There are many terms that we reefers have come to fear: RTN, Montipora eating nudibranchs, wife seeing the credit card bill, and Fedex losing the box. Unfortunately, many of us have come to fear something that we should look forward…
10 great gift ideas for reefkeepers
Christmas is coming and nothing shows a reefkeeper you love them more than giving them a gift of something related to their hobby. Here are the Reef Builders’ top 10 reef gift recommendations: Smartphone Coral Lens A coral lens is…
Making The Hobby Fun (And Keeping it that way)
I admit it, I am still a big kid at heart. And this time of year I often show this side of my personality in many ways. I still find fun, in just about everything this time of year. I…
More Gift Ideas for the Reefkeeper in Your Life
Let’s face it, if we marine aquarists had our way, every gift we received during the holiday season would be hobby-related. Trouble is, ours is such a specialized pastime that few, if any, of our loved ones really understand it…
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…
Have a Fellow Aquarium Hobbyist on Call for Vacation Emergencies
What is it about taking a vacation that seems to precipitate problems in a marine aquarium? My system can go for many months or even years without a significant glitch, but then as soon as my wife, Melissa, and I…
5 Ways Holiday Parties Can Be Perilous for Marine Aquariums!
When planning a holiday party, we tend to worry about things like an undercooked main entree, running out of “spirits” before the evening is over, lacking adequate seating for all the guests, little Billy’s tree nut allergy, etc., etc. What…
6 Holiday Gift Ideas for the Marine Aquarist in Your Life
It’s only natural for family members and friends of marine aquarium hobbyists to want to buy holiday gifts that support their loved one’s briny habit. But choosing an appropriate hobby-related gift is sometimes easier said than done. Giving actual fish…
Fun drink for your Memorial Day or reef club party
Our East Coast friends are just hitting the afternoon and we are sure many are looking to start the long weekend early. Here is some inspiration in the form of an interesting cocktail sure to turn some heads. Even if…
3 Devices That Provide Vacationing Peace of Mind for Aquarists
I recently returned from a two-week vacation to Japan and Korea. The vacation was wonderful (after all, it’s hard to go wrong with trips to such exotic destinations), but what really helped me enjoy the experience was having some peace…
