Kalkwassar is basically Calcium Hydroxide in the German language. It is an additive for reef tanks and is not much costly compared to others. It helps you raise the levels of pH and calcium in your reef tank. For beginner and intermediate hobbyists, it is a simple and economical way to maintain the alkalinity and…
Even if you are a beginner, it should not come as a shock to you that maintaining a reef tank is not a piece of cake. There are a number of things to take care of and an important one of them is maintaining the right temperature in a reef tank. This is because the…
A canister filter is capable of handling all the filtration needs of a reef tank. It actively forces the water of a tank to enter the canister and pass through the media and makes sure that the water cannot get any chance to channel around the media. It means that a canister filter is very…
For all the aquarists out there, the most exciting part of setting up a new tank is adding the fish. But you have to be careful here. It is very important to introduce the right fish at the right time. Because the health of the fish depends a lot on how and when you put…
Remember how I always tell you that you need to research a little before purchasing your favorite fish for your tank? Well, if you have Clownfish on your favorite list, this article is exactly what you should look for when you do your research. Because not every fish can live with Clownfish. A lot of…
To maintain a fish tank properly, it is of utmost importance to have a good filtration system in your reef tank. Because the main function of a filter is to keep the water clean by removing wastes, ammonia, and nitrates so that your tank inhabitants can stay safe, healthy, and breathe well in the water….
If you know the main characteristics of a Clownfish, you may already know that it cannot survive without a Sea Anemone. While it is a fact that they share a symbiotic relationship with each other, it can often happen that your Clownfish will defy the rule. In that case, you have to take the initiative…
If you are planning to set up a tank, I am sure you already have a lot of confusion about which type of tank to buy, which type of fish or invertebrate to choose for a tank, how to set up a tank, and other stuff. Because there are so many types of tanks available…
Nobody who has bought a fish for his/her reef tank has the intention of catching and removing it ever. But the truth is, sometimes an aquarist has to catch a fish and remove it for the sake of the other tank inhabitants. The problem is, catching a fish in a reef tank is a lot…
One of the main requirements of having a reef tank is to change its water on a regular basis. It means preparing the saltwater mixture for your reef tank every once in a while. It is essential for reef tanks because it removes wastes from the tank water and refills the water with elements that…
For a lot of hobbyists, one of the most exciting things about having a reef tank is its decoration. The decoration of a reef tank varies from one hobbyist to another. Regardless of which decoration pattern you follow, you should definitely consider using live rocks as a part of it. Live rocks not only enhance…
The filter of your reef tank works best when you maintain a proper water flow rate. To get a clean aquarium for an extended period and ensure a healthy environment for the tank creatures, maintaining a definite Gallon Per Hour (GPH) flow is an excellent and effective approach. If your reef tank is dominated by…
I take it you’ve come here after going through my article on best protein skimmers overall? Then, you know for the fact what a protein skimmer does! Let me give you a basic rundown anyway. A protein skimmer takes out the impurities from your coral or fish aquariums/tanks. Basically, it shoulders the responsibilities of 2…
Although using vodka in a reef tank sounds a little odd, it is a widely popular and useful method. It is proven that the method of vodka dosing removes phosphates and nitrates from the tank water and thus, improves its quality. Vodka dosing reduces the levels of phosphates and nitrates from the water of a…
Don’t be fooled by “Protein” in the name. It’s not a diet supplement for us humans OR for our fishes. Rather, a protein skimmer is something that keeps our aquariums and/or tanks clean. Well, that’s the gist of it all! These tools can single-handedly keep our fish habitat clean by gathering (and flushing out in…
One of the key requirements of maintaining the quality of a reef tank is keeping its salinity level strong. But the challenging part is to keep the salinity rate stable. Although it is a little challenging to keep the salinity rate stable, it is a vital part of maintaining a reef tank. There is an…
One of the things that cause problems in a reef tank by disrupting its environment is flatworms. You can easily deal with majanos and aiptasia, but flatworms will make it really hard for you to get rid of them. But getting rid of them is an absolute requirement if you want to keep your tank…
UV rays (or Ultra-Violet rays) nowadays are the most reliable mediums when it comes to disinfecting surgical equipment. That’s common knowledge at this point. However, can they do the same for our aquariums, tanks, and ponds with their own ecological systems? The short and sweet answer here is, “Yes, they can!” Due to their short…
Magnesium plays an important role in keeping the reef tank stable. It serves a variety of purposes. Corals and other invertebrates of the reef tank need magnesium to metabolize the calcium. Interacting with the tank water, magnesium also helps dissolve the calcium into the water column. If you experience low magnesium, you need to know…
When you establish a reef tank, you actually create a mini-ecosystem for the fishes, corals, and other marine organisms. If you are a new aquarist, you might not know that clean up crews are also essential components you need to nurture in your tank along with the fish and corals. However, do you know when…
If you’re any kind of aquarium enthusiast, you’ve heard about reef tanks. They are super spacious and have options aplenty when it comes to keeping the corals in a good environment. But there’s a catch (there always is one)! These things are expensive as hell. Also, you’ll need days to set one up for use….
Bubble Algae might look innocent and amazing to you at the beginning. You might even leave those alone on the new live rock. But, when they grow rapidly and take control of your reef tank, you have to be cruel to them for the sake of being kind to the other creatures of the tank….
Flatworms are common microorganisms found in freshwater and saltwater aquariums. Planaria is just another name to describe the flatworms. According to their effect in the aquarium, flatworms can be either benign or problematic. If you are having nuisance flatworms, you should take steps to get rid of them. To remove flatworms you can adopt natural,…
Powerheads are essential for the reef tanks to ensure a good and healthy water movement inside the tank. Placing the powerheads at the right place can be a real dilemma if you are a new reef aquarist. If you are one of them, you must know where to place powerheads in reef tanks to let…
When it comes to calcium level, both high and low calcium can affect the reef tank negatively. The ideal calcium level in a reef tank should be between 380-450 ppm. So, what if the calcium in your tank goes beyond 450? How do you lower the calcium level in your reef tank? There are three…
Are you confused about the duration of lighting hours for your reef tank? You are not alone. Many reef aquarists, especially the beginners, get confused about how many hours of LED light they need to supply for their reef tanks. It is recommended to ensure a photoperiod of 9 hours where 7 hours will be…
Is your reef tank covered with unwanted algae? Do you want to know how to get rid of them and bring back the balance? Well, I know how disturbing it is to find your reef tank aquarium with excessive amounts of troublesome algae. There are a variety of nuisance algae such as green hair algae,…
Are you worried about cyanobacteria growing underwater in your reef tank? The small, slimy, and stringy substance in the live rock called cyanobacteria can invade the tank and make it dirty. Though it is not very easy to deal with it with one single method, it is not very difficult to get rid of them…
You might be asking “how many watts of LED lighting do I need for a reef tank?”. Well, this might seem to be a fair question to ask, but unfortunately asking this question this way is a category mistake and thus a wrong question. It is because LED lighting differs from the fluorescent or metal…
Calcium is one of the essential elements in our body. It helps to form our bones and teeth. However, apart from human beings, many other living creatures need calcium too. Corals are no exception to this. They need a steady level of calcium to grow and keep their colors away from fading away. If the…
An increased level of phosphate is a nuisance many aquarists fight against in their reef tanks. Due to the higher level of phosphates, several kinds of hair algae grow up in a tank and make the tank ugly. Moreover, it creates some other annoying problems. You can lower the level of phosphates by changing water,…
Many aquarists are confused about how to treat ich in their reef tank. If you have a reef tank, you must know how sensitive the corals and invertebrates are. If you want to take very drastic measures to control ich in your tank, you might end up harming them. So, how do you deal with…
If you own a reef tank at your home, then you are well acquainted with the hair algae. These filthy algae make your reef tank much messy and ugly. So, to keep your tank clean, you have to know how to get rid of these hair algae from your reef tank. Initially, to get rid…
Chaeto (Chaetomorpha Algae) is one of the macroalgae or saltwater plants commonly planted in the reef tank aquarium. It has multiple benefits and functions. If you do not know what does Chaeto algae actually do in a reef tank, you should read this post. Chaeto works as a natural filter to remove excess nitrates and…
When alkalinity level goes higher than required in the reef tank, the fishes and the tank equipment get damaged. It is important to lower alkalinity in the reef tank gradually so that the adverse effects do not affect the tank inhabitants badly. In this article, we are going to explore the steps you should follow…
If your reef tank does not have the right amount of alkalinity, that’s not good for the overall health of the inhabitants in the tank. When the alkalinity is low, you need to raise it using several chemicals and commercial premixes. In this article, we are going to share how you can raise alkalinity in…
The correct level of pH plays an important role in keeping the water critters healthy. If your reef tank has a low pH level than required, and you want to raise the pH level in the tank, this is the post you need to read. There are different ways to raise the pH level in…
If you’re a passionate reefer, you’d know that coral reefs are delicate organisms. They need their share of the sunlight and quality habitat to thrive. This goes for saltwater corals as even more than the freshwater ones. Reef salts are the prime components that make your reef tanks ideal coral habitats. Now that we’ve established…
Most of us take aquariums lightly. I mean, “Very” lightly. Unlike what you guys think, aquarium management doesn’t mean “Setting it up and feeding the fishes.” You need regular maintenance. The “Taking Care of Aquatic Life” bit is important as well. That’s where Wavemakers come in. These babies work exceptionally well in circulating the water…
Call me a nitpicker all you want but I like to meticulously plan everything when it comes to my aquariums. A well-lighted aquarium brings out the best in my fishes as well as the coral reefs that reside in it after all. And I’m no slacker when it comes to going the extra mile to…
Looking at a fish tank can be mesmerising. You can actually see how fishes react to its captive surrounding, and watch aquatics plants and algae grow naturally. Although the plants and driftwoods in a planted freshwater fish tank looks great, algae don’t stand out. They make your tank look green and dirty. But on the…