Topics:

Coral Spawning / Larval Rearing

Reef Microbiome

Pest, Pathogens, Disease

Chemistry (Nitrogen / Phosphate)

Automation / Control

Speakers:

• Sara Stevens

• Sanjay Joshi

  Lights, Coral, Action!

  The talk will discuss how corals utilize light and the implications for reef keeping. Experimental data collected on my system will be presented alongside recent research efforts in the area.

• Rich Ross

  Jizz in my reef: Coral Spawning at Home

  Rich has been intentionally spawing coral in captivity since 2018, and in his secret home lab since 2020. This talk will cover everything you need to know to successfully spawn and raise coral with equipment you probably already own. 

• Craig Bingman

  Calcium and Alkalinity

• Salem Clemens

  Reefs of Tomorrow- a multiomics approach to coral husbandry

  We will attempt to formulate a model of reefing to answer the ultimate question: Why did my coral die? By synthesizing current literature on coral pathology and their responses to shifts in organic and inorganic chemistry, Reefs of Tomorrow offers a glimpse through the looking glass into the unseen world of the animals we care for.

• Julian Sprung

  Making sense of the back box subject Microbialization

  What does it mean in the contexts of natural reefs and aquarium husbandry techniques used for growing corals in aquaria?

• Kevin Erickson

• Chris Jury

  Making sense of chemistry in the modern reef aquarium

  We’ll do a deep dive into carbonate chemistry, including alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, pH, and related parameters and how do these parameters affect the organisms in our tanks. We’ll discuss the ins and outs of this chemistry as well as strategies and approaches to manipulate them in order to achieve thriving reef aquaria.

• Zack Murphy

  Coral Spawning.

• Joe Yaiullo

  This parasite may be eating all your corals and you’d never know it.

  After 38 years of reefkeeping, these amphipods (THEM) are by far the worst coral parasite I’ve come across. They present as RTN, NTN, and bacterial infections and will eat your corals while flying under the radar. This talk will cover the epic battle to save a mega reef, and how to protect your own coral.

• Koty Sharp

• Jen Bowen

Craig Bingman

Dr. Craig Bingman is a pioneering figure in the marine aquarium hobby, renowned for applying his background in biochemistry to transform reefkeeping through science-based practices. His influential writings in the 1990s, especially in Aquarium Frontiers, introduced hobbyists to foundational concepts in reef chemistry, including calcification, trace elements, and nutrient dynamics. Dr. Bingman’s insights helped shift the hobby toward long-term coral husbandry success. A frequent speaker at aquarium conferences, he continues to share expertise on topics like water quality and alkalinity monitoring. In 2019, he received the MASNA Award for his significant and lasting contributions to the reefkeeping community.

Julian Sprung’s interest in the marine aquarium hobby was inspired by his brother Elliot, who showed him the aquariums he set up and maintained at a neighbor's house when Julian was just 4 years old. As a child of 10, Julian began collecting and keeping found fish and live rocks in buckets outside his home on an island in Biscayne Bay in Miami Beach, Florida. His Julian is an alumnus of the University of Florida where he studied zoology. He is a widely published author of marine aquarium fishkeeping information. His articles have appeared in aquarium hobby publications such as Freshwater And Marine Aquarium, Advanced Aquarist Online, Practical Fishkeeping, and Tropical Fish Hobbyist. He has also authored or co-authored several of our favorite aquarium books, including Corals: A Quick Reference Guide, The Reef Aquarium series, and Algae: A Problem Solver Guide. With fellow marine aquarium enthusiast Daniel Ramirez, Sprung co-founded Two Little Fishies in 1991, a manufacturer of aquarium equipment, supplements, media, and more.

Dr. Kevin P. Erickson, Ph.D. is an experienced marine biologist with professional and educational experiences in multiple global settings.

Kevin is currently the Industry Development Lead of the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP) and is based at the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS). He is also an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in Marine Aquatic Animal Health at James Cook University (JCU), an Aquatics Working Group Member of the Pet Industry Association of Australia (PIAA), and a Forever Reef Project Aquarium Advisory Panel Member for Great Barrier Reef Legacy.

From 2021 – 2023 Kevin was a Board Member for the Aquarium Industry Association of Australia (AIAA), and from 2010 – 2022 he served on the Board of Directors of the Marine Aquarium Societies of North America (MASNA), where for the final seven years served as President, CEO, and Chief Marine Scientist.

Richard Ross is known for the “Skeptical Reefkeepign” article series, groudbreaking work with cephalopod husbandry, entertaining and informative talks, managing the ambitious 212,000 gallon reef tank in the Steinhart Aquarium in the California Academy of Sciences, ‘getting stuff done’ in the field,  and spawning Acropora in closed systems at the Albright Lab and in his Secret Home Lab. Richard has kept saltwater animals for over 30 years, has worked in the aquarium industry and trade (maintenance, retail, wholesale, collections, etc), and has consulted for coral farms, collecting stations, academia, public aquariums, and for private research projects. Richard was presented with the 2015 MASNA Aquarist of the Year award (now the MASNA Award), and his work has been covered by National Geographic, Scientific American, Animal Planet, Penn’s Sunday School, NPR’s Science Friday, Discovery News, Fox News, and more. Richard is also co-host of the popular Reef Beef Podcas

 Chris Jury

Dr. Chris Jury grew up in Michigan, far from the ocean, but developed a keen interest in coral reefs. He started his first home reef tank in 2001, subsequently worked at an outstanding local fish store during his undergraduate years, and has been active in the hobby ever since. From there, he went on to pursue an M.S. and Ph.D related to coral reef research. He has written dozens of popular articles for the marine aquarium trade, was a guest speaker at 2009 MACNA, the recipient of the 2011 MASNA graduate student scholarship, and has spoken at numerous reef clubs around the country. Chris obtained a B.S. in zoology from Michigan State University, an M.S. in Marine Biology from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, and a Ph.D. from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. He is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology and is a major advocate of the importance of the interaction between marine science and the marine hobby.

Joe Yaiullo

Joe Yaiullo’s love for marine life started way back when he was exploring Long Island’s waters as a kid. After earning a Marine Science degree, he became a key figure at the New York Aquarium, where he built the first of many epic tanks, including a 1,400-gallon reef in 1993. But the real magic happened in 2000 when he co-founded the Long Island Aquarium, debuting a jaw-dropping 20,000-gallon reef tank—at the time, the biggest in the Western Hemisphere. Known as a “Coralaholic,” Joe still tends to his massive reef, home to corals that have been thriving for over 30 years! He’s also a global ambassador for reefkeeping, sharing his wisdom through talks, articles, and his leadership in the Long Island Reef Association. In 2016, he was honored with the MASNA Aquarist of the Year award, cementing his place as a true legend in the hobby.

Sanjay Joshi may hold the title of Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering at Penn State University, but in the reefing world, he's better known as one of the hobby's old timers. Hooked since 1992, Sanjay’s passion for saltwater reef aquariums has grown into a full-blown obsession, with multiple tanks at home—including a stunning 500-gallon SPS-dominated showpiece—and co-management of another massive 500-gallon reef at Penn State.   With an engineer’s mind and a reefer’s heart, Sanjay has spent decades converting is experience into practical advice for aquarists. He is well known in the hobby, especially for his work on reef lighting, system design, and overall husbandry. Through his in-depth publications, data-driven insights, and lectures, Sanjay hopes to inspire reef keepers around the globe to level up their reefing game. He was recognized by MASNA in 2006 for his “Outstanding contribution to the marine aquarium hobby”.