When it comes to the home aquarium, fake coral reefs just don't provide the same effect as real coral reef. Creating an aquarium full of live coral, however, can be quite a difficult task for the home hobbyist. The end result is more beautiful then you can possibly imagine, though. Live coral aquariums mimic the wondrous beauty that can be found in the Hawaiian Islands, Fiji, Australia, and throughout many other tropical waters.
There are a few fundamental features that must be present for coral reef to thrive in your home aquarium. Fake coral reefs don't need anything more than a tank full of water to achieve the desired result, but live coral is a much more complicated undertaking. First and foremost, the home hobbyist needs the tank itself, and then they must add a filtration unit to ensure that the water is clean and properly oxygenated. Then with proper lighting, temperature control and water flow, live coral should be able to grow and thrive from any home or office.
A coral reef tank is unique compared to a freshwater tank or any other home hobby aquarium. The major difference is the fact that live coral aquariums have water that is constantly flowing, just like it would in a real underwater coral reef. A closed circuit must be established to keep the water pure, flowing, at a constant temperature and a constant salinity.
The filtration unit is the first step to creating a successful environment for live coral. A unique filter system is implemented in the live coral aquarium, and "live" rock is also used for natural cleaning of the flowing water. This type of system operates on the biological filter principle, and closely resembles the natural underwater coral reef. After properly implementing coral reef filtration, the home hobbyist will be ready for the rest of their aquarium. Fake coral reefs might be "okay," but they are nothing compared to the real thing.
