Internal flow pumpsĪs your reef grows, you’ll notice that some areas of the tank may not be getting enough water movement. A FOWLER tank doesn’t need a super-high flow rate. It is not always necessary to use a super-high flow rate pump. Some aquarists like to use pumps rated at eight to ten times the tank volume in order to get a lot of water movement in the aquarium. If you have a 20-gallon aquarium, the pump should be rated for at least 80 gallons per hour. Although opinions vary, you’ll want a water pump rated for at least four times the size of your tank. The pump’s flow rate will be specified in gallons per hour (GPH). Return pumps provide constant water movement throughout the aquarium, which is essential for the health of corals and other marine life. The pump will run 24-7, night and day, keeping your reef alive. It is critical to use a high-quality pump. The return pump is the heart of the reef’s filtration system. Most sumps have chambers for various types of filter media to keep the water clean. This water flow helps circulate purified, oxygenated water throughout the aquarium.Ī filter sump makes it easy to hook up a return pump, automatic top-off and protein skimmer. A water pump placed in the filter box or external sump sends the filtered water back up and into the aquarium. The water flows by gravity into the sump or internal filter box. If not, your aquarium may require an external sump that sits below the aquarium inside a filer sump. Some aquariums come with an internal filter system complete with a pump, protein skimmer and media. The filtration system is an important component of the aquarium. Not all fish are considered “reef-safe.” Some fish will peck at corals, grow too large or become aggressive toward shrimp, snails and other fish.īefore selecting a fish, check online to see if it is safe for reef aquariums. Are all saltwater fish compatible with a reef tank? This gives you the flexibility to build the system around the type aquarium you plan to keep. If you’re up for the challenge, go with a basic tank and add the rest of the gear yourself. The All-in-One aquariums come with lighting, water pump and sometimes a protein skimmer. When shopping for an aquarium you’ll have to decide between a plug and play system or take a more hands-on approach. If you’re up for the challenge, a traditional reef aquarium will reward you with a “piece of the reef” right in your own living room. Reef-building corals are sensitive to the light intensity and quality along with water quality. Aquarists monitor and add a supplements like calcium, magnesium and iodine to stimulate coral growth. The traditional reef aquarium is meant to keep a variety of stony corals. Check out the descriptions to see which is right for you. There are three basic categories under the reef aquarium banner. But you’ll still be able to keep a variety of colorful fish and corals too. Smaller nano reefs cost less and don’t require a lot of maintenance. But it will also take up more space and have a higher initial cost. With a larger reef aquarium, you’ll be able to keep more fish, corals and other invertebrates. Your first reef can be as small as a tiny pico aquarium or larger than 300 gallons! The aquarium size you choose depends mainly on your available space and budget. The fun of reef-keeping is the gradual development of the marine life and steady increase in your personal skill. You could spend thousands of dollars on the “biggest and best” equipment and not have success. You’ll have to learn when it’s best to take a hands-off approach and let nature take over. It will take patience to get the new tank biologically stable. You can’t cut corners and expect to have delicate SPS corals survive. Starting a reef aquarium can’t be rushed.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |