Best Practices for a Thriving Reef Tank

Building and maintaining a healthy reef tank can be incredibly rewarding. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced aquarist, having the right approach to water quality, nutrient balance, and biological support will help your reef flourish. Let’s dive into essential tips for a thriving reef, along with products that can help simplify and improve your reef-keeping routine.

1. Establishing and Maintaining Ideal Water Parameters

A healthy reef tank relies on balanced and stable water chemistry. Ideal water conditions allow your corals and fish to thrive, and dosing with targeted products ensures your parameters stay within optimal ranges. You'll often hear the term "dosing" or "2-part" dosing within the hobby.  This is the term given to the addition of major components that are consumed by coral and a healthy reef tank that need to be supplemented through product dosing, rather than just water changes alone. We've designed our products to be straight forward and easy to understand, taking the guess work out of what they do and why you need to do them.

Coral need protection from acidification (alkalinity), calcium to grow their structures, and magnesium to allow those two components to play nicely with each other.

Here are the essential water parameters and how Reef Solutions’ products can support them:

• Alkalinity: Target an alkalinity level of 8-12 dKH to support coral growth and stability. Regular dosing with our Alkalinity Boost+ ensures consistent levels, supporting coral calcification and enhancing tank stability.
• Calcium: Corals and invertebrates rely on calcium for skeletal growth. Aiming for 400-450 ppm will support their structure and resilience. Our Calcium Boost+ simplifies this critical parameter, offering balanced, easy-to-dose calcium to maintain growth and vibrant health.
• Magnesium: Magnesium is crucial for maintaining stable calcium and alkalinity levels, reducing fluctuations and supporting coral resilience. Aim for 1250-1350 ppm, and consider Magnesium Boost+ as an effective, controlled source for consistent levels.
• pH: Maintaining a stable pH between 8.1-8.4 helps prevent stress on marine life. Our pH/Alk Boost+ supports both pH and alkalinity for balanced and healthy water chemistry.  Only one of our Alkalinity products should be used at a time, depending on your desired results.  

Using these products in a regular dosing routine will help keep your tank parameters stable, minimizing fluctuations and creating an optimal environment for your corals and fish. Each product is crafted to ensure reef-friendly, consistent results, helping you achieve the ideal water chemistry for a thriving reef ecosystem.

2. The Balance of Nitrates and Phosphates

Balancing nitrates and phosphates is essential to avoid nutrient imbalances that can lead to algae blooms or stunted coral growth.  Nitrates and phosphates are required for coral and beneficial bacteria to physically create new cells.  

• Nitrates: A safe range is 2-10 ppm; higher levels can lead to nuisance algae.
• Phosphates: Aim for 0.03-0.1 ppm to avoid issues with algae overgrowth.

Maintaining these levels can be easier with nutrient supplements like Nitrate Boost+ and Phosphate Boost+. These products allow you to adjust nutrient levels without the guesswork, ensuring your tank stays balanced.

3. Biological Filtration and the Role of Bacteria

Biological filtration plays a critical role in breaking down waste and converting it into less harmful compounds, like Nitrates and Phosphates. Adding a regular dose of our Bacteria Boost+, helps support the nitrogen cycle, reducing ammonia and nitrite levels and preventing nitrate build-up by providing the necessary components for beneficial bacteria to flourish.  In a closed loop system like a home aquarium, nutrients can often be a limiting factor and must be supplemented to promote desired growth of coral and beneficial bacteria.

 

4. Supporting Coral and Fish Nutrition

Coral, fish, and invertebrates need a nutrient-rich diet for optimal health and vibrant colors. Here are some ways to meet their nutritional needs:

• Live Food: Feed your tank natural live foods like Live Phyto, Live Rotifers and Live Triggers to boost biodiversity and create a robust, resilient food chain.
• Protein-Rich Foods: Live Artemia is ideal for finicky fish, offering a protein-rich meal to support growth and coloration.
• Supplementary Foods: Sea Snacks provide high-quality food for herbivores and omnivores that doesn't easily fall apart.  Winner of a royal rumble of seaweeds, it was the clear winner on quality and we know your critters will absolutely love it!

Our Guarantee

At Reef Solutions, we understand the effort required to maintain a thriving reef tank, and our products are here to make your experience enjoyable and rewarding. Each product is carefully crafted here in Canada to provide targeted support, helping you save time and achieve the results you desire.

Take advantage of our Free Rewards Program, once a member, you can use our Referral Program for huge, exclusive savings on future purchases!

Welcome to this incredibly rewarding hobby!  Use us as your personal guide to help answer any questions you may have about our products or reefing in general.  Click here to schedule an appointment to go over your questions, no matter how big or small.

Thank you trusting our products to your aquarium!  We look forward to helping you achieve your goals, while saving you time and money!


Sincerely, 

--

Joe Kennedy.
Owner, Reef Solutions