Learning Center

Any reef aquarium hobbyist that attempts a stony-coral dominated aquarium should be very familiar with the calcium and alkalinity levels of their saltwater. Let's take a look at the role of alkalinity in our reef aquariums.

I started the hobby before the Internet became widely used, and information was sourced mainly through local fish stores. I was lucky enough to have some decent ones, but it was limited no doubt. Today, beginning hobbyists have to deal with a caucophony of perspectives online and it is difficult to sift out good information from bad. Over the years I learned a great many lessons from trial and error. This is list the top 5 things I wish I knew...

Welcome back everyone, it’s time for more chemistry. This blog will focus on magnesium which is an often overlooked ion in our reef tanks. Reef hobbyists interested mainly in stony corals tend to tunnel vision in on calcium and alkalinity. On one hand, that makes sense because coral skeletons are primarily made up of calcium carbonate. A hobbyist needs to make sure those two ions are bioavailable because corals take in calcium ions and...