How to Aquascape a Reef
Putting together a realistic looking reef tank involves a bit of planning and a lot of live rock. Getting your aquascaping the way you want it before adding corals and fish means you won't have to disrupt your tank later. Over time, algae and polyps will cover your rock wall, making your aquarium look like a real coral reef.
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Things You'll Need
- Saltwater
- Live sand
- Plastic egg crate
- Base rock
- Rock drill
- PVC pipe
- Aquarium-safe epoxy
Instructions
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1
Decide on your basic reef design before you begin. Reef Sources suggests a few possibilities, including a "lagoon" shape, an "L" shape, or a single "seamount."
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2
Fill your aquarium halfway with salt water.
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3
Add a substrate of one half to two inches of live sand.
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4
Set a layer of plastic egg crate on top of the live sand substrate. John Cunningham of Aquarists Online suggests that building your reef on top of the egg crate allows water to circulate underneath the rock.
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5
Place a base out of non-live, "base" rock (usually made of aragonite or limestone) on top of the egg crate. Pick flat, wide rocks for your base. To secure large rocks, drill holes in the rocks and stick pvc pipes through the holes to hold the rocks together.
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6
Build upwards with your live rock, placing the largest pieces on the bottom, and the littlest rocks on top.
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7
Secure small rock pieces with aquarium-safe epoxy.
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Tips & Warnings
Build caves and nooks into your reef wall to make your reef more realistic.
Thoroughly clean and cure rocks before placing them in your aquarium.
Live rock must stay moist at all times.
References
- Photo Credit reef fish 2 image by michael luckett from Fotolia.com
