Author: Randy Holmes-Farley

Aluminum is an ion that doesn’t get much discussion in reefkeeping circles. It has little in the way of positive biological functions. I am not aware of any marine... Read more.

In a recent article I described in detail various attributes of boron in reef aquaria.1 These attributes include providing pH stability and the potential for toxicity... Read more.

Ron Shimek recently showed that two salt mixes and natural seawater were more conducive to the development of sea urchin embryos than were two other salt mixes.1... Read more.

In a previous article1 I detailed many aspects of iodine in the ocean and in marine aquaria, including what forms it takes, what organisms are known to use it, and... Read more.

Iodine is a component of seawater that has long captured the interest of marine aquarists. There are many commercial iodine supplements intended for aquaria, and... Read more.

There is no aspect of reef tank chemistry more important than calcium1 and alkalinity.2 Many of my previous articles have described various aspect of these systems... Read more.

Silica is a chemical that is feared by many reef keepers. Visions of a reef tank covered with diatoms so thick that you can’t see through the glass come to mind.... Read more.

The importance of boron in marine aquaria is a subject that is not often discussed by hobbyists, despite the fact that many people dose it every day as part of their... Read more.

For many reefkeepers, correcting undesirable calcium 1 and alkalinity 2 values can be among the most vexing of the chemical problems encountered in maintaining a... Read more.

In my article two months ago, I discussed iron in reef tanks. Much of that article was directed toward the effect that iron has on macroalgae, and in that article... Read more.