DIY Rock for the Marine Aquarium

What is the most expensive part of starting a marine aquarium? No, it’s not the tank itself or the pumps, water, or creatures. It is the rock. Live rock can cost upwards of $7.00 per pound, and a pound of…

The Beautiful, Beginner-Friendly Bubble Coral

Recently, I found myself musing over the livestock lineup I had in my first reef tank many years ago. Along with a variety of easy-to-keep soft corals and a handful of hardy fish, I fondly recalled that I also had…

Reef Fuze fluorescent superglue from Brightwell Aquatics

R.E.E.F. Fuze is a new super glue from Brightwell Aquatics which is fluorescent yellow-green. Besides making super gllue super strong, sticky, and fast-setting, there’s not much that can be improved in the cyanoacrylate space, but Brightwell thinks that there is…

Purple Firefish: A Shy Beauty for the Small, Peaceful Aquarium

Marine aquarists looking for a gorgeous, interesting, nano-friendly fish might entertain the idea of keeping the purple firefish (a.k.a. the purple dartfish, elegant firefish/dartfish, and decorated firefish/dartfish, among various other common names). Given appropriate tankmates and care, this graceful, hardy,…

A. nigropunctatus: The Pet-Like Dogface Puffer

Hobbyists with sizeable tanks who are looking for a truly pet-like fish won’t be disappointed in the aptly named dogface puffer (Arothron nigropunctatus). Looking rather like a pudgy beagle with fins instead of paws, A. nigropunctatus is loaded with piscine…

Online coral shopping: is What-You-See really What-You-Get?

Many die-hard hobbyists know exactly where and when the new cool stuff comes in. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to be present physically when a new shipment is unpacked. In these cases, the internet is a great thing: lots…

Reef Builders Editor’s Choice: 10 best products of 2013

It’s that time of year again, that time when we get to share with you the finest new products that greatly improved our reefkeeping experience over the last orbit of the earth around the Sun. Compared to last year’s Editor’s…

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,…

Archohelia rediviva resurfaces after a long absence from the hobby

If you were wondering wether the magical Archohelia redeviva would ever be seen in aquariums again, we can assure you that tales of this coral’s demise have been greatly exxagerated. By us. In private conversations with fellow NPS/Azoox reefers. It’d been…

Hong Kong through Digiman’s eyes part 1: Legendary reefers Dr. Chung and Jimma Ma

Here’s another exciting Reef Builders travelogue showcasing the sights and adventures of the reefing scene in a foreign country. Like our Japan and Bangkok travelogues, we visit yet again another Asian country – the mystical land of Hong Kong. This…