Reef guides
In-depth articles on reef tanks: coral, water chemistry, lighting, and common problems.
Coral
Best Corals for Beginners: 15 Hardy Species to
Discover the best beginner corals for reef tanks. Covers the hardiest soft corals, LPS, and entry-level SPS with care requirements, placement tips, and what
Coral
Coral Bleaching Causes: Why Corals Turn White and
Understand every cause of coral bleaching in reef aquariums. Covers temperature stress, light shock, chemical contamination, parameter swings, and the
Coral
Coral Growth Tips: How to Grow Corals Faster in
Learn how to maximize coral growth in a reef aquarium. Covers the role of alkalinity, light, flow, feeding, nutrients, and stability in driving SPS, LPS, and
Coral
Coral PAR Levels: How Much Light Every Coral Type
Learn the ideal PAR levels for SPS, LPS, and soft corals in reef tanks. Covers how to measure PAR, where light falls in your tank, and a complete PAR
Coral
Coral Placement Guide: Where to Put Every Type of
Learn where to place SPS, LPS, and soft corals in your reef tank for optimal light, flow, and growth. Covers vertical zoning, aggression spacing, sand bed
Coral
LPS Coral Care: The Complete Guide to Keeping Large
Learn how to keep LPS corals healthy in a reef tank. Covers water parameters, lighting, flow, feeding, placement, aggression management, and the most common
Coral
Reef Coral Guide: Types, Care, Placement, and What
Complete guide to reef tank corals. Covers soft corals, LPS, SPS, coral care requirements, placement strategy, feeding, fragging, and how to build a thriving
Coral
Reef Tank Guide: How to Set Up and Maintain a
Complete guide to reef tank setup, maintenance, and long-term success. Covers water chemistry, lighting, coral selection, equipment, and the system-level
Coral
Soft Coral Guide: The Complete Care Guide for Reef
Learn how to keep soft corals healthy in a reef tank. Covers species profiles, lighting, flow, feeding, placement, chemical warfare, and why soft corals are
Coral
SPS Coral Care: The Complete Guide to Keeping Small
Learn how to keep SPS corals healthy in a reef tank. Covers water parameters, lighting, flow, feeding, acclimation, common problems, and the stability
Coral
SPS vs LPS Coral: Differences and Care
Compare SPS and LPS corals for reef tanks. Learn how they differ in skeleton structure, lighting needs, flow requirements, water chemistry tolerance, and
Lighting
PAR for Reef Tank: How Much Light Do Your Corals Need?
Learn what PAR is, how to measure it, what PAR levels different corals need, and how to use PAR readings to optimize coral placement and lighting in your reef tank.
Lighting
Reef Tank Equipment Guide: Essential Gear for a
A complete guide to reef tank equipment covering lights, skimmers, return pumps, wavemakers, heaters, ATO systems, reactors, and controllers. What you need
Lighting
Reef Lighting Complete Guide: Everything You Need
A complete guide to reef tank lighting covering PAR, spectrum, LED vs T5, photoperiod, coral placement, and how to choose the right light for your reef system.
Lighting
Reef Lighting Guide: How to Choose and Set Up
A practical guide to choosing, mounting, and configuring reef tank lighting. Covers fixture selection, intensity settings, spectrum basics, and common setup
Problems
Algae in Reef Tanks: Why It Grows and What to Do
Algae in a reef tank is not random. Learn why different types appear, what they reveal about your system, and the proven strategies that eliminate them
Problems
Why Is My Coral Bleaching? Causes, Recovery, and
Coral bleaching in reef tanks is rarely about one parameter. Learn the real causes, how to diagnose what triggered it, and what actually gives bleached coral
Problems
Why Does My Coral Die After Adding It? The
New coral dying within days of being added to your tank is rarely about water quality. Learn the real reasons corals fail after purchase, from acclimation
Problems
Why Is My Coral Not Opening? The Real Reasons
When coral polyps stay retracted, most reefers test parameters and find nothing wrong. Learn the real reasons corals refuse to open and how to identify the
Problems
Cyanobacteria in Reef Tank: Why It Keeps Coming
Cyanobacteria in a reef tank is not an algae problem. It is a flow and organics problem. Learn why cyano appears, what it reveals about your system, and the
Problems
Dinoflagellates in Reef Tank: Why They Appear and
Dinoflagellates are the most frustrating outbreak in reef keeping. Learn why dinos thrive in clean tanks, how to identify the species you have, and the proven
Problems
High Nitrate in Reef Tank: Why It Climbs, What It
High nitrate in a reef tank is a system imbalance, not a single mistake. Learn why nitrate accumulates, what levels actually harm coral, and how to reduce it
Problems
Low Alkalinity in Reef Tank: Why It Drops, What
Low alkalinity is the most common cause of coral decline in reef tanks. Learn why alkalinity drops, how fast it can kill coral, and how to raise and stabilize
Problems
High Phosphate in Reef Tank: Why It Builds Up and
High phosphate in a reef tank inhibits coral growth and fuels algae, but crashing it to zero is worse. Learn where phosphate comes from, what levels actually
Problems
Reef Tank Crash: Causes and How to Stop It
A reef tank crash can wipe out years of coral growth in hours. Learn the real causes of tank crashes, how to intervene during one, and how to rebuild your
Water
Alkalinity in Reef Tanks Explained: Why It Matters
Understand alkalinity in reef aquariums. Learn what dKH means, why alkalinity is the most important parameter for coral growth, how to test and dose it, and
Water
Calcium in Reef Tank: Why It Matters and How to
Learn why calcium is essential in a reef tank, what levels to target, how corals use it, and how to dose correctly. A complete guide to reef calcium management.
Water
How to Lower Phosphate in a Reef Tank: Proven
Learn how to lower phosphate in a reef tank using GFO, carbon dosing, water changes, and source reduction. Step-by-step guide to reducing phosphate safely
Water
How to Raise Alkalinity in a Reef Tank: Safe
Learn how to raise alkalinity in a reef tank safely using two-part dosing, kalkwasser, baking soda, or a calcium reactor. Step-by-step instructions for
Water
Magnesium in Reef Tank: The Overlooked Key to
Learn why magnesium is essential in a reef tank, how it stabilizes calcium and alkalinity, what levels to target, and how to dose correctly.
Water
Nitrate Levels in Reef Tank: What to Aim For and
Learn what nitrate levels are ideal for a reef tank, why nitrate matters for coral health, and how to lower or raise nitrate for optimal reef chemistry.
Water
Phosphate in Reef Tank: Target Levels, Testing, and
Learn why phosphate matters in a reef tank, what levels to target, how it affects coral health, and proven methods to lower or maintain phosphate for a
Water
Reef Tank Parameter Chart: Complete Water Chemistry
A complete reef tank parameter chart with ideal ranges for salinity, calcium, alkalinity, magnesium, nitrate, phosphate, pH, temperature, and more. Quick
Water
Reef Water Chemistry Guide: Every Parameter That
The complete guide to reef tank water chemistry. Covers alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, salinity, nitrate, phosphate, pH, and how to maintain stable
Water
Salinity in Reef Tanks: How to Measure and Maintain
Learn what salinity is, why it matters in a reef tank, how to measure it accurately, and how to keep it stable. A complete guide to reef salinity and specific