What to Consider in Designing a
Reef Aquarium

Purpose

Community Type

Stand and Canopy Design

Aquarium Size and Shape

Tank Materials

System Location

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PURPOSE
Reef aquaria can be educational, recreational, entertaining, decorative, or therapeutic, depending on the location and design.

If the system is in your home, it can be a decorative focus, on a wall, in the middle of a room, or as a room divider. Examples of these applications can be seen in What Does a Reef Look Like?. At the same time, it can be a source of recreation, providing the owner an opportunity to interact with the system, feeding fish, cleaning, adding new organisms.

Aquarium watching can be entertaining, since there is always something interesting going on and the family can really enjoy the changing scene. Closer observations provide an opportunity for learning about reef organisms and how they grow, move about, and interact with the other members of the community. The system is like your own private zoo, which you can visit anytime. Members of the family usually adopt favorite animals, give them names, and regard them as their pets.

At the end of the day, sitting in front of the tank and watching the color and movement can relieve the stress that built up during the day. Aquarium owners often pull up a comfortable chair, darken the room, even turn off the TV, and relax - clearing their minds of the difficult experiences at the office or the crises of the home and family.

If the system is in your office, it can do wonders to reduce the stress of patients or clients waiting to see you. In the physician's office, the uncomfortable patient is distracted and relaxed; in many cases children are eager to return to the doctor, because they can see the aquarium again. The worried client or disgruntled customer usually is in a better mood after a session of aquarium-therapy. And the companions of the patients or clients have a better alternative to looking at the old magazines. In the retirement or convalescent home, lonely residents always have a place to visit.

There is abundant evidence of the therapeutic value of aquariums in public places like these.

COMMUNITY TYPE

Reef aquaria are generally of three types:

The reef/fish aquarium has a living coral reef substrate, which provides the living room and improves the water quality for a fairly large community of colorful fish, sometimes large ones. The fish must be handfed regularly and carefully, to avoid pollution of the water by uneaten food.

Selection of reef inhabitants must be carefully made to avoid incompatibities. For instance, some fish are predaceous and will eat other fish and invertebrates. Some fish are very territorial and will not tolerate others in their space. Introduction of fish must be done in a particular order, to permit the orderly establishment of a non-aggressive group.

The reef/invertebrate aquarium emphasizes the beauty and diversity of marine organisms. It has many different kinds of invertebrate animals: soft corals, large clams, fan worms, crabs, snails, anemones, and relatively few fish. This type requires less attention, since many of the fish feed on the surplus growth of algae and invertebrates and less additional food.

The marine community interacts to maintain a more constant condition because many of the invertebrates purify the water and provide oxygen from the other animals. A mature reef/invertebrate aquarium may have literally hundreds of kinds of organisms living in it.

In the reef/invertebrate aquarium, some fish species are included because they graze on unwanted algae; others will feed on too-prolific invertebrates. Some invertebrates will perform a beneficial function by mixing the gravel substrate and reducing unwanted algae; others cause problems by dislodging coral, feeding on more desirable species, or damaging them with toxic stings.

Some prefer an invertebrates-only system without fish. This option permits a larger community of organisms which, since it is self-sustaining, requires no feeding at all.

STAND AND CANOPY

An aquarium is an addition to your home or office and should add to its beauty. The aquarium housing is important, it is like a picture frame and should complement the aquarium, but not detract from it.

The aquarium stand serves several vital functions: it supports the tank, houses the essential mechanical equipment, and adds to the beauty of your home. Stands are available in a variety of styles, materials, and finishes. They can be constructed and finished to complement the decor of your home or office.

The canopy also serves vital functions: it contains the lighting system, provides access for feeding and maintenance, prevents excessive evaporation, quietens the sounds produced by the water overflowing into the filtration system, and should be integrated with the decor of the stand, depending on your decorating scheme.

Stands and canopies may be constructed of wood or wood-covered laminates; stands may also be constructed of steel, covered by wood fascia or materials used in the construction of your building. In-wall systems usually do not require stands and canopies, but may benefit from decorative trim. Free-standing systems may require steel stands covered by decorative material, depending on the size of the system and your desires.

AQUARIUM CAPACITY

The larger the tank, the larger and more diverse the marine reef community, but bigger is not always better. Very satisfying reefs are possible from 75-100 gallons to 200-300 gallons. The volume of water in a reef system includes that held by the tank as well as an addition 20 to 40 gallons that is passing through the filtration system. Tank capacities of several rectangular sizes (in inches) are:

      LengthxWidthxHeight=Gallons

     48  x  20  x  20 = 83 

      48  x  24  x  24 = 120 

     48  x  24  x  28 = 140

     48  x  36  x  28 = 210

     60  x  28  x  28 = 205

     72  x  24  x  30 = 240

     96  x  36  x  30 = 448

     48 dia.    x  30 = 235

Tanks larger than a 24 x 24 x 48 inch rectanglar tank must be custom-fabricated, are more expensive, and usually take longer to produce. Larger tanks also require thicker acrylic stock. Standard acrylic materials are usually 4' x 8'. Tanks greater than 10 feet in length require extra thick material and additional fabrication.

Width of the tank dictates the width of the reef and the size of the equipment housed below the tank. Generally a tank viewable from both sides should be at least 24" wide to provide room for the coral reef. Tanks should be at least 20 inches high to allow room for an attractive reef, but those higher than 30" cost more to maintain because of the difficulty of reaching the bottom of the aquarium.

AQUARIUM SHAPE

Acrylic aquaria can be made in any shape, but rectangular tanks are more economical. Curved shapes are more difficult to fabricate, more expensive, and generally require a longer production time. You may have a location, however, in which the very best shape will be circular, or round on one side, so don't let that stop you.

AQUARIUM MATERIALS

Acrylic tanks have many advantages over glass: they are much easier to fabricate, especially to drill openings for water pipes, power cables, etc. They can be dismantled and relocated (even after sitting dry for long periods) with no danger of cracking or leaking.

Acrylic materials have excellent viewing properties and better insulating properties than glass so temperature can be controlled more efficiently.

SYSTEM LOCATION

Location of the aquarium is generally determined by your home or office design. It should be in the position that permits the maximum of viewing pleasure for you, your family, or your clients. The following limitations should also be considered:

The top of the aquarium must be accessible from front and back, for arrangement, maintenance, and feeding.

Custom installations require early consultation with architects and close cooperation with builder, to insure that power supply, access, and equipment room are adequate. Free-standing aquaria require electrical supply from either the floor or the ceiling; power cables must pass through the tank.

Acrylic material is relatively soft and mars more easily than glass; tanks should not be located where they are likely to be touched by kids with hard toys, markers or other objects. In public installations a glass shield may be advisable to protect the surface.

Access to water drains and distance from the maintenance service vehicle are important in the maintenance (especially water changes) activities.

Locations with strong outside light should be avoided, otherwise sunlight, which is much more powerful than the aquarium lighting, will cause rapid growth of unwanted algae on tank surfaces, obscuring your view and requiring more frequent cleaning.

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