Category Archives: Maintenance

A pH meter is a great tool for monitoring the pH in your aquarium and tap water. With proper care and calibration, it will provide years of reliable service. Here’s what you need to know to keep your pH readings accurate.

Algae can enter your aquarium from introduced rocks, sand or frags, and when the conditions are right, algae will take advantage and become a nuisance, if left unchecked. Here are some of the most common nuisance algae we see in aquariums and methods to help prevent and treat them.

Not all forms of filtration media are needed in every aquarium. Some tanks can get by with just basic mechanical filtering in contrast to others using all other forms. So to ease any confusion we have put together a little beginner’s guide to the most used media in aquarium filtration and how it is used for you to decide which is right for your tank needs.

Salinity meters, whether hand-held or mounted inside the filter sump, are an easy way to measure salinity in your reef aquarium. Here’s what you need to know about a salinity probe and meter, their calibration and how to care for one.

Welcome to Part 4 of this four-part series, Chasing Colors, Not Numbers, where we learn about the importance of proper filtration and its affect on your corals.

As a beginner, it can be confusing with the different types of protein skimmers available. In this article we discuss each type of skimmer, installation basics, and troubleshooting.

Spring has sprung! And there is no better way to celebrate than to get your reef aquarium clean and prepared for sustained success. Within this article we will break down five steps to take with your reef tank to have it in perfect shape for all of your beloved livestock. It is common for us […]

A refractometer is considered by many to be a more accurate way to measure salinity. In this article we discuss what they are, how to use and calibrate them, with some extra useful tips.

At some point of keeping our aquariums we may have overheard someone from the reefing community talk about carbon dosing. They may say they’re adding vinegar to their tank or even vodka. Yes, vodka! You may have reacted to yourself “Um, what??” and under breath say “Like… one shot for me… and one shot for […]

One of the most abundant elements on earth, silicon in its soluble form (silicate) can contribute to diatom outbreaks. So before it gets out of hand, here is what you need to know about it to gain control.