Saltwater Fish Tank Blog

This saltwater fish tank blog was created to keep our readers up to date with the latest information on saltwater fish tanks. At Reef Stable, we focus on saltwater fish tank stability as well as the growth and coloration of coral. The purpose of this saltwater fish tank blog is to help grow the saltwater fish tank hobby and prevent mistakes that cause people to leave the hobby.

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• MASNA Closes Down - The End of MACNA

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  After 35 year, MASNA announced that it is officially closing on October 25, 2024. Along with it, the end of MACNA.
• What is the Bolus Method for Reef Tanks?

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  The Bolus Method is Saltwater Aquariums is a lighting and dosing method created to grow coral faster. Created by Doug Dorrat (Frag Farm) and Claude Schuhmacher of Fauna Marin.
• Reef Stable Farm Tour - September 2024

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  This is a tour of the Reef Stable farm. I'm doing a lot of upgrades, so I wanted to document what the farm currently is, so that it can be seen next to what it is about to become! Reef Stable is growing fast thanks to all of you and I want you to see what it is becoming!
• How to Ship Live Coral

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  Shipping live coral can be a very daunting task at first. Learning how to ship live coral frags will allow you to share a small piece of you reef with others, but there is a cost, and some risks.
• How To Control Nitrate and Phosphate in a Saltwater Aquarium

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  With the announcements of automated nitrate and phosphate testing units I wanted to look into ways to automatically add and remove nitrate and phosphate.
• Why Is My Coral Dying - Figuring Out Reef Tank Problems

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  Often times when a coral is starting to die, we don't know how to find out what's wrong. This article was designed to help you find and fix problems before it's too late!
• BRS No Longer Carrying CoralVue and GHL Products

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  In short, Bulk Reef Supply, BRS, is no longer going to sell CoralVue and GHL products. But the way they handled it caused quite an uproar!
• Announcement: New Reef Parameter Monitors - Hydros Maven and Neptune Trident NP

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  The Automated Reef Tank Wars are KICKING UP! Announcing both the Hydros Maven and Neptune Trident NP!
• Control pH and Alkalinity at the Same Time

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  Alkalinity and pH are the 2 of the most important parameters you can control for coral growth. This is how I maintain stable pH and Alk at the same time with kalkwaser and a calcium reactor.
• How To Set Up a Salt Water Aquarium With Ease!

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  Have you ever wondered how to set up a salt water aquarium? This complete guide to setting up saltwater aquariums will step you through the process of picking equipment and setting up a reef tank with ease!
• Reef Tank Gift Guide - Best Saltwater Aquarium Lovers Gifts

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  Shopping for the Best Saltwater Aquarium Gifts can be hard, especially if you don't have a tank. This reef tank gift guide gives you great ideas for your saltwater aquarium owner!
• Saltwater Aquarium Filtration - Mechanical Filtration

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  Mechanical filtration is the use of saltwater aquarium filter media to remove debris from the water before it can break down into nitrate and phosphate.
• Saltwater Aquarium Filtration - Mechanical Filtration

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  Biological filtration for saltwater fish tanks is really simple. Given the proper filter media to grow on, the biological filtration in your reef tank will be able to keep your nutrients in balance without much work at all!
• Saltwater Aquarium Filtration - Chemical Filtration

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  Chemical Filtration for saltwater fish tanks is really about solving specific problems with a filter media that cause reactions to fix the problem at hand.
• Berghia Nudibranch and How to Breed Them

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  Berghia Nudibranch are small slug-like animals that have recently become very popular in the reef tank hobby because of their ability to clear out Aiptasia from nearly any aquarium!
• Best WiFi Cameras for Aquariums

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  Something will happen with your reef tank, and it will likely happen when you're not near it. These wifi cameras will give you peace of mind to check on your aquarium at any time!
• What Heater Do I Need for My Aquarium?

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  Picking an aquarium heater can be difficult. Trying to decide which type, how big, built in controllers, there's a lot. This guide should answer what heater do I need for my aquarium.
• Saltwater Aquarium ATO Guide

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  Maintain the most important saltwater aquarium parameter, salinity, by utilizing a saltwater aquarium ATO.
• Automating Reef Tank Salinity Control

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  Have you ever noticed your salinity drop below expected numbers? This can be especially important when you sell coral. Here's how to automate salinity control via top-off.
• Automating Reef Tank Temperature Control

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  Automating temperature control is critical for the long term success of your reef tank. Heaters fail. Maybe on, maybe off, but what if your tank could handle itself?
• Neptune Apex System - How to Get Power Outage Notifications

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  Ever been away from the house and had to wonder if the power went out, or worse, it did?! Never Again! Enable the Neptune Apex System Heartbeat to get a notification if your power goes out!
• Reef Controller - What Do I Need?

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  Setting up a reef tank can be hard enough, and then you look at reef tank controllers and think WHAT DO I NEED? I'm here to simplify this question for you!
• A Complete Guide to Flow for Reef Aquariums

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  When it comes to determining how much flow your reef tank needs, there are a number of factors including the type of flow and how many pumps. I simplify this and help you choose the best flow for your saltwater aquarium.
• What is the Coral Growout Season?

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  Have you ever heard about the aquarium slow season? Or the Coral Growout Season? This is referring to the time that most reef keepers use to grow their coral, typically over summer.
• Torch Coral ID

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  Torch Coral ID is a very popular question lately. It's hard to say the exact reason why, but there is good reason to know what torch coral you are looking at.
• Reef Tank Lighting Spectrum - What's Best?

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  Reef Tank light spectrum and color has been a hot topic forever. Some people fight for blue light, some fight for white light. Let's finally find the answer!
• Benefits of an Aquarium - Why You Should Have One

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  Some of the benefits of an aquarium include help reducing anxiety, blood pressure, focus, and even stress. Aquariums are also great ways of learning science for all ages!
• Mariculture vs Aquaculture Coral

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  Mariculture and Aquaculture coral are the two most popular ways to get coral for a hobbyist tank, with wild collection going away. So what are mariculture vs aquaculture coral?
• How to Dip Coral & How to Bayer Dip Coral

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  Knowing how to dip coral can help you prevent bacterial infections, pests, rapid and slow tissue necrosis (RTN and STN). Overall, coral dipping can improve the overall success of your coral!
• Understanding Alkalinity, Calcium, and Magnesium in Reef Aquariums

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  Alkalinity, Calcium, and Magnesium are some of the most important Reef Aquarium Water Parameters for coral growth. Balance them with these tricks to get the best coral growth.
• The Best Beginner Coral

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  Frequently, new hobbyists ask me what the best beginner coral are, so I made this list of coral I would personally recommend. I considered details such as difficulty, lighting, flow, and growth rate when putting together this list of the best beginner coral!
• How To Set Up a Small Coral Farm

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  The steps to how to set up a coral farm are much like how to set up a reef tank. A coral farm is really just a shallow reef tank with a focus on growing coral after all.
• How to Get Crystal Clear Aquarium Water in Your Reef Tank

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  Have you ever seen a saltwater tank with water so clear that it looks like the fish are just floating in air! Let's look at how to get crystal clear aquarium water in your reef tank!
• Sanctuary Aquatics - Local Fish Store

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  Sanctuary Aquatics is a local fish store in Oshkosh Wisconsin. Offering both freshwater and saltwater aquarium supplies, fish, and even aquacultured coral from their own farm!
• Stabilizing Reef Tank pH with Kalkwasser

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  ACI Aquaculture has been dosing the coral farm in a very unique way! Dosing kalkwasser to stabilize pH rather than alkalinity! While risky, it seems to be paying off.
• Which Apex Should I Pick? - Neptune Apex A3

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  Neptune Systems just announced the release of the NEW Apex A3! What features, ports, and sensors do each of these new Neptune Apex models have? Let's do a deep dive!
• Fish Spotlight: Aiptasia Eating Matted Filefish

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  The Aiptasia Eating Matted Filefish makes a great pet! They are both helpful in keeping pest anemones at bay, as well as fun to watch. Though they can eat coral, and need to be watched.
• Why Are Coral SO EXPENSIVE?

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  The most common topic when you're looking to grow your reef tank is, why are coral so expensive?! A number of factor such as supply, seller, and export regulations affect prices.
• How To Heat an Aquarium with Natural Gas

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  Are the costs of heating your reef tank bringing you down? Heating your aquarium with natural gas could save you 70%, but is it worth the investment? Find out how with Reef Stable!
• Best Reef Tank Test Kits

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  Choosing the best reef tank test kits can be very difficult, especially if you're new to the hobby. Based on the parameter, certain test kits may be better than others.
• How to Plumb a Reef Tank

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  Pluming a new aquarium or reef tank can be very intimidating, especially if you're new to the hobby! If there are too many option and you feel overwhelmed, this guide is for you!
• How to Drill a Glass Aquarium for Overflows and Returns

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  Adding an overflow and return line to a new aquarium may require you know how to drill a glass aquarium. It may be easier than you think, and you can do it from home!
• How to Grow Phytoplankton At Home

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  If you're looking to dose phytoplankton, you likely don't want to pay the high price of buying it every week! Learn how to grow phytoplankton at home yourself!
• Reef Tank Phytoplankton - Everything You NEED to Know

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  Dosing phytoplankton to your reef tank has a number of benefits from nutrient reduction to live coral food. This article will teach you everything you need to know about phyto.
• How to Grow a Wall to Wall Reef Tank

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  When it comes to reef tanks, we all see the amazing wall-to-wall tanks online. We can all dream when we see them, but I want you have a wall to wall reef tank yourself!
• How to Grow a Zoa Garden

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  Zoa gardens are one of the best ways to fill in empty or areas of the reef that are lacking color. Zoas are easy to grow and a great way for beginners to have an amazing reef!
• Reef Tank Nitrate Removal - How to Lower Reef Tank Nitrates

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  Reef tank nitrate removal can be a difficult topic with many ways to handle saltwater nitrate reduction. First you need to find the source, then prevent more, and finally the a cure!
• How to Set Up a Cheap Saltwater Aquarium

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  Reef keeping can be very expensive, but there are ways to have a cheap saltwater aquarium! This may be a great way to set up your first saltwater aquarium or maintain your tank cheap!
• Saltwater Aquarium Lighting LED Comparison

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  Picking a new LED Saltwater Aquarium Lighting fixture can be difficult and confusing, not to mention expensive. I am comparing the top fixtures to help you choose what's best!
• Kessil A360X Tuna Blue Reef Tank Light Review

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  The Kessil A360X Reef Tank Light is quite popular and strong. With a single point of light form factor, does it hold up against other options in similar price ranges? Can it grow SPS?