Hands testing salinity with a refractometer on a newly set up, not-yet-cycled reef tank.
Guide wanted

Reef Tank Keeping: Setup Through the First Year

Get new reefers through the cycle and the first year without a crash.

5 weeksOne 2-hour session a week, in person or remoteHybrid — in person or remote6–10 Members
Apply to teach this Course

The Course

Most reef tanks that fail, fail in the first year. This Course walks new and soon-to-be reefers through equipment, the cycle, water chemistry and stocking, with reviews of each Member's own tank and test log along the way.

What Members walk away able to do

  • Choose equipment that fits their tank and budget
  • Run and confirm a full nitrogen cycle
  • Test, log and hold salinity, temperature and alkalinity steady
  • Plan a hardy first livestock order
  • Know what to check first when something goes wrong

Draft outline

A starting point. You shape the final version with us.

  1. Week 1 — Equipment and setup
  2. Week 2 — The cycle and testing
  3. Week 3 — Water chemistry and stability
  4. Week 4 — Stocking: fish, coral and quarantine
  5. Week 5 — Troubleshooting with Members' own tanks

Who we're looking for

  • A reefer with years of healthy tanks behind them
  • Comfortable reviewing photos and test logs on video

What AlongSide brings

We build the Course with you

You bring the know-how. We help shape the outline, write the checklists and handouts, and set the pacing.

A place to teach

Where it fits, the Course runs at an AlongSide Space — the Philadelphia garage, or the Linwood kitchen or gym.

Enrollment and payment handled

Members enroll and pay through AlongSide. Reminders and attendance are handled for you.

Members already asking

We promote the Course to people on AlongSide who have asked for this skill.

Already teach it? Bring it here

If you already run a Course on this subject, list it on AlongSide after a short review. It carries the AlongSide name and reaches our Members.

Pay agreed up front

Tuition, schedule and your share are agreed together before the Course launches.

How it works

  1. 1
    Apply

    Tell us about your experience. It takes about five minutes.

  2. 2
    Talk with us

    A short call about the Course, your schedule and how you teach.

  3. 3
    Audition

    Teach a 20-minute sample, either as a short video or live at an AlongSide Space.

  4. 4
    Build and launch

    We finish the Course with you, set the dates, and open enrollment.