The Archive
Reporting, comparisons, and field notes — newest first.
filtration-and-water-quality
Getting water from your display tank to your sump and back sounds simple — until it isn't. Here's how to size overflow boxes, drain lines, and return pumps so
·9 min read
filtration-and-water-quality
Choosing a protein skimmer that's too small is one of the most common—and costly—mistakes reef keepers make. Here's how to match skimmer capacity to your
·8 min read
lighting-and-flow
Not every LED fixture lights every tank evenly — learn how to match beam spread, PAR output, and mounting height to your specific reef footprint so your corals
·9 min read
lighting-and-flow
Not all reef lights are created equal — and the wrong fixture can stall coral growth or bleach your investment. Here's how to match your budget to your build
·9 min read
filtration-and-water-quality
A clear-eyed gear guide for setting up a saltwater nano reef tank under 30 gallons — what you actually need, what you can skip, and how to spend your budget
·9 min read
filtration-and-water-quality
Not all biological filtration media is created equal. Here's how ceramic blocks, bio balls, and filter floss stack up — and which one belongs in your sump.
·9 min read