News

World’s Largest Deep-sea Coral Reef Discovered off the Southeast United States

A deep-sea coral reef covering 6.4 million acres has been discovered off the southeast United States. Researchers working for NOAA and its partners mapped an underwater seascape of coldwater coral mounds the size of Vermont, deeming it the largest deep-sea…

California Issues Total Ban on Caulerpa: Warns Retailer of $10,000 Fine Per Violation

The California Department of Fish and Wildlife Agency has written to e-commerce company Etsy and notified them that the sale, possession, or transport of all species of marine macroalgae Caulerpa is now prohibited. In a letter written on Jan 2,…

Coral City Camera Records World’s Most Comprehensive Coral Bleaching Timelapse

Everyone’s favorite underwater camera now has the dubious honor of creating the world’s most comprehensive in-situ coral bleaching timelapse video. Underwater content creator Coral Morphologic says that the summer of 2023 will go down as the hottest in recorded history…

Powder Blue Tang feeding mechanism minimizes exposure to high water flow 

Researchers have used high-speed video to study the feeding mechanisms of the Powder Blue Tang, Acanthurus leucosternon. Reef fish use feeding modes including high-speed suction and biting, the former method proving key to the explosive success of ray-finned fishes. But…

Is it Okay to Name Living Creatures after People?

It’s human nature to name things. It’s part of how we label and describe items, communicate, and even differentiate one another. But nomenclature stretches to living things too, like plants, animals, and fish, and we want to know if it’s…

Jack Resurrects the Reef Builders Studio Soft Coral Acrylic Tank

The Fat Cube second-hand acrylic tank was one of Jake Adams’ last projects in the Reef Builders Studio, and sadly, one that he didn’t get to see come to full fruition. Jake passed away in October 2022, and the then-still…

MASNA Recognizes James Lawrence with the Pioneer Award for Publishing

James Lawrence has been chosen to receive the Posthumous Honor of 2023 MASNA Pioneer Award for Publishing. In a press release, the Marine Aquarium Societies of North America said his trail-blazing work publishing countless articles and books for the enjoyment…

What does the Future Hold for Reefkeeping?

For many of us, 2023 was a rough year. But as I typically do during a tough year I start looking at the future and hopefully better times. 2024 will mark the fortieth year I have been in reefkeeping. The…

Jake Adams Receives 2023 MASNA Award

The Marine Aquarium Societies of North America has posthumously honored Reef Builders Managing Editor Jake Adams with the 2023 MASNA Award. In a statement released today,  MASNA said that each year it recognizes individuals who have stepped forward in unique…

Cryopreservation Breakthrough Sees Coral Larvae Survive and Settle After Freezing

You won’t be surprised to read that coral reefs are going through a tough time. It may surprise you to read, however, that scientists have been trying and failing to freeze coral larvae for the past twenty years in an…