A marine aquarium is a type of tank that contains seawater and attempts to faithfully reproduce the marine environment. This type of aquarium is generally installed by aquarists who are passionate about breeding fish or other creatures from the marine environment. That’s why marine fish, algae, corals and crustaceans are all found in the sea aquarium. So, which corals should you put in your sea aquarium?
What do corals need to live in a saltwater aquarium?
Coral is a “marine animal of warm seas, which secretes a calcareous skeleton (polypier), red and white in color”. In concrete terms, these are small organisms, also known as polyps, which build a common skeleton that is the starting point of the coral reef.
If you’re going to set up a seawater aquarium, you’ll need corals. However, for them to survive in this artificial environment, you need to reproduce their environment down to the last millimeter.
Coral needs vary from species to species. Brain corals, for example, need powerful HQI lighting for their survival and moderate mixing. Their diet consists mainly of freeze-dried or liquid plankton, which you can find at www.recifall.ch, and also includes vitamins and supplements. They also love artemia.
Bubble corals also need to be well nourished to survive for long periods. Like bubble corals, they also need moderate mixing and powerful lighting. So find out about the specific needs of the corals you’re buying, so you know how to care for them to ensure they survive for a long time.
How to choose the right corals for your aquarium?
Before choosing corals, there are certain prerequisites to consider. You’ll need to take into account a number of factors:
- compatibility: make sure that the creatures you want in your aquarium are compatible with each other, and with all the other organisms in the artificial environment,
- space: resins need space to grow and survive. You must therefore ensure that they have 7.7 cm of space if they are soft corals, and 15 cm if they are harder corals,
- the risk of tipping: to prevent corals from tipping over, you can use epoxy resin. This will keep them firmly in place,
- lighting: lighting plays a very important role in the health and growth of these living creatures. However, lighting requirements differ from one coral species to another. It is therefore preferable to choose organisms that tolerate the same type of lighting.
It’s very important to do thorough research on all the organisms you’ll be putting in your marine aquarium to make sure they’ll cohabit well together.
Which corals are best suited to beginners or experienced aquarists?
Are you a beginner or experienced aquarist looking for corals to create a reef habitat in your aquarium? Zoanthus corals are the perfect choice. These soft corals are easy to care for and maintain. They have no calcareous skeleton and don’t need strong light to grow. They tolerate light to moderate mixing. In terms of price, they are among the most affordable on the market. However, depending on their specific characteristics, prices can quickly climb.
Discosoma is another choice. With its wide range of colors, this coral thrives and multiplies in a healthy seawater aquarium. The price of these organisms varies greatly according to their appearance.
Finally, you can opt for trachyphyllia, especially if you have experience in the field. This species is magnificent. However, it is a little aggressive. To thrive, it needs moderate to strong lighting.
How do you create a natural reef habitat in your saltwater aquarium?
To create your natural reef habitat, you need to clean your aquarium thoroughly before filling it ¾ full with osmosis water. Add 38 g of salt per liter of water to achieve a hardness of between 7 and 8 KH.
In a corner, pour in limestone sand to help the water achieve a balanced pH. Start the skimmer, filtration system and air pump. Allow the water to stand for 2 weeks, then install minerals, decor, invertebrates, corals, fish, etc.
