The faux coral decor is cast in a multitude of realistic, beautiful colors from real coral skeletons. It takes time to establish the aquarium to get the full effect of all the diversity.Īn Artificial Reef has a beauty all its own. The movement of fish, corals and other invertebrates seems to take on an almost rhythmic flow. There is a uniqueness to the hustle and bustle of a healthy, well-established Living Reef aquarium. These can include many species of angelfish, triggerfish, basses, eels, lionfish, and many more. While these fish should be avoided, there are many fish that would feed only occasionally on coral polyps or clam mantles, and they will do very well on prepared and frozen foods and not damage the synthetic corals. There are some fish that primarily feed on live foods found in the live rock that will not survive long-term in a faux reef aquarium. There are many beautiful fish that are “reef-safe.” The options depend greatly on the other fish and invertebrates you have or would like to obtain.Īn Artificial Reef aquarium allows for a slightly larger selection of possible fish choices. In a custom-made living reef aquarium, a poorly chosen fish may constantly nibble on your ornamental (and expensive) clam(s) until they are eaten entirely, or the clam will stay closed to protect itself and end up starving to death. While Living Reef aquariums can include a higher overall biodiversity because it contains many species of invertebrates, the fish selection is limited due to their feeding habits. There are no invertebrates in a synthetic reef aquarium therefore, medications can be used to treat sick fish. The bacteria are usually purchased in a concentrated form, and introduced into the aquarium to “seed” the biological filtration. Utilizing a “wet-dry” or “trickle” filter, where water from the aquarium is trickled over high surface area media, such as the well-known “ bio-balls,” and returned to the aquarium, does this. There is no live rock, therefore the surface area for the aerobic bacteria must be created. In an Artificial Reef aquarium, there is not a “complete” ecosystem. The fish waste products are then broken down by the “clean-up crew” (various crabs, shrimp, snails, sea cucumbers, etc.), and filtered out by various clams, sponges, anemones, and corals. The fish feed on both prepared foods from you, and living organisms on the reef. The live rock used to build the base of the reef brings with it the bacteria necessary for biological filtration. A Living Reef aquarium is a virtually complete ecosystem.
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