We reviewed test results from the same salt mixes years apart and through different labs to see whether ICP anomalies were a fluke or a pattern. The short answer: many results repeat. When independent tests align, it forces us to rethink assumptions about salt sources, manufacturing, and what we accept as "normal" for reef water chemistry.

We sat down with Terrence from AvidAqua to get to the heart of one product: the Insight. Our goal was simple — understand the problem it solves, how it works, and how a few people can get their hands on an early unit. The conversation landed on concrete problems reef hobbyists already feel: information that is hard to glance at, missing local environmental context, and the desire for a clean, simple display that actually helps prevent problems instead of adding complexity.

Choosing a salt mix for a reef tank often feels like a ritual: we use what our buddy uses, what the local shop stocks, or the brand with the flashiest packaging. That approach works a surprising amount of the time, but it leaves out something important — data. Ryan Thompson decided to take a step back from brand loyalty and anecdote and look at what’s actually inside the buckets we pour into our systems. Test results were shared in a popular thread on reef2reef. For more details on how Ryan Thompson performed his test check out the reef2reef thread where he shared his approach and findings.

A widely discussed thread about Live Aquaria going offline sparked a deep conversation covering the facts, the plausible conjecture, animal welfare concerns, and what the closure could mean for the future of the hobby. The discussion dissected the timeline, court filings, customer complaints, and practical lessons for retailers, wholesalers, and hobbyists alike. Key takeaways include how to build a better online fish store, why quarantine matters, and how customer service and transparency can reshape trust in the industry.

Bias is everywhere in this hobby. Sometimes bias helps us learn faster. Sometimes it blinds us. The challenge is that reefing is small, passionate, and personal. We talk gear, organisms, methods, friendships, jobs, and sponsorships, and every one of those carries the potential to color judgment. Below we lay out the types of bias we see most, admit where we have messed up, share real examples, and give practical ways to decide who to trust.

If you want one shortcut to avoid the mistakes Greg has made over 26 years in the hobby, this is it. Below are the core lessons Greg wishes someone had given him on day one. Greg speak from experience: setups that look great are the result of discipline, time and a few hard lessons. Read this, follow a few of the fundamentals, and the hobby will become a whole lot more enjoyable!

Nicole Bridges approached reefkeeping like an engineer: look for problems, build a methodical process, and iterate until solutions scale. What began as rescuing bargain‑bin corals that others tossed became a focused passion. The appeal was not pristine displays or trophy corals, but the challenge of bringing near‑dead animals back to life. For Nicole, "one person's trash is another person's gold." Rescuing corals turned into a deeply rewarding, patient pursuit where slow progress and steady improvement matter more than instant results.