Live rock and saltwater aquarium tips for success.

Upon arrival we recommend placing the rock in your aquarium as soon as possible. The rock does not need cleaned. At most a quick dip in a bucket of pre-mixed saltwater can be used to dislodge any loose particles from shipping. If at that time you are not ready, it can be temporarily placed in a bin or bucket with pre-mixed saltwater.
While aquascaping, please keep the rock moist as you go through this process. A mister bottle with saltwater works well. The rock can be covered with plastic wrap if you take a break for a period of time.
Gradually add waste producing livestock to your system to allow the nitrifying bacteria to adjust to your bioload. The adage “nothing good happens fast” in this hobby applies here. We recommend regular testing of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate during the start up phase for the safety of your animals.
Bommie Reef Rock is illuminated to 250umol of PAR by banks of T5 Florescent and LEDs with actinic and blue plus lamps to simulate the lighting in todays blue heavy aquariums. There are almost unlimited options with todays modern lighting in regards to PAR output, spectrum, and lighting programs. ***It is strongly recommended that the lighting on your home aquarium is gradually intensified. If possible, adjust the color temperature on your fixture to start off with an all blue spectrum, and gently introduce white spectrum to your preferred settings. If you have a coral acclimation mode feature this is a great time to use it. If you are limited to basic features a simple timer can be used to gradually increase photo period.
Provide good flow. What is considered good flow can depend on many factors such as, coral type and their specific flow requirements, substrate, aquarium construction, etc. Turnover rate should not be considered as flow unless return lines have significant output. Provide the best flow possible as it is a pillar of most long running successful aquariums.
Water parameters are always an important factor in a successful aquarium and keeping your aquarium in the recommended range and stabile is good practice. While we do not advocate for specific numbers we do advocate for proper husbandry. People find success with a range of phosphate and nitrate numbers, but people with poor husbandry habits will at some point struggle to find it. So go ahead and clean those filter socks and skimmers, test that water, blast the rock with a turkey baster, vacuum the detritus, your fish and coral will thank you. No one has ever won a medal for not doing water changes. Scrape the glass and be proud of what you created! In the process maybe it will give you a break from a hectic day and pull you into your aquarium world.
Patience is paramount. In todays fast paced world patience can be hard to practice. But barring an emergency no one has ever had a tank crash by gradually making changes to a reef tank. People would love to have a full fledge reef tank on day one but corals don’t turn into colonies in a day. The good news is if you have purchased rock from Bommie Reef you already have a head start. Relax, take your time, and enjoy the process.
Algae, Cyanobacteria, and Pests. There are some ways to help keep it at bay. Quarantining all new arrivals including invertebrates may not be feasible or considered extreme to some. Coral dipping and removal of frag plugs is a start as well as clean macro algae. Herbivorous fish play an important rule in our home aquariums and also in the wild around the world. Invertebrate clean up crews in proper numbers also help. Human hands also make a very efficient clean up crew. A brush or set of tweezers can do wonders that snails or crabs would envy. If you spot a patch of algae or cyanobacteria don’t panic and remember tip 7.
Don’t be afraid to ask. Reefing today has many methods, systems, tools, equipment, and gadgets. There are many combinations of technique and equipment which can help pave the way to success. If you are unsure where to start or how to deal with a specific problem, it may be difficult to sort through the available information online. Join a local club, stop by a local fish store, or read a couple quality books. Better yet, ask a veteran reefer or even a famous reef personality. You will be surprised how many people are willing and thrilled to share information that has helped them become successful. We here at Bommie Reef can help as well. Feel free to reach out.