Common Mistakes You’ll Want to Avoid if You Have Corals

One of the most exciting things about owning a saltwater aquarium isn’t simply the huge variety of gorgeous, bright-colored fish. A saltwater aquarium has huge potential when it comes to cultivating a reef of stunning, diverse coral. However, cultivating a thriving reef tank takes a good deal of effort and knowledge. A stunning landscape of happy corals will only thrive in a saltwater aquarium in a well-cared-for physical and chemical environment. There’s an exceptionally fine line between thriving corals and the reef system breaking down right before your eyes. The staff at Aquatic Warehouse, a leading provider of saltwater fish tank supplies, wants to share a few tips that can help you avoid the most common mistakes coral owners tend to make.

Choosing Invertebrate that Aren’t Compatible

Many fish and other marine organisms in saltwater tanks feed on corals. Similarly, corals in close proximity react to each other in a variety of ways, many times in a hostile manner. Corals can be very fussy about the other reef life they spend their time with. When placed with invertebrates they aren’t compatible with, corals can become very aggressive. These corals often begin releasing toxins into the saltwater that attack other corals. They may also start to deploy a series of stinging tentacles that harm other corals or marine life in the tank. The easiest way to avoid these negative interactions is to recreate a type of reef biotope that has already been established to be successful in nature. This tactic will give you peace of mind because the corals have already evolved together naturally. Coral types and their proper placement is an art that we would be happy to help you with here at Aquatic Warehouse.

Not Researching Lighting Care Requirements

Corals aren’t all the same, and it’s essential to do your research prior to starting your aquarium or adding corals to it. Next to a good protein skimmer, lighting should always be a top priority. The ideal lighting will vary based on the specific type of coral. Make sure you determine if the specific coral is photosynthetic, and do your research on the ideal depth each individual type of coral needs to thrive in its natural environment.

Neglecting to Provide the Proper Water Movement

Many saltwater aquarium owners overlook the importance water movement plays in the development and success of corals. For example, there are many coral species that need to live in turbulent water. The water’s rapid movement is crucial for the corals to be able to feed on the tank’s plankton, and other species of coral can only shed their outer layer of mucous and stay healthy in moving water. Multiple powerheads or wave pumps are the norm in the industry today.

Neglecting to Provide Ideal Water Quality

While marine fish are notorious for being difficult, reef life requires even more attention. You need to recreate the ideal ocean environment, with special attention to water quality. Nitrates and phosphates should be virtually undetectable in the water. Additionally, you need to add calcium to the water and monitor the alkalinity, ensuring alkaline levels are kept stable an within parameters. A reef aquarium is all about stability!

Whatever you need to properly care for your saltwater tank, whether it’s an aquarium temperature controller, filter, or lighting, Aquatic Warehouse has it all. Check out our website, and give us a call at 858-467-9297 if you have any questions.