What is new and improved in the aquarium hobby?

For as long as I have been watching television or reading magazines and newspapers, the phrase “New and Improved” has been employed for just about every product on the market at one time or another. Whether it touted how it…

Wisdom from a 15 year old “extremely large” aquarium

For most of us, upgrading and having a larger aquarium than the one we currently have is never far from our minds. We constantly dream about what corals and fish we would keep in it. What kind of lighting and…

Reef Builders Indonesia Travelogue – Bajau Village on Sumbawa Island

Years ago I read an article about the Bajau Laut “Sea Gypsies” and since then I have always wanted to see one of these community for myself. This past week Reefbuilders had the opportunity to visit a Bajau village and…

The Use of Negative Space in the Reef Aquarium Aquascape

One of the more interesting developments in the reefkeeping hobby, in my opinion, has nothing to do with the latest, greatest gadget or advance in water-quality-management methodology. Rather, it’s an evolving aesthetic in aquascaping. Bored with the traditional monolithic stack…

Curacao Sea Aquarium Deep Sea Display update

After 4 years in Curacao and some of the most amazing fishes known to man, I thought I had seen it all and was beginning to have doubts about whether we would find a new species that is as unique…

Papua New Guinean endemics on display by Paradise Aquariums at Aquarama 2015

Aquarama is a fish and accessories exhibition held biennially in Singapore, where exhibitors, exporters, industry authorities and hobbyists gather for a glimpse of the aquarium happenings in South-East Asia. Although Aquarama is mostly geared towards freshwater fish and their corresponding ribbon ponies, it…

A selection of Echinophyllia chalice corals from the Solomon Islands

As far as the hobby is concerned, nearly all of the stupid-awesome colored chalice corals are basically only found in Indonesia. Australia throws out some winners here and there but by and large, Indo is where it’s at when it…

Long Island’s 20,000 gallon reef tank is STILL one of the best displays in the world

The 20,000 gallon reef tank in Long Island NY designed and maintained by Joe Yaiullo has long been the apex of large reef aquarium displays. Featuring luxuriant coral growth and a dense and eclectic mix of large and colorful reef…

The Suzanne and Walter Scott Aquarium might just be Omaha’s best kept secret

When you think coral and saltwater fish, Nebraska would probably not come to mind immediately. Being triply landlocked, Nebraska is as far away from the sea as you could imagine. Somewhere within Omaha however is home to the Henry Doorly…

Join us for NERAC 2015 in Long Island this Saturday

The Northeast Regional Aquarium Conference aka NERAC is taking place in Long Island and we are very much looking forward to an overdue visit to the fabulous saltwater displays at the Long Island Aquarium & Exhibition Center, formerly known as…