Reefing Radio

Reefing Radio
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Reefing Radio — reef aquarium tips, stories, and chat from your favourite salty station!

  1. APR 1

    Dr Jamie Craggs: How to spawn coral at home

    In this episode of Reefing Radio, we continue our conversation with Dr Jamie Craggs to explore one of the most exciting frontiers in the reefing hobby: spawning corals at home. In the previous episode, we unpacked Jamie’s work and the growing importance of coral reproduction for reef restoration. This time, we bring it back to the hobbyist level — asking a simple but powerful question: can you actually spawn corals in your own tank? We dive into the practical realities of coral spawning, from understanding reproductive strategies and seasonal triggers to what really matters in a home setup. How important are temperature swings, lighting cycles, and moon phases? What can you get away with — and what actually makes the difference? We also explore the tools that can help you get started, including the coral spawning database developed by researchers at Newcastle University — to start predicting when your corals might spawn. The conversation then moves into what happens next: from catching spawning events to raising larvae, settlement challenges, and why this is where things get genuinely difficult. Along the way, we touch on hybridisation, sustainability, and what this could mean for the future of the hobby. If you’ve ever wondered whether coral spawning is something only labs can achieve — or something you might realistically attempt yourself — this episode gives you a clear, grounded starting point. 👉 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@reefing_radio⁠⁠⁠ 📘 Find us on Facebook: ⁠⁠Reefing Radio⁠⁠ 💬 Got feedback or questions? Drop us a message! 🎧 Subscribe to hear more reefing chat every week

    55 min

  2. MAR 11

    Dr Jamie Craggs Pt. 1 — Marine Science, Coral Spawning & Reef Restoration

    First things first — apologies for the gap since our last episode! Life got in the way for a few weeks, but we're back on schedule now and we've got a cracking episode to make up for it. In this episode, Chris, James, and Gareth are joined by Dr. Jamie Craggs — marine biologist, coral researcher, and the scientist who changed everything we thought we knew about spawning coral in captivity. Jamie is the principal aquarium curator at the Horniman Museum and Gardens in London and the lead scientist behind Project Coral. He's also co-founder of Coral Spawning International, which is deploying spawning research globally in support of reef restoration and local communities — with over 100 systems now operating across 19 countries. This is Part 1 of a two-part conversation. Here, we focus on the big picture and Jamie's story: why the world's coral reefs are in such serious trouble, from climate-driven bleaching to blast fishing, and what the stakes really are for biodiversity, coastal communities, and the future of the hobby. Jamie takes us through his journey from hobbyist to researcher, explaining how he made the leap from jellyfish to corals and achieved the world's first predicted coral spawning event in a fully closed system — and what it took to scale that breakthrough into a global restoration tool. We also get into coral biology along the way, covering the difference between brooders and broadcast spawners and why good husbandry is a more powerful scientific tool than it's often given credit for. Jamie also highlights the Great Reef Census as a brilliant way for hobbyists and ocean lovers to contribute to real coral reef research from anywhere in the world — link here. In Part 2, we get practical. Jamie will be back to walk us through what coral spawning at home actually looks like — and whether it might be more achievable than you'd think. Stay tuned. 👉 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠@reefing_radio⁠⁠ 📘 Find us on Facebook: ⁠⁠Reefing Radio⁠⁠ 💬 Got feedback or questions? Drop us a message! 🎧 Subscribe to hear more reefing chat every week

    1h 8m

  3. FEB 3

    Keeping the Weird & Wonderful – Unusual Fish and Inverts with Jake EC

    In this episode, Chris, Gareth, and James are joined by Jake — better known as Jake EC on Ultimate Reef — to explore the weird, wonderful, and often-overlooked side of reef keeping. Jake is known for his natural-looking mixed reefs and an extraordinary collection of unusual fish and invertebrates, from shrimp, starfish, and cucumbers to nano fish, symbiotic pairings, and rare oddities you rarely see in home aquariums. We dig into how and why he stocks his tanks the way he does, focusing on behaviour, interaction, and realism rather than trends or hype. We talk about keeping unusual livestock successfully, pairing and grouping fish and inverts, sourcing rare species through strong retailer relationships, and what it takes to run a diverse, invert-heavy reef long term. Along the way, there’s plenty of discussion around risk, responsibility, learning through experience, and why curiosity still matters in the hobby. 👉 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reefing_radio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📘 Find us on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reefing Radio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠💬 Got feedback or questions? Drop us a message!🎧 Subscribe to hear more reefing chat every week

    1h 10m

  4. JAN 20

    New Year Reefing Resolutions

    New Year Reefing Resolutions We kick off 2026 with a reefing catch-up and some New Year’s resolutions. We talk about what got done over Christmas, what got neglected, and what we’re realistically trying to do better this year — from water-change routines and testing discipline to spending less money (we’ll see). There’s plenty of tank chat too: James’ plans for a softer, sponge-led system (and resisting the SPS temptation), Gareth’s rock-solid routines and why he’s officially done buying livestock, and Chris resetting his SPS cube with live rock, new flow, and a hard push for stability after a rough year. We also dig into skimmers vs refugiums, pH struggles in winter, salt choices, dosing philosophies, and whether stability really does just come with time. A relaxed start to the year, plenty of opinions, and a look ahead at what Reefing Radio has lined up for 2026. 👉 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reefing_radio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📘 Find us on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reefing Radio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💬 Got feedback or questions? Drop us a message! 🎧 Subscribe to hear more reefing chat every week

    58 min

  5. 2025-12-24

    Raise the Reef: Inside the World of High-End LPS Retail

    Raise the Reef: Inside the World of a High-End LPS Retailer Chris, Gareth, and James are joined by Ash from Raise the Reef, a UK coral retailer specialising in vibrant, high-end LPS, with a particular passion for torches and unusual pieces. We dig into Ash’s journey from garage-based fragging to opening a physical store, and what it’s like running a coral business alongside a full-time job. Ash shares how he selects corals in person, grows out and colours up high-end LPS, and why feeding, nutrients, and flow matter far more than most people realise. Along the way, we talk about the realities of coral retail — from sourcing and growing corals, to supporting customers, building community, and balancing livestock care with the commercial side of the hobby. There’s also plenty of discussion around feeding, nutrients, flow, and what it actually takes to keep LPS thriving long-term. 🔗 Check out Raise the Reef at ⁠raisethereef.co.uk⁠ and on Facebook. 👉 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reefing_radio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📘 Find us on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reefing Radio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💬 Got feedback or questions? Drop us a message! 🎧 Subscribe to hear more reefing chat every week

    1h 5m

  6. 2025-12-12

    How many fish is too many fish?

    Reefing Radio – “How Many Fish Is Too Many Fish?” This episode is all about adding fish, stocking sensibly, and working out when a tank has reached its limit. We compare approaches, talk through what actually matters when choosing new additions, and look at how aggression, space, nutrients and behaviour shape whether a fish will work long-term. We also have a catch up on our tanks: James’ softie system with booming yellow sponges and neat lines of hair algae, Gareth’s bubble coral that turned out to be riddled with boring sponge, and Chris’ UNS 90LA tank transfer — plus the calcium precipitation event that left his SPS cube coated in white dust. 👉 Follow us on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@reefing_radio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📘 Find us on Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Reefing Radio⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 💬 Got feedback or questions? Drop us a message! 🎧 Subscribe to hear more reefing chat every week

    1h 19m

  7. 2025-11-26

    Catching Up, Marginal Gains, and Animals We Wish We Could Keep

    After a longer-than-planned break (life got in the way!), the Reefing Radio trio are back behind the mics. In this episode, Chris, James and Gareth catch up on everything that’s been happening in their tanks — from Gareth’s elegance coral rollercoaster and growing Pectinia obsession, to James’ mangrove tank and one extremely naughty hogfish, to Chris’ shut down of the nano lagoon and build-out of the new UNS 90LA. We also dive into a brilliant listener question on “marginal gains” in reefing. Are those ultra-precise tweaks actually worth the effort? Or are we all guilty of overthinking it? Expect calibration chat, food-washing scepticism, and a surprisingly sensible framework for working out what actually matters. To finish, we share the animals we wish we could keep but realistically can’t — from clams and Moorish idols to the fish Chris still dreams of one day finding a way to make work. A relaxed, honest, reef-nerdy episode — thanks for sticking with us, and enjoy! 👉 Follow us on Instagram: @reefing_radio 📘 Find us on Facebook: Reefing Radio 💬 Got feedback or questions? Drop us a message! 🎧 Subscribe to hear more reefing chat every week.

    1h 18m
  8. Reefing Radio On Tour – Gareth’s 5ft Red Sea Peninsula

    2025-10-31 ·  BONUS

    Reefing Radio On Tour – Gareth’s 5ft Red Sea Peninsula

    In this special bonus Reefing Radio On Tour episode — our very first video podcast — we head to co-host Gareth’s home to check out his stunning 5-foot Red Sea peninsula reef. This LPS-dominant system has been carefully built and refined over time. Gareth talks us through the full setup — from coral and fish choices to sump layout, flow, and lighting — and the lessons learned along the way. It’s an insightful look at a beautiful home reef — and a milestone first video outing for the Reefing Radio crew. 🔗 Watch on YouTube or on Spotify, or listen on your favourite podcast platform. 👉 Follow us on Instagram: @reefing_radio📘 Find us on Facebook: Reefing Radio💬 Got feedback or questions? Drop us a message!🎧 Subscribe to hear more reefing chat

    40 min
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About

Reefing Radio — reef aquarium tips, stories, and chat from your favourite salty station!

Information

  • Creator
    Reefing Radio
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Reefing Radio
  • Show Website
    Reefing Radio

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