Marine reef aquariums are aquariums that contain live coral and other animals associated with coral reefs, but with an emphasis on fish more than coral or invertebrates. Marine reef aquariums can vary from modeling specific ecosystems like the Great Barrier Reef, to the more typical and often more flashy and colorful mixed reef that has a combination of hard and soft corals from around the world.
Unlike the marine aquarium, which focuses purely on fish, or the saltwater reef aquarium, which focuses purely on coral, the marine reef aquarium features an ensemble cast of fish, coral and interesting invertebrates.
Tanks for Marine Reef Aquariums
Marine reef aquariums are made up of a number of components, the key component being the tank. Regular glass or acrylic aquariums are typical for reef aquariums; they often include an internal overflow made of plastic or glass that encloses holes drilled into the bottom for a drain or standpipe and a return line. Water flows into and down the standpipe to a sump, through filtration and heating equipment and a pump that pumps it back through the second hole in the aquarium. Alternatively, tanks sometimes use an external overflow with a U-tube that feeds water into the sump and then returns it using a water pump.
Filtration for Marine Reef Aquariums
Filtration for reef aquariums normally comes from large quantities of live rock from rubble zones around existing coral reefs, or aquacultured rock from Florida which will typically be supplemented by protein skimmers. Additionally, a refugium that houses many species of macroalgae, including Caulerpa racemosa or chaetomorphae macroalgae can remove excess nutrients from the water such as nitrate, phosphate, and iron. Some aquarium keepers prefer the use of deep sand beds.
Combined mechanical/biological filtration is typically avoided as these filters trap detritus and produce nitrates that can inhibit the growth of, or even kill many delicate corals. Chemical filtration should be used sparingly but helps to avoid discoloration of the water, remove dissolved stuff and stabilize the reef ecosystem.
Water movement for Marine Reef Aquariums
Water movement is crucial in marine reef aquariums, and different corals require different flow rates. Many hobbyists advocate a water turnover rate of ten times the aquarium capacity in gallons per hour. There are exceptions. Mushroom Coral, for example, requires little flow as it is normally found in crevices near the base of the reef. Species such as Acropora and Montipora thrive under much more turbulent conditions in the range of 30 to 40 times more flow, as they are native to shallow water near the tip of a reef, where waves break. The directions which water pumps are aimed within an aquarium will have a substantial effect on flow speeds.
Water flow brings food to corals. No coral totally relies on photosynthesis for food. Gas exchange occurs when water flows over coral, bringing oxygen and taking away gasses and shedding material. Water flow helps to reduce the risk of thermal shock by reducing coral's surface temperature. The surface temperature of coral that lives near the water's surface can be a lot higher than the surrounding water due to the heat of the sun.
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