Those who have been in the hobby long enough know that the Bristletooth Tomini Tang (Ctenochaetus tominiensis) is an often under-appreciated workhorse fish that is excellent for keeping undesirable tank algae in check. For that reason, we were super stoked to…
Apex Fusion beta test video leaked
A video of the Apex Fusion beta test was recently leaked on a message board and we have to say we are pretty excited about what we saw. When we came across the Apex Fusion at MACNA, we thought this…
Corals Gone Wild: Don’t Let Encrusting Polyps Take Over Your Tank!
I have a confession to make. When I mention my 75-gallon “reef tank” in my posts here at Saltwater Smarts, I’m not being entirely truthful in my terminology. When I first set up the tank almost 14 years ago and…
Ctenactis triangularis, a new coral species from Andaman Islands, India
Just when we thought 2013 was going to be mediocre for new coral species descriptions, along comes Ctenactis triangularis to show us there’s still some surprises in stony corals this year. Described from three specimens in the Andaman Sea, Ctenactis triangularis…
Hands on with the Coral Propagation Kit from Ecotech Marine
It came as quite a surprise to many when Ecotech Marine announced the release of a Coral Propagation Kit. While the Coral Propagation Kit is quite a deviation from Ecotech’s core group of products, they brought their own flavor of…
Chromis brevirostris is a gorgeous species which is barely documented
Here at Reef Builders we are a fan of all things Chromis, and are especially fond of the deep water species such as the world famous Chromis abyssus. C. abyssus was described in 2008 together with four other species –…
Dampia pocilloporaeformis is a soft coral that prefers the company of SPS
Dampia is a very unique soft coral which has held a very special place in our hearts since the first time we ever saw one. There is only one species in the genus, Dampia pocilloporaeformis, which as its name implies,…
Want to win the “Tank of Your Dreams”? Enter this EcoTech Marine and Innovative Marine video contest
We all have our ideal tank in our minds but most of us end up cobbling something together and upgrade over time. What if we told you, you could get the tank of your dreams for free? Thanks to a…
Smart ATO Review: almost perfect with a couple of quirks
The Smart ATO is the smallest and most novel water level sensor and automatic top off controller the hobby has yet seen. The magnetically coupled sensor and controller are one assembly, with a single light sensor being sent through a…
Awesome Fish Spotlight: Cirrhilabrus brunneus, specter of darkness
Today’s Awesome Fish Spotlight is a recap on a species that we’ve highlighted before, but aims to introduce new pictures of a brand new specimen that recently entered the market again. Cirrhilabrus brunneus is a rare species that is closely…
