Solomon Reefs: get to know the reef life of the Coral Triangle

The corals and reef life of the Solomon Islands was once a bastion of aquarium harvesting activity where coral farming was pioneered and where our first really nice true percula clownfish came from. While we still have commercial aquarium activity in the…

Deciphering the mysteries of Centropyge woodheadi

The marine angelfish family Pomacanthidae is, generally speaking, a very well-understood group. These are some of the most colorful and charismatic fishes found in reef ecosystems, and so they have naturally attracted more than their fair share of taxonomic attention.…

US Government Proposes Ban on Six Species of Giant Clams

In a 173-page document, the United States government has announced a proposal to list all species of giant clams under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS, sometimes referred to as NOAA Fisheries), an agency within…

The Tale of the Purple Monster and the Land of Gold

Recently I gave a talk at a UK reefing show, where I gave my (British,) take on the American reefing scene. One of the many aspects I admire the most is the legacy corals, their sharing throughout the community, and…

Fiji’s Undescribed Stonogobiops Shrimpgoby

The year is 1977. Star Wars is a box office sensation, Billy Joel is topping the charts with his multi-platinum album The Stranger, and the King of Rock & Roll, Elvis Presley, is found dead in his Graceland bathroom, but…

Join Us This Weekend for a Unique Reefing Event in Mexico City

One of the biggest sources for reef aquarium knowledge and information is learning from reef builders all over the world. Traveling to visit reef tanks built using different gear, different techniques, original philosophies, and unique selections of corals has always…

We’ve Never Seen This Uber Rare Angelfish Look Like This!

The black angelfish, Chaetodontoplus niger, is a species so mysterious that it’s hard to know where to begin trying to understand it. First described from the Hongsha Islands in the South China Sea in 1965, the only modern records that this…

Diving for Corals & Fish at Puako, Hawaii

Hawaii’s fish and reefs are some of the most iconic marine life and recognized the world over. Some of the aquarium hobby’s most important fish like yellow tangs, flame wrasses and bartlett’s anthias come primarily from Hawaii, yet the reef…

Huge Colony of Kung Pao Monti Spotted on Wild Reef

Modern communications and social media tools have brought the aquarium world closer together than ever before, but there’s still a big gap between Wild Corals and Aquarium Corals. Most reef aquarists only get to see small pieces of coral, either…

Unique Corals is the Ultimate ‘Man Cave’ of Aquarium Corals

In just five short years Unique Corals has become not just a big player in online coral sales, but an ambassador of reef aquarium culture. Online coral vendors are as common as Seven Elevens but UC takes it one step…