Salem Clemens
Salem Clemens
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Salem Clemens has been in the hobby for a decade and has worked in the industry for the last five years. He has worked with numerous fish stores and now farms coral, phytoplankton, and copepods on his own.Salem is in his senior year pursuing a degree in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology with a minor in Chemistry. He is researching coral pathogens, zooxanthella, and holobiont-associated signal transduction pathways. He wants to pursue a doctorate and would like to go into conservation work eventually. His favorite corals are Goniopora and zoanthids, but he has recently fallen in love with Dendronepthya and Scleronepthya. His favorite fish are Blue Chromis and Moray eels.

Stunning Stereonephthya in STL  

At the Reefing USA show in STL, I encountered some unique specimens that caught my eye at Gabe Pommier’s booth, Oceanic Gardens. He brought two varieties of Stereonephthya, which before the show I had only seen online. Many of you…

The Effect of Carbon Dosing on the Microbiome: A Community Project with Aquabiomics

At Reefstock Denver, I met many industry figures in person for the first time. Some of my best connections were those with Dr. Eli Meyer and Dr. Andrew Bouwma. Dr. Meyer owns Aquabiomics, and Dr. Bouwma is his colleague and…

FAQs on Reef Aquarium Bacteria

There is so much we don’t know about the bacteria we buy and add to our reef tanks. Salem Clemens answers some of your most Frequently Asked Questions on Reef Aquarium Bacteria. Is it possible to keep bacteria alive in…

Hawaiian Fish Under Threat Once Again – Fight For Them Today!

The beautiful Potter’s Angelfish that’s on the permitting list Around one year ago, Hawaiian Senate Bill 505 was voted down, which opened a legal pathway for the collection of eight marine fish species. As mentioned in our previous article, the…

The Cure to Brown Jelly – A Common Household Item

I have been researching coral pathogens at my university for nearly three years. For several months, the Reef Builders team has been preparing for this moment. This is a summary of my research – this is the cure for brown…

To Truly Understand Coral Disease, We Must Shift Our Perception

In my time in the reef aquarium industry, I have seen much misinformation contradicting published peer-reviewed data. Some of these ideas stem from ignorance – many people haven’t been exposed to contradictory ideas to those pushed by mainstream media and…

What’s in Their Water: An Analysis of Core Chemical Parameters Among Vendors at a Coral Show

Last week, I went to Saint Louis (Remy’s stomping grounds) to make content and speak at the Reefing USA coral show. Before coming, Remy had the great idea of testing all the vendor’s systems at the show to analyze potential…

Video: Is the New Probiotic Concoction Coral Food Safe to Use?

In the latest episode of the Reef Builders Reef Therapy Podcast, Remy and Salem speak with Allan Vo of Critical Reef Theory about his “concoction” – a bacterial polyculture utilized as a coral food constructed from common dry goods in…

Shark Researcher Talks Baby White Shark Footage with Reef Builders

Drone footage shot off the coast of Southern California in January 2024 revealed what may have been the first-ever sighting of a newborn Great White Shark in the wild. Shark researcher Phillip Sternes and wildlife filmmaker Carlos Gauna captured that…

John Sorkness is the God of Gig Anemones

Salem Clemens talks to John Sorkness about Carpet Anemones, how to ID them, keep them, propagate them, and maybe even spawn them! Tell us what got you into the hobby, how long you’ve been in it, and your passion for…