What Is the Difference Between a Reef Aquarium & a Saltwater Aquarium?
If you look past a simple goldfish bowl, you’ll find a huge world of aquariums with all sorts of different animals and tank types. There are things that make each type different from the others. When it comes to saltwater aquariums, the word “reef tank” can be hard to understand because it refers to a very specific type of aquarium.
An aquarium with living corals and other photosynthetic animals, fish, and invertebrates like crabs, snails, and shrimp is called a reef tank. A saltwater aquarium, on the other hand, is a general term for any saltwater tank that can hold marine animals. Mostly fish, but also cephalopods like octopus and squid, crabs, snails, shrimp, and just about anything else that comes from the ocean. There are reef tanks, fish-only tanks, predator tanks, macroalgae tanks, seahorse tanks, and other marine biotopes in this group of aquariums.
It’s important to keep in mind that “saltwater aquarium” can actually mean a lot of different types of aquariums. But when someone talks about a “saltwater aquarium,” they usually mean a saltwater tank that only holds fish, especially when talking about reef aquariums.
What Makes A Reef Tank Different?
The main parts of a marine aquarium and a reef tank are the same. They are the tank, the stand, the heater, the rock, the sand, the water, the light, and the pump. A reef tank, on the other hand, needs certain things because it’s for growing coral and keeping fish healthy. A normal aquarium light is not enough to help coral photosynthesis. You need a high-output, whole-spectrum reef light. You will also need to add things to the water to keep the chemistry stable and replace the elements that the corals eat. You’ll need internal wave pumps or powerheads to make water flow inside the tank. For filtering, you’ll need a protein skimmer and stronger filtering to handle more minerals and food. You’ll also need to use an RO/DI device to clean your tap water and get rid of any harmful contaminants.
To sum up, a reef tank is harder to set up and take care of than a saltwater aquarium. To be sure of success, you need more tools, more upkeep, and more accuracy.
Taking care of a reef tank is a slow process that usually starts with a marine aquarium and moves on to a reef. This is the best way to go because it lets you learn the basics and become knowledgeable about keeping water chemistry in good shape. For your project to be successful, you must take special care of sensitive corals and animals and have the right tools.
