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…
Opinion
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…
Reef Tanks of Instagram are Beauty Magazines all over again
“Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.” These iconic words appeared in the “Wear Sunscreen” address given to graduates in 1997 by Mary Schmich of the Chicago Tribune and were later popularised by Australian film…
DIY: Tool Maintenance
When you get into this hobby there are certain tools that go along with maintaining the aquarium system. Using the correct tools and keeping them in top shape will make you job easier. Unfortunately most tools are taken for granted…
The quest for improved pH levels: Heat/Energy Recovery Ventilators
PH is one of the most important parameters governing the growth and calcification of corals in the wild and in our reef tanks. However keeping aquarium pH water within a desirable range can be difficult with elevated indoor carbon dioxide…
First Impressions: CoralVue Hydros
Innovation is key for any industry to survive. As a product developer in the real world I can truly appreciate what it takes to bring a product to market. But as a 23 year hobbyist I have probably seen and…
The Myth of LPS Corals Living in ‘Dirty Water’
Every day that we observe corals in the ocean and take care of them in our aquarium it becomes clearer how important feeding is to them. Recently while watching a live video from our good friend Shane Danger Coleman, we…