Category: Corals

  • Aquarium Industry Statistics: Global and U.S.

    Aquarium Industry Statistics: Global and U.S.

    Ready to dive right into some Aquarium industry statistics? The 2020 Pandemic year slowed down many industries, but global aquarium trade value was about normal, driven by strong U.S. imports of live marine ornamental fish. Here are the 50 Best Aquarium Industry Statistics: Global and U.S. The global ornamental fish industry, which includes both freshwater…

  • Powerful coral care and saltwater fish statistics

    Powerful coral care and saltwater fish statistics

    In Mid-2020, I conducted a survey among Saltwater Aquarium Blog Newsletter readers to get some important coral care and saltwater fish statistics. More than 200 aquarium enthusiasts took the survey, contributing thousands of data points. A summary of the most interesting stats is included below. What saltwater fish types are most successful in a home…

  • Best beginner corals

    Best beginner corals

    What makes a great beginner coral? A great beginner coral is inexpensive, commonly available as an aquacultured frag, hardy and tolerant of of beginner-level water parameters and does not require strong flow, complicated feedings, or intense lighting. Most photosynthetic corals, except for those used to the lowest light conditions, will do well with moderately strong…

  • Soft Corals: How to care for soft corals in a saltwater aquarium

    Soft Corals: How to care for soft corals in a saltwater aquarium

    The term soft coral is used broadly and relatively unscientifically (is that even a word?) to lump a bunch of related and unrelated coral species into a simple bucket, defined primarily by what they are: Soft, with the absence of a major stony external skeleton And what they are not They are not false corals, like…

  • Lobophyllia coral care

    Lobophyllia coral care

    Lobophyllia corals, sometimes casually referred to as Brain corals or lobed brain corals are attractive and popular centerpiece reef specimens. But are they hardy? Tolerant? Good for a mixed reef? This article will answer those questions and more about how to care for Lobophyllia coral in a saltwater tank. Quick facts about Lobophyllia coral care…

  • Plating corals

    Plating corals

    One of the most amazing aspects of reef keeping is that there are nearly endless combinations of color and shape/growth forms we can use to create our ideal and individualized home reef. The plating corals are particularly useful in creating a focus point among all the branching sticks. This article is loaded with great pictures…

  • Galaxea Coral Care Guide: Galaxea fascicularis

    Galaxea Coral Care Guide: Galaxea fascicularis

    The galaxea coral (Galaxea fascicularis) attracts hobbyists with its stunning arrangement of tentacles. Regardless of your color choice, you’ll end up with a beautiful display of waving white tips. And in no time, your saltwater aquarium will have a thriving colony. But galaxea corals aren’t the easiest species to manage. Those gorgeous tentacles? They pack…

  • Clove polyps care guide: facts, placement, feeding & info

    Clove polyps care guide: facts, placement, feeding & info

    Clove polyps (Clavularia spp.) create the perfect saltwater aquarium display. Their feathery “fronds” sway back and forth in the current, resembling clusters of ferns or palm trees. And you can find them in every color imaginable. Of course, as with any coral species, there are one or two hiccups in their management to worry about.…

  • 14 Best LPS corals for beginners: easy care, affordable

    14 Best LPS corals for beginners: easy care, affordable

    I started my first saltwater tank more than a decade ago, but I can still remember the feelings of excitement, anticipation and fear about selecting my first few aquarium corals. As a beginner in the aquarium hobby, it can be a bit daunting to figure out which corals are easiest to care for, affordable, and…

  • Blastomussa Coral Care: Blastomussa spp.

    Blastomussa Coral Care: Blastomussa spp.

    The blastomussa coral (Blastomussa spp.) group produces as much confusion as it does popularity. The impressive polyps these large polyp stony (LPS) corals extend into the water disguise the underlying calcium skeleton. And they give it a similar appearance to mushroom, brain, and even candy cane corals. It isn’t until those polyps retract that you…