What Your Aquarium Corals Are Craving
What are your aquarium corals craving? We all love to see our aquariums flourish, don't we? A vibrant aquarium not only adds beauty to your space but also brings you a sense of accomplishment. Corals hold a special place among the aquarium's inhabitants due to their dazzling colours and hypnotizing movements. But have you ever wondered what keeps these charming creatures happy, healthy, and colourful?
Providing the Perfect Environment
First and foremost, corals thrive in a specific type of environment. They demand stable water parameters, including temperature, salinity, and pH levels. The temperature typically should range between 72 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit, while the salinity should rest at 1.023 to 1.025 specific gravity. The pH should maintain a balance between 8.1 and 8.4. A good quality aquarium heater and a refractometer can help you keep tabs on these parameters.
Feeding Your Corals Correctly
Now, let's delve into the real meat of the matter – what are your corals craving? Corals gain nutrition in two ways: photosynthesis and feeding. Photosynthetic corals possess zooxanthellae within their tissue, which convert light into food for the corals. So, a proper lighting system is vital. Non-photosynthetic corals, however, don't have this capability and rely entirely on direct feeding. They crave zooplankton and other similar tiny marine organisms. And hey, guess what? You can buy ready-made coral food from Reefphyto!
Choosing the best food for your aquarium corals affects their health, colouration, and growth. Photosynthetic corals greatly benefit from light, but supplementing their diet with specially formulated coral food can enhance their overall well-being. These foods often contain marine proteins, phytoplankton, vitamins, and amino acids that simulate their natural diet, promoting optimal health.
A diet rich in zooplankton, brine shrimp, or rotifers is essential for non-photosynthetic corals. Many aquarium enthusiasts recommend products such as Reef Roids and Polyplab – both are high-quality coral foods that have proven beneficial for various corals.
Remember, each coral species has its unique dietary requirements. Researching your specific coral species will help you choose the best food for your coral and ensure a long, healthy life for your underwater friends. Remember that a balanced diet and proper light and water conditions are critical to a vibrant, thriving coral reef aquarium.
Target feeding is an effective method to ensure your corals receive the necessary nutrition for their vibrant growth. This process involves directly feeding each coral, allowing them to take in food more efficiently, which can result in enhanced colouration and growth.
To target feed, you can use a turkey baster or a similar tool to deliver food directly to each coral. You should aim to feed your corals in small amounts several times a week. Be careful not to overfeed, as this can cause water quality issues. Reefphyto offers an exceptional target feed known as Oyster Relish in their collection.
For corals that are filter feeders, such as Gorgonians and Sea Fans, you can turn off your aquarium's pumps during feeding time, allowing the food to float in the water column for easy capture. Once feeding is done, you can turn the pumps back on to maintain the water flow.
Remember, patience is vital, as some corals may take longer to respond to feeding than others. Over time, you'll learn the feeding habits of your corals and can adjust accordingly to keep your aquarium thriving.
In conclusion, target feeding is a valuable tool for coral care, providing a direct route of nutrition to your underwater pals. Adopt this method, and you'll soon witness a noticeable improvement in the health and vibrancy of your corals!
Supplements and Additives
Besides food, corals also crave calcium, magnesium, and alkalinity. These elements are essential for the growth of corals as they help in skeletal formation. Test kits are available to monitor the levels of these elements in your aquarium water. If the levels are below the optimum, supplements can be added.
Love and Care
Finally, remember that corals, like any other living being, crave your attention and care. Regularly check on them, inspect their health, adjust their light intensity, or watch them sway. After all, a well-loved coral will reward you with growth, colour, and beauty.
In conclusion, keeping corals comes with its own set of challenges. But with a little effort in understanding their needs and cravings, you can maintain a thriving, vibrant coral reef aquarium. So, why wait? Make your aquarium corals happy, and keep those colours blooming!