How to Cure Live Rock

Up until now, everything that has been necessary to do has been relatively easy. This next step in setting up a reef tank properly is what starts to separate those who will be successful long-term from those who will not.…

How to Cycle a Reef Aquarium Right Away – With Corals First

Forever and a day we have been schooled in how to set up and cycle an aquarium. Set it up, wet it, add bacteria, test, add fish, test again, and then eventually add corals. But here at Reef Builders we can’t help but think there’s another way to fast reef tank cycling, and that actually, people have been doing it wrong all along…

Cycling the Australian Reef Tank with the First Fish & Coral

Once a reef tank gets fully running and salted, the first order of business is to kickstart the biological cycle. In a typical fish aquarium, fresh or salt, cycling pretty much only pertains to developing the bacterial, biological cycle but…

Ask Reef Builders #3: How Long Should I Cycle A Reef Tank Before Putting Corals In?

You don’t. The short answer is that technically, there is no evidence that you need to cycle an aquarium before putting corals in. Now before you start pulling out your proverbial pitchforks and burn me and this statement at the…

Slowing down for success, the patient reefer’s way to “pre-stock” a tank

Having set up more than a few reef systems in my time, I never seem to be surprised at my true hobbyist impatience! Let’s face it—once we get the plumbing done, the lighting tweaked, leaks sealed, and aquascaping set, we’re…