"In the end we will conserve only what we love; We will love only what we understand; We will understand only what we have been taught"                                     
----Baba Dioum, Senegalese ecologist

Welcome to Reef Encounters!

If you've found your way here, you probably have more than a passing interest in the fascinating hobby of marine aquaria. Welcome aboard …we sympathize with your addiction!

Reef Encounters is a family-run business founded in 2002 by Steve Lowes. Based near Ithaca , NY, we supply local retail outlets in Central New York with premium aquacultured corals. In the following pages you will find examples of corals grown and propagated at our facility as well as information for maintaining them based on over 20 years experience keeping successful marine aquaria.

We know there is certainly more than one way to set up a successful marine aquarium. There are also, however, many more wrong ways to go about it. Reef Encounters specializes in and offers advice on modern miniature reef systems. We promote only those products or strategies that have been proven successful in our own systems. We emphasize keeping things simple and using biology and chemistry to establish a balanced aquarium. A healthy dose of patience is also an essential component of a successful/healthy aquarium. Reef Encounters' primary objective is to support responsible marine aquarium keeping through the promotion of captive-raised corals, fish, and other suitable animals and the approaches necessary for maintaining them. If our hobby is to survive and bring the wonders of the tropical reef to others, then it is paramount that successful approaches are clearly communicated and promoted.

We hope you find this website useful. Please check back often, as we plan to update our livestock offerings and services as we grow. We will also use this website to communicate advances and additional information that you may find helpful for maintaining a beautiful and educational aquarium.

Steve Lowes
Owner and Founder