Are you among the 75% of Americas who have felt some type of stress lately? There are many things you can do to help better your mental state, and installing a reef aquarium in your home is a big one.
Being close to any sort of water is good for your mental health, and taking care of an aquarium can be a very positive bit of business in your life. Of course, if you’ve never put together a coral reef aquarium before, it can be difficult to determine where to start.
Learning the basics of reef life aquariums doesn’t have to be difficult, however, or expensive. Read on and we’ll walk you through the basics of what you need to know.
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Picking Out a Tank
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The first big decision you’ll need to make is what kind of tank you want to invest in for your aquarium. The one you choose will vary depending on your budget, available space, and sense of aesthetics.
While you may be tempted to go small, it’s best to get one that’s on the larger end of your budget, as it will be hard to level up later if you do decide you want to move to a bigger tank.
You’ll also want to ensure you have a strong and steady tank stand to go alongside your tank. They can get quite heavy once filled with water, and a standard table or bookcase likely won’t be able to support this weight safely.
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Add Live Rock and Creatures
Before putting any living objects into your aquatic environment, you’ll want to invest in and install a number of live rocks. Live rock can be purchased from any kind of aquarium supply store and is typically quite affordable.
You should get enough live rock to fill up about one-third of your available tank space. Spread the rock out to create enclaves and overhangs. If there are there other decorative pieces you want to add to your tank, do so now.
Once the rock is added, you can add algae-eating animals. That includes snails and crabs, for example. Not only will they bring your tank to life, they’ll also help to keep it clean.
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Adding Coral and Fish
Now that you have a thriving environment in your tank, you can finally introduce the more delicate lifeforms to the mix: fish and coral.
You can shop corals easily online and find which might be the best for your tank. Different coral varieties will require different amounts of care, so you should do your research before selecting which varieties to buy.
The same goes for fish.
Make sure you’ll be able to care for them properly and ensure they’ll get along okay with the other species in your tank. Introduce a few new life forms at a time, taking a week or two breaks to allow the environment to settle.
Setting Up a Reef Aquarium
If you’re looking to set up a reef aquarium in your home, you’ll want to follow the above tips and tricks.
Keeping these steps in mind can help you to stay on track when it comes to your overall goal of bringing lovely aquatic life into your living space.
Need more advice and information about barrier reef aquariums? Keep scrolling our blog for more.
