vIs it hard to care of a reef aquarium?

Question

please tell me i need answers!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

-Fill a tank with salt water ( specific garvity should be around 1.021 - 1.025 and a new filter (you need somthing that moves at least 200 gallons/hour. Use only Reverse Osmosis cleaned water, regular water (even dechlorinated) will cause huge slime and algae blooms.
-Add a few inches of crushed aragonite, shells or sand
-Add at least 10 pounds of live rock (cured is best, you can tell if it isn't if it has a stong smell) for about a 40 gallon tank
- You will need to have floescent lights (one floescent and one actinic tube is better and you channge one every six months so that niether is ever more then one year old)
- A heater is probably a good idea depending on what fish you have
- Test the water daily, Like a freshwater tank the ammonia nitrite and nitrate levels will all take a turn at rising, then subside to normal levels. When the levels are no longer spiking, it is time to start slowly adding fish. This can take a few months to a year - depending on how lucky you are.
- Maintaining a fish-only tank isn't too hard once it is started. You do weekly salt-water changes of about 10% of the water, and replace evaporated water with water only (salt doesn't evaporate). Feed whatever is appropriate to the fish in the tank.
- Corals are what makes it a huge expense and challenge as they need metal halide lights, skimmers, refugiums, chillers etc. not too mention the supplements and feeds.
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Answer 2

If you've never had a saltwater tank, then the answer is yes. Reef aquariums that contain live corals are for more advanced aquarists, and are expensive to start. The types of fish and invertabrates, are also more limited to the reef aquarium. some fish, and especially sea-stars can cause damage to the delicate coral. High-wattage lighting, and superior water quality are just a couple of the necessary ingredients for a succesful reef aquarium. If your new to it, id start with a community, or invertabrate aquarium, to see if you can maintain that before moving on to a coral reef.

Answer 3

Well it would depend on the coral, fish and aquarium size you have.