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Aquavas Aquarium delivers exceptional fit and finish (for planted tanks)

When it comes to All In One aquariums, reef tanks have taken a definitive stance in one direction while planted tanks have taken a very different path. By and large AIO saltwater tanks…

Places

Macropharyngodon vivienae new range extension could mean we’ll be seeing more of this species

While Macropharyngodon may not enjoy the popularity of other wrasses such as Cirrhilabrus, it is most certainly not stuck in a rut. The genus is not heading in a dead end track, but rather has had a few interesting developments recently. With M. pakoko being…

You Can Help Discourage the Sale of Hard-to-Keep Marine Species

Regular Saltwater Smarts readers might wonder why we often post profiles of fish or invertebrates that are very difficult if not impossible to keep in home aquariums. After all, if we want to discourage you from buying these animals, why…

Companies

Gyre Flow: What a difference ten years can make

The year is 2003 and I was just starting to delve into the first year of real marine science courses like ecology, oceanography, and fluid dynamics. At that time I’d already been keeping marine aquariums for 8 years and i was…

Companies

Our Top 5 favorite stories from Cairns Marine

For twenty years Cairns Marine has been a leading collector and supplier of sustainably harvested marine aquarium livestock and for most of Reef Builders’ existence Cairns Marine has been an invaluable partner in helping us get the word out about…

Places

A rare look at the exotic coral reef of Bazaruto Island, Mozambique

As aquarists, we tend to spend a lot of time thinking and discussing the coral reefs where our aquarium marine life originates from. Places like Bali, Australia, Maldives, the Red Sea and their habitats are extremely well documented but there…

Curacao

First Tusk Hermit crab goes on sale in the U.S. at Old Town Aquarium

Hermit crabs are rarely thought of as little more than the janitors for our reef and marine aquariums and blue leg and scarlet hermit crabs are purchased for cheap by the dozen to do our bidding. These species are colorful…

Marquee-lite

Dr. Chung Wing Hung’s Pomacanthid perfection

Dr. Chung from Hong Kong is a familiar name to any rare fish lover worthy of his salt. A dentist by profession, Dr. Chung has had the privilege of owning some of the most elusive and rare species in the same tank.…

Marine/Saltwater Fish

The Sohal Tang: A Big, Belligerent Beauty

The sohal tang (Acanthurus sohal) is one of many fish species available in the marine aquarium trade that should come with a warning label. It’s a gorgeous fish and generally very hardy, which is a plus, but anyone contemplating purchasing…

Editorial

What’s next for Drs Foster and Smith, Live Aquaria, and Petco?

Petco, the large multi-channel retailer is intent to purchase our beloved Drs. Foster Smith mail order and eCommerce business. Apparently the owners wanted out of their successful enterprise—which comes as no surprise as they are older in age and more…