Colourful and fascinating corals are beautiful additions to a saltwater aquarium. But in order for them to maintain their colour for a long time, they have to be provided with the right light or they may starve to death.
Corals are in fact not plants, but animals. They live in symbiosis with algae that live in them. By photosynthesis, the algae produce sugar compounds and amino acids — nutrients that sustain the corals.
Additional feeding is therefore not necessary if you provide the correct lighting, says aquarium expert Stefan Schmoelzing. However, light needs differ from species to species. Many corals, for example, require a combination of blue and white light, Schmoelzing says.
Water flow is also particularly important in a saltwater aquarium. Water pumps ensure that the corals get a continuous flow of water, which washes away waste materials and supplies sufficient oxygen and nutrients.
In order to see corals’ intense, sometimes fluorescent or glowing colours in your aquarium, you’ll need to add trace elements to the water regularly.
Most corals feel most comfortable at water temperatures of 24 to 26 degrees Celsius. New aquarium owners should consider soft corals and horn corals, which are easier to cater look after in terms of environmental demands. – dpa
