Is the Saltwater Aquarium Hobby in an Economic Downturn?

There are just some things that hobbyists don’t want to talk about. These include having an unwanted pest, losing a fish or coral for an unknown reason, or even worse wiping out an entire tank. No one really likes to…

Release the kraken?

For the last week or so, the popular science press has been gushing over the announcement that besides a giant Triassic kraken killing and eating giant ichthyosaurs, it not only arranged their bones after but even arranged their bones in…

The problem with romanticizing the reef hobby and idolizing demagogues

After reading Scott Fellman’s post about bad reefing ideas, I started to think about where a lot crazy shifts in reefkeeping have originated. Usually it’s from some reefkeeping “expert”.  More often than not, I have had to ask myself what…

Local Fish Store migrating 1,300 miles

To most of you, the twin cites of Duluth, Minn., and Superior, Wis., are on the outskirts of civilization.  Not surprising given our location, being less than three hours from the coldest spot in the US (International Falls, Minn.) and…

The other side of the fence: An insider’s view of the aquatics industry

After a lifetime working in sales, I recently took a job at an upscale aquarium business. Now that I am beginning to experience the aquarium industry from the inside, I have taken on a slightly different view of things. Yet…

Really getting to know your fishes

If you ask a bunch of reefers what got them into the hobby in the first place, you’re bound to get a lot of different answers: Many will tell you that it was the sheer beauty, or for the challenge…

MACNA 2010 Rocked!

Reefbuilderss has asked contributors to recount their MACNA 2010 experience – its my turn, so here goes! My MACNA 2010 really started when I arrived at the hotel at 11:55 pm on Thursday night. I expected to go to the…

MACNA XXII – Matt Pedersen’s Story

I hope to see my fellow Reef Builders contributors jump in and share their take on MACNA 2010 in the coming days.  Seeing the annual pilgrimage to the marine aquarium hobby’s nomadic mecca through multiple points of view may offer…

A view from above, a quick snapshot and thoughts on MACNA 2010

I’m sitting 39,000 ft. above terra firma flying back to the West Coast from MACNA 2010 in Orlando and wanted to weigh in with a “newbie” perspective after three fun-filled days at the show. MACNA — we all hear about…