Salt, live rock, skimmers and patience — the basics of a healthy reef.
Essential equipment
- Tank with sump or a good all-in-one system
- Protein skimmer and return pump
- Wave maker for water flow
- Reef-capable LED light
- Quality marine salt, refractometer and RO/DI water
Be patient
A reef tank needs 4–6 weeks to cycle. Start with hardy fish like clownfish and soft corals before moving to more demanding species.