Reef aquariums are fascinating as they are an easy access to underwater worlds. One can observe an aquarium for hours, night and day: at night when all lights are out, you can focus with an electric torch, on micro organisms, shrimps... And every day you can see the changes on the rocks and corals.

However, many aquarists are hesitating before starting a reef aquarium: costs, technical difficulties, water chemistry, choice of biotopes and species: fish only, soft corals, hard corals. Nevertheless, some simple and experienced methods are available to start easily with a reasonable budget, (and patience).

In any case, it's better to have a good experience of fresh aquariums before starting reef aquariums...

Many choices are possible; The volume of the aquarium is determinant in your choice: big fishes need a big aquarium!

Fish only aquarium.

Reef aquarium with soft corals.

Reef aquarium with hard corals: these require experienced maintenance and are not recommended for beginners.

Precise biotopes : Red Sea, Indonesia..

In most reef aquariums, a great part of live rocks (taken in the oceans) is necessary for following reasons:

- bring live organisms (bacteria, micro-fauna, algae.)

- allow aquarium nitrogen cycle.

- make a natural decor.

Until recently, these rocks were taken out of oceans and brought by plane to all countries in shops.

But, apart from the un-respect of natural resources, quality of these rocks is very irregular and it's difficult to build nice and high decors (risks of collapse, water circulation under the decor).

It is very important to leave a good water circulation under and behind the decor, with a pump in a low position, to avoid sedimentation.

Always keep territories for fish, with grottoes, overhangs and passages. For inverts, think to build your decor with many stages and steps, so that they receive light.

To answer all these requirements, Aquaroche created specific ceramic decor and rocks, to be associated with a small part of natural live rocks or cultivated live rocks, for the 'live' part.

Aquaroche rocks for aquariums make it easy to build stable and nice decors.