Concepts Never Stop Changing
As you can conclude for yourself, there is no one way to put together not only a mini-reef, but any type of saltwater system. Because of the ideals individuals have of how it can be done, as well as ways a system can be improved, concepts will never stop changing, and here are just a few more good examples to relate that fact.
- An Unconventional Reef: "This is an article - quite critical of Wet/Dry Filtration - that I wrote shortly after the mini-reef craze hit America, but never had the guts to send in for publication." -- Jim Kostich
- The Natural Reef: "The goal of almost every marine aquarist is to recreate a portion of our wonderful ocean." "The system that I use incorporates parts of all the common thoughts with emphasis on micro fauna, micro flora, and macro flora to accomplish a faximile as close as possible to the real system (the oceans)." -- Otto Segura
- Your First Reef Aquarium: How to Create a Miniature Coral Reef System at Home: "The methods I will cover in this article are based on my own experience, those of dozens of others and what I have seen in my travels across North America and Europe. I am not saying that this is the only way to do it, nor necessarily the best way, but it is what has worked for me and many others. If anyone tells you that their way is the best or only way to proceed then they are not only fooling you but themselves as well. The intent of this article will be to serve as a guide to get you started with a 65 gallon aquarium in such a way as to ensure the greatest possible chance for success, at a reasonable expense. Once you gain experience and confidence, then you can start looking for ways to change or improve your system." -- J. Charles Delbeek
- Small Marine Systems: "To Shamu an Olympic pool is teeny; to me a small marine tank is forty gallons. Anything smaller is too limiting in what you can practically keep in it, and way too unstable to suit me. Yet, I've seen "successful" two, five, ten gallon outfits. I mean maybe all they had alive in them were a Condylactis anemone, a shrimp and a damsel; but they were alive. Whether it's done to show off, experiment or for lack of funds, space, or portability, "micro" saltwater systems of all types are possible, just not very safe or practical." -- Robert Fenner
The Mini-Reef Trend Today, and Tomorrow
Advancing even further in the mini-reef trend, the aquarium industry in recent years has developed what are considered by many saltwater hobbyists today to be true miniature reef aquariums. These all-in-one affordable units are typically 1 to 30 gallons in size, thus the mini/nano/pico name, come complete with built in filtration and lighting systems created for keeping corals, and have become popular with new and avid reef keepers alike because of their compact and ease of care designs.
- Shop & Compare Prices >> Top Pick Mini/Nano Aquarium Kits
What path will the trend in mini-reef keeping take tomorrow? One cannot predict this, but a long as there are creative and open-minded people in the aquarium hobby and industry, there is no doubt things will continue to evolve.
~ Stan and Debbie Hauter
