Tag: moderate care
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Brittle Starfish Care: The Ophiuroidea Family
The brittle starfish (Ophiuroidea) or brittle star group either enchant or repulse you. They follow the expected pattern of five “limbs,” but they lack that adorable star design. Instead, you get long, snaking legs that move in every direction – sometimes independently. But these echinoderms bring a particular fascination with them. And if you’re one…
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Flame Hawkfish Care: Neocirrhitus armatus
The flame hawkfish (Neocirrhitus armatus) stands out in even the best reef crowds. They’re genuine charmers for aquarists looking for the perfect touch of RED to add to their tanks. But they’ll also make ideal choices for anyone who appreciates a bit of excitement. Because as members of the hawkfish group? They have delightful hunting…
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Majestic Angelfish Care: Pomacanthus navarchus
Majestic angelfish (Pomacanthus navarchus) earn their name with dramatic colors of yellow set off with a “girdle” of navy blue. They look stunning in any marine aquarium. And while they’re challenging to manage and keep happy, plenty of aquarists hunt them down as additions to their reef tanks. (Well, CERTAIN reef tanks, anyway) Table of…
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Lyretail Anthias Care: Pseudanthias squamipinnis
Lyretail anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis) are some of the most attractive and active saltwater fish an aquarist can covet. They rarely cause problems with their management – earning bonus points. And their habits of swimming throughout the water column can even draw out shier species you might have in your aquarium. Table of Contents: Lyretail Anthias…
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Dogface Puffer Fish Care Guide
The most polarizing saltwater fish in the aquarium hobby has to be the dogface puffer fish. You either think they’re awesome to look at or awful to behold; there doesn’t seem to be an in-between. The one thing we CAN all agree on is that it has an unfortunate name (which may be why they…
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Bird’s Nest Coral Care Guide
The bird’s nest coral is a small polyp stony coral (shortened to SPS by many aquarium owners) with thin yellow, green, purple, or pink branches that grow into a densely intertwined mass resembling a bird’s nest. (No one said biologists were creative with their naming schemes) As far as SPS corals go, the bird’s nest…
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Acan Coral Care Guide
Acanthastrea corals, commonly known as acan coral or acan lords, are large polyp stony (LPS) corals and one of the most beautifully colored coral species. They come in purple, red, green, blue, orange, brown, rust, pale tan, and pale grey. The family includes many species with different names. And many tout them as one of…
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Elegance Coral: Catalaphyllia jardinei
Elegance coral (Catalaphyllia jardinei) is an excellent large polyp stony (LPS) coral for the mixed reef tank. This elegant coral is an anemone look-alike and has long, flowing tentacles, although it is more closely related to frogspawn, torch, and hammer corals than sea anemones. Several different color morphs/varieties are available, so if you shop around,…
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Torch Coral: A Large Polyp Stony (LPS) Beginner Coral
The Torch coral, Euphyllia glabrescens, is a large polyp stony (LPS) coral that originates from Indo-Pacific reefs. The torch coral has long, flowing, fleshy polyps that extend from a calcified (stony) base. In moderate water flow, these corals look a bit like a torch (where they get their common name). This article will share some…
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Gorgonian coral care guide
Do you have what it takes to care for a Gorgonia Coral in your reef aquarium? The answer to that is probably, and also maybe not. Huh? Have I completely lost my mind? Yes. But allow me to explain. Gorgonian Corals are a diverse and fascinating group to learn about, but the aquarium care advice…
