Favia vs Favites; Understanding the Difference “Is this a Favia or a Favites?” This is a question you will see a lot if you spend some time on forums and media posts, and while there are a few concrete descriptions for both, it can still be a bit tricky to navigate. Over the recent years the Faviidae family, which includes both favia and favites has seen taxonomic changes and corals have gotten reclassified which can leave the average hobbyist with a bit of confusion. It is important to understand a little bit about Favia as well as a little bit about Favites as it will make helping to differ ..read more

When thinking about colorful corals, it's understandable to assume they are that way because of intense bright lighting, but that’s not always the case. In fact there is a whole group of photosynthetic corals which thrive under low lighting.  Most species of coral being kept in home aquariums contain photosynthetic algae called zooxanthallae that need light to survive, so how do we determine if they are getting enough light? There is a tool called a PAR meter that can be placed in a tank. The meter will measure the intensity of the wavelengths in the tank at that specific spot and produc ..read more

One thing you always hear people talking about, especially when it comes to troubleshooting issues, is water testing. If you were to survey 10 random aquarists and ask them how frequently they test their water, you are likely to get a variety of responses from only testing when something seems wrong, to a regularly tested and monitored tank.  Although each tank is different from the next, regular water testing is one thing that should stay the same. Regular water testing is important for the health of both your fish and your corals. Unless something is blatantly wrong with a tank, the wa ..read more

5 Mistakes Hobbyists Should Stop Making  Mistakes are a natural part of life, in fact learning from them is one of the greatest ways we grow. These learning experiences are encountered by experts and beginners alike. As aquarists and reef hobbyists there are a lot of mistakes we make but there are a few that stand out as being common. Impulse buying, skipping quarantine, over feeding, doing too much, and getting tripped up with testing tools are 5 areas where reefers commonly make mistakes. In addition to sharing why things like impulse buying, and overfeeding are issues, here are tips t ..read more

Rock flower anemones are great for beginners. They are low maintenance and easy to care for. They aren’t overly particular when it comes to lighting and flow. They will stay put and don’t move around as much as other species of anemones. In addition to that they are affordable, colorful, and will do well in most sized tanks. But before you rush out to buy one, take a look at the information below so you can start out successfully.  Before getting into how to care for a rock flower anemone, it’s important to know a little bit about them. There are around 11 different species of rock flowe ..read more

Identifying an aquarium pest you’ve never seen before, almost always starts out like this: “oh that’s interesting, I haven’t seen that before, I wonder what that is?” and can quickly morph into a “oh my goodness they are everywhere, how do I get rid of them?!”.  When keeping a saltwater aquarium, there are a handful of pests you should keep an eye out for. Many times you can prevent them from ever entering your tank by taking preventative action. If they do make it past your safeguards, there are things you can do to help take care of them.  When looking at different types of saltwat ..read more

If you’re looking for corals that will thrive in beginner aquariums, it’s no secret that Montipora corals are great options. Vibrant and relatively hardy, these corals can withstand the expected fluctuations in water conditions as you’re establishing your ecosystem. But even so, it’s important to understand that they can deteriorate when exposed to the wrong chemical, lighting, or current configuration. Therefore, knowing what to watch for can be incredibly beneficial. This is how to tell if your Montipora coral is happy and healthy in your tank. Vibrant Color One of the first things you shoul ..read more

Establishing a stable saltwater aquarium is about finding an ecological balance between all of your tank’s inhabitants. For many people, this means fish and corals, but the invertebrates you choose also have a large effect on the tank’s environment as a whole. Invertebrates play key roles in the health of corals, including in your small-scale display. But if you still find yourself wondering whether they’re worth the investment, we have just the resource for you. This is how invertebrates directly lead to healthy coral colonies. They Clean the Tank Environment First, certain types of invertebr ..read more

Corals are fascinating creatures. From the time they first form, they’re constantly growing, changing, and adapting to their environment. As such, they’re so much more than the colorful formations they seem to be on the surface. In fact, coral colonies are just that—an entire colony of microscopic organisms working in tandem with one another. If you’re going to keep corals in your aquarium, it’s vital that you understand their different life stages. This is the lifecycle of your coral and what to expect when observing your tank. Reproduction When corals reach maturity in the wild, they release ..read more

One reason why corals are so popular among aquarium hobbyists is that they’re just so interesting. They’re some of the most beautiful yet complex organisms on the planet, so it’s no wonder that we always want a closer look whenever we get the chance. But there’s a lot more to corals than what you can see on the surface, and it often takes a little more digging to understand them fully. In this simplified guide to the anatomy of corals, we’ll discuss their biological makeup and how these components work together. Skeletons Contrary to their flexible and fluid outer appearance, most corals posse ..read more