Mike
Reef observer
- Location
- North Texas
About This Update
This article is a 2026 perspective on the classic Living Reefs article “Marine Aquarium Disasters and how to prevent them” (originally published in 2009).
The original article remains archived in its original form and is still well worth reading. This update is not a rewrite or correction, but a modern discussion of how reefkeeping practices, equipment, and conversations around these topics appear to have evolved since then.
I’m a newer hobbyist, so this update is written from a curatorial and research-based perspective, with the goal of preserving great legacy content while reconnecting it to today’s hobby.
If you’ve been reefing for a long time, I’d love your input! Please consider this a living addendum.
A surprising amount of this article is still 100% relevant today:
If anything, the core message (slow down, plan, and assume failures will happen) is even more important today, as modern systems can be more complex.
Since 2009, equipment has improved in ways that reduce risk, but only when it's used and maintained correctly.
Some examples:
The takeaway (at least from my research and reading): Automation reduces workload, not responsibility.
In 2009, cycling was often framed as a single event. Today, discussions seem more nuanced:
The original warnings here appear are still spot on!
From what I can tell, disease-related losses are one of the top reasons people leave the hobby.
While there is more discussion today around:
There still does not appear to be a universally agreed-upon “easy” solution. The original advice to quarantine and avoid treating display tanks still seems widely supported.
Today we have:
But the fundamentals haven’t changed:
Many modern reefers still describe pest infestations as a slow-motion disaster rather than a sudden one, which aligns closely with the original article’s warnings.
As a new hobbyist myself, a few points in this article stood out to me as especially important for beginners who might underestimate them:
These are not “old problems”. They’re timeless ones that aren't mentioned enough.
If you’ve been in the hobby for a long time, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the following:
Your input can help keep this classic article relevant for another generation of reefkeepers.
If you only take one thing from this article and its update, it’s this: Most reef disasters aren’t mysterious. They’re predictable.
The original 2009 article does an outstanding job of cataloging those risks, and in many ways, it remains more thorough than many modern guides.
Original article link:
This article is a 2026 perspective on the classic Living Reefs article “Marine Aquarium Disasters and how to prevent them” (originally published in 2009).
The original article remains archived in its original form and is still well worth reading. This update is not a rewrite or correction, but a modern discussion of how reefkeeping practices, equipment, and conversations around these topics appear to have evolved since then.
I’m a newer hobbyist, so this update is written from a curatorial and research-based perspective, with the goal of preserving great legacy content while reconnecting it to today’s hobby.
If you’ve been reefing for a long time, I’d love your input! Please consider this a living addendum.
What Has Aged Exceptionally Well
A surprising amount of this article is still 100% relevant today:
- Moving too fast
- Poor understanding of cycling and bio-load
- Electrical safety issues
- Floods and plumbing failures
- Heater malfunctions
- Overstocking and fast stocking
- Contamination from household chemicals
- Power outages
- Rock avalanches
- Vacation-related disasters
If anything, the core message (slow down, plan, and assume failures will happen) is even more important today, as modern systems can be more complex.
Areas Where Technology Has Helped (But Not Eliminated Risk)
Since 2009, equipment has improved in ways that reduce risk, but only when it's used and maintained correctly.
Some examples:
- DC return pumps and powerheads: These often include alarms, soft starts, and shutdown protection, but they still fail if they're neglected or clogged.
- Temperature controllers & dual-heater setups: These significantly reduce “heater gone wild” scenarios, but probes and relays can also fail if they're not regularly tested.
- Automatic Top-Off (ATO) systems: ATOs prevent many salinity-related disasters, yet failed sensors or improperly placed floats remain a common cause of tank crashes.
- Battery backups for powerheads: These have made short power outages far more survivable, but extended outages still require planning.
The takeaway (at least from my research and reading): Automation reduces workload, not responsibility.
Cycling & Bacteria: A More Nuanced Conversation
In 2009, cycling was often framed as a single event. Today, discussions seem more nuanced:
- Bottled bacteria products exist and can help, but they don’t eliminate the need for patience.
- “Mini-cycles” are still real and commonly reported after:
- Heavy cleaning
- Large livestock additions
- Rock or sand disturbances
- Long-established tanks will still crash if the biological balance is disrupted too quickly.
The original warnings here appear are still spot on!
Disease Prevention: Still One of the Biggest Exit Points
From what I can tell, disease-related losses are one of the top reasons people leave the hobby.
While there is more discussion today around:
- Observation-based quarantine
- Prophylactic treatments
- Disease-free vendors
There still does not appear to be a universally agreed-upon “easy” solution. The original advice to quarantine and avoid treating display tanks still seems widely supported.
Pests, Algae, and Nutrients: More Tools, Same Fundamentals
Today we have:
- Better test kits
- ICP testing
- Media reactors
- Algae control products
- More refined refugium strategies
But the fundamentals haven’t changed:
- Nutrients fuel algae
- Detritus accumulates where flow is poor
- Pests are far easier to prevent than eradicate
Many modern reefers still describe pest infestations as a slow-motion disaster rather than a sudden one, which aligns closely with the original article’s warnings.
Things That Might Surprise New Hobbyists Reading This Today
As a new hobbyist myself, a few points in this article stood out to me as especially important for beginners who might underestimate them:
- Electrical safety is not discussed nearly enough in modern beginner guides.
- Rock stability is easy to overlook until it’s too late.
- Human error (cleaning products, hands in the tank, overfeeding) still causes a shocking number of crashes.
- Salt storage and mixing practices can absolutely wipe out livestock.
These are not “old problems”. They’re timeless ones that aren't mentioned enough.
Open Questions for Experienced Reefers
If you’ve been in the hobby for a long time, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the following:
- Which disaster scenarios are less common today due to better equipment?
- Which ones are more common now due to system complexity?
- Are there any modern disasters you’d add that weren’t common in 2009?
Your input can help keep this classic article relevant for another generation of reefkeepers.
Final Thought
If you only take one thing from this article and its update, it’s this: Most reef disasters aren’t mysterious. They’re predictable.
The original 2009 article does an outstanding job of cataloging those risks, and in many ways, it remains more thorough than many modern guides.
Original article link:
