When you’re building a reef aquarium for your home, one of the most exciting parts is getting to add a few vibrant fish to your ecosystem. From their interesting patterns to beautiful, bright color schemes, the right fish can truly make or break the result. However, if you’re new to these steps, acclimating them to their new home can be a challenging task. So, it’s important that you have all the knowledge you can get to ensure a safe and effective transition. These are our top tips and tricks for adding fish into a reef aquarium.
Select Your Fish Wisely
To maximize your chances of success when adjusting your fish to an established aquarium, it’s crucial that you put careful thought into the species you pick. While there are many types of ocean sea life that thrive in contained environments, there are also those that can wreak havoc on your setup. As such, you want to make sure you understand the exact needs of any fish you buy. This way, you know whether your home tank has what it takes to help them thrive. World Wide Coral’s blog about selecting fish for saltwater aquariums provides additional assistance for making this difficult decision.
Consider Your Coral Population
Along with thinking about the needs of the fish in question, it’s also important that you consider the coral life you currently have in your tank. Some species of fish can coexist very well with corals, while others may feed on them or deprive them of nutrients in the environment. Likewise, certain types of coral, such as Zoanthids, can even poison or paralyze your fish. So, make sure that you know all about how your corals interact with fish and whether keeping both in the same tank will be a problem.
Remember To Quarantine
Upon bringing your fish home, you might feel tempted to immediately introduce them to the rest of your aquarium. However, this is one of the worst things you can do for your pets’ overall health. Depending on where you bought your fish, there’s no telling what they could be carrying with them. It’s especially common for tropical fish to carry parasites that can contaminate your tank and make your marine life sick. For this reason, you should always quarantine your fish for at least a couple weeks prior to introducing them into your tank.
Keep Up With Regular Water Changes
Another essential trick for adding fish into a reef aquarium is to be consistent with water changes following their acclimation. Water changes help regulate the amount of chemicals in your aquarium, making it easier to avoid illness among your pets. Changing at least 20 percent of your tank’s water every few days can go a long way in keeping everything healthy and vibrant for several months or years to come.
Fish acclimation is one of the most important parts of any aquarium build. But in using these tips as a guide, you can set yourself up for success moving forward. So, don’t miss out on this chance to create the best possible environment for your ecosystem.
