An acceptable pH for a reef tank is between 7.8 and 8.5. However, I have found my SPS corals do better when pH is in the 8.1 to 8.5 range.
There are several reasons why pH might be chronically low (7.7 to 7.9) in an aquarium.…
ReefBum
Recent Content
When Is It The Right Time to Reboot a Reef Tank?
Sometimes it is obvious when it is necessary to reboot a reef tank but sometimes it is not. Let’s start with some obvious circumstances.
If a tank is struggling due to a parasite or problematic algae then a reefkeeper may be more prone to throw in the towel and start over.…
Top 5 Fastest Growing SPS Corals
There is a well known saying out there that says good things come to those who wait. This saying is certainly relevant to keeping an SPS reef tank since patience is a critical component to having success.…
Fighting Problematic Algae With Chemicals – A Risky Proposition
What is a reef tank? In simple terms, it is an attempt to re-create a slice of the ocean in a home. These captive ecosystems contain fish, corals and invertebrates from the around the world. Each tank is unique but all strive to achieve a level of harmony that can illuminate the beauty seen in nature.…
Tips on How to Prepare a Reef Tank Before Leaving on Vacation
Vacations are awesome but for a reef keeper they can be a bit stressful. I do get nervous before heading out to decompress away from home, especially when the trip is a week or more. And the stress level tends to increase the further I am away from home.…
How to Reduce DOA’s When Ordering Livestock Online
When fish or corals are shipped via an overnight service, I am a BIG believer in having that livestock delivered to either a UPS or FedEx customer center. At these facilities the livestock can be held for pick-up.…
Peninsula Tank Build – Coral Stocking Plan
I like to take my time when stocking a reef tank with corals. One reason why I wait is due to the inevitable ugly phase. Most reef tanks will have some type of algae outbreak early on, whether it is diatoms, dinoflagellates or something else.…
Why Reef Keeping Has Become Harder
I have been tending to reef tanks for many, many years and in my view reef keeping has become harder. How is this possible? Whether you agree or disagree, just hear me out….
Rationale for Why the Hobby is Tougher
More Efficient Equipment
Information Overload
Mis-Information
More Efficient Equipment
One reason is due to better equipment.…
Peninsula Tank Build – Coral & Fish Food, Supplements and Trace Elements
Over the years I have not used coral food and amino acids too often with my reef tanks. I did use frozen Cyclopeeze and Reef Nutrition’s Oyster Feast and Roti Feast pretty consistently with my old 225 gallon tank.…
Tips For Keeping a Reef Tank Cool
It is summer and time to keep an eye on the temperature of your reef tank. I like to keep my tanks in the 78 to 79 degree F range but during the summer months my tanks push 81 degrees F on really hot days.…