Reef Retreat 2025: A New Era in Aquarium Community Gatherings

The Reef Retreat 2025, hosted on the beautiful campus of Roger Williams University in Bristol Rhode Island, marked a new milestone for the reef aquarium community. This gathering of thought leaders, aquarium enthusiasts, industry professionals, aquaculture experts, and scientists provided a venue for continued education, learning, and collaboration. This two-day event redefined what a modern aquarium trade show can offer, refocusing on substance, community, and education.
While the event paid homage to long-standing trade shows like the Marine Aquarium Conference of North America (MACNA), which defined the industry for decades, it developed its own identity by emphasizing an intimate, focused structure. Reef Retreat 2025 stepped away from large trade halls and busy vendor interactions, centering its energy on lecture-driven learning and meaningful group activities.
A Learning-Focused Program
At the heart of Reef Retreat 2025 was a thoughtfully designed program geared toward education. From reef aquarists to seasoned professionals, attendees had the opportunity to expand their understanding through multiple lectures and panel discussions.
The program included dedicated lecture blocks that addressed topics core to reefkeeping and marine conservation:
- Chemistry and Nutrient Balancing: Exploring the essential elements for maintaining thriving reef systems, including nitrogen and phosphate management.
- Pests, Pathogens, and Disease Control: Practical solutions for diagnosing and managing common challenges affecting corals in aquariums.
- Coral Spawning and Larval Rearing: Techniques for coral propagation, presented through the lenses of home hobbyists, academic researchers, and large-scale government programs.
- Reef Microbiome: Understanding the role of microscopic ecosystems in promoting reef health.
- Advanced Aquaculture and Aquarium Automation: Aquaculture systems, and Integrated monitoring tools for facilities and modern reef aquarists.
By organizing speeches into structured blocks, Reef Retreat allowed participants to focus deeply on each topic, progressing from broad overviews to specific applications. For example, the coral spawning sessions began with at-home techniques, moved into university-level research, and concluded with large-scale conservation projects from Australia’s government agencies.
Top-Tier Speakers Engage and Inspire
The event featured an exceptional list of speakers, including industry experts, academics, and thought leaders. Each brought a unique perspective to their talks, sharing years of expertise and a strong commitment to advancing reefkeeping knowledge. Some key speakers included:
- Sanjay Joshi – Photons and the mechanics of photosynthesis in corals
- Rich Ross – Coral spawning, settlement and rearing at home
- Craig Bingman – Complex reef chemistry – Calcium and Alkalinity
- Sara Stevens – Caribbean Coral health and recover techniques for tissue degradation
- Julian Sprung – Microbialization and effect on wild reefs and reef aquariums
- Joe Yaiullo – Reboot of his amazing 20,000-gallon reef aquarium at the Long Island Aquarium
- Zack Murphy – QM Labs marine ornamental aquaculture program
- Additional experts: Kevin Erickson, Koty Sharp, Nicole Fogarty, Chris Jury, and Salem Clemens, who contributed to areas such as water chemistry, reef restoration, and microbiome research.
The lecture sessions took place in Roger Williams University’s mock appellate courtroom, a venue equipped with stadium seating and superior acoustics, providing an ideal environment for focused discussion.
A Balanced and Compact Schedule
Unlike sprawling trade shows that divide attention across multiple activities, Reef Retreat condensed its programming into a streamlined schedule emphasizing both learning and community.
Each day included two, three-block lecture series, interspersed with meal breaks and social opportunities. Talks within each block revolved around a unifying theme, creating engaging and cohesive sessions designed to maximize understanding.
This innovative structure ensured attendees could concentrate fully on each topic while allowing plenty of time to reflect, socialize, and exchange ideas with others in the tightly knit community.
Strengthening Camaraderie Through a Shared Experience
The choice of venue and accommodation was a departure from the typical trade show format. Attendees stayed in the dormitories of Roger Williams University, fostering a collaborative and communal atmosphere. Evening discussions in the dormitory common spaces created unique opportunities for informal networking and collaboration moments that extended well beyond the lectures.
The dormitories also gave participants the autonomy to create their own social experience, enabling a rare level of connection within the reefkeeping community.
A Unique Identity for the Future of Aquarium Events
Reef Retreat 2025 demonstrated that a smaller, focused format could deliver profound value to participants. Organizers carefully avoided distractions like sprawling vendor areas, opting instead for a highly curated sponsor section with only a handful of tables. This placed near-total emphasis on education while maintaining the event’s grassroots appeal. Special thanks to Roger Williams University, Dr. Andrew Rhyne, Lena Fitzgerald, and all the organizers of this incredible event.
Looking Toward Reef Retreat 2026
Organizers of Reef Retreat are already planning next year’s event, with a commitment to expanding the program and broadening participation across the reefkeeping community. By building on this year’s success, Reef Retreat is positioning itself as a cornerstone event where education, connection, and collaboration are priority, bringing together thought leaders, academia, scientists and hobbyists.
For news and updates about Reef Retreat 2026, visit www.reefretreat.org.