Should I Use a UV Sterilizer? The two most hated things for a saltwater aquarium keeper are fish diseases and “bad” algae. Some hobbyists make an attempt to go all Read More about Should I Use a UV Sterilizer?
Why EcoPods are the Best Live Copepod Product Ever Earth is a planet of pods. Wherever there is water, there are amphipods, isopods, branchiopods, and so on. Pods are an integral part of Read More about Why EcoPods are the Best Live Copepod Product Ever
A Look at the Detritus Cycle One of the biggest challenges of keeping a successful reef aquarium, especially over the long term, is maintaining the purity of the Read More about A Look at the Detritus Cycle
Correcting Nutrient Instability Oh, the paradox of algae. They have ruined many tanks--even caused some frustrated aquarists to leave the hobby forever. Yet, our tanks Read More about Correcting Nutrient Instability
The Cerith Snail: A ‘Must-Have’ Cleaner Most aquarists are already aware that snails eat algae. To be most correct, the majority of snail species are algivores. To be sure, Read More about The Cerith Snail: A ‘Must-Have’ Cleaner
Sea Urchins in the Reef Aquarium My first sight of a real, live sea urchin was in an aquarium (a friend’s) rather than in the sea. This was in my youth (i.e. quite a Read More about Sea Urchins in the Reef Aquarium
Chaeto for Major Tank Cleaning Whether from a lack of experience, or an abundance of neglect, some aquarists allow their reef tanks to reach a state of utter Read More about Chaeto for Major Tank Cleaning
Understanding the Nitrogen Cycle We are finally starting to see a surge of interest in the nitrogen cycle & the “aquarium microbiome.” That is a very, very good Read More about Understanding the Nitrogen Cycle
The Whole Package: Integrating AlgaeBarn’s Kits & Combos AlgaeBarn is hardly the only aquarium hobby-centered business to produce phytoplankton and macroalgae. But we like to think that we’re Read More about The Whole Package: Integrating AlgaeBarn’s Kits & Combos
Keeping Zoanthids Reef aquaria wouldn’t be reef aquaria without corals--plain and simple. But those extra little goodies (sea anemones, Read More about Keeping Zoanthids
Keeping Mushroom Anemones No one starts a saltwater aquarium because they hate challenges. Indeed, it is the difficulty (or at least perceived difficulty) of Read More about Keeping Mushroom Anemones
How to Control Hair Algae Hair Algae Happens Algae Happens. Even the types that we don’t want in our aquaria--and actively try to eradicate (like hair Read More about How to Control Hair Algae
Red Macroalgae for the Moderately Illuminated Refugium While there are many species of green, brown and red macroalgae (i.e. multicellular algae) in nature, it is the greens and reds that Read More about Red Macroalgae for the Moderately Illuminated Refugium
Bubble Algae: How Bad Is It? Every reef tank has some form of hardscape--a reef base. Unless they are obtained dry, these materials almost always have some form of Read More about Bubble Algae: How Bad Is It?
What Does pH/Alkalinity Actually Mean? “Some aquarists delight in testing the water for its pH. If you must do this (and believe me it is not necessary), then use the Read More about What Does pH/Alkalinity Actually Mean?
How to Fully Condition Your Dry Reef Rock We’re all subject to impatience. Particularly when we’re anticipating a highly gratifying event, such as adding the first round of Read More about How to Fully Condition Your Dry Reef Rock
Keeping the Striped Blenny (Meiacanthus grammistes) There are a lot of blennioid fishes--something to the tune of like 900 species in 151 genera. Lots and lots of these are available Read More about Keeping the Striped Blenny (Meiacanthus grammistes)
Pod vs Sock: Do Mechanical Filters Kill Copepods? Considering that aquarium keeping is a mere nerdy pastime, it can be surprising that there are so many contentious issues amongst Read More about Pod vs Sock: Do Mechanical Filters Kill Copepods?
Using MarinePure in the Aquarium, Sump and Refugium Managing dissolved nutrients--especially ammonia, nitrite and nitrate--is among the major tasks of reef aquarium husbandry. Read More about Using MarinePure in the Aquarium, Sump and Refugium
What are Coralline Algae? There are all sorts of bad algae--hair, slime, turf--and they are widely recognized by aquarists as a manifest sign of poor water Read More about What are Coralline Algae?
