Reef Aquarium Filtration
Calcium Reactor Media and Phosphate: Four Popular Options Compared
A straight look at four widely used calcium reactor media, what each is made of, and how much phosphate each one added to the effluent in direct testing.
Independent reviews
Product Reviews and Buying Guides – 727 / 805
From everyday tech and home products to lifestyle and specialist gear, each review focuses on practical use, strengths, limitations, and who the product suits.
Aquarium Equipment
Carbon Doser Electronic CO2 Regulator Review: One Unit, Fewer CO2 Headaches
A closer look at the Carbon Doser Electronic CO2 Regulator, an American-made unit that folds a solenoid, needle valve, and bubble counter into one precise package for calcium reactor setups.
Aquarium Substrate
CaribSea Aquarium Sand Compared: Dry Grades and Packaged Alternatives
How CaribSea's dry sand grades compare with each other and with the brand's packaged options, plus the rinsing and additive details to settle before you fill the tank.
Aquarium Substrate
CaribSea Arag-Alive Special Grade Review: Why Reef Keepers Keep Choosing It
A practical look at the most widely chosen Arag-Alive grade, why its medium grain holds up in high flow, and how to set it up without the usual mess.
Aquarium Rock
CaribSea LifeRock Shapes Review: Ready-Made Arches, Caves and Tunnels for Reef Aquascaping
A 20-pound box of hand-crafted aquarium rock that arrives as arches, tunnels and caves, so you can place the structures instead of building them.
Aquarium Substrate
CaribSea Oceans Direct Live Reef Sand Review: Ocean-Harvested Live Sand Explained
A practical look at CaribSea Oceans Direct Live Reef Sand, an ocean-harvested, damp-shipped substrate that preserves natural bacteria and skips the starter culture step.
Aquarium Equipment
CJ Extreme Wave Pump Review: Compact AC Flow for Reef Tanks
A compact AC propeller pump with wide, aimable flow and a five year warranty, plus a pulse timer that adds alternating currents and a calmer nightly period.
Aquarium Filtration
CJ Mega Filter Canister Filters: 650 vs 900 vs 950 SDC for Reef Tanks
A practical look at CJ's Mega Filter canister line for larger reef and saltwater aquariums, covering media capacity, quiet operation, tool-free maintenance, and the smart features reserved for the 950 SDC.
Aquarium Heaters
CJ's Jolly Preset Heater Review: A Simple Fixed-Temperature Heater for Small Tanks
A compact, rugged preset heater built to hold 77 degrees Fahrenheit, best suited to water change buckets, pico tank chambers and tiny reef bowls.
Aquarium Flow Pumps
CJ's Voyager Flow Pumps Compared: Voyager 2, 3, and 4 for Reef Tanks
A practical look at the CJ's Voyager 2, Voyager 3, and Voyager 4 flow pumps, how the six-outlet flow control works, and how to choose the right model for a reef tank.
Aquarium Filtration
ClearWater 50 Version 2 Review: A Turf Algae Scrubber That Earns Its Space
A practical look at the ClearWater 50 Version 2 turf algae scrubber: what it removes, how the updated design installs, and who should consider one.
Aquarium Filtration
Clearwater ATS CW Series Buying Guide: CW50, CW100, CW200 or CW300?
A detailed look at the redesigned Clearwater ATS algae turf scrubber and how the CW50, CW100, CW200 and CW300 models differ by rated aquarium volume.
Aquarium Maintenance
Continuum AquaBlade Aquarium Scraper Review: A Sturdy Tool for Cleaner Glass
A practical look at the Continuum AquaBlade scraper, its one-piece build, swappable plastic and metal blades, size options, and the everyday jobs it handles beyond algae.
Aquarium Adhesives
DD's Aquascape Epoxy Review: A Two-Part Putty Built for Wet Reef Work
A closer look at DD's Aquascape Epoxy, a two-part aquarium putty that grips wet surfaces, cures underwater, and handles frag mounting, aquascaping, and small reef repairs.
Reef Tank Supplements
Dosing Phosphate in a Reef Tank: Tropic Marin Phos-Start and Phos-Feed Explained
A practical look at two particulate phosphate supplements for reef tanks, one for the cycling stage and one for established systems running low on phosphate.
Water Filtration
DuPont FilmTec 75 GPD vs 100 GPD: Picking the Right RO Membrane
How the two most popular RODI membranes differ in rejection rate, flow rate, and long-term DI resin cost, and which one suits a typical reef system.
Aquarium Lighting
EcoTech Marine Radion Buying Guide: XR15 vs XR30, Blue vs Pro, and the MXM Module
A practical guide to the EcoTech Marine Radion range: what the lens design changes, how to choose between the XR15 and XR30, how the Blue and Pro profiles differ, and what the optional MXM module adds.
Aquarium Lighting
EcoTech Marine Radion G5 Freshwater LED Review: Reef-Grade Light for Planted Tanks
A practical look at the Radion G5 Freshwater LED, its XR15 and XR30 models, its spectrum and app control, and the mounting options worth planning for.
Reef Aquarium Equipment
EcoTech Marine Vortech MP60 Review: A Cleaner Way to Move Water in a Reef Tank
A practical look at the EcoTech Marine Vortech MP60, covering invisible magnet mounting, fast wet-side cleaning, driver routing, spacers, noise, and battery backup.
Aquarium Lighting
EcoTech Radion G6 Blue Review: Wider Spread for Deep Coral Displays
A practical look at what changes when a deep 1,500-gallon coral display moves from older Radion fixtures to the Radion G6 Blue, covering coverage, spectrum, output and the trade-offs worth weighing before buying.
Aquarium Lighting
EcoTech Radion G6 vs G5: Which Reef Light Is Right for Your Tank?
A practical look at the Radion G6 Pro, G6 Blue, G5 Pro, and G5 Blue, covering the spectrum changes, HEI2 optics, mounting height, and the upgrade path between generations.
Aquarium Filtration
Eheim Liberty 75 Review: A Practical Hang-On-Back Filter for Small Saltwater Tanks
A close look at the Eheim Liberty 75 hang-on-back filter, covering where it fits, its real strengths and the trade-offs to weigh before buying.
Aquarium Medications
Endich Copper Power Review: A Safer, More Stable Copper Treatment for Ich and Velvet
A practical look at Endich Copper Power, a copper quarantine medication that is less toxic to fish than many alternatives and holds therapeutic levels for longer.
Reef Tank Accessories
Eshopps Alpha Frag Rack Lineup: Four Magnetic Frag Racks Compared
A practical look at the Eshopps Alpha magnetic frag rack family, from the slim Nano 6-Hole to the 24-plug Giga, and how to choose the right size for your tank.
Aquarium Filtration
Eshopps Aqua-Fuge Cube Nano Review: A Compact Sump for Small Reef Tanks
A close look at the Eshopps Aqua-Fuge Cube Nano, a compact sump built for 10 to 35 gallon reef tanks with a refugium, skimmer space, and an adjustable baffle.
Aquarium Filtration
Eshopps Nano Skimmer Review: A Tiny Protein Skimmer for Small Reef Tanks
A compact magnetic protein skimmer built for nano and pico reefs, with a Sicce Micra needle wheel pump, simple assembly, and a bubble trap that keeps micro bubbles out of the display.
Aquarium Equipment
Eshopps Prodigy Overflow Review: A Slim External Overflow for Reef Tanks
A close look at the Eshopps Prodigy Overflow, including its five eighths of an inch internal weir, M and L sizing, drain methods, and what comes in the box.
Protein Skimmers
Eshopps S-Series Gen 4 Protein Skimmer Review: Premium Feel at a Mid-Tier Price
A close look at the Eshopps S-Series Gen 4 protein skimmers, from the Sicce PSK pump and titanium screws to the Eddy diffuser and twist-off base plate.
Aquarium Coral Foods
Fauna Marin Ultra LPS Pellets Review: Soft Coral Food for Stronger LPS Growth
A close look at Fauna Marin Ultra LPS pellets, a soft, sinking coral food built for target feeding LPS corals like Scolys, Duncans, Acans, and Wellsos.
Aquarium Filtration
Fiji Cube All-in-One Drop-In Kit Review: A Simple Peninsula Conversion for Standard Tanks
A prebuilt drop-in filter box that turns a standard glass aquarium into an all-in-one, peninsula-style system with no silicone and no tools required.