Reef Builders - The Source for Reef Keeping Information

Don Robinette used to sell aquariums from his store in Duluth. But last March, he closed up shop to run the business from home and turn his attention to clients who want elaborate, custom-made aquariums. “It’s better to focus on high-end clients,” he said.

Fish tanks, blue and entrancing, have long been decorative staples in doctors’ waiting rooms, restaurants and corporate offices. But in the Atlanta area, specialty aquarium sellers say the market for high-end tanks has begun to grow, in large part because of the popularity of the Georgia Aquarium. “They go down there and they get inspired to get a tank,” said Kevin Rogers, manager of Marine Fish & Reef in east Cobb County. “The Georgia Aquarium definitely helps us out business-wise.” People usually start with smaller tanks, Rogers said, but may move to high-end aquariums as they become familiar with fish. These aquariums, which can hold hundreds of gallons of water, are often custom-made to match furniture and are loaded with features — special lighting for corals, themed decorations and even computers that alert maintenance workers if the water’s pH drops.

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Richard over at Great Reef tanks listed some successfull keys in keeping a small pico reef aquarium. Total volume is only 2.5 gallons. There are five keys in total and they include: 1. Very minimal bio load, 2. Frequent water changes, 3. In frequent feeding of coral, 4. Regular fresh water top-up each day, and 5. Keep your entire system simple and have patience. Looks good Richard!

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Anyone who has been scuba diving or snorkelling will tell you that despite its calm appearance, the water near a reef is constantly in motion. This is especially true in the fore reef, where a lot of SPS corals come from. Surprisingly, when it comes to setting up a reef tank, water movement is often overlooked. This is unfortunate especially since creating adequate water movement can be one of the least expensive aspects in reefkeeping - and one of the most important. It is no exaggeration to say that proper water movement goes a long way towards helping a reef system thrive.

By: Mike Paletta

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This was written by one of our own RB members, this is a step by step guide on how to setup a reef tank. Enjoy!

The best words I have to describe a coral reef is a “lush wasteland.” By this I mean many extremely different types of life inhabit a coral reef, yet it is incredibly nutrient poor. Reefs rely on powerful sunlight as an energy source and lifeforms concentrate in a very complex web. All the nutrients in a coral reef are tied up in the living biomass of the inhabitants. Since a reef aquarium is an enclosed system it has only the capability to mimic the biofilter of a reef, and is by definition a micro-habitat. We are unable to mimic the flow of millions of gallons of water flushing and refilling a coral reef. We can only create “reef soup”. However, this should not allow you to become discouraged. Through knowledge of what you are trying to mimic we can do an amazing job of allowing a captive reef to thrive and flourish. I hope my tiny guide helps anyone get interested in this fantastic hobby and allows you to be at ease with a little knowledge about how to prepare. With that let’s get our hands wet. I have written this set-up guide with the understanding the reader understands the nitrogen cycle (cycling) and other such beginning concepts.

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To ensure that the water in your aquarium is up-to-par and meets the generally recommended standards for reef aquariums, regular testing is strongly recommended, not to say required.

By: Albert J. Thiel

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Here is a crazy aquarium mod. Basically they are putting the guts to a desktop computer in the bottom portion of this tank. There is an aquarium on top, granted not saltwater but from the looks of it there seems to be a lot of pricey equipment in the bottom of that thing. This gets our vote for being creative for sure. Now if they would make a saltwater version we’d be interested! Click the read link for a step by step guide on how they managed to do this.

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Algae— these simple, unicellular or colonial, photosynthetic eukaryotic plant cells, are remarkable. From planktonic blooms to giant kelp beds to algal films micrometers thin, algae of all types form the base of a global ecosystem, cycling carbon, oxygen and vital nutrients throughout the world. Nevertheless, certain algae have posed problems for us as long as humans have kept any type of standing bodies of water. Fountains, pools, wells, and especially aquariums exposed to any light will almost inevitably succumb to some sort of algal bloom. For us lucky aquarists, the problem is especially difficult.

[Via MarineDepot Staff]

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BY RICHARD HARKER

It’s easy to find the reefkeeper in any neighborhood. It’s usually the house with the strange intense light streaming from it into the street. It is a rare reefkeeper who is able to illuminate a reef tank without brightly lighting the room, a large part of the house and often the neighbors’ houses as well. Unfortunately, while the light falling outside the tank may be cutting down on crime in the neighborhood, it is not serving the purpose for which it was intended — to benefit the photosynthetic animals in the tank. Because of the loss of light, the high cost of reef tank lighting, from the bulbs, fixtures and ballasts to the electricity, ends up even higher than if the hobbyist could direct all the light into the tank. Reflectors play a central role in directing this light into the tank.

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Yet another diagram, illustrating a deep sand bed. Most likely this would be separate from the aquarium, perhaps in line either after the overflow or after water gets processed in the sump.

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Another diagram of Fish Only with Live rock aquarium, great visual aid for those people new to the saltwater hobby. Shawn Mackey is the illustrator. Perhaps he will do more for the saltwater hobby?

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