Reef
Description
A Reef is corals, fish, and invertebrates living harmoniously together. There are reef safe organisms (priced in green)- meaning they are not a threat to corals, fish, or other invertebrates; reef caution organisms (priced in yellow)- meaning typically 8 out 10 individuals are fine but occasionally an individual may pick at corals or harass small shrimp; and non-reef safe organisms (priced in red)- meaning they are a threat a threat to corals, fish, or other invertebrates and are not recommended.
By definition a Reef is 30 gallons or more and typically has a protein skimmer included in the filtration system. Protein Skimmers remove organic materials before they have a chance to be broken down into nitrates. Most Reefs are glass or acrylic square or rectangular aquariums. These systems are better for moderate to advanced hobbyists because they do not come equipped with all the hardware you need in the correct proportions. Each piece has to be individually purchased to assemble the system. If you are a beginner and want to start with a Reef system rather than a Nano Reef System make sure you have an associate select all the hardware for you.
Parameters
One needs light, water flow, filtration, temperature control, and a basic understanding of water parameters to succeed.
Light: 3-7watts per gallon to achieve good coral growth.
Water Flow: 10-20 times the total water volume of the system circulating through the tank per hour.
Filtration: must have mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration.
Temperature Control: Heater 3-5 watts per gallon
Salinity (specific gravity): 1.023 - 1.025
pH: 8.3
KH: 12-14 degrees (very important! and most stores won’t even mention KH to you)
N03: 25 mg/l or less
Equipment
Aquarium 30 gallons or more
Filter or Sump and pump
Aquarium Pharm Tap Water Filter or R/O Unit
Instant Ocean Hydrometer
Live Sand (1 inch deep)
Live Rock (typically 1.5 lbs per gallon)
T5, Power Compact, or Metal Halide lighting and Timer
Protein Skimmer
Heater and Thermometer
Aquarium Pharm Salt water master test kit
Aquarium Pharm KH test kit
Seachem Reef Builder (KH)
Seachem Reef Buffer (pH)
Seachem Matrix Carbon
Calcium Suppliment
Nutri Sea Water to seed the system
Siphon
Reef Class (6 weeks)
This class is written to space the equipment expense of a Reef system over 6 weeks. If you need help have our service department install the equipment properly.
Day 1: Have an associate help you select and aquarium combo (tank and stand) and a filter system. Purchase the Instant Ocean Hydrometer and one bottle of Nutri Sea Water (to seed the tank), dry salt mix, and the Aquarium Pharm Tapwater Filter (55 gallon tank or less) or R/O unit (over 55 gallons) and mix most of the water in the aquarium yourself. Most reef aquariums are heavy and require a 100% level stand specifically built for the weight requirements, assume roughly 10 lbs per gallon when selecting a suitable floor location. Fill the tank with either de-ionized or R/O water and the dry salt mix. After 24 hours make sure the hydrometer reads 1.023 – 1.025, it takes 24 hours for all the dry salt to completely dissolve. The moderate salt content makes it easier for the fish to osmo-regulate their bodies. Plug the light into the timer and set it to run the light for 10 hours per day. Plug in the filter or pump. Come back in 7 days with a ¼ soda can amount of water for us to test.
During the next 7 days we are letting the water mature and filters to start seeding with bacteria, a mild cycling process may begin.
Day 1 Purchase list: Aquarium and stand, filter or sump, Water purification system: Aquarium Pharm Tapwater Filter (55 gallon tank or less) or R/O unit (over 55 gallons), Instant Ocean Hydrometer, 4.4 g Nutri Sea Water, dry salt mix.
Week 2: Estimate the aquarium dimensions on our floor. Select live rock and stack it on the floor as if it were your aquarium. Purchase as much as is visually appealing to you, typically this is around 1.5 lbs per gallon. Pack moist paper around the rock and pack it into a box. You now have 24 hours to assemble reef structure. In the aquarium stack the live rock on the glass (this prevents fish from digging under the rocks and destabilizing the structure). It is recommended to get all of your live rock today to avoid the chance of re-cycling your tank. Buy enough live sand to achieve about a 1 inch depth. The live rock and live sand contain two types of beneficial bacteria that convert fish waste to non-toxic substances and act as the biological filter. Purchase a light system with a minimum of 3 watts per gallon and a maximum of 7 watts per gallon. T5 high output fluorescent are the most light for the each dollar spent and great for beginner to moderate hobbyists, more advanced hobbyists will want the expensive metal halide lighting typically supplemented with T5 of power compacts. Plug light system into a timer and set it to run lights for 10 hours per day.
During the next week your tank will undergo a natural nitrogen cycling process and may turn milky white for a couple days, this is normal. The cycling process is essentially the biological filter break in period. Do not attempt to add any live stock until after we tell you the cycling process is over.
Week 2 Live Stock Purchase list: You may purchase all the live rock for your system. Typically 1.5 lbs per gallon but you may use as much or as little as visually appealing to you. Keep in mind the rock is the systems biological filtration. Purchase live sand achieve a 1 inch depth.
Week 2 Dry Good Purchase list: Light system- T5 high output fluorescent are the most recommended for beginner to moderate hobbyists, light timer or power strip with built in timer.
Week 3: Replace evaporated water with purified fresh water, salt does not evaporate. Bring in your water sample after 7-10 days of placing the live rock in your aquarium. 9 out of 10 tanks will be fully cycled. We will teach you how to test for Ammonia- NH3, Nitrite- No2, and Nitrate- No3 and show you how to use an algae magnet. When ammonia and nitrite are 0 and Nitrates are present the tank is fully cycled. The high ammonia during the cycling process lowers the pH. We will teach you how to test for pH. When you get home dissolve the recommended amount of Seachem Reef Buffer and fresh water then add it to the tank to achieve the ideal pH of 8.3. Do not attempt to dissolve in salt water. Purchase a Protein Skimmer suitable for the volume or your aquarium. You may notice some brown algae on the glass and rocks this is normal.
Week 3 Live Stock Purchase list: You may purchase some reef safe hermit crabs, which eat the green filamentous algae, and snails, which eat the brown flat algae. Purchase one of each for every 2 gallons of water.
Week 3 Dry Good Purchase list: Aquarium Pharm KH test kit, Seachem Reef Buffer (pH), Mag Float algae magnet.
Week 4:
Bring in another water sample. We will review how to test for Ammonia- NH3, Nitrite- No2, Nitrate- No3, pH, and teach you how to test for KH. When KH is low pH can vary greatly when KH is above 12 degrees it helps lock your pH in place. When you get home dissolve the recommended amount of Seachem Reef Builder in fresh water then add it to the tank to achieve the ideal KH of 12-14 degrees. Do not attempt to dissolve in salt water. Remember one test solution drop equals one degree. At this point the brown and green algae should be getting under control.
Week 4 Live Stock Purchase list: You may purchase replace any dead hermit crabs and snails. You may purchase 1 level one coral for every 25 gallons of water. Level 1 corals include polyps, zoanthids, mushrooms, and some leather corals. Have an associate point out some options for you.
Week 4 Dry Good Purchase list: Protien Skimmer- Coralife Super Skimmers are recommended,
Aqurium Pharm KH test kit, Seachem Reef Builder (KH).
Week 5:
Bring in another water sample. We will review how to test for KH, pH, and show you how to properly siphon a reef tank and how to test for calcium. When you go home do a 25% water change using the siphon to vacuum the sand (pinch the tubing to avoid removing sand) and replace water with one 4.4g Nutri Sea water for each 50 gallons of total tank volume, replace the remaining water with purified water mixed with dry salt. For example, in a 100 gallon tank 25 gallons is removed, two 4.4g Nutri Sea water (equaling 9 gallons) are combined with 16 gallons of purified water with dry salt mix totaling your 25 gallons. Purchase a heater (3-5 watts per gallon) and place it out of sight. Also select a siphon or Python No Spill Siphon system. Clean filter, and replace Seachem Matrix carbon.
Week 5 Live Stock Purchase list: You may purchase more level 1 corals, and one level 2 coral for every 25 gallons of water. Level 2 corals include brains, bubble corals, leathers, meat corals, zenia. Have an associate point out some options for you.
Week 5 Dry Good Purchase list: Heater (3-5 watts per gallon)- Unbreakable Instant Ocean Stealth heaters are recommended, thermometer (the digital Coralife ones are recommended), Aquarium Pharm calcium test kit, Marine Land Siphon Clean or Python No Spill Siphon System, 4.4g Nutri Sea Water, Seachem Matrix carbon.
Week 6: Graduation. Bring in your last water sample. We will review the calcium test and any testing questions you may have, and demonstrate anything you still may be unsure of. Test your water weekly for ph, KH, Nitrates, and calcium. Add the recommended dose of Seachem Reef Complete or Caribsea Purple Up. Do a 25% water change with Nutri Sea water and purified water and dry salt mix, clean your filter, and change Matrix Carbon monthly . Add fish slowly until the nitrates reach 40 mg/l and then stop adding fish.
Week 6 Live Stock Purchase list: At this point you may add as many corals and shrimp as you want. Invertebrates are not a biological limiting factor in a reef tank. You may also purchase your first fish at a rate of one for every 25 gallons of water. Make sure you buy Reef Safe organisms. Add fish slowly over time until the max fish population is indicated by nitrates exceeding 25 mg/l.
Week 6 Dry Good Purchase list: Seachem Reef Complete or Caribsea Purple up