When I initially planned out my new reef tank setup, I was going to purchase a custom glass display tank and an acrylic frag tank. My thought was to spend the extra $$ for a high-quality display and be economical with the frag tank.…
Recent Content
SPS Deep Dive – Tyree Red Dragon
Limited edition corals generate a lot of buzz when released, and the Tyree Red Dragon was at the top of the LE hit list a few years ago. Why did this coral grab so much attention? Well, it was unique due to its red/fuchsia color, white color polyps and growth pattern.…
Are Metal Halides Making a Comeback?
LEDs are all the rage, so you may be wondering why I am doing a review of a metal halide fixture, especially one that has been around for a number of years. Well, here is the story…and I am sticking to it.…
Using a Booster Pump to Improve RODI Performance
A RODI system is an important piece of equipment for maintaining a healthy reef tank. It purifies water and limits problematic algae growth by removing things like silicates, phosphates and nitrates.…
Review: My Reef Creations Nilsen (Kalk) Reactor
Over the years, a kalk reactor has always been an integral part of my reef keeping setup. I have used one to dose kalkwasser via my RODI top off to boost pH, which is lowered by my calcium reactor, and to augment my tank’s calcium and alkalinity levels. …
Top 10 Tips For Keeping a SPS Reef Tank
Let’s face it. Keeping a reef tank is not a simple chore but there are some basic tenants one can follow to optimize the chances for success. With over 20 years in the hobby I have learned a lot from both my successes and failures.…
The Trials & Tribulations of a Young Reef Tank
Starting and maintaining a successful reef tank is not an easy task, even for veterans of the hobby. There are many curveballs out there capable of bringing a reef keeper to their knees that can cause them to “cry uncle”, especially during the early part of a tank’s life.…
SPS Deep Dive – Stylophora Coral
Who likes to gaze at a reef tank containing SPS with bright and vivid colors? I do. Of course there are some best practices one can follow to achieve great colors but SPS coral selection plays a key role.…
Reef Tank Tip – Resist The Urge to Submerge
There are a number of best practices for reefkeeping and one of the bigger ones in my book is to try and minimize the amount of time I put my hands in the tank. I consider myself a perfectionist and when I started to keep reefs I was always looking at my tanks and tinkering with the rocks or corals to achieve a “better” look.…