Episode 48: Reeftalk with Leonardo from Leonardo's Reef – A Little Bit of Science and a Whole Lot of Art

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This is where you can find Leo:
Website: https://leonardosreef.com/
Instagram: @leonardos_reef
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LeonardosReef
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeonardosReefLab
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In this episode of the spiegelReef Podcast, I sit down with the incredible Leonardo from Leonardo's Reef for a deep dive into reefkeeping, coral farming, and the delicate art of bringing Acropora to their full potential. Leonardo shares fascinating insights into his approach, balancing science and art to achieve unmatched coral health, growth, and color.

We cover a range of topics:

• The power of keeping things simple in reefkeeping.
• Why Leonardo scaled back on heavy trace dosing and returned to basics.
• The role of flow: how standing waves and chaotic water movement benefit coral health.
• Lighting challenges: the differences between LEDs, T5s, and why spectrum matters more than PAR.
• Leonardo's journey of experimenting and reverting, including insights on his T5-LED hybrid lighting setups.
• Coral care at its finest: how Leonardo maintains pest-free, resilient frags and what makes his farm unique.

We also get a behind-the-scenes look at his coral farm, from managing mother colonies in isolated systems to his ambitious plans for redundancy and expansion. And don’t miss the exciting teaser: Leonardo is building his ultimate show tank, and he’ll document every step on his YouTube channel!

Whether you're a seasoned reefkeeper or just starting out, this episode is packed with practical knowledge, inspiration, and Leonardo’s passion for corals that shines through every word.