Fish & Invertebrates
Quarantine Tank Setup: Why Every New Fish Needs 30 Days First
The 20-gallon QT system that prevents ich, velvet, and Uronema outbreaks from wiping your display.
The magazine
All Articles, Guides & Reviews — page 3
Everything published on Saltwater Aquarium Guide, newest first. Use the links below to narrow it down by type or topic.
Water Chemistry
Reef Tank Salinity: How to Measure, Maintain, and Match Natural Seawater
The difference between specific gravity and salinity, why refractometers beat hydrometers, and the 35 ppt target.
Tanks & Sumps
Reef Sump Design: Filtration, Refugium, and Equipment Layout
Three-chamber sump design from filter sock input to skimmer chamber to return, plus refugium integration.
Aquarium Maintenance
Reef Tank Algae Guide: Identifying and Eliminating Every Type
A field manual to identifying diatoms, cyano, GHA, bryopsis, and dinoflagellates — and the proven removal protocol for each.
Filtration & Protein Skimmers
RO/DI Water for Reef Tanks: Why Tap Water Will Crash Your Reef
How RO/DI works, why TDS-zero water matters for reef chemistry, and what to look for in a 4-stage unit.
Aquascaping
Reef Aquascaping Guide: Designing for Flow, Light, and Drama
The principles of reef aquascape design from negative space to coral placement and light flow paths.
Coral Care
SPS Coral Care Guide: Lighting, Flow, and Stability
How to grow vibrant SPS corals through disciplined parameter control and intelligent flow design.
Beginner & Setup Guides
Nano Reef Setup Guide: Building a Stunning 20-Gallon Reef
Equipment, livestock, and parameter strategy for a 20-gallon nano reef that punches well above its weight.
Aquarium Maintenance
Saltwater Aquarium Maintenance Schedule: Daily, Weekly, Monthly Tasks
A printable maintenance routine that keeps reef parameters stable and livestock thriving with minimal effort.
Beginner & Setup Guides
Best Beginner Saltwater Fish: 10 Species That Forgive Mistakes
Hardy, peaceful, reef-safe fish that survive the rookie phase and thrive long-term in mixed reef communities.
Beginner & Setup Guides
Mixed Reef vs SPS Reef vs LPS Reef: Which Style Fits You?
A practical comparison of the three most popular reef archetypes by lighting, flow, parameters, and budget.
Beginner & Setup Guides
Reef Tank Cycling Explained: Ammonia, Nitrite, and the Nitrogen Cycle
The biology behind tank cycling and how to know exactly when your reef is ready for its first inhabitants.
Beginner & Setup Guides
How to Set Up Your First Saltwater Aquarium: A Complete Beginner Guide
A beginner-friendly walkthrough of cycling, equipment selection, livestock pacing, and the first 90 days of reef-keeping.