Focus Reefing

JV
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Hobbies
  • Updated Biweekly

Focus Reefing is a video podcast about the reef-keeping hobby, hosted by JV. Each episode features conversations with fellow hobbyists about their journeys, tank tours, successes, failures, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. The goal is to share real-world experience, spotlight great reef tanks, and help others build healthier, more successful reef systems.

  1. 15h ago

    Why JT Rebuilt His Reef Tank From Scratch (Not By Choice)

    JT's first tank was a peninsula build. Six months later, it's a completely different system. JT comes back to talk through why he walked away from his original peninsula reef and rebuilt into a custom 225 gallon tank instead. He gets into the sand debate that trips up a lot of reefers during a rebuild, how he reworked flow without a peninsula's tricky far side, and what it took to self-plumb a system for the first time. The growth six months in speaks for itself. JT is running a 225 gallon custom reef with a sloping SPS and LPS scape, carried-over lighting, and a new sump built around BashSea components. Find me on Spotify and Find me on Apple Podcasts. Find me on YouTube, Find me on Instagram, and Find me on Facebook.

  2. Jul 22

    Why He Stopped Keeping a Mixed Reef

    He walked away from a mixed reef because it stopped being fun, and rebuilt everything around one species: anemones. In this episode I sit down with Karam, known as @kreefer2, to talk about his 40 gallon Water Box anemone tank built around a Chandler's Rock centerpiece he saved for months before he even had a tank to put it in. We get into how he dialed in lighting and flow specifically for anemones, why he ditched the skimmer entirely and leans on bioballs and biopellets instead, and how he built a bacteria driven system that keeps his anemones splitting and coloring up. Karam also shares the advice he'd give anyone thinking about going species specific. Find me on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.

  3. Jul 8

    A Reef Hobbyist Turned Her Water Tests Into an App

    I talked with Mallory, who started reefing in high school with a used one gallon tank and never left small tanks behind. She tells me why she started ignoring blanket advice online, what changes fast in a nano reef that doesn't in a big one, and how she turned her own obsessive water testing into an app she built while still in school. We also get into what it's like running a tank remotely from Wi-Fi while your parents handle the testing. Mallory has worked in multiple aquarium stores, from nano cubes to a several hundred gallon coral farm, and now runs a Hello Reef nano controlled entirely from her phone. Focus Reefing on Spotify Focus Reefing on Apple Podcasts Focus Reefing on Instagram Focus Reefing on Facebook

  4. Jun 24

    Never Replace This Reef Light

    SPOTIFY DESCRIPTION I broke my usual format for this one because the story was too good to pass up. A reef hobbyist built his own modular LED light out of pure frustration, and now he's about to bring it to market. I talk with Ariel, founder of NextGen Reef Tech, about the years he spent designing a fixture where every bulb swaps out individually instead of forcing a full upgrade when one channel fails. We get into the engineering decisions, the testing process, and the bigger philosophy behind building gear that is not designed to become obsolete. Ariel has been reefing for about fifteen years and built this light as a solo project, with pre-sales currently open at 40% off. Pre-Order @ www.nextgenreeftech.com Follow Ariel on instagram @Nextgenreeftech Watch on YouTube Listen on Apple Podcasts Follow on Focus Reefing on Instagram Follow on Facebook

  5. Jun 10

    This Tank Almost Exploded!

    A seam failure. A tank about to explode. One week to fix it before everything was lost. Sergio Sanchez (@themolarcoral) built a 110-gallon mixed reef into the wall of his family room — his first saltwater tank ever. He walks through the emergency swap that nearly ended his reef, why he skipped small and went straight to 110 gallons, and what it's really like to manage hammers, torches, gonis, and acros all in the same tank. He also gets into running elevated phosphates with corals that keep growing anyway, a UV sterilizer hack that killed his ich problem for good, and the honest learning curve of jumping into saltwater from freshwater with no experience and no safety net. Sergio runs a full Red Sea system on a Marineland 110 — his first reef and, after an emergency tank swap, technically his second. Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts Watch on YouTube Follow on Instagram Follow on Facebook

  6. May 27

    Rhinos Reef, Why He Had to Shut Down His Dream Reef Tank to Build a 3D Printing Business

    Is your 3D-printed gear secretly leaching toxins into your water? Chris from @rhinosreef joins the Focus Reefing Podcast for our milestone 10th episode to share his journey from a casual hobbyist to building a powerhouse manufacturing brand. We cover the emotional reality of having to tear down his personal system, the viral Star Wars Stormtrooper head that launched his business, filament types like PETG vs. ABS, and a devastating $15,000 lesson in unsealed aquarium magnets. Chris also shares how he designed his manufacturing line around absolute tank safety, his proprietary 5x sealing protocol, and what it really takes to survive the daily grind of a growing reef business. Follow Chris on Instagram: ⁠Instagram⁠ Follow Focus Reefing: ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠ Spotify Apple Podcasts⁠ Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms.

  7. May 6

    He Built This SPS Reef Into His New Home

    Kevin from @reefing_amsterdam joins the Focus Reefing Podcast to discuss his custom SPS-dominant reef system built in the Netherlands. We cover quarantine protocols, automated water changes, Hydros automation, bare bottom reefing, coral growth strategy, and the reality of handling major tank mistakes while away from home. Kevin also shares how he designed his system around long-term stability, ease of maintenance, and making the tank a true part of the home. Follow Kevin on Instagram: Instagram Follow Focus Reefing: Instagram YouTube Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms.

  8. Apr 22

    From Insomnia to Innovation: The Restorative Power of Julio’s 80G Reef

    In this episode, JV sits down with Julio Rangel (@tacoboutcorals) to talk about how reefing became more than just a hobby. After getting started with a small 10-gallon tank, Julio quickly scaled up and now runs an 80-gallon lagoon-style reef focused heavily on LPS corals and gonis. He shares how reefing helped him find structure and focus, and how the hobby continues to shape his outlook on life. The conversation covers patience, consistency, coral selection, running higher nutrient systems, and the gear and approach behind his current tank. Follow Julio: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tacoboutcorals/ Follow Focus Reefing: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focusreefing/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FocusReefing The Focus Reefing Podcast is available on Youtube Music, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms.

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About

Focus Reefing is a video podcast about the reef-keeping hobby, hosted by JV. Each episode features conversations with fellow hobbyists about their journeys, tank tours, successes, failures, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. The goal is to share real-world experience, spotlight great reef tanks, and help others build healthier, more successful reef systems.

Information

  • Creator
    JV
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © JV
  • Show Website
    Focus Reefing

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