Shallow Reefs We Found On #reefbuilders Instagram

Raise your hand if you like shallow reef tanks because we sure do!! While scrolling through #reefbuilders on Instagram it seems these lagoon-style reefs are becoming increasingly popular for their minimalistic design and aesthetic. What’s really neat about this style…

Hybrid Dottyback Still Enjoying Life at the Reef Builders Studio

Abby the ‘aberrant’ dottyback is a unique specimen of Pictichromis that was the first fish we ever got at the Reef Builders Studio. Nearly two years after first receiving this fish and starting it out in its own bare bones nano…

Kessil AP9X Review and Unboxing Video

The Kessil AP9X has been teased since the fall of last year, and yesterday this exciting light fixture finally went live. Clocking in at 185 watts, $839, and with a unique form factor in the aquarium hobby, this is one…

Beginner Tips For LPS Corals

While researching online, you will come across the word LPS corals without knowing much about them. So, we’ve put together these tips for a better understanding of these large puffy colorful corals.  For new aquarists, Large Polyp Stony (LPS) corals…

Indo Gold Torch are Back and More Colorful Than Ever

Indonesian coral farmers have been waiting for a very long time to be able to ship some gold torch corals again. Classic Australian gold torch corals, or ‘glabs’ as they call them, are very nice, especially the ’24 karat gold…

Australia Records Third Coral Bleaching Event in Five Years
One-quarter of the Great Barrier Reef suffered severe bleaching this summer in the most widespread outbreak ever witnessed. One of Australia's top Great Barrier Reef scientists says a third mass bleaching event in five years.  Prof Terry Hughes, director of…
The Shape of Corals is Linked to How they Feed

It’s been over 20 years since I started culturing corals in the ocean and in dedicated aquariums. I always believed that the shape of a corals was mainly determined by trying to expose as much surface to light while withstanding…

Clownfish Colony at the Reef Builders Studio [Video]

You don’t need us to tell you that clownfish are by far the most popular marine fish with hobbyists and casual observers alike, and often become the ‘stars’ of whatever tank they are in. With so much capacity for fish…

Plerogyra diabolotus, the Devil’s Bubble Coral in our Reef Tank!

Bubble corals are a common group of reef and aquarium animals that everyone knows well, it’s one of the first coral names many people learn. But despite their visibility, the Plerogyra and Physogyra have never had a ‘hype moment’ the same way…

This Light runs at 61 Watts, Why is Marketed at 84 Watts?

The Cetus2 LED is an interesting and capable controllable LED light with an attractive cluster of multicolor diodes. We’ve been running a pair of them on our 75 gallon Euphyllia tank for about a year and always ‘thought’ they ran…