Best Reef Tanks

Reefs are a beautiful part of the ocean, aren’t they? Teeming with life, vibrantly colored corals, and fish, they are a wonder few of us get to experience up close in our lifetimes. That's where reef tanks come in, changing the game.

You can now keep and grow coral in your home! What a time to be alive, right? You can experience a reef all from the comfort of your sofa! 

Reef tanks are popular choices, and it's no wonder why you can care for fish, coral, and other invertebrates, providing a safe home for them that mimics their natural habitat. 

But how do you choose the best reef tank? Unfortunately, there are loads on the market now, all ranging in size and price, making it difficult for us to find a new tank, especially if you are new to the world of aquatics.

As a result, you can be left with a headache and the desire to stay in bed for a very long time. 

Well, no more! We are here to end the uncertainty and help you find your new reef tank! Not only do we have the best reef tanks on the market, but we also have plenty of buying tips and answers to all your tank-related questions. 

Nano or Larger - which should I get?

When it comes to reef tanks, the size ranges dramatically! You can get tiny aquariums holding just a few gallons of water or tanks with a capacity for over 300  gallons of water! But which one do you go for?

Unfortunately, there are many pros and cons for both options, making choosing one difficult at times. 

Smaller nano reefs tend to be the cheaper alternative and don’t require too much maintenance. They are fantastic options for those with limited space, as they can often be kept on desktops or tables. You will still be able to keep a variety of fish and corals in them too! 

However, in such a small space, it doesn’t take long for things to go wrong, so you need to be attentive and ensure that your water level, temperature, and cleanliness of the tank are perfect at all times to avoid any disasters! 

Types of reef aquariums

When it comes to reef aquariums, three categories sit under the broad title. Let’s take a closer look at these to help you navigate and better understand the world of reef aquariums!

1. Soft coral reef aquarium

After a more traditional reef tank? A soft coral aquarium can be a good option for you! It’s not quite the same setup as a traditional reef aquarium, but it's a nice transition into that route.

These tanks can be set up easily to care for soft corals like polyp rock and mushroom corals. 

These types of coral are fairly easy to keep and reproduce quickly, leaving you with a full and thriving tank!

It’s a good option for many aquarists to consider! In addition, they aren’t as sensitive as other stony corals, providing some leeway when it comes to caring for them.

2. FOWLR aquarium

FOWLR, or fish only with live rock, is an aquarium that combines marine fish and reef rock in one beautiful aquarium.

You get the outstanding beauty of marine fish and the strong structure of reef rock,  creating an interesting aquarium that benefits all lifeforms there. 

The rock adds many interesting places for the fish to explore and provides a three-dimensional aquascape that you will enjoy looking at. The reef rock also provides plenty of surface area for microbes to colonize.

These microbes nutrify the aquarium (removing the ammonia and nitrite) to provide a cleaner and healthier environment for your fish to thrive in!

FOWLR aquariums are not for keeping SPS or LPS corals. You won’t need any bright lighting or extra water movement, making FOWLR tanks a little easier and cheaper to maintain. 

3. Traditional reef aquarium

Completing our list of aquarium types is the traditional reef aquarium. This is where you keep your stony corals and provide a fantastic dimensional viewing experience.

Typically aquarists will monitor these tanks and add calcium, magnesium, and iodine to stimulate coral growth. These reef-building corals are sensitive to light intensity and quality and water quality, making them more challenging to maintain. 

If you fancy a challenge and some hard work, these aquariums will reward you with a glorious reef in your home. You might even convince friends that you have a chunk of the Great Barrier reef in your sitting room! 

To build or buy?

When it comes to shopping and finding your reef aquarium, there will be many decisions that you need to make. The first will be deciding between plug and play system or a hands-on approach. 

Plug and play or all-in-one aquariums come with lighting, a  water pump, and often a protein skimmer.

All you need to do is add the water, and you are good to go! These can be money-saving options depending on the brand as you have all you need without spending lots of money frequently. 

The other option, and arguably the more challenging, is to purchase a basic tank and add the rest yourself.

You get flexibility here, as you can build the system to suit the reef aquarium you intend to grow and create.

However, these can be expensive. You don’t get the reduced price you sometimes do on all-in-one systems, and it's worth doing your research and shopping around to ensure you get the best price. 

Can any saltwater fish be placed in a reef tank?

No, not all fish are considered reef safe, so you will need to check before purchasing your fish that they are suitable. You can check online, search for reef-safe fish lists, or ask at a local fish store for some advice. 

Some fish can peck at corals, grow too large or become aggressive towards shrimp, snails, and other small fish, making them unsuitable for a reef aquarium.

It's also a good idea to consider using fish that naturally live near reefs as they will be used to the environment and are more likely to thrive there!

Reef tank checklist  - what do I need?

Before we get onto the list of the best reef tanks, trust us, it's coming; we have compiled a handy checklist that will help you get everything you need to get started. First, let’s look at what you need and why. 

Proper filtration

A filtration system is an important part of the aquarium. Some tanks and aquariums come with an internal filter system complete with a pump, protein skimmer, and media.

If yours doesn’t, you might need an external sump sitting below the aquarium inside a filter sump. 

The water will flow into the sump or internal filter box (you can thank gravity for that). The water pump placed in the filter box or external sump then sends the water back up and into the aquarium.

The water flow helps circulate purified and oxygenated water throughout the aquarium for a healthier environment. 

Filter sumps allow for a return pump, automatic top-ff, and protein skimmers to be attached. They also have chambers for various types of filter media to keep the water clean, making them an essential part of reef aquariums. 

Return pumps

The return pump will be the heart of your reef's filtration system, and you must use a high-quality pump.

You will want to ensure you get the best you can afford to ensure that your reef remains healthy and lives a long life! These pumps run 24/7, and their sole purpose is keeping your reef alive. 

So what does a return pump do? They provide constant water movement through the aquarium, which is essential for the health of your corals and other marine life. Their flow rate will be specified in gallons per hour or GPH.

Opinion varies on what is best, but ideally, you want a water pump rated four times the size of your tank. So if you have a 20-gallon aquarium, you want a pump rated for at least 80 gallons per hour. 

Some aquarists use pumps rated eight to ten times the tank volume to get a lot of water movement in their aquarium.

However, it's not always necessary to have this high flow pump rate. In FOWLR tanks, in particular, it's unnecessary, and you will be better off with the lower rates we mentioned earlier.

Internal  flow pumps

As your reef grows and expands, you will notice that some areas of your tank aren’t getting the water movement they need. You must rectify this, especially in tanks with  SPS and LPS corals, as they require water to flow past their colonies and remain healthy. 

Thankfully, you can get pumps that help with this! Specialty water pumps provide targeted water flow for reef aquariums, allowing you to put the water flow where you need it most!

For smaller and nano reef aquariums, you might require one small powerhead.  In larger tanks, one or two circulation pumps will be beneficial. 

It's worth noting, though, that water circulation pumps don’t filter water. Instead, they keep it moving across the rock and corals, mimicking the water movement that we naturally see on reefs.

The water circulation will bring oxygenated water and food to the corals while flushing away any waste products.

Protein skimmers

Another important component of your filtration system is a protein skimmer. Again, these are vital to those with soft coral reefs or the traditional stony coral reef tank. But why, you ask?

Well, natural dissolved organic matter builds up in reef aquariums.

A build-up of this organic matter can cause a range of reef problems such as poor health, nutrient build-up, and algae growth, not what you want! In addition, it causes the water to develop a yellow tint which degrades the quality and intensity of the light reaching the coral, threatening their health.

Thankfully, protein skimmers are on hand to save the day! They generate millions of tiny air bubbles inside the skimmer.

These bubbles will capture the organic and concentrate them as foam. The foam is then collected by the skimmer, improving the water quality and promoting coral health in your aquarium. 

Some aquariums will come with a built-in skimmer, but the likelihood is you will need to purchase one and add it to your filtration system yourself.

Typically, smaller and internal protein skimmers are designed for smaller reef aquariums and would struggle to work in larger bodies of water successfully.

However, these internal skimmers will attach to the glass with suction cups and usually don’t take up too much space (although it does depend on the make and model). 

You will need a powerful in-sump or an external protein skimmer for larger aquariums or heavily stocked aquariums. These larger and heavy-duty protein skimmers usually come with a separate water pump, allowing you to set it up and operate it easily. 

Reef aquarium lighting

Corals and other marine invertebrates contain live algae in their tissue, sharing and recycling nutrients together for a beneficial relationship. Unsure if that sounds cool or gross?

Us too! But you need to know how to care for your coral and internal algae as their relationship contributes to the health of your coral. 

For your coral to stay healthy and maintain their lovely and vibrant color, they need the correct quantity and spectrum of light, meaning you need a lighting system for your aquarium! 

These systems play a vital role in keeping your corals alive. Some smaller reef aquariums will feature an LED light fixture, often boasting a lower price than buying the fixture separately. But for those larger and deeper reef aquariums, you will need a larger light system.

These days, it's all about  LEDs. LED light systems are the most advanced and efficient systems, using less energy to produce the same amount of heat, and they last longer than alternatives.

What's more, you can program them to simulate natural light cycles, offering a realistic pattern for your corals that can aid their growth! We recommend shopping around to find the best aquarium lighting for your reef that won’t break the bank!

Heating and cooling

Completing our checklist today is the heating and cooling of your aquarium. Ensuring that the temperature is stable is key to keeping your reef aquarium healthy.

External factors such as air conditioning and cold room temperatures in the winter months can cool the tank's water, risking the wellbeing of fish and corals used in warmer climates. 

To prevent this, an aquarium heater is a worthwhile purchase! It will automatically turn on and warm the water as necessary. You can set the temperature to the desired one and leave it to do its thing!

You can also pick them up fairly affordable too, and there's a range of types, you will be spoilt for choice! 

When selecting your heater, you will want 3-5 watts of power per gallon of water. So in a 30-gallon aquarium, you want a water heater with a rating of 100-150 watts. The goal here is a steady water temperature with minimal fluctuations in temperature. 

Most reef aquariums are kept at 78 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, but this can vary slightly depending on the coral, and marine life kept in the tank.

Therefore, it’s always best to check the recommended temperature for the fish and corals you are keeping before setting any water heaters up.

On the other hand, in warmer climates or instances where the aquarium water can get overheated (lighting and water pumps are the usual suspects), a chiller is recommended.

An aquarium chiller extracts excess heat from the aquarium water, restoring the water to its correct temperature and preventing any complications from arising.

We think it's best to purchase an aquarium thermometer too. It allows you to keep an eye on the temperature at a glance and ensures that your heater or chiller is working correctly.

In addition, some heaters and chillers come with integrated thermometers to display the temperature on an LCD screen for easy reading. 

Now that we have covered all you need to know and what you need to get for your reef tank let's look at the best reef tanks on the market and get one in your basket today!

Final Thoughts

And just like that, we have come to the end of our reef guide today! As you can see, there are plenty of fantastic tanks on the market that will allow you to create a wonderful reef aquarium at home.

Whether you want to purchase a small nano tank or dedicate a whole room to keeping reefs, there is a tank to suit! You can also choose between an all-in-one kit that's ready to go or purchase lights and a filtration system separately.

So whatever you want to do with your reef tank, there is an option for you!

Remember to use our checklist from earlier to ensure that you have everything you need and that the fish and coral you have selected can live in harmony together before making your purchase.

Following the checklist and doing your research beforehand will make the whole process smoother and ensure a healthy and happy reef aquarium for years to come!