Aquarium Care Guides
2881 articles- Hang-on-Back Filter GuideHow hang-on-back (HOB) power filters work, their strengths and limits, and how to size, install, and maintain them for small to medium aquar
- Soft-Water vs Hard-Water FishWhat water hardness means, how to match species to GH and KH, ways to adjust water, and the problems caused by a poor match.
- Choosing Safe Aquarium RocksHow to tell inert from reactive rocks, the vinegar acid test for carbonates, which stones are safe, and why limestone raises hardness and pH
- Using Driftwood in AquariumsWhat tannins do, how to prepare driftwood by boiling and soaking, why wood floats then sinks, safe wood types, and the harmless biofilm that
- Quarantining New PlantsWhy new aquarium plants carry pest snails, algae and pesticide residue, and how to isolate or dip them with bleach, alum or potassium perman
- Fish Care During VacationHow long fish can go without food, when to use automatic feeders or sitters, and the pre-trip maintenance that keeps a tank stable while awa
- Aquariums During Power OutagesHow to keep fish alive when the power fails: maintaining oxygen, retaining heat, using battery air pumps, and protecting the biofilter.
- Transporting and Shipping FishHow to move fish safely: fasting beforehand, bagging with oxygen or breather bags, temperature protection, and acclimating them on arrival.
- Humane Euthanasia of FishWhen euthanasia is warranted, the clove oil (eugenol) method as a humane option, the importance of a confirming second step, and methods to
- Stress in Aquarium FishWhat causes stress in aquarium fish, how it suppresses the immune system through cortisol, the signs to watch for, and how to reduce it.
- Garden Pond Fish CareKeeping fish in a garden pond: pond depth and volume, goldfish and koi needs, oxygenation, and seasonal and winter care.
- Live Rock in Marine AquariumsLive rock explained: how it provides biological filtration, the curing process, the difference between dry and live rock, and its role in aq
- Setting Up a Marine AquariumSteps to start a marine aquarium: mixing salt water, adding live rock, cycling the tank, protein skimming and the order in which to add live
- Reef Aquarium BasicsReef aquarium fundamentals: target water parameters, lighting and flow needs, and an overview of soft, LPS and SPS corals.
- Nano Aquarium CareCaring for small nano aquariums: why low volume is less stable, stocking limits and the maintenance discipline these tanks require.
- Coldwater AquariumsA guide to unheated coldwater aquariums: which species suit room temperature, including goldfish, white cloud minnows and hillstream loaches
- Brackish Water AquariumsAn introduction to brackish aquariums: salinity and specific gravity ranges, mixing marine salt, buffering and suitable species such as moll
- Beneficial Aquarium SnailsA guide to beneficial freshwater snails: nerite, mystery and trumpet snails, their algae and clean-up roles, and why some do not breed out o
- Keeping Freshwater ShrimpHow to keep dwarf freshwater shrimp: Neocaridina versus Caridina parameters, molting, copper sensitivity and building stable colonies.
- Temperature Stability and HeatwavesWhy fish need stable temperature, how heat lowers dissolved oxygen, summer cooling with fans and aeration, winter heating, and acclimating t
- Low-Tech Planted AquariumsHow no-CO2 planted tanks work, which hardy plants suit them, lighting and growth pace, and how to keep light, nutrients, and carbon in balan
- Fertilizing Aquarium PlantsThe difference between macronutrients and micronutrients, root versus water-column feeding, and the basics of the Estimative Index dosing me
- CO2 Injection in Planted TanksWhy injected CO2 boosts plant growth, how a drop checker reads the ~30 ppm target, the pH-KH-CO2 relationship, and the safety risks of overd
- Testing Aquarium WaterWhich parameters to monitor, how liquid kits compare with test strips for accuracy, and how often to test a new versus an established aquari
- Blackwater Aquariums and BotanicalsWhat tannins are, how leaf litter and botanicals tint and acidify water, the conditions of natural blackwater rivers, and which fish suit th
- Remineralizing RO WaterHow to add minerals back to pure RO water, the difference between GH and KH, and target hardness ranges for soft-water fish and dwarf shrimp
- Dechlorinating Tap WaterWhy municipal tap water is treated with chlorine or chloramine, how these differ, and how water conditioners neutralize them before water en
- RO/DI Water for AquariumsHow reverse osmosis and deionization purify water, when aquarists need it, what TDS measures, and why pure RO water must be remineralized be
- Sexing Aquarium FishHow to tell male from female aquarium fish using sexual dimorphism, modified fins, behaviour and species-specific cues such as the guppy gon
- Raising Fish FryHow to raise fish fry: the rearing tank, staged feeding from infusoria to baby brine shrimp, and the water quality that drives growth.
- Conditioning Fish for BreedingHow to condition breeding fish with high-quality and live foods, water changes and separation of the sexes before pairing them.
- Egg-Layers vs LivebearersThe two main reproduction modes in aquarium fish, examples of each, and why livebearer fry survive more readily than egg-layer fry.
- Setting Up a Breeding TankHow to set up a dedicated breeding tank: size, gentle filtration, spawning media, spawning triggers and protecting eggs from being eaten.
- Managing Aggression in AquariumsHow territory drives aquarium aggression and practical measures such as rescaping, breaking line of sight, dither fish and enrichment.
- Schooling and Shoaling FishThe difference between shoaling and schooling, why these fish need groups, and the stress and aggression caused by keeping too few.
- Fish Compatibility and Community TanksHow to match aquarium fish by temperament, adult size and water parameters, and which species and traits make tanks incompatible.
- Stocking Your AquariumWhy the inch-per-gallon rule is unreliable, how bioload and filtration set real limits, and why fish should be added gradually in stages.
- Diet-Related Bloat and ConstipationCauses of diet-related bloat and constipation in fish, how to treat them with fasting and high-fibre foods, and how to tell them apart from
- Flake vs Pellet vs Frozen FoodsA comparison of flake, pellet, and frozen fish foods, when to use each, how to store them, and the difference between floating and sinking f
- Feeding Herbivorous FishHow to feed herbivorous fish with blanched vegetables, algae-based wafers, and plant matter, and why grazers benefit from frequent feeding.
- Feeding Fish FryFirst foods for fish fry, from infusoria and vinegar eels to baby brine shrimp and powdered foods, matched to fry size and fed several times
- Fasting and Feeding HolidaysWhy a weekly fasting day benefits fish, how long they can go without food, and how to manage feeding with auto-feeders and pet sitters durin
- The Dangers of OverfeedingHow overfeeding harms aquarium fish and water quality through waste accumulation, health problems, and pollution, and the simple steps that
- Live Foods for Aquarium FishAn overview of common live foods, including brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms, and blackworms, with their nutritional benefits and the risks
- Aquarium Fish NutritionAn overview of the nutrients fish require, including protein, lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals, and how needs differ between ca
- How to Feed Aquarium FishPractical guidance on how much and how often to feed aquarium fish, why variety matters, and how to reach surface, mid-water, and bottom fee
- Aquarium Maintenance ScheduleHow to plan aquarium maintenance around water testing: water changes by nitrate level, filter cleaning cadence, and routine tasks.
- Acclimating New FishHow to acclimate new fish safely with temperature and water acclimation, the floating and drip methods, and why bag chemistry matters.
- Aquascaping FundamentalsCore aquascaping principles: arranging hardscape, setting a focal point, using the rule of thirds and golden ratio, and creating depth.
- Choosing Aquarium SubstrateHow to choose between gravel, sand, and nutrient-rich aqua soil, and how to support rooted plants in inert substrates.