In the Age of the Reef Tank, many cool (but not reef-safe) saltwater fish families that were once extremely population are now relative
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Beginners Education
Arguably, there are few “pastimes” as challenging and all-consuming as marine (and especially reef) aquarium keeping. Longtime hobbyists might forget the relative ease with which they likely got “into” reef aquaria--very possibly with a lot of freshwater aquarium keeping experience behind them. While it is true that the foods, equipment and methodologies of today are greatly improved from those of yesteryear, there is now so much more to learn from the get-go. Definitely a lot of choices to make! With the massive amounts of (often contradictory) information out there, beginner reef aquarists might feel more intimidated now than ever before.
That’s totally cool. You’ll get “there” soon enough. The most important thing is to move forward step-by-step, and to have fun along the way. The whole point of spending all that money and time on this (or any) hobby is to relax and maybe learn something, right? The vast majority of saltwater aquarists who throw the term “newbie” around don’t really mean it as a pejorative; if anything, they recall that period with nostalgia (and maybe even a bit of envy), for it is the fleeting beginner stage where aquarium keeping is especially exciting and the animals so incredibly fascinating.
No one here would suggest that a beginning aquarist should avoid challenges, but we certainly would advise one against making some of those beginner mistakes. In reef aquarium keeping, there is no bigger virtue than patience!
In this section, you will learn how to avoid some of the most common pitfalls for novice aquarists as well as how to build the foundation of knowledge you’ll need to master the art.
189 Posts
Keeping a Coldwater Marine Aquarium
Marine aquarists have always had access to temperate species. In fact, in the days before improved packaging/shipping procedures
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Building Your Mangrove Biotope
Ahhh, the planted refugium… It’s become something much bigger and much more engaging than the mere “filter” it was just a few years
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3 Saltwater Aquarium Pests
There are a few things that any hobbyist dreads finding in their aquarium. Aquarium pests can appear out of nowhere and can spread like
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4 Tangs For Beginners
Tangs are very common in larger aquariums because of their constant movement along with their stunning color. That being said, no tang
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3 Symbiotic Relationships in the Marine Aquarium
Symbiotic relationships are perhaps the most amazing thing that occurs in marine environments. While there are some that you can
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3 Unique Invertebrates
There are many types of invertebrates in the marine aquarium trade and typically you will see the same 10-20 types. However, this
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4 Macroalgae for Beginners
Macroalgae are a great addition to any aquarium. They remove excess nutrients in the water column (such as phosphates and nitrates) and
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Utilizing the Peppermint Shrimp for General Tank Clean-Up
Maintaining a squeaky clean aquarium environment is no easy task. It requires frequent water changes, constantly rinsing mechanical
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4 Gobies For Beginners
There are hundreds of different goby species, and they all require all kinds of diets and housing. This list names the top four gobies
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3 Oddball Saltwater Fish
Sure, clownfish and damsels are cool… But you may be looking to add something that isn't seen much in the hobby. One thing to keep in
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Knowing the Zoanthid
The zoanthid is one of the most stunning yet simplistic coral-like animals in this hobby. It can come in any color combination that you
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3 Most Expensive Corals
For people that are new to this hobby, it is sometimes hard to grasp just how expensive certain corals can be. In this article I will
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4 Underrated Saltwater Fish
When looking at fish for beginners, you are usually going to see the same fish recommended repeatedly. This list is for the people who
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Are You Ready to Keep Jellyfish?
There have been a few times that I've been asked how to care for jellyfish. And, long story short, it's complicated! In this short
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What Clownfish Is Best For My Aquarium?
There are many different species of clownfish to choose from! Some look very different from others. Some are hardier than others. And,
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5 Overlooked Algae-Eaters
When it comes to your clean-up crew in your saltwater aquarium, you usually will think of snails, crabs and starfish. However, there
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How to Get Rid of Aiptasia
When you're first starting out your aquarium, you usually will spend all day checking on everything in your tank ensuring everything is
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3 Monster Saltwater Fish
Just like on the freshwater side, which has its big arowanas, catfish, pacus, etc., there is a niche for “monster” fishkeeping amongst
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3 Conchs for the Saltwater Aquarium
Conchs are definitely one of the more interesting mollusks that you can add to a saltwater tank. Depending on the type of conch you
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