What you need to know about Refugia

A reef tank is different from other types of tanks in a lot of ways, with one of the biggest being that most reef tanks utilize a sump to hold the equipment and to add volume to the system. An…

Deltec goes green with the AR 2000 Algae Reactor

Deltec has launched a new algae reactor called the AR 2000. Designed to cultivate Chaetomorpha macroalgae the unit utilizes a conventional 6” diameter by 21.5” cylindrical reactor body with a vertically mounted dimmable LED light strip. A reflective film on…

Chaetomorpha Strains are Much More Different Than We Ever Knew

Chaetomorpha is a genus of macro algae that almost every modern reefer will be familiar with, but there’s still a lot we don’t know about the thin wiry green algae. Whether you call it ‘chee-to’, ‘chay-to’ or the more universally accepted pronunciation…

PicoGrow, PicoTumble & PicoFree Reactors from Printed Aqua

Printed Aqua is the latest company to apply their 3D printing know-how to fun and useful aquarium accessories with a special emphasis on the very smallest of reef tanks. The Printed Aqua catalog includes a small skimmer and a CO2…

Algae Scrubbers, How We Grow Massive Amounts of Chaetomorpha

Managing nutrients is one of the most important aspects to keeping a healthy, balanced reef aquarium free from unwanted algae. Curiously, one of the best ways to do this is to actually encourage algae to grow in a separate part…

The Best Macroalgae Reactors – Reef Builders Gear Guide

Macroalgae reactors are built with the sole purpose of growing chaetomorpha algae. While it’s possible to grow small amounts of chaetomorpha in a refugium, a dedicated macroalgae reactor goes beyond the humble refugium to create a supercharged macroalgae growing machine.…

We Made a Hypnotic Spinning Barrel of Macroalgae

Pretty much as long as reef tanks have been around, mini reef keepers have employed algae in its various forms to control and reduce nutrients of the aquarium water. The popularity of using micro or macroalgae for this purpose has…

Reduce Excess Nutrients With The Grotech MacroAlgae-Breeder

The Grotech MacroAlgae Breeder is a natural biological filtration system to reduce excess nutrients like nitrate and phosphate in saltwater aquariums. The MacroAlage Breeder or chaetomorpha reactors such as this work best with red algae family (e.g. Gracilaria curtissiae) or…

Clever Spinning Chaetomorpha Reactor is the Perfect DIY Project

Very few tanks absolutely need a form a vegetative nutrient export like an algae scrubber or reactor but most tank certainly benefit from having one of some kind. Whether you’re trying to buff the pH, reduce nutrients, or outcompete nuisance algaes,…

AI Prime Fuge Review: An LED Light With Uncompromising PAR Power

The AI Prime Fuge LED light is an unrelenting PAR monster designed to grow macroalgae and if we’re being honest, it’s really only intended to grow the Brillo-pad algae Chaetomorpha. This is the first time in the history of the aquarium…