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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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Charterhouse Aquatics – Behind the Counter of One of the UK’s Leading Reefing Retailers

Chris, Gareth, and James are joined by Ryan from Charterhouse Aquatics — one of the UK’s largest and best-known reefing retailers. If you’ve ever searched for aquarium gear online, you’ve almost certainly come across them.

We dive into the story behind Charterhouse — from its humble beginnings in a garage back in 2005 to becoming a household name in the UK reefing scene. Ryan shares what it’s like running a major online store, how they decide which products and brands to stock, and why good customer service is still at the heart of everything they do.

Along the way, we chat about industry trends, the rise of nano tanks, what drives reef equipment prices, and how Charterhouse balances online convenience with hands-on hobbyist experience. Plus, a look at their “white glove” delivery service, their livestock partnership with EcoMarines, and the story behind Charterhouse TV.

It’s a fascinating conversation offering a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of the UK’s cornerstone reefing businesses — packed with insight, perspective, and a lot of love for the hobby.

🔗 Check out Charterhouse at charterhouse-aquatics.com👉 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

Signature Frags – From Hobbyist to Coral Farmer

Chris, Gareth, and James are joined by Christian, the founder of Signature Frags — one of the UK’s best-known coral farms and a name synonymous with colourful, tank-hardened Acropora.

We dive into Christian’s journey from hobbyist to coral farmer, what sets Signature Frags apart (from rigorous quarantine to long grow-out processes), and the realities of running a high-end coral farm in the UK. Along the way, we cover coral husbandry, pests and pathogens, the role of dissolved oxygen and microbiomes, and why seeing colonies alongside frags is such a different customer experience.

It’s an inspiring conversation full of insights into the future of the hobby, the challenges of coral farming, and what makes corals thrive long-term in home tanks.

🔗 Check out Christian’s coral at signaturefrags.com

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Reefing Radio - AQUAH 2025 Debrief

Chris and Gareth sit down for an impromptu episode fresh from the AQUAH trade show. We share first impressions, standout corals (including a jaw-dropping Colorado Sunburst anemone), and the vendors that nailed it on the day.

We cover:

• The balance of coral sellers vs dry goods – and what surprised us most

• Aquatic Emporium’s show-stopping booth and why it stood out from the rest
• New tanks that caught our eye – including a tempting D&D peninsula and nano options from UNS
• Gear highlights – from ATI’s latest Stratons to Chris’s new PARwise Pro purchase
• Networking wins – vendors and suppliers lining up to join Reefing Radio in future episodes

🎧 Tune in for a relaxed debrief full of coral chat, kit talk, and a peek behind the scenes of one of the UK’s biggest reefing events

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Reefing Radio – “Does Size Matter?”

Chris, Gareth, and James tackle one of the most common questions in reefing: what are the real differences between running a small tank and a large one? Inspired by a listener upgrading from a nano to a four-foot setup, we dig into the trade-offs between scale, cost, and enjoyment.

We cover:

• Stocking strategies – why small tanks highlight tiny fish & critters, while big tanks let you go big on tangs and foxfaces

• Aggression & space – does a larger tank really reduce conflict, or just give you more battles to manage?

• Coral growth – bonsai colonies vs basketball-sized torches, and how aesthetics shape your choices

• Maintenance – the speedboat vs oil tanker analogy: stability, water changes, and how much muscle it takes to shift 60 litres

• Equipment – what you can get away with second-hand, and why return pumps aren’t the place to cut corners

• The “perfect size” tank – from cubes to peninsulas, we each share where we’d land if we had to start again

  
  

From James flooding his kitchen to Gareth finally rehoming his foxface, it’s a wide-ranging chat packed with lessons learned and plenty of debate on whether bigger really is better.

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Reefing Radio – “Keeping It Stable” pt. 2

Chris, Gareth, and James return to wrap up our deep dive into reef tank stability — this time we cover the parameters and approaches we didn’t get to last week. From magnesium mysteries to nutrient balance, trace elements, and the pros and cons of different dosing strategies, it’s a packed episode.

We cover:

• Magnesium & calcium – does magnesium really matter, and why do some tanks never consume it?
• Alk/Ca balance – James’ strong views on why the two need to be paired
• Trace elements & ICPs – useful tool, false reassurance, or just a money pit?
• Nutrient stability – balancing nitrates & phosphates, high vs low nutrient systems, and how lighting ties in
• Dosing approaches revisited – All-for-Reef, two-part, DIY mixes, and kalkwasser (including slurry and reactors)
• Quick-fire round – the one parameter we’d peg forever, and the most overrated one in reefing

We also announced the winner of our £50 Prestige Reef gift card giveaway – congratulations to the winner!

🎧 Tune in for one of our longest episodes yet, full of debate, confessions, and a few surprising takes on what really matters in reef stability.

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Reefing Radio – “Keeping It Stable” pt. 1

In this episode, Chris, Gareth, and James dive into one of reefing’s biggest challenges – keeping things stable. From alkalinity and calcium to pH, magnesium, and even the microbiome, we share how we approach stability in our own tanks and what we think really matters.

We cover:

• Using (and questioning) things like Chemiclean and bottled bacteria
• Why salinity might be the most underrated parameter
• The role of microbiome diversity in a healthy reef
• Balancing stability with observation – testing vs just watching your corals
• Our own tank updates: pipefish, pectinia, Apex setups, summer struggles, and more

There’s also still time to enter our £50 Prestige Reef gift card giveaway! Just comment on our Instagram or Facebook post for this episode to be in with a chance.

🎧 Tune in for an hour of reef chat, laughs, and maybe a few disagreements about what really matters in reefkeeping.

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