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With decades of professional aquatics experience, the Waterbox Method was designed to help hobbyists create beautiful and vibrant home aquariums. Utilizing ideal water parameters as well as manageable maintenance techniques, it's never been easier or more rewarding to enjoy a thriving freshwater or saltwater aquarium.
Saltwater or Freshwater?
Select the type of aquarium.
What type of aquarium will you be keeping?
Select fish only or planted aquarium and we'll give you the Waterbox Method for success.
What livestock will you be keeping?
Select the type of fish or corals you plan to keep, and we will give you the Waterbox Method for success.
Recommended Water Parameters
Recommended Water Parameters
The Waterbox Method Of Aquarium Keeping.
Our Saltwater chemistry lineup is categorized into five essential segments: Salt Mix, Core Elements, Filtration, Biological, Nutrition, and Coral Health. Our offerings are the culmination of the Waterbox Method—a straightforward, simple and effective approach to aquarium care honed over years of professional aquatics expertise.
Step 1: Salt Mix
Salt mix is essential for marine and reef aquariums, as it replicates the chemical composition of natural seawater, providing crucial minerals and elements. Choosing a high-quality salt mix that matches your target aquarium parameters will enhance coral growth and color.
WB Reef Salt
Formulated for the most discerning Reef Aquarium hobbyists, our REEF SALT is one of the fastest mixing, cleanest and most consistent salts in the industry. Each box contains optimal levels of minor and major trace elements to ensure beautiful coloration and growth of your corals.
View our Calculator for exact dosing requirements based on your aquarium. Learn More
Step 2: Biological
Establishing a healthy nitrogen cycle is important when starting an aquarium. Adding Starter Bacteria will decrease the time to establish the nitrifying bacteria needed to remove ammonia and nitrite making it safe for aquarium inhabitants. If your aquarium is already established you can skip to step 3.
Starter Bacteria
Waterbox Aquariums Starter Bacteria adds beneficial bacteria needed to break down ammonia and nitrite in a freshwater or saltwater aquarium. These levels of bacteria are key in establishing a healthy nitrogen cycle and ensuring your aquarium is ready to add livestock.
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Step 3: Core Elements
Our Core Elements include the three essential additives every reef aquarium requires.
Calcium
Calcium is an essential building block for the skeletal structure of SPS and LPS coral, invertebrates and coralline algae in your aquarium.
View our Calculator for exact dosing requirements based on your aquarium. Learn More
Alkalinity
Alkalinity has two very important functions in a reef aquarium; maintaining pH levels and combining with calcium to support the growth of skeletal structures.
View our Calculator for exact dosing requirements based on your aquarium. Learn More
Magnesium
Magnesium is an often-overlooked additive in the reef aquarium but its role in keeping calcium and alkalinity levels stable is extremely important.
View our Calculator for exact dosing requirements based on your aquarium. Learn More
Step 4: Filtration
Waterbox Aquariums filter media includes carbon and phosphate media. Both are an important part of maintaining a clean and healthy saltwater aquarium.
Phosphate Media
Highly efficient media used to absorb and remove phosphates & silicate. Elevated phosphate levels can lead to unwanted algae growth and a decrease in coral coloration. Maintaining phosphate levels within the correct range, along with phosphate media, will result in a cleaner and healthier aquarium.
Replace phosphate media when levels increase above suggested range.
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Carbon Media
Activated carbon to remove discoloration, organics, and unwanted chemicals. Carbon removes coloration of the water, odors, general contaminants, coral toxins, and dissolved organics. For best results replace the carbon media once per month.
Replace monthly
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Step 5: Coral Nutrition
Waterbox Aquariums line of coral nutrition supplements includes phytoplankton, coral superfood and LPS superfood. Proper feeding of your coral increases growth and coloration. Different types of coral have very different feeding requirements, so we have been sure to develop coral food to meet your reef's needs.
Phytoplankton
This blend of phytoplankton, zooplankton, and vital nutrients will increase color and growth. Phytoplankton is an important food source for soft and non-photosynthetic corals as well as sponges, clams, and filter feeding invertebrates.
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Coral Superfood
A complete diet suitable for all coral types. Formulated with a mix of zooplankton, marine algae, and vitamins in a size appropriate for SPS coral, as well as other filter feeding coral.
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LPS Superfood
LPS coral thrive on being target fed, it increases their coloration and growth rate. LPS Superfood has high protein and fatty acid levels to support tissue growth, and is formulated in a small pellet form which is perfect for all LPS coral.
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Step 6: Coral Health
Introducing new coral to your reef aquarium carries the risk of pests and diseases, which can result in significant stress or even widespread losses in your tank.
Coral Dip
Dipping coral protects your coral from various pests, bacterial issues or stressful events that can weaken a coral resulting in death. Coral Dip is formulated to remove pests from coral, treat and help avoid bacterial or tissue infections.
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Step 7: Maintaining Water Chemistry & Quality with Water Changes
Water changes are essential in maintaining a healthy aquarium environment, primarily because they help to remove harmful toxins such as ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates, which accumulate over time from fish waste, uneaten food, and plant debris. These toxins can become lethal to fish and other aquatic organisms if allowed to build up to high levels.
Additionally, water changes replenish essential minerals and maintain stable water parameters, ensuring a balanced ecosystem for aquatic life. By diluting pollutants and refreshing the water's chemistry, regular water changes support the overall health, growth, and well-being of the aquarium inhabitants, preventing stress and disease outbreaks.
We recommend at least 10% water changes weekly, however 20% can be down bi-weekly.
The Waterbox Method Of Aquarium Keeping.
Our Freshwater chemistry lineup is designed to make keeping freshwater aquariums easy. Our offerings are the culmination of the Waterbox Method—a straightforward, simple and effective approach to aquarium care honed over years of professional aquatics expertise.
Step 1: Biological
Establishing a healthy nitrogen cycle is important when starting an aquarium. Adding Starter Bacteria will decrease the time to establish the nitrifying bacteria needed to remove ammonia and nitrite making it safe for aquarium inhabitants.
Starter Bacteria
Waterbox Aquariums Starter Bacteria adds beneficial bacteria needed to break down ammonia and nitrite in a freshwater or saltwater aquarium. These levels of bacteria are key in establishing a healthy nitrogen cycle and ensuring your aquarium is ready to add livestock.
Learn More
Step 2: Water Conditioning
Tap water contains chlorine and heavy metals that can harm fish, invertebrates, plants, and beneficial bacteria in your aquarium. Always use a water conditioner when adding water to your aquarium or introducing new fish to ensure a safe and healthy environment.
Conditioner
Removes chlorine and neutralizes heavy metals from tap water instantly to make safe for use in aquarium. Protects and replaces fish's slime coating.
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Step 3: Filtration
Waterbox Aquariums filter media includes carbon and phosphate media. Both are an important part of maintaining a clean and healthy saltwater aquarium.
Phosphate Media
Filter media to absorb phosphates in freshwater aquariums. Elevated phosphate levels can lead to unwanted algae growth. Maintaining phosphate levels within the correct range, along with phosphate media, will result in a cleaner and healthier aquarium.
Replace phosphate media when levels increase above 2.0 ppm
Learn More
Carbon Media
Carbon designed to remove undesired chemicals in freshwater or planted aquariums. Carbon removes discoloration of the water, odors, general contaminants, toxins, and dissolved organics.
Replace monthly
Learn More
Step 4: Carbon Dosing
Adding carbon to your planted aquarium, especially if you don't use a CO2 system, is vital for promoting healthy plant growth, enhancing coloration, and reducing nuisance algae.
Carbon dosing is not necessary for Fish Only systems.
Carbon +
Carbon+ provides a highly absorbable carbon source for planted aquariums. Proper carbon levels promotes the growth and vibrant color of live plants while reducing nuisance algae.
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Step 5: Water Changes
Water changes are essential in maintaining a healthy aquarium environment, primarily because they help to remove harmful toxins such as ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates, which accumulate over time from fish waste, uneaten food, and plant debris. These toxins can become lethal to fish and other aquatic organisms if allowed to build up to high levels.
Additionally, water changes replenish essential minerals and maintain stable water parameters, ensuring a balanced ecosystem for aquatic life. By diluting pollutants and refreshing the water's chemistry, regular water changes support the overall health, growth, and well-being of the aquarium inhabitants, preventing stress and disease outbreaks.