This is my wavemaker i’ve added. The wavemaker will simulate sea like currents and keep the water moving, which also helps filtration. These underwater fans also help oxygenate the water by pointing them at the surface to agitate the water. The particular one is a cheaper option from “all pond soultions” I’m going to point mine at the rocks until the cycling has finished then i may get another smaller one to put at the bottom.
Click the image underneath for all technical jargon…
Now to put the rock together how id like it displayed. Im no expert on reef rock beds but i just plan to build it up so it looks good in the tank and give shelter to the fish. Its important to secure the rock together so there is no chance of it falling and killing the livestock or even worse breaking the grass! im going to glue my rock together using Aquascaping putty. This putty is the colour of coraline algae (redish).
This putty is used to fix the rocks (live or dead) together. Im going to glue mine together in small sections so its not impossible to remove from the tank if it all needs cleaning in the future. The putty comes in 2 bars which needs mixing together just like epoxy glue. It takes about 3-4 hours to set. this putty also can be use to fix rocks together and attaching corals under the water, just takes longer to harden.
There are literally loads of different sands and gravel options out there to use and even more opinions on what and what not to use and how to use them. i cant even start to go into it! although there seems to be one common denominator among the opinions…. be careful off dead material or waste food getting mixed up in the substrate, this will cause problems later on.
There 3 basic options with your substrate. Live or dead sand (same principle as the rocks) or none at all. There are pros and cons with all 3 options. with my tank and the research I’ve done i’m going with a 1mm crushed coral sand, about 5kg which makes about a 2cm layer. From what I’ve read it seem like the best substrate to keep clean so less likely to build up any bad bacteria that will cause an ammonia build up.
Im starting my reef off with “dead rock” rock that was once “live rock” that has been used in someones tank or come from the sea and has been dried out. Dead rock is cheaper but takes more time to cycle in the first months of the tanks life. In time this dead rock will become live again.
Live rock is porous seas bed rock that is full of good bacteria that acts as a natural biological filter keeping all the waste products of the fish at bay, Mainly Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates. Live rock can prices vary from £10-£15 per kilo and im looking to use 10-15kg.
I managed to pick up 12kg of dead rock from eBay for £30 Bargain!
Reef Tank 