Reef Aquarium Advice-Glass or Acrylic for Beginners?

Beginners-Glass or Acrylic?
If you are interested in setting up a reef aquarium, as a beginner you may wonder, should you have a glass aquarium or an acrylic one? This is a basic concern of many new marine reef keepers but I think it comes down to personal preference.

Advice About Glass and Acrylic Aquariums
One of the advantages of glass is it doesn't scratch easy. However, the bigger your tank the more costly it is and the more heavier it is. Plus, you have to worry about the seams leaking.

Some of the big advantages of acrylic is it has better clarity, it's lighter, it's a better insulator, it's easier to drill, and no seams. But, it scratches very easily and this has been a huge downfall for acrylic by a lot of reef keepers. If you want to have a huge tank,(like 300 gallons), then acrylic is the way to go, but if are not going to be having a large tank, then you may want to consider glass. Many have been very impressed with acrylic aquariums but have become very disappointed when it comes to cleaning. You have to be extremely careful when you clean, especially if you end up with an algae bloom, and many end up scratching their tanks all up. Now you no longer have great clarity because the scratches stand out like a sore thumb.

There is a type of glass that you can get that is almost as nice as acrylic except it costs a lot. It is a low-iron glass, like for example Starfire glass. This type of glass will make a noticeable difference when looking in your tank as the colors will be more vivid and "true". But as I said before, it is rather expensive and it is still glass and it is a little harder to work with when it comes to drilling for other setup options.

Conclusion for Beginners of Reef Aquariums
As I said in the beginning it comes down to preference. It also comes down to how you want to set up your aquarium and what you are trying to accomplish. If you are wanting to display an award winning reef aquarium, then probably acrylic is the way to go. But if you are just into the hobby to have your own slice of the ocean, and you are not planning on doing a bunch of drilling, then consider glass. As a beginner in reef aquariums, my advice to you is it's totally up to you with what you want. Good luck!

Beginners Reef Aquarim Advice-Lighting

Reef Aquarium Lighting During Cycling
Here is some advice for those of you new to having a reef aquarium. This involves lighting during the cycle of your aquarium. Should you leave the lights during the cycle, should you turn them off, or should you leave them on a few hours during the day? These are good questions and hopefully it can be answered here.

An essential element for a successful coral reef aquarium is Coraline algae. If you choose to leave your lights off for the cycling process, you will not be able to establish Coraline algae, or any that you do have will die along with anything else that requires light in a reef aquarium. Having light helps with the photosynthesis process that needs to take place in your aquarium.

Length of Time Advice
Ok, now we have made it a point that you need your lights on during the cycling period, now we need to know how long should the lights be on? Should they be on for a few hours during the day or should they be left on all day long?

A good rule of thumb is to keep your lights on for about 4 hours a day during the cycling process. This will allow the Coraline algae that is still on your live rock and any other macro algae hitch hiking in, to thrive. You could extend that time to 8 hours a day if you want, but do not go beyond that time. The reason why is because things in your reef aquarium that require light also need time to sleep. Having on your light 24 hours a day can actually hinder the development of your aquarium. So limit the time during the cycle to 4-8 hours.

Reef Aquarium Lighting Advice-After the Cycle Period
So how long should you run your aquarium lights after your tank has fully cycled? The length of time for running your lights is dependent on several factors, this includes what creatures you plan to house in your aquarium, the type of lighting and intensity of lighting, etc. I run my lighting on an average of 8-10 hours per day. Some people only run them 6, some 12. It is really a matter of preference, but remember: all fish need sleep and corals that depend on photosynthesis only need so much light. Monitor your aquarium creatures and you will notice if they need more or less light. Once you have determined this information you will be able to better balance your lighting schedule.

Reef Aquarium Conclusion
The bottom line is: you need to have lighting for your reef aquarium during and after you cycle your tank. Balance your lighting schedule and don't over do it nor under do it. If you remember this reef aquarium advice for beginners, you will have a successful and flourishing reef community.