a>

Welcome to biotic-reef! Seasalt dreams

Meet Oscar (Ozzy) He is a Marine Betta.


Check out the newly designed gallery!
**Click on the thumbnails to get a larger image. Click on that larger image to see the full size original shot! .. Just select the gallery from the menu to the right.

Welcome to Biotic-Reef, Seasalt Dreams. This site has been created as a history of my reefkeeping experience to look back on and to share my experiences and help others learn from them and my mistakes.

Keeping your own little corner of the ocean in your house can be alot of work, and requires alot of patience, but this hobby is fascinating to say the least. To sit back and watch the ever changing ecosystem you have created is more reward than you could ever ask for.

So feel free to browse around using the navigation on the right. Don't forget to stop by the forum to ask any questions you may have if you are just starting out, or to share your experiences & pics if you are already set up.

 

A bit about reefs.

February 2nd, 2007 by Author

In nautical terminology, a reef is a rock, sandbar, or other feature lying beneath the surface of the water yet shallow enough to be a hazard to ships. Many reefs result from abiotic processes deposition of sand, wave erosion planning down rock outcrops, and other natural processes but the best-known reefs are the coral reefs of tropical waters developed through biotic processes dominated by corals and calcareous algae. Reefs can be created artificially either by special construction or through deliberately sinking ships, but one can argue that these "reefs" are not real ones, as it is seldom the case that an artificial obstruction would be created that is a hazard to shipping. These structures are usually created to enhance physical complexity on generally featureless sand bottoms in order to attract a diverse assemblage of organisms, especially fishes. Thus, "artificial reef" is a misnomer, though firmly established as the term used for man-made underwater habitat structures.

A reef aquarium or reef tank is an aquarium containing live corals and other animals associated with coral reefs. It is considered to be one of the most difficult aquarium setups to create and maintain. In recent years, advancements in our knowledge of the reef, coupled with more refined reef maintenance techniques, the reef tank has become much more accessible to the hobbyist. These aquarium setups vary from theme reefs, which attempt to recreate life specific to one region of the world like the Great Barrier Reef, to the more prevalent and often spectacularly colored mixed reef that blend hard and soft coral from around the world. Unlike the marine aquarium which main purpose is to house various fish, the true stars of the reef tank are the coral and other invertebrates.