Building nano reef aquariums is not like setting up a usual fish tank. The materials needed for building nano reef aquariums that will support an entire ecosystem are a 24 gallons aquarium that has 150 watts 14000k HQI metal halide, 12 lunar lights (6 blue and 6 white) and a small power head that ensures the changing of the water flow twice a day.
After you get all these equipment then you are ready to set it up. First thing you should do, as in other salt-water reef aquariums, is to check and mix the saltwater. Then you should add the base of the tank and put in approximately 2 inches of sand and let it settle for 2 or 3 days. A trick is to start the pumps of the reef aquariums in order to impulse the process a little and then you can add the live rock. You really do not need much live rock to fill the tank since it is small.
As any other aquariums, the reef aquariums need about a week to develop the nutrients and get the right ph, both of which will ensure a healthy home for your fish. When you check and see the water is perfect then is the time to add the corals, the fish and the other invertebrates. If everything is done properly and it is absolutely necessary to watch the reef aquariums in the first month or so, then you will see that your corals are growing and the fish are doing just fine.
The water recommended for these types of reef aquariums is the distillated water. It does not cost much and does not have any harmful bacteria that can cause damage or disease to your fish or corals.
