Have you wondered why some corals look the way they do when you buy them at your aquarium store? Some with a flat base cut, some with grinding marks on them, and other man-made alterations. You might have seen this…
Pollia fumosus – a new form of natural Vermetid Snail control?
A recent article by Michael Paletta which covered Vermetid snails came at a timely moment. I have been tinkering with these whelks at the coral farm for over a year and I feel it’s time to finally share my observation…
Old and New Reef Tank Pests
It seems that when we take two steps forward we often have to take one step back. Such is the case with the success we have had in the hobby. In the early days of the hobby, we were preoccupied…
How to deal with Valonia Bubble Algae
Bubble algae is one of the most persistent pests of mature reef aquaria, overgrowing corals, weir combs, and wave pumps if left unchecked. Newbies often report surprise when they first find the small, bottle green, glassy balls as it’s something…
Marine Aquarium Acronyms: PE Defined
The marine aquarium hobby is second only to the US military when it comes to the number of acronyms its members throw around. (Quite fittingly, this past Monday was the 27th anniversary of my DOE. Shortly after that date, I…
Our Tanks Are Lookin’ Good! But for Whom?
This is an easy question. Our tanks can be as good looking as we want. Of course, we can always throw more time and money into our tanks to make them look even better—but better looking to whom? And why?…
Is It Okay to Quarantine Multiple Marine Fish at Once?
As regular Saltwater Smarts visitors are well aware, “Caribbean Chris” and I are strong proponents of quarantining all newly acquired fish for at least four weeks before introducing them to a display tank. But what about keeping two or more…
Good at Gardening? Try Reefkeeping!
Having once worked in the nursery and landscaping business, it often occurs to me that there are a surprising number of similarities between terrestrial gardening/landscaping and reefkeeping. I would even suggest that, in some ways, reefkeeping has more in common…
Shocking giant isopod rises from the abyss
A giant isopod was recently discovered attached to remote undersea survey sub and this shocking sea creature is taking the internet by storm! Definitely one to cause some nightmares for the squeamish, this isopod is a hulking 2 1/2 feet…
Bristle Worm Removal from Saltwater Aquariums
Bristle worms can be, and usually, are a real problem for reef hobbyists. Indeed, they create havoc in the aquarium, especially when they grow to larger sizes. Bristle worms grow quickly! Real quickly! They feed on anything they can find…
