We can’t get enough of Synergy Reef’s fluorescent acrylic sumps

Let’s face it, we reefers love shiny pretty things, that’s we gravitate towards beautiful fluorescent corals with colors so vivid they are “supernatural”. In recent years there’s been an even bigger push to make the reef gear and marine aquarium…

Man-made branch rock is coming soon from Walt Smith Fiji

Branching live rock like that which came from Tonga back in the day has always been some of the most highly sought after shape for aquascaping reef tanks and marine aquaria. branching rock from the wild is unpredictable in shape,…

What a Difference a (Good) Protein Skimmer Makes!

Here at Saltwater Smarts, we’re not, generally speaking, in the business of writing product reviews. But when we have positive personal experiences with products that we think can make your life easier—and are available at a reasonable cost—we want to…

Reefing from Afar, Part 3: The Bare-Bones Basics of Automation

In Part 2 of this series, I discussed some of the possibilities for automating your reef system based on your needs. Now that you have a few ideas of what you can automate, I’d like to offer a simple recipe…

Bali babies on display at Aquarama 2015

Bali Aquarich, the Asian sensation of the aquaculture scene, has been collecting accolades and trail blazing this niche in the last few years. They’ve come a long way since captive bred clownfish, and now boasts a stunning repertoire of angelfish…

Reefing from Afar, Part 2: Automation Options

In Part 1 of this series, I laid down some of the expectations for success, and now we are ready to dive into the functions that we can automate. Automation can range from low-tech to high-tech and fit various budgets,…

Tryssogobius Tuesday: A guide to the genus of fairy gobies

Amongst the giddying myriad of nano-sized gobies suited for the home aquarist, few genera exuberates brilliance and mystique quite like Tryssogobius. The genus comprises of delicate dainty gobies, of which seven are scientifically recognized. There are invariably many more waiting…

Signs that Allelopathy Might Be Agitating Your Inverts

Since corals and other sessile invertebrates are more or less stuck in place and can’t chase away competitors or run from predators, many of them—particularly among the soft corals—have evolved the tactic of exuding toxins into the water to prevent…

Top 3 biggest annual reveals of Skimz products

As we prepare ourselves for the biennial voyage to Singapore for the Aquarama conference, we can’t help but reflect on one of Singapore’s key players in the marine aquarium manufacturing market, Skimz. Every year, whether leading up to Aquarama in odd…

Sea Apples: Hazardous Holothurians Best Left to Advanced Hobbyists

In several posts here at Saltwater Smarts, I’ve mentioned that certain marine organisms routinely offered in the aquarium trade should come with a warning label—especially for novice hobbyists. In these cases, I’m usually referring to animals that are really gorgeous…