Salem Clemens
Salem Clemens
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Salem Clemens is an aquarist that's been obsessed with all aspects of the hobby fresh and salt for a decade. He worked for around five years in the retail side of the industry and recently graduated with a degree in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology with a minor in Chemistry. During his time in college he studied coral pathology working closely with his universities Biology and Chemistry programs where he gained experience in microbiology, biochemistry and analytical techniques such as GC-MS. Salem has a passion for rare and oddball corals, fish and inverts, experimenting with new methods and attempting to solve problems in the trade. He hopes to utilize an objective lens to help elute the best information and practices in the industry.

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…

Snake Polyps are the Oddballs of the Coral World

A fascinating soft coral rarely seen nowadays is the “snake polyp.” several species belong to this family, including Isaurus tuberculatus, I. cliftoni, and  I. maculatus. These species are closely related to zoanthids. They have a long stalk with a central…