Build a Reef

Mari and Alexis buying a tank Buy a tank

 
You need to rinse and fill your tank with warm tap water Rinse and then fill with warm tap water
you need to check for leaks, and if they aren't any, prepare tank for salt water Test for leaks, if ok, empty and prepare for live sand
add the live sand Add live sand
move the tank to its permanent home Find a permanent place for the tank
make the water for the tank Make the water for use in the tank-

 
stir the water Stir
measure specific gravity Measure specific gravity (measure the salinity)
pour water slowly into tank Now slowly add the water-

We poured it slowly into a bowl to keep from disturbing too much sand and creating cloudy water
add the live rock Add the live rock
test the water regularly Test the water regularly over the next 2 weeks to 2 months
 

You are waiting for the ammonium, nitrates, nitrites to
register at 0

 

  
 

Once the water has stablized you can add some invertebrates
to control the algae that might grow

 

  
 

In about 3 months you can add soft corals

 

  
 

Most professional nano reef builders do not add fish, they
concentrate on the beautiful exotic corals.  But if you do
opt to put in a fish, you can do that after about 6 months

 

  
 

If you would like to see live shots of our nanoreef-

click here

 

  
photo from January 20, 2003, courtesy oc-creative.com Photo courtesy of oc-creative.com