Category: General Information

  • Can I leave blue light on in a fish tank?

    Can I leave blue light on in a fish tank?

    A lot of popular LED light models have white and blue lights. Blue light is an important wavelength for photosynthesis (the process where plants turn light into sugar/energy). Blue light is also frequently used to simulate dawn and dusk light cycles. For example, in an 8-hour photoperiod, an aquarist may choose to run a light…

  • Saltwater tank for beginners

    Saltwater tank for beginners

    This article is written to provide answers to the most common questions for beginners about setting up a new saltwater tank. How do you start a saltwater fish tank for beginners? You can start a saltwater fish tank for beginners in 9 easy steps: Ensure the tank is level before you fill it- an uneven…

  • Best saltwater fish tank cleaners

    Best saltwater fish tank cleaners

    Let’s face it, keeping any aquarium clean can be a pain. There is no perfect biological solution that will make your tank completely maintenance-free, but adding a few of the best saltwater fish tank cleaners can help add some interesting dynamics to your tank and lend a helping hand. Here are the 15 best saltwater…

  • Pineapple Sponges: reef aquarium guide

    Pineapple Sponges: reef aquarium guide

    “Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?” Okay, yes, everyone knows the iconic line from SpongeBob. But do you know you CAN find such a thing? Pineapple sponges, I mean. However, they’re not as easy to spot as a certain pants-wearing character. And some hobbyists aren’t fans of these underwater pineapples. (You may not…

  • Bubble Algae: Removing the Bubbles From Your Tank

    Bubble Algae: Removing the Bubbles From Your Tank

    You walk past your tank and notice a pearly green sphere tucked among the live rock. It looks attractive, so you leave it alone. Then more appear. And MORE. Before you know it, you’re combatting dreaded bubble algae. As pretty as those colorful colonies may be, it doesn’t take much for them to overtake a…

  • Zoanthid Gardens

    Zoanthid Gardens

    If you have a reef tank, odds are you have a zoanthid or two. Or ten. Zoas get addicting. They’re a hobbyist favorite courtesy of the hundreds of potential colors and ease of keeping. And the popularity of these “corals” has prompted the move toward cultivating zoanthid gardens. If you have the space in your…

  • Removing diatoms and brown algae from a reef tank

    Removing diatoms and brown algae from a reef tank

    Have you spotted clusters of unwanted patches of brown growth in your tank? Brown algae probably come to mind first. (Quick-growing, plant-like, covering EVERY surface) What if I told you those growths were a particular group of algae known as diatoms. And eradicating them from your saltwater aquarium can get tricky. Because diatoms exist EVERYWHERE.…

  • Saltwater Fish and Reef Invertebrates Calendars–Free to Download

    Saltwater Fish and Reef Invertebrates Calendars–Free to Download

    The Holidays are here! If you’re like me, this is the time of year to shop for a new calendar. Only this year, I did the hard work for you and actually created not 1, 2, 3 or even 4 different calendar options–I created 5 completely free downloadable calendars. They are my gift to you,…

  • Aquarium Stocking Guide: How Many Fish Per Tank?

    Aquarium Stocking Guide: How Many Fish Per Tank?

    When you set up your first saltwater aquarium, the temptation is to pack in as many of your favorite species as possible. But if you refer to the average aquarium stocking guide, you know that practice won’t work. Overcrowded tanks lead to complications with water quality. You can also end up with behavior problems as…

  • Aquarium Sand: Choosing a Saltwater Aquarium Substrate

    Aquarium Sand: Choosing a Saltwater Aquarium Substrate

    When you get started with your saltwater aquarium, you have PLENTY of decisions to make. And one of the first you need to decide? Which aquarium sand will you go with to cover the bottom of the tank? Maybe you haven’t considered the number of options out there. Or perhaps you have, and you’re working…