also have a wide range of lighting requirements, as a rule of thumb many can do just fine under power compacts,T-5 lighting and 175 watt metal halide bulbs. If you are interested in this type of coral research the lighting requirements for the type you like and choose your lighting from there.

SPS and Clams- Small polyped stony corals and clams are gaining more popularity as the hobby improves. Once thought impossible to keep alive many people are now growing these and selling or trading them. This type of coral will demand the most intense lighting you can afford. Many will do well under 250 watt metal halides but some may actually require 400 watt bulbs in order to keep their color and grow well.

When choosing proper proper lighting for reef aquariums keep in mind that each lighting system also has its own positives and negatives that may also affect your final coral decision.

For a More detailed breakdown of lighting for your reef tank check out our reef tank guide at http://www.saltwatermethods.com/reeftankguide

Many marine aquarium keepers today set up their systems to keep both fish and invertebrates and corals together in one system. Displays such as these are called saltwater reef aquarium systems. These captive systems are as close as you can get to the wild reef without actually going to the ocean. There are however some concerns you need to be aware of when setting up a complete reef system

The main drawback many reef keepers find is that sick saltwater fish are very hard to treat once they are in the tank. A sick fish can and usually does spread the disease to the entire tank and most all medications that treat disease will also kill corals and other invertebrates. While buying healthy fish and fish that are naturally disease resistant is one way to ensure your reef stays healthy there are a few things you can do to keep your fish healthy once in your tank and they are listed below.

Natural Cleaning

In nature there are shrimps that will clean old tissue and disease off fish. They operate on saltwater fish of all sizes and often set up stations that the fish come to to get cleaned. Both the fish and the shrimp benefit from this relationship. The fish gets disease cleaned off it and the shrimp gets food in the form of old tissues. As a bonus the shrimp are very colorful and active additions to all saltwater aquarium systems.

Vitamins

There are companies that have developed additives that you can add to your saltwater fish food to help keep them healthy in the reef aquarium. These additives often include vitamin C, garlic and special marine proteins and fatty acids. All of these are compounds that many commercial fish foods lack and the animals need to stay healthy. In addition to making your fish healthier they will often brighten their colors and make them more active as well.

Prevention

If you have the space and money setting up a simple holding tank is the best way to put only healthy fish in saltwater reef aquarium systems. A holding tank is just another set up where the single fish can be placed and observed for signs of disease. If any disease is spotted then you can treat the disease and once the fish regains its health introduce it into your reef aquarium.

Be sure and check out our Reef Aquarium guide for more tips and tricks for having a  great marine aquarium check it out at www.saltwatermethods.com/reeftankguide

Setting up a new coral reef aquarium can seem like a huge task and one that frightens many new or would be hobbiest’s away. But if you can grab yourself a good reef aquarium book you can increase your chances of success and enjoy the hobby. But with so man out there what should a good reef aquarium book contain?

Information You Need To Have A Great Reef Tank

Any good informational material on reef aquariums is going to need to contain the following in order for you to fully understand a salt water system.

Lighting Systems- There is a wide variety of choices when it comes to mini reef lighting and a good book should explain those options to you so you can make the right choice.

Filtration Methods- There is more then one way to filter the water in your reef tank and you should be made aware of all of them and how each one can benefit your set up.

Livestock Overview- You will need to be aware of what are good reef fish and what are not. You will also need to know what fish are good for a beginners tank and what ones will get along together. You should also be educated on the different types of corals and their care.

Maintenance Practices- Any good mini reef will only stay good is it is properly taken care of. A good reef aquarium book will explain maintaining your tank to keep it in top shape.

Set Up Tips- Setting up your tank correctly is very important . You must be fully educated on proper locations for new reef tanks as a well as many other tips and tricks that will make your reef something to enjoy

How The Systems Works- All the explanation in the world will not help if you are just not sure how it all comes together and works to keep fish and corals alive and thriving

For a complete reef aquarium book check out www.saltwatermethods.com/reeftankguide

Maintaining proper PH in a reef aquarium is one of the more common challenges. A low PH can negatively affect coral growth and lead to problem algae. There are however a few easy ways to make sure your PH stays at or above 8.0

Good Water Circulation

Maintaining good water movement in your reef tank is critical to keeping your PH high in your reef aquarium. A tank circulation level of 15 to 20 times the tank volume is a great starting point. This means that if you have a 55 gallon tank you want to have a circulation amount of 825 1100 GPH.

You also want to make sure that this flow causes surface agitation. Increased surface agitation will transfer the carbon dioxide out of the water and bring fresh oxygen into the tank.

Proper Stocking Levels

Low PH in a reef aquarium can also be a sign of ow oxygen levels. If increase the surface agitation and water flow levels fail to help you may have to look at your tanks bio load. Fish are one of the biggest users of oxygen in your tank and having to many will have negative effects.

The standard rules of one inch of fish per gallon for stocking freshwater tanks do not apply to marine aquariums for a variety of reasons, this is especially true for reef aquariums. As a good rule of thumb keep your tanks fish load to one fish for every ten gallons of tank water.

The Right Substrate

One easy way to increase your reef tanks PH and hold it steady is to use aragonite sand or gravel in your tank. Aragonite will dissolve at lower PH levels and during this dissolving process it will release minerals and elements back into the tank that will in turn raise the PH. This is why it is critical you only use gravel or sand that is meant for reef tanks and not freshwater based material.

Chemical Additives

If for whatever reason you just cannot raise PH in a reef tank or hold it steady you may have to turn to chemical additives designed to help you out. There are many two part additives on the market that will raise calcium and alkalinity and at the same time increase your tanks PH levels.

A cheap alternative is kalkwasser set up to drip into your tank every few seconds. While it is a pain to mix up and apply it will do a great job at maintaining calcium, alkalinity and PH. But like any chemical you add to your tan start slow and work your way up, and always test the results!

Want a crystal clear successful Reef Aquarium with thriving fish and growing corals? Our reef tank guide will show you step by step how to create a beautiful reef tank and avoid the common mistakes that lead to fish death, algae and an ugly tank. To get the secrets to creating a stunning reef aquarium visit http://www.dseventures.com/reeftankguide

What makes a reef aquarium stand apart from a standard saltwater fish tank is the live coral. Nothing can compare to the natural movement colors and beauty that live coral can bring to an aquarium. While there have been recent advances in the reef aquarium hobby that make keeping corals alive easier not all of them are as easy to keep and some are almost impossible and left to the advanced hobbiest. There are however some very popular good beginner aquarium corals that are not only easy to care for and hardy but that will provide both beauty and enjoyment to your reef tank.

Good Beginner Aquarium Corals

Mushrooms- This is by far the easiest to keep and care for and the most long lived of any of the beginner corals. They come in a wide variety of colors and will thrive in lower light conditions so a large expensive lighting system is not needed. They will often grow very fast and can cover a patch of your tank quickly.

Bubble Corals- This is a large polyped stony coral or LPS as it is referred to in the hobby. It is easy to care for, will eat solid foods and will tolerate lower light levels. Do not place this coral in to high flow of an area or it may never fully open. They come in white, tan and green. The LPS family is also full of many other aquarium corals that are easy to care for and beautiful.

Soft Corals- This family is full of some very fast growing and easy corals to care for they are great for the new reef keeper and provide slow rhythmic movement to your reef aquarium. Most will thrive in medium light setting s so power compacts will usually be fine they are also very tolerant of water conditions.

Green Star Polyps- These are beautiful neon green polyps that thrive in virtually any system. They do need good water flow in order to keep dirt and debris off of them. Other then that they grow well under medium light and grow fast. They grow so fast that they often spread to the back of aquarium walls further adding to the tank’s beauty.

Want a crystal clear successful Reef Aquarium with thriving corals and healthy fish? Our reef tank guide will show you how to set up your tank and avoid the common mistakes that lead to fish death, algae and an ugly tank. To get the secrets to creating a stunning reef aquarium visit www.saltwatermethods.com

Red slime algae in a reef aquarium can detract from the overall look of the tank. It can also pose a threat to some corals, if they are not strong enough to fight it off it can eventually smoother them and cut off their light.

What Causes Red Slime Algae In a Reef Aquarium

This algae is not an actual algae but a form cyano bacteria. Many reef experts are unsure as to the exact cause of it but it is believed that like any normal aquarium algae it needs excess dissolved nutrients to feed on and grow. And like other algae it needs an adequate light source for photosynthesis

How Can I Get Rid Of It

Red Slime algae has proven to not like high water flow and by simply increasing the flow in your reef tank you maybe able to get it to regress. It is also very easy to remove by hand by simply scooping it out.

There have been some theories that older light bulbs may cause it to appear out of no where so if your bulbs are more then six months old changing them may have a positive affect.

There are also some animals that other reef keepers have claimed eat it. These animals are the red legged hermit crab, the cerith snail and some reports have claimed that bi-color blennies will eat it as well.

Like anything in a reef tank it is hit or miss when adding animals to control algae, they may devour it or they may ignore it.

There are also chemicals that are marketed that claim to reduce or remove red slime algae in the reef aquarium. But like any chemical it will only mask the problem and is not a long term solution. And even if it claims it is reef safe there is a chance that any chemicals added to your tank could also kill sensitive coral or invertebrates so proceed with caution when using chemicals.

Want an algae free Reef Aquarium? Our reef tank guide will show you step by step how to avoid the common mistakes that lead to fish death, algae and an ugly reef tank. To get the secrets to creating a stunning reef aquarium visit http://www.saltwatermethods.com

Having a successful and stunning reef aquarium is every reef keepers goal. For many people however their attempts are met with failure and frustration. Usually it was not one big thing that lead to the tank failure but a series of small ones. To avoid this there are some things to do for reef tanks that can help you fend off disaster.

15 Things to Do For Reef Tanks To Keep Them Thriving

• Give your tank a visual inspection everyday. Look at all livestock and give the tanks equipment a quick visual check.
• Check the water temperature, nothing can kill a reef faster then a cold reef or an over heated reef tank.
• Test your nitrates and phosphates weekly and keep them at the lowest levels possible.
• Do not over stock your tank and hold off the impulse to add just one more fish.
• Clean filtration equipment and your protein skimmer frequently to ensure it is performing at its peak levels.
• Check and maintain your calcium and alkalinity levels and keep them at appropriate levels.
• Do not over feed your fish or corals
• Do not over use additives or add additives into our tank unless you can test for them
• Add water to replace any water that has evaporated from your reef aquarium.
• Have back ups of critical equipment like heaters and pumps.
• Have a battery operated pump to use in the event of a power failure.
• Keep at least 10 gallons of pre made saltwater on hand for emergency water changes.
• Use purified Reverse Osmosis water to make saltwater and for top off water, this will cut down on algae.
• Research all corals, fish and invertebrates that you want to put into your tank before you buy them, this could save you alot of headaches!
• Do small frequent saltwater changes to keep pollutants low

For a complete guide to having a successful Reef Aquarium that you can be proud of, whatever your skill levels head over to http://www.saltwater methods.com today.

Many saltwater aquarium keepers panic at the sight of reef aquarium algae and do everything in their power to eliminate it from their tanks. But that is almost an impossible task because algae is part of the natural ecosystem and without it your tank would fail. The key to success however is to keep it to minimum levels so it does not over take your reef tank display.

How To Control Reef Aquarium Algae Easily

Natural Predators- Everything on the reef has a predator and algae is no exception. By employing snails and crabs to eat it your algae growth should stay contained. There are even some colorful and useful algae eating fish like tangs, blennies and some angel fish that can assist the snails and crabs.

Use Pure Water- Nitrates and phosphates are the prime causes of algae in aquariums. Many times your tap water is already full of these compounds so when you do a water change you are making it worse! To avoid this a good reverse osmosis water treatment unit will supply you with 99% nutrient free water to use in your tank.

Good Tank Maintenance- Doing frequent water changes and keeping critical equipment like protein skimmers clean will go a long way in reducing algae feeding compounds in your reef aquarium.

You can also take a small power head and blow debris off the rock work right before a water change and remove it when you siphon out the water.

Maintain good lighting- Old light bulbs tend to shift to the red part of the color spectrum which will cause reef aquarium algae to grow much faster the normal. To avoid this color shift change your light bulbs every 7-9 months as part of your regular maintenance program.

Have Good Circulation- Having adequate reef tank circulation will not only increase oxygen in the water but will also keep debris like uneaten food and fish waste suspended long enough to be caught and removed by the tank filters or protein skimmers.

To learn more about creating a successful reef aquarium CLICK HERE and check out our saltwater aquarium guide