Pros and Cons of the Long-Term Marine Aquarium

Many marine fish can survive in captivity for decades, and many corals and other sessile invertebrates can hang in there, well, who knows how long. In any case, maintaining a marine aquarium “for the long term” can mean an awfully…

Fish farts or nightly migration could be causing the ocean to hum

For years scientist have been puzzled by a humming sound thousands of feet below the surface of the Pacific Ocean. The humming was first noticed when scientists dropped hydrophones in the Ocean to study the songs of migrating humpback whales,…

FishBit: So Easy Even I Can Use It!

Regular Saltwater Smarts visitors are well aware that I’m not exactly what you’d call “tech-savvy” or an “early adopter” when it comes to the latest gadgetry (though I am intrigued by this newfangled doohickey the kids call an “eight-track player”—it’s…

Fluorescent Friday: Acanthophyllia edition

Acanthophyllia is a particular group of corals which holds almost a mythic place in the realm of coral reef aquarists. This large showy coral has been a mainstay of mini reef aquariums for decades, with the solitary polyp being one…

The Iconic Raccoon Butterflyfish

Some of the marine fish we like to keep are surprisingly recognizable to both hobbyists and non-hobbyists alike—probably because they’re frequently depicted in photographs and artwork. Among these iconic fishes is the raccoon butterflyfish (Chaetodon lunula) of the Indo-Pacific and…

Salty Q&A: Should You Scrub New Live Rock?

Question I’ll be receiving a shipment of live rocks in a few days, and I could use some advice on how to clean them up before putting them in my tank. Do I just need to give them a good…

Why is the aquarium hobby so addicting?

We have all heard and know about the addictions that are frequently talked about such as the addictions to drugs, alcohol, gambling, eating, and sex. But in reality virtually anything can be addicting as is the case with seemingly lesser…

An Ultra-Low-Nutrient System for Acropora and other SPS

Welcome to the next level of coral care. By now I am assuming you have at least understood all the key general practices to maintain some of the hardier corals, from soft corals to large-polyp stony (LPS) corals to some…

Homophyllia steals bowerbanki and hillae away from Acanthastrea

Homophyllia bowerbanki is the new name for both corals we once called Acanthastrea hillae and A. bowerbanki. Amid the reshuffling of Micromussa lordhowensis and Australophyllia wilsoni into their new respective categories, the new analysis now places the corals once known…

ASM Skimmers are unsung heroes of protein skimming

The ASM Protein skimmer is one helluva protein skimmer which has earned its day in the spotlight. All Seas Marine (ASM) started offering the ASM skimmers in the early 2000s and despite their lack of new tricks, they can still…