Reef-keeping guides. Honest gear notes.
How-tos, setup walk-throughs, and gear we've run on our own tanks — written in plain language with the takeaway up front. If it helps your reef thrive, it's here, no hype attached.
Reef Keeping for Beginners: How to Start Your First Saltwater Tank
Everything that actually goes into a first reef tank — the gear, the order to buy it in, and the honest timeline — explained like a friend who's glad you asked.
Read the post
Week by week, what's actually happening in a brand-new reef — what to do, what to test, and what to leave alone...
2026-06-11 · BUYING GUIDE How to Choose a Protein Skimmer (Without Overthinking It)What a skimmer actually does, how to size one to your tank, and which to buy at every budget — from first...
2026-06-08 · BUYING GUIDE Reef Lighting 101: Choosing an LED That Actually Grows CoralPAR, spectrum and coverage explained in plain English — plus the right light for nano, mixed and SPS reefs at every budget.
2026-06-05 · BUYING GUIDE Flow, Return & Turnover: Sizing Pumps for Your ReefHow much flow a reef really needs, the difference between your return pump and powerheads, and how to size both without guesswork.
2026-06-02 · BEGINNER Planted Tank Basics: How to Grow a Lush Aquarium from Day OneThe three things plants actually need, how to set up a planted tank that thrives, and the gear to start with —...
2026-05-30 · BUYING GUIDE Low-Tech vs. High-Tech Planted Tanks: Which Should You Start With?The real difference CO2 makes, the trade-offs of each approach, and an honest recommendation for where a first planted tank should begin.
2026-05-27 · BUYING GUIDE Mixing Saltwater the Right Way: A Reef Water Chemistry GuideWhy your water source matters more than your salt, how to mix and measure correctly, and the handful of numbers that actually...
2026-05-23 · AUTOMATION Reef Automation 101: Controllers, ATO & Dosing ExplainedWhat to automate first, what each piece of gear actually does, and how to build toward a hands-off reef without buying it...
2026-05-20 · BEGINNER Dosing 101: Keeping Alkalinity, Calcium & Magnesium SteadyWhy growing coral needs you to dose, when to start, and how to choose between 2-part, all-in-one and a doser — without...
2026-05-17 · BEGINNER Nano vs. Standard: What Size Reef Tank Should You Start With?The honest trade-offs between a small nano and a larger reef — and why the 'easiest' first tank isn't the smallest one.
2026-05-14 · AQUASCAPING Aquascaping & Rockwork: Building Reef Structure That WorksHow to choose your rock, how much you need, and how to build an aquascape that looks great and keeps water flowing...
2026-05-11 · BUYING GUIDE RO/DI Water Explained: Why It Matters and How to Choose a SystemWhat an RO/DI unit actually removes, how to pick the right one for your home, and why it's the best money a...
2026-05-08 · BEGINNER Cycling Your Tank & the Right Order to Add LivestockWhat the nitrogen cycle actually is, how to know when it's done, and the patient stocking order that keeps a new tank...
2026-05-05 · BEGINNER Fighting Algae: Why It Happens and How to Beat ItAlgae isn't bad luck — it's a balance problem with a clear cause. Here's how to read what your tank is telling...
2026-05-02 · BEGINNER Starting a Nano Planted Shrimp Tank: A Beginner's GuideTiny tank, huge payoff. How to set up a planted nano for neocaridina shrimp — the gear, the water, and the patient...