Not all marine aquarium fish are “reef safe.” Many saltwater fish will tear up corals, consume other fish, and otherwise destroy
tank inhabitants
. The marine fish species listed below are some generally considered by experienced reef tank keepers to be safe for reef tanks.
Are reef aquariums hard to maintain?
Saltwater aquariums sometimes come with a particular rumor of being difficult to maintain. The reality is, a basic saltwater aquarium is really no more difficult than a freshwater aquarium The only difference is your adding some synthetic sea salt into the water to make it saltwater.
How big of a tank do I need for a reef tank?
In general, 40-75 gallon aquariums are the perfect size for a first reef tank. They are a good size to create a
stunning aquarium
, but not too large to stock and maintain.
What is the best fish for reef tank?
- Clownfish
- Midas Blenny (Ecsenius midas) .
- Blue Green Chromis (Chromis viridis) .
- Royal Gramma (Gramma loreto) .
- Six Line Wrasse (Pseudocheilinus hexataenia) .
- Banggai Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) .
- Pajama Cardinalfish (Sphaeramia nematoptera) .
-
azure damselfish
(Chrysiptera hemicyanea)
Will corals eat fish?
Many of the corals with
larger polyps
(e.g., Cynarina and Catalaphyllia) are capable of capturing and eating larger food items, including the occasional small fish Some corals (particularly Gorgonians and soft corals) may select their food based more on the size of the plankton, rather than its composition.
How expensive is it to maintain a saltwater fish tank?
A rough monthly budget to run a saltwater aquarium is a 15 gallon tank = $15/month, 25 gallon tank = $25/month, 50 gallon tank = $35/month, 100 gallon tank = $65/month This is based on consumables used and coral, invertebrates, and fish are extra.
Are clownfish hard to take care of?
Clownfish are marine fish, which means that out of all the fish that you could choose from, they are one of the most difficult They require warm water, as opposed to cold, and they require a salt water composition that is similar to the ocean. They are therefore not suitable for beginners or children.
How much does it cost to start a saltwater tank?
Most people will probably spend $500 to $1000 for a brand new saltwater tank and all of the necessary supplies within the first year. Over the next 12 months, you can double that start-up cost to budget for fish, corals and new equipment.
Do you need fish in a reef tank?
Fish help supply the reef tank with nitrates and phosphates, which are essential for coral health and growth if they are in the right amount.
What do I need for a reef tank?
What supplies do you need for a saltwater aquarium? Some basic items you will need for a successful marine aquarium include an aquarium, stand, light, cover, heater, filter, protein skimmer, marine aquarium salt, refractometer, thermometer, water conditioner, substrate and
live rock
.
What is a good size saltwater tank for a beginner?
The 40 breeder is the number one most popular beginner tank because of the affordability and manageable size. The 60-gallon cube and 93-gallon square are perfect when space is a concern.
Is reef tank a lot of work?
Even without fish, however, reef tanks take a lot of work to maintain Corals, anemones, and other reef invertebrates often have very specific tank requirements and even the slightest change in water chemistry could be deadly.
What’s the smallest saltwater tank you can have?
A 10-gallon saltwater tank is called a nano and is suitable for keeping small corals, invertebrates, and saltwater fish. Special care is required for selecting the right animals who will thrive in an environment of this size.
Do I need live rock in my saltwater tank?
Live rock is an essential part of any saltwater or reef tank but you do not necessarily have to spend a small fortune to buy it. By making your own live rock you can save money and you can completely customize it to suit the needs of your fish and your particular tank.
What should I put in my reef tank first?
Soft corals, in particular, leather corals are the best choice for a new tank After adding your first leather corals you can also add mushroom anemones. This includes mushrooms like Ricordea, Rhodactis, and Discosoma. Mushroom grow rather quickly and spread out into large fleshy discs.
What is the easiest saltwater fish to keep?
- Clownfish. Quick Info: Very hardy, easy to keep
- Damselfish. Quick Info: Very hardy, comes in lots of colors
- Green Chromis
- Cardinalfish
- Bicolor Blenny
- Clown Goby
- Yellow Watchman Goby.
Are water changes necessary in a reef tank?
Water changes restore and maintain a balanced aquarium by physically removing and diluting harmful chemicals as well as replenishing vital elements. Whether you have a fresh or saltwater aquarium, it is good practice to perform routine water changes.
How many gallons does a clownfish need?
An Ocellaris Clownfish, which Nemo most closely resembles, requires an aquarium of at least 20 gallons , not to mention adequate filtration, pumps, water supplements, reef structure (live rock and sand), and required diets by species.
Can reef live in freshwater?
Absolutely not ! Live corals make stunning additions to marine tanks, cannot survive in freshwater and will gradually die off when placed in this environment. To make things worse, the corals will pollute your aquarium as they die, releasing ammonia and nitrates that can be harmful to your fish.
What’s the easiest coral to keep?
-
Star polyps (Pachyclavularia spp.)
Image
via
iStock
.
com
/
shaun
. - Leather corals (Sarcophyton spp.) .
- Bubble coral (Plerogyra sinuosa) .
- Trumpet coral (Caulastrea furcata) .
- Open brain coral (Trachyphyllia geoffroyi)
When should I add corals to my reef tank?
Corals can be added to a new reef tank when your tank has completed its nitrogen cycle that roughly takes 2-8 weeks Nitrogen cycling and getting rid of algae blooms will clear the way for you to add corals as early as possible. Monitor your water parameters and only add corals once these are stable enough.
How small can a reef tank be?
The smallest mini reef aquarium is called a Pico tank or Pico reef aquarium. They typically range in size from 2.5 gallons (9.5 L) of water or less , though they can be as large as 4 gallons (15 L).
What size tank should I start with?
For a beginner, 5 gallons is the minimum recommended tank size, though a 20-gallon tank or larger is even better.
How many fish can you have in a reef tank?
The short “Rule of Thumb” answer generally accepted in the marine aquarium hobby is: ” One inch of fish (measured from the nose to the base of the tail) per 5 gallons of system saltwater” The normal response to this answer is: “Is that all?.
How many fish can I put in a 50 gallon reef tank?
A 50-gallon saltwater tank can safely house up to 13 saltwater fish if you take care to mix compatible species that are medium-sized or smaller and that occupy different parts of the aquarium.
Do corals eat fish poop?
Recycling of nutrients is essential to support such a high abundance and diversity of organisms. This study highlights the importance of fish feces in nutrient recycling on coral reefs, particularly for these important herbivores.
Do I need to feed corals?
Do You Need to Feed Your Corals? Strictly speaking, many coral reefs don’t need to be fed supplemental food In fact, a lot of corals get their daily nutrition through photosynthesis. This is where corals capture light and transform it into food for themselves.
How often do you need to feed corals?
We generally recommend feeding coral 1-2 times per week when keeping photosynthetic corals in the evening after your aquarium lights have turned off.
How much electricity does a reef tank use?
Assuming the worst, reef tanks generally need 4-8 watts per gallon (3.79L) of water , which equates to approximately two metal halides of 1000w capacity.
What is the coolest fish to own?
- Bettas
- Plecostomus
- Discus
- Swordtail
- Pearl Gourami
- Zebra Danios
- Neon Tetras
- Guppies. Guppies, like danios, are a hugely popular aquarium fish thanks to their wide variety of colours and patterns, as well as their easy-going temperament.
Do I need an anemone for clownfish?
In a home aquarium, clownfish do not need anemones and it is probably best if you don’t even try to keep them with an anemone. Clownfishes generally take to aquarium life like a fish takes to water, most species of anemone do quite poorly (and mostly die) in aquarium conditions.
How many gallons do 2 clownfish need?
The minimum tank size for Ocellaris clownfish is 10-gallons The recommended tank size could increase from the minimum depending on the number of other fish, corals, and invertebrates in the same aquarium, as well as the relative aggressiveness of those other tankmates.
Can I put 4 clownfish together?
The simple answer to how many clownfish that you can have in your aquarium is 1 or 2. For a while, you may be able to keep 3 or 4 clownfish together , but eventually, 2 of the clowns will pair off and start to pick on the rest of the clowns.
Can I use tap water for a saltwater tank?
You may have wondered if it’s okay to use tap water when filling up your saltwater aquarium. I would not recommend using tap water in your saltwater tank, not in the state it comes out your tap Tap water contains chlorine, nitrates and other chemicals that can be extremely harmful to aquatic life.
How much do corals cost?
Adding live corals is an optional expense; the most ecologically responsible options are grown in captivity and sold from a farm. Beginner corals cost $40, while packs for more expert tank owners cost an average of $180.
Can you have a coral only tank?
Coral only tanks are a possibility when you are keeping an aquarium Corals have slightly different needs to fish, for example, but as long as you feed them and keep the aquarium well maintained, a coral only tank can flourish.
What fish go well with clownfish?
Clownfish do well with wrasses, damselfish, tangs, dartfish, angelfish, blennies, puffers, corals, anemones and gobies One thing to think about is that clownfish will often not get along with others of their kind.
Citations
https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/sumps-tanks-refugiums/tanks.html
https://www.liveaquaria.com/category/15/