Everything We Loved at Reefapalooza Orlando 2025
Reefapalooza (RAP) is one of the biggest and most exciting saltwater aquarium events in the country, and the Orlando show never disappoints. It’s a weekend packed with colorful corals, new gear, familiar faces from the reefing world, and plenty to see around every corner. If you couldn’t make it this year, don’t worry. We’ve got some of the highlights right here so you won’t miss a thing.
Inside the Maxspect Booth: LEDs, Flow, and More
Brian stopped by the Maxspect booth to check out their latest gear, and Howard delivered a full tour of their lineup. From the powerful new Ethereal E8-230 LED to upgraded Jump LEDs, flow pumps, and an impressively engineered algae scraper, Maxspect showed up with innovation across the board. If you missed the booth in person, this video’s the next best thing.
A Closer Look at HelloReef from the RAP Show Floor
Cade from HelloReef sat down with Brian to break down what makes their all-in-one reef kits a game changer for new and experienced hobbyists alike. With premium gear, a step-by-step video course, and literally everything you need to get started, HelloReef takes the guesswork out of setting up a successful saltwater tank. If you've ever wanted to say “yes” to reefing without the overwhelm, this is the kit to check out.
Nyos Unveils Mobius-Ready Quantum EQ Skimmers
Christian from Nyos gave us a look at the new Quantum EQ protein skimmer, controllable through the Mobius app. You can adjust pump speed, set day and night cycles, and monitor performance right from your phone. It also features a color-coded LED ring, built-in safety shutoffs, and compatibility with Neptune Systems via MXM. Existing Quantum owners (160, 220, 300) can upgrade with a retrofit kit. With ultra-quiet operation, a vortex-style bubble plate, and thoughtful design, the Quantum EQ takes skimming to the next level.
Coming Soon!
The Full AquaIllumination Lineup on Display
Cade gave us a full tour of AquaIllumination’s latest gear, including the Hydra Edge LED. This new hybrid fixture combines panel-style coverage with point-source shimmer, all controllable through the Mobius app. Other highlights included the Axis return pumps with a vertical design that fits easily into tight spaces, the compact and powerful Nero and Orbit flow pumps, and the highly praised Blade lights. Whether you're lighting a reef, building flow, or looking for sleek and controllable equipment, AI continues to bring thoughtful innovation to reef tanks of all sizes.
A Peak at What's New from Red Sea
Red Sea showed up big at Reefapalooza Orlando with a full lineup of upgraded gear and sleek new systems. Brian caught up with Dave in the booth to check out the new Gen 2 ReefLEDs, redesigned ReefRun pumps, the Max Nano XL Aquarium, and their fully loaded Reefer Max systems. With smarter features, easier maintenance, and quiet operation, Red Sea continues to raise the bar for plug-and-play reef setups.
Sicce Listens and Delivers at Reefapalooza Orlando
Jay from Sicce walked us through a whole lineup of compact, reliable gear perfect for reef tanks big and small. Highlights included their new magnetic bracket for the Scuba Contactless Heater, compact Shark skimmers for AIO tanks, and an efficient, flexible UVC sterilizer line. With five-year warranties, thoughtful features, and a commitment to customer feedback, Sicce continues to be a standout for reef-ready equipment that’s built to last.
New Brightwell Aquatics Products at You Need to See
Brightwell Aquatics brought some serious innovation to Reefapalooza Orlando with a lineup of new additives that have hobbyists talking. Remy walked us through MicroBacter Purple, a shelf-stable, photosynthetic live bacteria that helps boost water clarity, coral health, and nutrient control. He also highlighted Polyp Ignite, a pre-feeding stimulant that gets your corals ready to chow down, and Coral Inertia, a clean, no-dye coral food packed with nutrition. Brightwell continues to push reef nutrition and microbiology in exciting new directions.
That’s a wrap on Reefapalooza Orlando 2025
From cutting-edge gear and standout new products to catching up with some of the most passionate people in the hobby, this year’s show had something for every reef keeper. Whether you made it to the show or are catching up from home, we hope this recap gave you a taste of the excitement and maybe even a few ideas for your next upgrade. Maybe we'll see you at the next show! Until next time, happy reefing.
Login and Registration Form