Adding Livestock

Living Oceans

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Adding Livestock to Your Living Oceans Aquarium

The arrival of your livestock is one of the most exciting moments in your reef keeping journey. With your aquarium hardware already installed and the biological foundation prepared, it's time to introduce the living elements that transform your aquarium into a thriving marine ecosystem.

Taking your time during this process is essential. Careful placement, gentle handling, and correct acclimation all help reduce stress on your livestock and set your aquarium up for long-term success.

Inspect Your Livestock Before Opening

Before opening any bags, carry out a quick visual inspection.

Check that your delivery includes the correct Coral Livestock, fish, Live Sand, and Bio Media, and confirm that everything appears healthy after transport. Some livestock may look slightly withdrawn after shipping, particularly corals, but this is completely normal and they will usually recover once settled into the aquarium.

Build Your Reef First

Before introducing fish, it's important to complete the aquascape.

Remove the aquarium lid and carefully lift out the Living Blocks Reef System, placing it on a clean towel or work surface. This allows you to position your corals comfortably without working underwater.

Most corals supplied with Living Oceans arrive mounted on plugs, allowing them to click directly into the pre-drilled locations throughout the reef. Larger corals or specimens without plugs can be secured using a reef-safe gel adhesive to create a stable and natural-looking aquascape.

This flexibility makes it easy to design your reef while ensuring every coral has room to grow.

Complete the Biological Foundation

Once the reef has been returned to the aquarium, it's time to complete the biological filtration.

Install the supplied Bio Media into the rear filtration baskets before replacing the carbon and phosphate media. If you hear bubbling after restarting the system, gently reposition the baskets to release any trapped air.

Next, add the supplied Live Sand beneath the water surface to minimise cloudiness. This living substrate contains beneficial microorganisms that help establish the natural biological processes supporting your aquarium.

Together, the Live Sand and Bio Media complete the biological foundation of your Living Oceans Aquarium.

Acclimating Your Fish

Transport is naturally stressful for marine fish, so a slow introduction is important.

Begin by floating the sealed fish bags in the aquarium for approximately 10 minutes to equalise the temperature. During this time, observe the fish carefully. They may appear nervous or inactive after transport, but they should not show signs of severe distress such as lying on the bottom or heavy, continuous panting.

Once acclimated, transfer the fish directly into the aquarium using the supplied net.

It's important that transport water is not poured into the aquarium. Shipping water can deteriorate quickly once exposed to air, so fish should be removed from the bag promptly and introduced directly into their new environment.

Introducing the Clean Up Crew

After temperature acclimation, your Clean Up Crew can be added.

Unlike fish, hermit crabs and snails can simply be placed gently onto the reef by hand, allowing them to explore their new environment at their own pace. These invertebrates immediately begin contributing to the health of the aquarium by grazing algae and consuming leftover organic material.

Over the coming weeks, they'll become an essential part of maintaining a balanced ecosystem.

Installing the Sea Grass Lagoon

The final step is installing the Sea Grass Lagoon.

Attach the refugium securely to the rear wall of the aquarium using the supplied suction cups, positioning it just above the reef structure. Once in place, add the included Algae Starter Pack, which contains Chaetomorpha macroalgae.

As the macroalgae grows, it naturally absorbs excess nutrients from the water while creating a safe habitat for beneficial microfauna, adding another layer of biological stability to your aquarium.

Give Your Reef Time to Settle

It's completely normal for newly introduced livestock to behave differently during the first few days.

Fish may remain cautious while they establish territories, and corals often stay retracted as they adjust to their new surroundings. Resist the temptation to move livestock unnecessarily. Stable water conditions and patience almost always produce the best results.

Over the following weeks, you'll begin to see your corals extend, your fish become more confident, and your Clean Up Crew settle into their natural routines.

The Beginning of Your Living Reef

Introducing livestock is more than simply adding fish and corals. It's the moment your Living Oceans Aquarium becomes a functioning marine ecosystem.

With the Living Blocks Reef System, established Bio Media, Live Sand, carefully selected Coral Livestock, and a balanced Clean Up Crew, every component has been designed to work together. By following the recommended introduction process and the guidance available through the Support Hub, you'll give your reef the best possible start and create the foundation for years of healthy growth.