A coral reef or coral tank is a marine aquarium that clearly displays live corals and other marine invertebrates and fish that play a role in safeguarding the tropical reef environment. Coral aquariums require precise intense illumination, turbulent water movement, and water chemistry that is more stable than marine aquarium fish only, and careful consideration is given to which coral animals are suitable and suitable for each other.
Video Reef aquarium
Components
Coral aquarium consists of a number of components, in addition to livestock, including:
Display tank : The main tank where cattle are stored and displayed.
Stand : The buffer allows the placement of the display tank at eye level and provides space for storing accessory components.
Sump : An accessory tank where mechanical equipment is stored. The isolated shelter pond allows for free-to-air display chaos.
Refugium : An accessory tank dedicated to the cultivation of beneficial macroalgae and microflora/fauna. The refugium and sump are often placed in a single tank with a divider system to separate the compartment.
Lighting : Some lighting options are available for coral guards and tailored to the type of coral that is stored.
Canopy : The canopy houses the light fixtures and provides access to the tank for feeding and maintenance.
Filtration and water movement : Filtering and water movement strategies are used in reef aquariums. Large equipment is often lowered to sump.
Show tank
A "coral ready" or just "drilled" tank is often used. This tank style has a hole drilled into the back panel that allows water to flow into the sump or refugium. These waterways are usually placed in an internal plastic surge or glass enclosed in a sewer pipe and water channel (see Fig. 1, a). Surface water pours overflow, downright pipe (See figure 1, b), through PVC pipe, to sump. After transiting, the water is pushed by the water pump back through the second hole and into the aquarium (See Fig. 1, c). Alternatively, standard aquariums are not drilled using an external "hanging" outflow that supplies water through a continuous siphon to a shelter (see figure 1 d). Tanks are usually made of glass or acrylic. Acrylic has the advantages of optical clarity, light weight, and ease of drilling. Losses include the tendency to scratch easily, bend, and access that is often limited from above due to top bracing. Glass aquarium is heavier but more difficult to scratch. Other materials such as epoxy-coated plywood have been used by diligent DIY makers, but these materials are usually reserved for the construction of larger tanks.
Filtration
The main biological screening for coral aquariums usually comes from the use of living stones derived from various tropical zones around existing reefs, or more recently aquaculture rocks from Florida. Some reef owners also use so-called deep sand beds (DSB). This is often used to add biological filtration by helping nitrate reduction, waste products in an incomplete nitrogen cycle. Deep sand opponents can choose "empty floor" or "suspended rock" that allows nitrate removal-generating an easier detritus. This biological filtration is usually equipped with skimmer protein. Protein skimmers use a foam fractionation process in which air is fed into the water stream creating microbubbles. Organic waste attaches to the surface of these microbubbles and is removed when it overflows on the surface of the reactor into removable cups. The groups of these elements that are used together are characteristic of the Berlin Method, named for the city in which it was first designed.
In recent years, the Berlin Method is often supplemented with refugium. A refugium provides many benefits, which include nitrate reduction, as well as providing a natural food source. This is usually the home of two main species of macroalgae, including Caulerpa prolifera or chaetomorphae or both (since these two strains are known to be spores but grow with rooting to spread). Macroalgae is used for two reasons: to remove excess water from nutrients such as nitrates, phosphates, and iron, and to support beneficial microflora and fauna (zooplankton). Small invertebrates (copepods and amphipods) are provided predation-free spaces to grow and, when returned to the view tank, serve as food for coral and fish. Conventional mechanical/biological filtration used in the fish-only system is avoided because the filter traps the detritus and produces nitrate that may inhibit or even kill many fine corals. Chemical filtration in the form of activated carbon is used when necessary to remove water discoloration, or to remove dissolved matter (organic or otherwise) to help purify water in the reef system.
Water movement
Water movement is essential in reef aquariums with different coral species requiring different flow rates. Currently, many hobbyists recommend a 10x: 10x water turnover rate in a gallon's aquarium capacity = required flow in gallons per hour. This is a general rule with many exceptions. Some corals, such as mushroom and polip corals, need less flow to thrive. In contrast, large rocky coral reefs such as brain corals, bubble corals, elegans, coral cups, matches and coral horns require moderate flow, and small polyps such as Acropora , Montipora , Porites , and Pocillopora require high, volatile conditions that mimic broken waves in shallow waters near the edge of the reef. The direction that a water pump is pointing in the aquarium will have a huge effect on the flow velocity. Many corals will gradually move themselves to different areas of the tank if the movement of water in the area is currently unsatisfactory.
"Since flow velocity is a critical measure to determine the rate of gas exchange, the turnover is not much to convey how fast the corals will breathe and photosynthesize."
The coral ready tank gets at least part of the required water movement from the pump that returns water from the tub. This flow is usually coupled with other strategies. A popular strategy is the placement in the display tank of multiple powerheads. Powerhead is a small submersible water pump that produces a laminar or narrow water flow and direction. If the presence of a powerhead in the tank does not match the aesthetics of the display, a small hole can be drilled in an overflow tank and most powerheads can be hidden, leaving only a small channel funnel visible inside the tank.. Pumps can be alternately switched on and off using wave regulator and directed to each other or on aquarium glass to create turbulent flow in the tank. The disadvantages of using these powerheads include their capacity to disrupt display tanks, the tendency to overheat production, and the often-generated quality of laminar water flow. Another method is a closed loop where water is pulled from the main tank into the pump that returns water back to the aquarium through one or more returns to create water turbulence. Newer submersible vane pumps are gaining in popularity and are capable of generating large volumes of turbulent turbulent streams without a highly laminar style directed from the power head. Propeller pumps are more energy efficient than powerheads, but require a higher initial investment.
Another recent method is the gyre tank. The gyre tank pushes the maximum amount of water momentum through a divider in the center of the aquarium. Dividers leave open and unobstructed spaces that provide areas with little friction against water movement. Building momentum of water using gyre is an efficient method to increase flow, thus benefiting coral respiration and photosynthesis.
Water flow is important to bring food to corals, since no corals are entirely dependent on photosynthesis for food. Gas exchange occurs when water flows over the reef, carrying oxygen and releasing gas and material shedding. Water flow helps reduce the risk of thermal shock and damage by reducing coral surface temperatures. Surface coral temperatures that live near the water surface can be significantly higher than the surrounding water due to infrared radiation.
Exposure
With the advent of newer and better technologies, increasing intensity and the ever-expanding spectrum, there are many options to consider.
Many, if not most coral aquariums contain in their tissues, symbiotic algae are called zooxanthellae. Zooxanthellae is what takes light to do photosynthesis and in turn produces simple sugars used by corals for food. The challenge for hobbyists is to provide sufficient light to enable photosynthesis to sustain the growing zooxanthellae population in coral tissue. While this may seem simple enough, in reality this can prove to be a very complex task.
Some corals, such as mushroom corals and polyp corals, require very little light to develop. In contrast, large rocky coral reefs such as brain corals, bubble corals, elegant coral, cup reefs, matches and coral horns require light in moderation, and small rocky polyp corals such as Acropora , Montipora , Porites , and Pocillopora require high intensity lighting.
Of the various types, the most popular aquarium lighting comes from metal halide lamps, very high output or VHO, compact fluorescent and high T5 output lighting systems. Although they were once widely used, many aquarium tank reefs have left neon lights T12 and T8 due to their poor intensity, and mercury vapor due to limited light spectrum production.
Recent advances in lighting technology have also provided new technology for aquarium lighting: light emitting diodes (LEDs). Although LEDs themselves are not new, these technologies have just been adapted to produce a quality system that allows them to be considered as viable alternatives to gas and filament-based aquarium lighting systems. Technological novelty does make it relatively expensive, but it brings several advantages over traditional lighting. Although their initial cost is much higher, they tend to be economical in the long term because they consume less power and have a much longer lifespan than other systems. Also, because LED systems are made of hundreds of very small lights, microcomputers can control their output to simulate dawn and sunset. Some systems also have the ability to simulate moonlight and lunar phase, as well as vary the color temperature of the resulting light. In addition, some manufacturers produce LED lighting systems in a single bright and light intensity to sustain life in marine aquariums.
Options for aquarium lighting are complicated by variables such as color temperature, (measured in kelvin), color rendering index (CRI), active photosynthetic radiation (PAR) and lumens. The power output available to fans can range from a slight 9 W fluorescent lamp to a dazzling W metal halide lamp. The lighting system also varies in the light output generated by each bulb type - listed in the weakest order to the strongest: T8/12 or normal output light, compact fluorescent lamp and high T5 output, VHO, and metal halide lamps. To further complicate the problem, there are several types of ballasts available: electric ballasts, magnetic ballasts, and pulse start ballasts.
Heating and cooling
The coral tanks are usually stored at temperatures between 25 and 28 ° C (75-82 Â ° F). Shifting of the radical temperature should be avoided as this can be very dangerous for coral and fish invertebrates. Depending on the location of the tank and its conditions (ie heat/air conditioning), one can install a heater and/or chiller for the tank. The heater is relatively cheap and available at every local fish shop. Aquarists often use sump to hide unsightly equipment such as heaters. Coolers, on the other hand, are expensive and harder to find. For many aquarists, installing a surface fan and running a home air conditioner simply replaces the chiller. The fan cools the tank through evaporative cooling and requires more aquarium water flow.
Water chemistry
Rocky corals, defined by the calcer calcium carbonate framework (CaCO 3 ), are the focus of many advanced coral guards. These reefs require additional attention to water chemistry, especially maintenance of calcium, carbonate, and stable and optimal pH levels. These parameters can be traced and adjusted to the test apparatus and the manual dose of calcium additive additives and pH buffers that do not require additional equipment. Alternatively, automated methods of using small specialized computers with electronic water quality monitoring capability are often used to control water chemistry parameters through several components including calcium reactors and kalkwasser reactors. The calcium reactor is a tube filled with crushed rock skeletons. Carbon dioxide is injected into a canon that oxidizes water and dissolves coral skeletons. The acid-rich and CaCO 3 solution is then pumped into a cooling container. Excess CO 2 then diffuses out of the water and into the air leaving CaCO 3 . Kalkwasser is a solution of calcium hydroxide, Ca (OH) 2 . The reaction reactor stirred the solution, prevented the precipitation, and dispersed the solution into a container wherein Ca (OH) 2 joined the dissolved CO 2 to produce CaCO 3 . These components must be controlled by the computer to prevent harmful changes in the pH due to the effluent of the calcium acid reactor or alkaline waste calcalk.
The optimal water parameters are:
- Salinity: 1.022-1.025 sg or 30-34 parts per thousand
- Temperature: 24-27Ã, Â ° C (76-80Ã, Â ° F)
- Ammonia (NH 3 ): 0 ppm (parts per million)
- Nitrit (NO 2 - ): 0 ppm
- Nitrate (NOT 3 - ): 0-10 ppm
- Phosphate (PO 4 3 - ): 0-0.06 ppm
- pH: 8.2 to 7.6
- Calcium (Ca 2 ): 400-450 ppm
- Alkalinity: 7-12 dKH
The trace elements can become exhausted by sea cattle and filtration, and can be recharged during water changes.
Security
Large volumes of conductive, electrics, elaborate pipes, and many electrical appliances placed at close range certainly pose significant risks to damage to people and property and require close attention to safety. All equipment must be used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Electrical appliances should be placed above the water level whenever possible, and loop drops should always be used. Circuit limits should not be exceeded and all equipment must be plugged into a ground failure circuit breaker (GFCI) outlet. These can be purchased at hardware stores and are relatively easy to install. Plug a GFCI power strip also available. Home monitoring equipment with water sensors can also be adapted for home aquarist and used to alert the owner of a power outage or overflow of water. These tools can enable timely intervention in potential disasters and provide additional security for frequent travelers.
Maps Reef aquarium
Nano reef
A nano reef is a type of marine aquarium typically less than 140 liters (30 gallons Imperial/37 gallon US). The exact boundary that distinguishes nano reefs from ordinary reefs is somewhat unclear. Some claim that anything less than 180 liters (40 gallons Imperial/48 gallon US) will qualify. But 140 liters (30 gallons of imperial/37 gallon US) seem to be generally accepted limits. Nano reefs have become very popular in recent years among hobbyist fish keepers, mainly because of their smaller size, maintainability, and the possibility of lower costs. The growing interest in this marine aquarium science niche has fostered some important contributions ranging from specific consumer products such as special aquarium filters, compact high intensity lighting systems and smaller circulation pumps. Such equipment allows the aquarist to nurture an environment where many marine organisms are able to thrive.
The first reference for this small coral aquarium was created in 1989 by Albert J. Thiel in his book Small Reef Aquarium Basics .
Nano reefs are very commonly sold as complete kits containing tanks, stands, T5 compact power, T8, PL lamps or metal halide lighting, protein skimmers, UV sterilisers, 3 or more filtration stages, heating and water pumps or powerheads. However, many nano reef owners decide to update their aquariums with better quality equipment such as protein skimmers or stronger lighting.
Pico reef
Another term that is gaining popularity is pico reef , which is used to refer to the smallest aquarium reef aquarium. Most online forum polls set a range of about 10 liters (2.5 gallons) and below as pico corals. These small tanks require greater persistence with regard to water changes and attention to water chemistry because the small volume of water provides less room for error. Care should be taken when stockpiling these small tanks because too many people can easily burden the tank's ability to treat effluents effectively. For the smallest pico coral reefs, even the presence of one fish is not recommended. Coral Pico often consists of living stones, hard corals, and small invertebrates such as hermit crabs and sea slugs. Storage of pico coral aquariums has tested the levels of allelopathy, chemicals and physical use of corals to compete in space. Prior to the emergence of this concentrated environment, it was estimated that it was impossible for corals and even some mixed genera to occupy a small shared volume of water.
Challenges associated with small reef aquariums
Due to the small volume of water, fluctuations in water quality occur more easily, so aquarium reefs need extra attention to water quality compared to aquariums with larger water volumes. Many experienced aquatic aquatics recommend testing water twice a week, with water changes at least weekly. In particular, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, salinity, alkalinity, calcium and phosphate levels must be closely monitored. When it comes to nano reefs, even minor changes in water conditions such as mild temperature fluctuations can be a problem, while larger water volumes from larger aquariums provide a more stable and flexible environment.
Nano reefs also require extra care in the selection of occupants. There are two main factors to consider: the biological load, ie the ability of the tank to process the waste produced by the occupants, and the compatibility of the species. These problems, though present in larger tanks, are enlarged in nanoscale tanks. Species that consider reefs to be safe and capable of coexisting in larger tanks may not work well in nanoscale tanks because of their physical proximity. For this reason, smaller fish species, such as gobies and clownfish, are a popular choice because of their relatively small size and the ability to coexist peacefully with other tankers.
Filtration on the nano reef
Many aquarious nano reefs prefer their look as natural as possible, and therefore choose to use as few mechanical filtration methods as possible. The primary filtration method on nano rocks is living stone and live sand, which are pieces of rock and sand that have broken out of the coral reef and are inhabited by beneficial bacteria and other organisms that help break down the organic wastes produced by larger organisms in the nano reef. Aquarists of other nano reefs use a device such as a protein skimmer to dispose of waste from an aquarium, before it has a chance to be broken down into nitrate. Eliminating mechanical excess waste can reduce the frequency of water changes needed to keep the nitrate level low. Delaying the action of a mechanical filter, such as by using a daylight timer, may allow invertebrates to be filtered naturally. A refugium can also be used to export nutrients, when packed with macroalga such as Chaetomorpha, and living stones. The deep sand bed filter is another filtering method Recently there are several "natural" methods for treating waste in an aquarium and especially small environments as nano-reef. Research on the impetus for the development of various types of sponges and micro-organisms to process pollutants in an aquarium, which has gained popularity in the aquarium community.
Livestock
Fish
- Clownfish
- Tangs
- Gobies
Invertebrates
- Candycane Coral ( Caulastrea furcata )
- Frogspawn Coral ( Euphyllia divisa )
- Rocket hammer ( Euphyllia ancora )
- Coral pulses ( Heteroxenia sp. )
- Brain cores
- Polyp key ( Zoanthus sp. )
- Star polyps ( Briareum violaceum )
- Cleaner shrimp
References
External links
- Pets: Fish and Aquaria: Marine at Curlie (based on DMOZ)
- RTAW Reefpedia, Reef Keeping wiki managed by Marine Aquarium Societies of Australia
- Reefland Reef Aquarium Forum
- Maritime FAQs, Frequently Asked Questions about general tank house housings
- Setup of 5 gallon reefs, Information on the nano reef tank
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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