How to Start a Reef Tank

Starting a reef tank can be an exciting but daunting experience, especially if you are only familiar with freshwater systems. Saltwater reefs can be more challenging to establish in the beginning--and are certainly more expensive--but the end result and ease of continued care are often well worth it for fish enthusiasts. Before you begin, make sure that all of your materials and supplies are on hand to make setup easier.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium and stand
  • Lights
  • Salt mix
  • Sand
  • Live rock
  • Thermometer
  • Powerheads
  • Hydrometer
  • Heater
  • Test kit
  • Mixing buckets/bins
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select a draft-free area of the home away from direct sunlight or potential temperature fluctuations to place the tank. Make sure you are happy with the tank's location before you progress, as you will be unable to move the tank once it is filled with water.

    • 2

      Prepare the saltwater by filling the tank just over 3/4 full with dechlorinated tap water (or add dechlorinator once the tank is filled) and adding the appropriate amount of aquarium salt mix according to the package directions. Test the specific gravity of the water with the hydrometer, and adjust the salt/water ratio until a reading of between 1.023 and 1.026 is achieved.

    • 3

      Install and turn on the tank powerheads, and allow the tank to run for several hours before continuing.

    • 4

      Add live rock to the tank, playing around with interesting rock arrangements until you are pleased with the layout. Remember, the tank layout should not be altered once it is up and running, so take plenty of time with this step.

    • 5

      Rinse the aquarium sand in a bucket or container of clean water, working in batches to remove floating particles and dust. Place the sand into the tank as you go, building up a 1- to 3-inch layer of substrate.

    • 6

      Top off the tank with saltwater to fill, repeating the adjustment process with more salt mix to maintain proper specific gravity.

    • 7

      Set up the tank's lighting system. There are numerous choices available for tank lighting, from metal halides to actinic lighting, to high-output t5 fluorescents. The choice of tank lighting is both highly personal and dependent on the types and quantities of corals you would like to add to your reef setup. At the very least, you will need a saltwater-rated fluorescent fixture to supply your fish and microorganisms with the proper spectrum lighting for optimal growth.

    • 8

      Allow the entire system to run for several days to a week before stocking.

    • 9

      Introduce livestock to the tank slowly, a fish or two at a time, with at least a few days between new additions. This allows the tank's ecosystem to catch up to the increased biological load, and helps to prevent algae blooms and ammonia buildup.

    • 10

      Establish a maintenance routine for your tank, and stick with it, cleaning algae and changing 10 percent of the saltwater each week for optimal tank health.