Reef Builders is proud to introduce a brand new series of videos we are calling Reefology which will be an even blend of reefing content regarding all aspects of the reef aquarium hobby. Reefology will cover the basics of putting…
The Serenity MS-31 Digital Hydrometer makes short work of measuring Specific Gravity
Salinity is THE one parameter that matters the most in a saltwater aquarium or reef tank, and we’re always coming across new tools to measure the salt in our water. The Serenity MS-31 is the newest addition to the seawater…
Salty Q&A: How Do You Make Small Salinity Adjustments?
Saltwater Smarts visitor Andrew had the following question about our post titled “5 Tips for Maintaining Stable Salinity in a Saltwater Tank.” Since we get similar questions quite frequently, we thought it might be helpful to elaborate on our response…
How to Acclimate Marine Animals in 8 Easy Steps—Plus 5 Cases When You Can’t
A simple acclimation process The following process is one that should be employed for all normal acclimation of animals from one system to another. STEP 1 If possible, determine the water quality values for the aquarium that the fish will…
What to Consider when Converting a Fish-only Tank to a Reef System
“Caribbean Chris” and I are very frequently asked what it takes to convert a fish-only marine aquarium to a reef system containing corals and other sessile invertebrates. Can you just go ahead and add the invertebrates? Can you modify the…
Marine Aquarium Acclimation: Bridging the Specific Gravity Gap
In today’s post, I’d like to address a very common issue marine aquarium hobbyists encounter when purchasing livestock (particularly fish) and offer a simple method for addressing it. The issue in question is how to deal with the dramatic difference…
Dupla Marin calibrated hydrometer reads specific gravity in high resolution
It’s been a looooong time since Dupla made waves in the reef hobby outside of Europe but its new Dupla Marin Hydrometer, a new high-precision and accurate hydrometer, might get them back on the map. You may be asking yourself “why…
5 Tips for Maintaining Stable Salinity in a Saltwater Tank
While salinity and other water parameters are relatively constant on the natural coral reefs, they’re highly prone to undesirable fluctuation in the closed system of a marine aquarium. As conscientious hobbyists who want to provide the most naturalistic environment possible…
A Step-by-Step Guide to Mixing Saltwater
The foundation of any saltwater aquarium is, of course, the salt water itself, and through your time in this wonderful hobby, you’ll be mixing up plenty of it! You’ll need it when you first fill your aquarium and quarantine tank,…
