There are few universal things in this hobby, as every tank is different and how every tank is managed is different as well. But there are a few such as the need for being patient, and there being no benefit…
Opinion
Has the Hobby Gotten Too Expensive?
Let’s face it, this hobby has never been an inexpensive one. Even during the early years of the hobby, it was expensive for a number of reasons. Corals and saltwater fish have always been more expensive than their freshwater counterparts.…
Why Successful Reefing Is All About Incrementalism
Over the course of the last forty years, many changes have taken place that have made the hobby better. Looking back, it is safe to say that while all of these changes seem large now, they were all done incrementally,…
Five Things That Can Get You Down About Reefkeeping
We’re never going to throw the towel in with this hobby, but we admit that sometimes, some things do inevitably get us down. Here are just a few of the things that are getting to us this week. “Silent” equipment…
Why Coral Videos Can Make You Happier
We all know that too much screen time is bad for us; there’s loads of information out there that supports stepping away from our screen and stepping out into nature. I’m a huge advocate of doing just that, but some…
Is the Hobby Less Fun Than It Used to Be?
I think that we can all agree that there are many reasons to have a hobby. Some of us have one as it helps us relax such as with gardening or needlepoint. For others, a hobby keeps us active and…
Water changes: Are you Pro, or No?
We’re sitting here while mixing up a batch of saltwater for our new 120-gallon tank. Nothing terrible has happened, our last ICP test was okay… but we like to do regular partial water changes with our reef tanks, just as…
Finding Nemo is 20 years old. Here’s how it changed reefkeeping forever
It’s hard to believe it’s twenty years since Pixar launched the computer-animated adventure of clownfish Nemo, his dad Marlin and the forgetful Blue Regal tang Dory. We think we’ve watched it 50 times since then, first on DVD and a…
The Need for Sustainably Aquacultured Cleanup Crew
Cleanup crew, whether they be gastropods, crustaceans, fish, echinoderms, or polychaete worms, are an integral part of the contemporary reef aquarium. Just like in wild ecosystems, various species of snails or sea urchins provide keystone ecological services by regulating the…
The Ten Most Annoying Things About Reefkeeping
Sometimes reefing can really get on our nerves! Here are just ten of the things we really hate about our hobby right now. When fish jump out Unfortunately, we’ve all been here, whether it’s a newly purchased tank-bred clownfish, a…