There is a growing popularity in the reef-keeping hobby called the nano reef. As its name indicates, a nano reef aquarium is a reef on a small scale, from 2.5 to 29 gallons. The price of a nano reef is also a small scale, from the tank itself, the lighting, it takes less and live rock and coral reef to make a very dramatic display.

often is thought to be the largest aquarium would be easier to maintain stable water parameters. You can not keep the corals alive, without a trickle filter, large protein skimmer efficient and powerful metal halide lighting lamps. The bigger the aquarium more gadgets that could add to the pristine water quality, based on ozone generators, redox meters, the pH control and calcium reactors. You had to be a marine biologist and a chemist for a coral reef aquarium. Nano reef aquarium seems to go against these principles. Can we really keep live corals in aquariums of 10 gallons, without a filter or sump protein skimmer?

What has been learned over the years is more than anything, most of the biodiversity of filtration occurs in the live rock and live sand. The lighting also played a role in the reef aquarium smaller with the advent of power compact fluorescent and HQI smaller metal halide lamps. Having to sift invertebrates and clean the sand and live rock live ads to the ecological balance of the tank. Most trace elements are replaced through a strict regiment of 5% water changes weekly. There is still a mixture of salt water that has adequate levels of calcium and strontium to the growth of corals, and these elements should be kept separately.

The best products to maintain calcium, strontium and other trace elements are aragonite, as AragaMilk of CaribSea. So what is aragonite? Aragonite coral is fossilized algae that extracted minerals from the ocean to grow. Milling of aragonite in a fine powder and add the water creates a milky substance that precipitates quickly adding these natural mineral water. Add a few drops to top off the water to keep calcium levels at 450 ppm. You will be surprised at the rate of growth of SPS corals. Yes I did say SPS corals that can be easily maintained in a nano reef aquarium.

Fish for the Nano Reef Aquarium

Fish are a great addition to a nano reef but you must be very careful that nano. You will be sure to keep up with changes in water, because a small body of water can collect nitrates quickly. The following are fish nano reef safe: anthius, true and false percula, Banggai cardinals, pajama cardinals, royal grammar, fire fish, clown gobies, pseudochromis, basslets and most maidens. While not limited to fish, are hardy and good for beginners. Keep the small number of 1 to 5 depending on fish size aquarium nano.

cleaning crew for the nano

A good cleaning crew remains nano reef smooth operation and free of algae, detritus and other unwanted residues. Commonly kept cleanup crew critters leg hermits are red, red tip hermits, starfish sand sieve, sieve sand goby, turbo snails, and Astrea snails.

For the nano Corals Coral
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There are corals that are compatible with the nano tank. Zooanthids include soft corals, Zenia, star polops, mushrooms and Anemoni. Lps Coral reefs include Fox and Blastomusa. SPS corals do well with metal halide lighting. Acropora and Montipora are easiest to grow in a 24th-29th gallon nano aquarium. SPS Frags are the way forward in a nano reef. They are much cheaper and easier to transport. The advantages of buying online is the coral more variety you can not find in your local pet store. Buying multiple items from the same vendor can reduce shipping costs. Just use some cling to Marineland, which is a two-part epoxy-like plumbers epoxy to glue coral fragments to a live rock. Be sure to give them plenty of room for growth.

For more information, visit reefkeepingfever.com