Saltwater Aquariums Archives - Page 3 of 6

Beautiful coral is one of our favorite elements of saltwater aquariums. The fact that they vary so extensively by nature is fascinating, and the colors, shapes, and details add exciting color and character to your fish tank. Because so many types of coral for saltwater aquariums exist, swapping them or adding new ones into your tank is a fun way to redesign your aquarium and give it a new look.

If you’re a new hobbyist, you probably want some of everything. At the same time, the many categories and subcategories of coral can be very confusing and overwhelming.

We’ll help you narrow it down with our list of the best types of coral for saltwater aquariums.

Best Types of Coral for Saltwater Aquariums

1. Leather Corals

Leather corals are suitable for all kinds of light and water qualities, and they are available in virtually every color under the rainbow.

Varieties of leather corals include:

Toadstool Leather
Long Polyping Leather
Rasta Leather
Yellow Fiji Finger Leather
Blue Devils Finger Leather

2. Mushroom Corals

Mushroom corals are strong and grow in many shapes and colors. They are fairly aggressive, so they’ll need a lot of space.

Some types of mushroom corals are:

Lavender Mushroom
Green Fluorescent Mushroom
Bullseye Rhodactis Mushroom
Spotted Mushroom
Mushroom Anemones
Disc Anemones

3. Euphyllia Corals

Euphyllia Hammer Coral

Corals in the Euphyllia family are among our favorite for their vivid color and fascinating appearance, and they are easy to maintain. They have a variety of colors and do very well in reef aquariums.

Our favorites include:

Hammer Coral
Frogspawn
Torch Coral

4. Gorgonians, also known as Alcyonacea

Gorgonian Sea Fan and Soft Coral

Gorgonians resemble tree branches or twigs. The soft coral is also known by the term sea fan or sea whip, and the individual polyps form colonies that can be several feet high.

Types of gorgonians include:

Red Gorgonian
Purple Bush Sea Fan
Encrusting Gorgonian
Bushy Sea Rod
Pacific Encrusting Gorgonian

5. Zoanthid Corals

Zoanthid are among the top types of coral for saltwater aquariums.

White Encrusting Zoanthid

Zoanthid corals are polyp corals that do very well in reef aquariums, and we love the flair they add to aquarium designs.

Some types are:

Rastas
Super Metallic Blue
Amazing Superman
Golden Oranges
Eyes of Jupiter

6. Small Polyp Stony Coral

Stony corals within the SPS family are also among the corals we prefer to use in our aquarium designs. They are strong, easy to work with, and a beautiful addition to your saltwater aquarium.

Some of our favorites include:

Branching Acropora
Montipora Capricornis

Contact Seatech for Saltwater Aquarium Design

If you need help determining the best types of coral for your saltwater aquarium, contact Seatech Aquariums. We’ll help you create or redesign a beautiful, colorful, and vibrant environment for your wildlife.

If you’re new to owning an aquarium, you probably have a lot of questions about how to create the best environment for your wildlife. One question you may have is whether or not you need a heater for a fish tank.

The truth is, if you want to ensure a suitable environment for your wildlife, including a heater in your aquarium setup is a must – sometimes.

When You Need a Heater for a Fish Tank

You need a heater for a fish tank if you have tropical fish. Tropical fish can be either freshwater fish or saltwater fish.

One would think that fish and other wildlife adjust to their tanks, and in a sense they do. But they flourish more, are healthier, and are more comfortable when the fish tank environment mimics a natural environment.

A heater is therefore necessary to regulate the temperature inside the tank. A temperature of 78 degrees, or 76 to 82 degrees, Fahrenheit is ideal for many tropical fish, and you will need a thermometer to ensure that the temperature is just right.

You can choose either submersible heaters, which sit on the bottom of the tank, or heaters that are only partially submerged into the water. Both have their advantages and disadvantages; heaters that are fully submerged basically regulate themselves, while the controls are accessible with the heaters that are only partially submerged.

Both could possibly be dangerous when you’re doing water changes, especially the submersible heaters. If they’re left on when there’s less water in the tank, or when they are out of the tank, they could overheat and explode.

It’s also important to choose a heater of the right size, as a heater that is too large is more likely to overheat the tank. The ratio between aquarium size and heater wattage should be about 3 to 5 watts per gallon.

Ask for Help

If you’re unsure about whether or not you need a heater for a fish tank, or if you need help choosing and installing a heater, contact us for assistance. Obtaining help from an aquarium maintenance technician is especially important when you’re dealing with equipment that could endanger you or your wildlife or damage the tank itself.

In addition to installation services, Seatech offers a free consultation for beginners, so contact us with your questions. We’ll be happy to answer them.

Category Archives: Saltwater Aquariums

Our Favorite Types of Coral for Saltwater Aquariums