It can seem there are an overwhelming number of products needed to have a reef aquarium. However, while many things such as kalkwasser reactors, dosing pumps, specialized additives, and controllers can make it easier, they are not absolutely necessary. Ultimately, there are only three requirements for corals to thrive. You can have a beautiful reef aquarium by just paying attention to these three factors.

1. High Output Lighting with Adequate Near-UV Spectrum Light
Lighting will likely be the biggest investment of any new reef aquarium. There are so many lights to choose from that the task can prove intimidating. The best lights don’t just have a lot of output, as measured imperfectly as wattage, lumens, lux & PAR, but the light needs fill the entire aquarium with well blended, even lighting. They also need to have the right spectrum, with the near-UV end of the spectrum (sub 420nm) being the spectrum most lacking in many lights.

We recommend Kessil LED lights because, along with being powerful and controllable and having well-blended LEDs, they have adequate sub 420nm light. We have found that aquarists with no experience can easily have success with Kessil lights while there is a big learning curve for many other types of LED lights.

To find the best light for your reef tank, please refer to the MarineAndReef.com Reef Aquarium Lighting Chart. When choosing a light please keep in mind we are assuming that the corals requiring the most light could be in the bottom corner of the aquarium. If you go for a less powerful light than we recommend, put the corals needing the most light at the top near the light.

Further Reading:
-What are Wattage, Lumens, Lux and PAR?
-Are There Reasons To Buy Anything Other Than An LED Light For Your Aquarium?

2. Water Movement That Replicates the Ocean
Corals are accustomed to the random tides and sloshing movement of the oceans waves. The water movement moves away the accumulated detritus away from the corals, brings nutrients to the corals, and, for lack of a better term, exercises the corals. The movement of water at the surface also oxygenates the water.

It is very important to replicate this movement in the aquarium. The Maxspect Jump Gyre Flow Pumps are reasonably priced water pumps. Using the included controller you can program the pump to create waves and utilize crossflow technology to distribute flow evenly and eliminate dead spots.

It is very important to replicate this movement in the aquarium. The Maxspect Jump Gyre Flow Pumps are reasonably priced water pumps. Using the included controller you program the pump to create waves and utilize crossflow technology to distribute flow evenly and eliminate dead spots. Sicce Voyagers are another brand of quality flow pumps priced reasonably. They come in eight sizes to accommodate a variety of aquarium sizes. They do not come with controllers, but you can buy a Sicce Wave Surfer Controller separately.

Further Reading:
-Pump Overview
-Why Use a DC Aquarium Pump?
-Why Should You Use A Wavemaker

3. Superior Water Quality
Despite human activity, the ocean is still a pretty clean place. When it isn’t, corals do not survive. Good water quality in an aquarium is a result of using clean water, filtration and supplementation.

Always start with RO/DI water. The first stage of filtration is regular water changes. In small aquariums with less than 20 gallons, water changes alone can provide adequate filtration. On any system more than 20 gallons we recommend a good protein skimmer and some method of removing nitrate. We like Reef Octopus Protein Skimmers. These skimmers come in many sizes for all kinds of aquariums. We also recommend choosing one size larger than the specifications would lead you to believe. In addition to a skimmer we recommend some method of controlling nitrate levels. You can use a Lifegard Turbo Reactor with NPX Bioplastics.

Supplementation is the process of adding good things to the water. Over time coral grow and take specific elements out of the water. Those elements need to be added back to the water. We recommend the E.S.V. B-Ionic Calcium Buffer System as a comprehensive trace element solution. B-Ionic can be added on a weekly basis based on the aquarium's alkalinity levels. There is no reason to add B-Ionic if the alkalinity is 7-9 DKH. Often no supplementation is needed for as long as the first 6 months of setting up an aquarium. Use a Use a Hanna Seawater Alkalinity (dKH) Colorimeter Checker to test for alkalinity. Add alkalinity when you notice an alkalinity drop.

Further Reading:
-Refugium Overview
-Media Reactor Overview
-Aquarium Water Changes: Making It Simple