I’ve been in this hobby long enough to know that the thought leaders within it have so much to offer, but are rarely tapped in the right way to extract that knowledge. In today’s uber-informational world, it’s also hard to escape the noise. Whether that information is useful or not… is another story.
Socratic discussions – slow, open, and reflective – are underutilized. Yet they’re among the most beneficial tools we have, whether you’re participating or simply listening in.
On July 19th, 2025 at 12 p.m. EST, for 24 straight hours, Novel Aquatics’ Salem Clemens and ACI Aquaculture’s Chris Meckley connected more than thirty reefing voices across continents. The result was rare, long-form dialogue spanning coral spawning, technology, global supply chains, and the future of the hobby.
It was, in a word, enlightening.
“This is what the hobby needs,”
was a common comment in the chat feed.
And it’s true. The only way to grow – in reefkeeping or in life – is to question conventional wisdom. That’s exactly what this livestream did.
Back in December of 2024, Salem came to me with a wild idea:
“What if we did a 12-hour livestream, had guests, and gave away prizes every hour… can we put that together in two weeks?!”
Anyone who knows me knows how much I love to deeply prepare for something like this – but, we pulled it off. And it was a resounding success. I was just the guy pushing buttons behind the scenes, but when we wrapped that stream, Salem’s wild idea didn’t feel so wild anymore. It felt inevitable.
The idea of a 24-hour livestream was tossed around more than a few times during that first event – and now, here we are, on the other side of another “wild” idea. It makes you wonder: how far could we go if each of us followed through on just one wild idea every now and then?
Salem will be releasing each hour as a separate video on his YouTube channel, so I won’t spoil too much if you missed the livestream. Just know this: you’re in for a ride.
Prepare to jump between controversial debates on LED lighting, reef medicine, AI, the microbiome, Australian coral exports, the mysteries of keeping SPS, live sales, organic chemistry, product launches – and so much more.
From Australia to the UK, South Africa to South America, the guest list spanned the globe, and so did the ideas.
One thing is certain: Reefkeepers are hungry for deeper knowledge.
Reef Retreat also marked a major milestone this year with its inaugural – and completely sold-out – event. This gathering proved just how powerful it is when minds from science and the reefing community come together to share ideas, data, and vision. The cross-pollination of disciplines wasn’t just inspiring – it’s necessary.
If you make it past the first couple of years of reefkeeping and still love it, you know you’re hooked. You also accept that this isn’t a hobby you ever truly master. It’s one that constantly challenges you, evolves with you, and keeps you thinking every step of the way.
A huge congratulations to Salem and Chris for pulling off such a successful event – and to Amanda Meckley, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to help make it happen. Coordinating, scheduling, and executing a 24-hour livestream of this scale is no small feat.
I think I speak for the entire reefkeeping community when I say: Thank you.
In the final hour with Julian Sprung, Salem floated the idea of a summit – a gathering of the brightest minds in the hobby and the leading voices in marine academia. To my knowledge, something like this has never happened in any consistent or structured way.
But now, more than ever, communication and collaboration are critical – not just for our little glass boxes at home, but for the ocean itself.
We have so much to offer one another. Through livestreams and conversations like this, I truly believe we can move mountains.
In a follow-up video on Instagram, Salem jokingly said,
“There will NOT be another 24-hour livestream… 24 hours was too long.”
To that I say: not a chance.
Just like every good Marvel movie – Salem and Chris will return.
And when they do, the reefing world will be watching.
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Novel Aquatics YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/@
ACI Aquaculture – https://aciaquaculture.com/
Reef Retreat – https://www.reefretreat.org/
