General

One of my biggest passion in this life is "aquacultured corals". Years ago I thought it was impossible to have corals at home, especially if you are in Canada, but now with the new technology and a lot more information online it is not that hard. Reef aquariums are so beautiful and colorful. Corals look like flowers but they are actually animals and a vital part of the marine world.

Corals are really sensitive and not easy to take care of. Water parameters should be exactly like in the ocean and salinity should be stable all the time. The ideal temperature is 78C to 82C. A skimmer is essential for healthy corals and fishes. The skimmer produces a type of foam taking out all the toxins from the water. Some corals are really hard to keep in captivity.

Corals are divided into two groups: "hard corals" and " soft corals". Soft corals are easier to maintain in captivity than hard corals. They both are symbiotic and photosynthetic which means that they require a special light similar to the sunlight. Both groups need to be fed with phytoplankton and marine snow three times a week. Also,  they take some trace elements already in the water like calcium, alkalinity and magnesium. While hard corals are hard to keep, soft corals are an excellent choice for beginners in this hobby.

Water changes are really important. Corals need a good quality of water to survive. Doing a weekly water change will replace all the trace elements and you don't need to add any extra. They will absorb the calcium from the water to transform it in calcium carbonate to form the hard skeletons. Alkalinity and magnesium are good for colour and polyp extensions. Replacing 10% of the water in your tank weekly will maintain your parameters stable.

In summary, it is possible to enjoy a piece of ocean at home but you need to do a lot of research before buying the tank and accessories. It takes time and patience to cycle a saltwater aquarium but as long you know what you are doing it is going to be successful. There is nothing more enjoyable than sitting in front of my tank and feeling that I'm in the Caribbean.