Building a reef ecosystem (or a refugium DIY system) may not be as difficult as you might imagine. Follow these simple steps and you'll be well on your way to creating your own home reef ecosystem.
- Purchase the materials. The first step for any project, is the same- you must first buy your materials. In this case, you'll need to buy one of two basic set-ups: one, a stand-alone tank to use alongside your existing aquarium or two, the wood and materials (or an existing kit) for adding a side-by-side refugium that will share the water source from your original tank.
- Establish your design. While this should probably be done hand-in-hand with step number one, it's imperative that you take the time to sit down with your materials-and a refugium DIY book or other resource. Will your refugium be designed within your current aquarium or separate in its own tank ? Will you design your coral reef system with or without a sump pump ? What are your plans for re-circulating the water in the tank? These are all considerations that you will have to think about and plan for. The plumbing, filtration, and lighting systems will all need to be coordinated to make the most out of your refugium DIY project-as well as the end result.
- Once you have a design chosen, as well as the materials purchased, it's time to begin your refugium DIY project. As you work, carefully ensure that the construction of the tank is sound (e.g., no leaks or breaks), and that your plumbing, lighting, and filtration systems are working properly. After it's been running for a few days, you can then think about adding your new marine life to the mix.
- Determine what kind of aquatic life you'll be harboring in the refugium. Much of this is based purely on aesthetic preference, but you'll also want to think about what types of creatures will easily cohabitate together and which will need different types of ecological considerations, such as variations in lighting, temperature, and water quality. The key to setting up a refugium is ensuring that the environment remains as self-sustaining, efficient, and high-quality as possible. This also means that you'll need to hand select the creatures you add to your reef ecosystem with as much care as you've put into choosing and setting up your equipment and supplies .
Not every project is perfect. But hopefully, by following the above steps, your refugium DIY project will go relatively seamlessly, and, in the end, will result in a beautiful and enjoyable home reef ecosystem .
