Reef Aquarium Setup

Creating a beautiful reef ecosystem does not have to be complicated. The following easy steps will help simplify the process. In a short period, you too can enjoy the colorful beauty of a home reef aquarium for many years.

First 48 hours: Assemble the Aquarium with the Live Rock

1. Place your fully assembled aquarium in a location out of direct sunlight.
2. Pour substrate into the aquarium.
3. Prepare saltwater in a mixing container so that the specific gravity measures 1.025. If using tap water or chlorinated water, use a dechlorinator before mixing/preparing saltwater.
4. Carefully fill aquarium 75% full with prepared saltwater.
5. Rinse live rock in a bucket of water. Remove loose debris. Arrange the live rock in your aquarium as desired.
6. Fill remainder of aquarium with prepared saltwater and add a bacterial additive.
7. Install and power up aquarium equipment, including heater, per manufacturer's instructions.
8. After 48 hours, if aquarium water is clear and temperature is 76-78ºF, aquarium is ready for marine life!

Post 48 hours: Add Marine Life

1. Add corals, polyps, and mushroom rock first. Use an adhesive (per instructions) to attach to live rock if needed. Refer to “Popular Corals for Beginners” article for placement tips and more information.
2. Add fish per acclimation instructions.

Maintaining Your Reef Ecosystem

1. Monitor and test water parameters regularly to provide a healthy marine environment.
2. Perform 25% water changes biweekly and perform regular filter maintenance as per manufacturer’s recommendation.
3. Feed small amounts of coral and invertebrate foods daily or as per manufacturer’s recommendation. For a nutritionally balanced diet, feed your corals different foods of varying particulate size, including prepared zooplankton and phytoplankton, as well as live food options.

By following these steps, you will have a complete and successful reef aquarium. Sit back and watch in awe as your aquarium comes to life. Each day there will be new things to discover and an unending diversity of changes to witness. Keep in mind, reef aquariums need considerable time to establish themselves. Within a year, you'll have a beautiful, thriving ecosystem.