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…
Opinion
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…
All That You Need When Setting Up A Reef Tank
As you navigate the kind of muddy waters of “New-to-Reef-Aquariums-Land”, you’re bombarded by tons of different messages about what you need, what you don’t need, what you SHOULD do, what you SHOULD NOT do…it’s a very noisy world. So, here…
Beyond the very beginning…stocking your reef for success
If you ask most level-headed reef hobbyists, one of the most enjoyable parts of the game is stocking our systems with corals and fishes. Now, on the surface, this seems like just a super-fun thing to do- and it IS-…
If You Ain’t Testing, You’re Just Guessing!
Aquarium Water Testing By: Scott Davidson I always remember this phrase from my earliest days of reef keeping. Although I can’t remember who coined the phrase, it has always stuck with me. It would always conjure the image of someone standing in…