Aquarium Filters

Marineland Penguin 350 Power Filter Review — Tested in High-Bioload Freshwater and Reef Systems By Marina Holt — 15 years of reef and freshwater aquarium experience, freelance aquascaper, experienced hobbyist who has killed enough fish over the years to know what actually works — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Marineland Penguin 350 Power Filter…

Fluval 307 Canister Filter Review — For Acropora Dominant Reefs By Marina Holt — 15 years of reef and freshwater aquarium experience, freelance aquascaper, experienced hobbyist who has killed enough fish over the years to know what actually works — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Fluval 307 Canister Filter is a solid mechanical workhorse…

Sunsun HW-304B Canister Filter Review — Tested on My Nano Reef Setup Under 25 Gallons By Marina Holt — 15 years of reef and freshwater aquarium experience, freelance aquascaper, experienced hobbyist who has killed enough fish over the years to know what actually works — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Sunsun HW-304B Canister Filter…

Aquatop CF500UV Canister Filter Review — For Saltwater Fish Only Tanks Tested in the Portland Reef Setup By Marina Holt — 15 years of reef and freshwater aquarium experience, freelance aquascaper, experienced hobbyist who has killed enough fish over the years to know what actually works — Portland, Oregon The Short Answer The Aquatop CF500UV…

CoralX Rapid Grow Formula Review: The Truth About Speedy SPS Growth By Marina Holt The quest for faster-growing corals often leads hobbyists to specialized liquid additives promising exponential growth rates. CoralX Rapid Grow Formula is one such product that has generated significant buzz in the reef-keeping community. As a hobbyist who has maintained mixed reef…

Top Algae Eater Snail for High-Bitrate Reef Tanks: A Real-World Test By Marina Holt, Senior Reef Aquarist The Short Answer If you are running a high-biomass reef tank with stable parameters, the Tubifex Snail (often confused with the real Tubifex worm, but here referring to the robust Tylomelania genus used in trade) offers a unique…

Fluval Biomax Bio Rings: The Ultimate Reef Safe Filter Media Guide By Marina Holt Marina has kept mixed reef tanks since 2014, specializing in LPS and soft coral systems. Her current 180-gallon display runs a mixed reef with a focus on stable parameters and robust biological filtration. The Short Answer ✅ The Fluval Biomax Bio…

Eheim Substrat Pro Bio Media Review: The Ultimate Algae Scraper for Reef Tanks By Marina Holt The Short Answer If you are struggling with stubborn algae in your reef tank and need a reliable biological filter that works without chemical additives, the Eheim Substrat Pro Bio Media is an excellent choice. It combines mechanical filtration…

AlgaGen Copepods: A Deep Dive into Biological Algae Control for Reef Tanks By Marina Holt Marina Holt is a dedicated reef hobbyist with over a decade of experience maintaining mixed-species and SPS-dominated reef tanks. Her approach prioritizes stable water chemistry and biological filtration, often integrating natural predators like copepods and cleaner shrimp to maintain ecosystem…