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 Nano Reef is 29 gallons or less and typically lacks a protein skimmer normally seen on larger reef systems. Most Nano Reefs are all-in-one systems like the Nano Cube, Bio Cube, or Aqua Pod. These all-in-one systems are great for beginners because they come equipped with all the hardware you need in the correct proportions.
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): 1.027
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 29 gallons or less
T5 or Power Compact lighting and Timer
Recalculating pump or filter
Heater and Thermometer
Instant Ocean Hydrometer
Aquarium Pharm Salt water master test kit
Aquarium Pharm KH test kit
Seachem Reef Builder (KH)
Seachem Reef Buffer (pH)
Seachem Matrix Carbon
Aquarium Pharm Tap Water Filter
Nutri Sea Water
Live Sand (1 inch deep)
Live Rock (typically 1.5 lbs per gallon)
Marine Land Siphon Clean
Nano Reef Class (6 weeks)
This class is written assuming you purchased an all-in-one system which comes with the correct hardware.
Day 1: Purchase the all-in-one system and take it out of the box in the store and put the live rock in it to your liking 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. 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 put it back in the box. You now have 24 hours to assemble your system. 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 the Instant Ocean Hydrometer. Either buy enough Nurti Sea Water to fill the entire aquarium or buy one bottle of Nutri Sea Water, a bag of salt, and the Aquarium Pharm Tapwater Filter and mix most of the water in the aquarium yourself. Most nano reefs can be safely placed on a desk or counter top, assume roughly 10 lbs per gallon when selecting a suitable tank location. When you go home remove the moist paper from around the rock and put sand around the rocks to lock them in place. Fill the tank with salt water and make sure the hydrometer reads 1.027. The high salt content helps chemically stabilize the small water volume. Plug the light into the timer and set it to run the light for 10 hours per day. Plug in the pump. Come back in 7 days with a ¼ soda can amount of water for us to test.
During the next 7 days 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.
Day 1 Purchase list: All-in-one system, live rock, live sand, Instant Ocean Hydrometer, salt water, light timer.
Week 2: Bring in your water sample. 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. You may notice some brown algae on the glass and rocks this is normal. Place the bag of Seachem Matrix carbon in the filter either beneath or after the mechanical filter media (sponge).
Week 2 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. You may purchase one of each for every 2 gallons of water.
Week 2 Dry Good Purchase list: Aquarium Pharm Salt water master test kit, Seachem Reef Buffer (pH), Seachem Matrix Carbon, Mag Float Algae Magnet.
Week 3: Replace evaporated water with purified fresh water, salt does not evaporate. 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 and 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. Purchase a heater (3-5 watts per gallon) and place it out of sight.
Week 3 Live Stock Purchase list: You may purchase replace any dead hermit crabs and snails. You may purchase 1 level one coral for every 6 gallons of water. Level 1 corals include polyps, zoanthids, mushrooms, and some leather corals. Have an associate point out some options for you.
Week 3 Dry Good Purchase list: Aquarium Pharm KH test kit, Seachem Reef Builder (KH), Heater and Thermometer.
Week 4: Bring in another water sample. We will review how to test for KH, pH, and demonstrate how to properly siphon a reef tank. 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 the water with 100% Nutri Sea water. Use a 2.2 gallon Nutri Sea for anything 14 gallons or less, and 4.4 gallon Nutri Sea for anything up to 29 gallons. Rinse sponges, and replace Seachem Matrix carbon.
Week 4 Live Stock Purchase list: You may purchase more level 1 corals, and one level 2 coral for every 6 gallons of water. Level 2 corals include brains, bubble corals, leathers, meat corals, zenia. Have an associate point out some options for you.
Week 4 Dry Good Purchase list: Marineland Siphon Clean, Seachem Matrix Carbon
Week 5: Bring in your last water sample. We will review any testing questions you may have, and demonstrate anything you still may be unsure of.
Week 5 Live Stock Purchase list: You may purchase more level 1 and 2 corals, and one level 3 coral for every 6 gallons of water. Level 3 corals include anemones, euphilias (frogspawn and hammers), and clams. You may add shrimp and starfish.
Week 5 Dry Good Purchase list: Nothing
Week 6: Graduation. Tell us what your water parameters are. We will review any testing questions you may have, and demonstrate anything you still may be unsure of. Test your water weekly for ph, KH, and Nitrates. Do a 25% water change with Nutri Sea water, rinse your filter spong, 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 6 gallons of water. Make sure you buy Reef Safe organisms. Typical max fish population in a 12-14 gallon is 4 one inch fish, 24-29 gallon 8 one inch fish.
Week 6 Dry Good Purchase list: Nothing