Define “Reef Tank”.

[Reefer Matt]

Hey Reefers! Just thought I’d ask what the term “Reef Tank” means to you? Is it a saltwater aquarium with a few fish and a single polyp of GSP? Or maybe a full tank with a lot of sps in it? Which tank gets the credit of being a “Reef Tank” to you?

 

[56longroof]

To me it's tank full of live rock,coral inverts,and fish. Something that mimics a actual reef in the ocean.

 

[exnisstech]

Rocks, a mix of corals, fish, and inverts for me.

 

[Jasonak]

Tank that you are actively trying to grow coral in :)

 

[bubbgee]

From my understanding, if only fishes and rocks, it's a FOWLR tank. If there is at least one coral, it's a reef tank.
But that was 20 years ago. And facts are not as reliable as they used to be. lol

 

[MoshJosh]

Tank that you are actively trying to grow coral in :)

Was typing and read your comment. . . said it better than I could! I especially like the inclusion of "trying"!!!

 

[KrisReef]

Original definition was a tank with a surface overflow and a sump for a skimmer and bio-balls to grow microbes for NO3 production.

Live Rock from the ocean, dead rock is for fish tanks.

 

[Jasonak]

Was typing and read your comment. . . said it better than I could! I especially like the inclusion of "trying"!!!

Ive been doing this doing this for 20 plus years and I can deffinetliy say that when ever I think I got it figured out I realize I do not :)

 

[Crabs McJones]

It is a tank in which reef is kept. Pretty self explanatory!
Kidding. To me reef tank is a tank with corals and fish and live rock.
A tank with fish only i would consider a fowlr or just a fish tank.

 

[tbrown]

+1 to the above answers. A reef tank is usually a mix of fish, corals, inverts, and rock. It is a tank that mimics a reef you would find in the ocean. I wouldn't consider a frag tank a reef tank since it's not meant to mimic the ocean, just to grow corals. FOWLR isn't a reef because it's missing the corals.

A coral only without fish or Anemone tank I still wouldn't necessarily consider a reef tank since there are missing components. Anemone tanks would be more "tide pool" tanks to me?

 

[CoastalTownLayabout]

My memory may be failing me but I recall the original wet dry sump systems that ushered in coral and invert care being called ‘mini reefs’.
I feel like the term reef tank was abbreviated from this.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Someone needs to ask Chat GPT for the definitive answer. lol

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I was going to come up with something clever
( in my own head maybe ) But Reef means to me a living rock structure full of living animals, algae, all contributing to a eco system as best as can be in a glass box. This would to me include a tank you have just started to add coral of any kind .

 

[Crabs McJones]

Someone needs to ask Chat GPT for the definitive answer. lol

Not bad actually
Small note, coral reefs are TYPICALLY found in oceans

 

[Reefer Matt]

So I gather that basically a saltwater aquarium display consisting of fish, inverts, coral, and rock are considered a reef tank. Are there any other specifics to that? The reason why I ask is that we all seem to see a reef tank as a different picture in our minds. So when someone asks, “How do I maintain a reef tank?”, we tend to answer based on our own perception. Maybe that’s where conflicts of opinion come in because our mental model of a “reef tank” may not be the same?

 

[Crabs McJones]

So I gather that basically a saltwater aquarium display consisting of fish, inverts, coral, and rock are considered a reef tank. Are there any other specifics to that? The reason why I ask is that we all seem to see a reef tank as a different picture in our minds. So when someone asks, “How do I maintain a reef tank?”, we tend to answer based on our own perception. Maybe that’s where conflicts of opinion come in because our mental model of a “reef tank” may not be the same?

Good point. The answer for maintaining an sps dominant reef tank vs a soft corals or even low level LPS are going to vary greatly

 

[CoastalTownLayabout]

So I gather that basically a saltwater aquarium display consisting of fish, inverts, coral, and rock are considered a reef tank. Are there any other specifics to that?

I’d suggest that fish are an optional inclusion.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

I’d suggest that fish are an optional inclusion.

 

[Crabs McJones]

Fish mandatory, tanks optional

 

[AlyciaMarie Verified Admin]

For me personally, lots of beautiful flowing coral.