Betta fish are straightforward to care for, colorful, glamorous, and full of personality, so it’s no wonder they make such great pets for aquarists! In fact, second to goldfish, bettas are the world’s number one fishy friend. In the betta’s natural habitat, the water bodies are heavily vegetated, providing shelter, protection from predators, and offering … Read more
Algae is the hobbyist’s sworn enemy, spreading in a slimy carpet over your tank and coating your decorations, plants, and viewing panes in green, red, or brown gunk. You can use an algae magnet to remove the eyesore from your tank glass, but you’ll need some help to get rid of algae growing in hard-to-reach … Read more
Most hobbyists start their journey into marine fishkeeping with a Clownfish. These colorful saltwater fish found fame in the Captain Nemo film, are easy to keep, relatively cheap to buy, and full of personality. Clownfish are happiest when in a symbiotic relationship with a sea anemone, and Bubble-Tip anemones can make the perfect host for … Read more
Have you ever wished for an aquarium plant whose colorful leaves could provide a beautiful foil for the green plants that surround it? Look no further than the Ludwigia family. With their red leaves and stems, Ludwigia plants provide vibrant bursts of color to add diversity and interest to the planted aquarium. Ludwigia palustris is … Read more
Red aquatic plants can make a beautiful visual display in your fish tank, adding a bold splash of color to your aquascape that contrasts perfectly with the green leaves of your other planting. However, red aquarium plants are notoriously difficult to grow and maintain successfully, but there are a few species that beginners can take … Read more
Living aquatic plants are an excellent addition to any freshwater aquarium. The plants take nitrates from the water to use as fertilizer; they absorb carbon dioxide and give off oxygen through photosynthesis, providing shelter and spawning grounds for fish. Green plants look beautiful in any aquascape, but red aquarium plants add something special to the … Read more
Rotala indica is a beautiful aquarium plant that does well in most well-maintained tropical freshwater tanks, even without CO2 supplementation. This red-leafed plant species is easy to care for and can grow quite tall, making it an ideal choice to create an exciting backdrop to a deep tank setup. Read this guide to learn everything … Read more
When setting up a planted aquarium, one of the best ways to achieve a balanced, natural look is to create depth using foreground and background plants. Foreground plants are low and usually don’t stand out too much, while background plants are tall and can be much more extravagant. Keep reading for a list of beautiful background … Read more
Alternanthera reineckii “mini” is a beautiful red-leafed plant that’s perfect if you want a plant that grows slowly and doesn’t get too tall for a small tank. Unlike many red plants, this variety isn’t especially difficult to care for, making it a good choice for a novice aquarist. The plant is readily available and not … Read more
Most hobbyists, myself included, love to include plenty of vibrant, living plants in their tanks. If you want a versatile, bright green plant that’s easy to grow in a tropical freshwater tank, Hemianthus Micranthemoides might be a species worth considering. Read this guide to learn everything you need to know about growing and propagating this … Read more
If you’re looking for a tall, elegant background plant that you can grow in your tropical fish tank, Cyperus helferi could be a species that’s worth considering. This large-sized aquarium plant species can be tricky to settle in a new environment, so we don’t recommend it as a beginner plant. That said, if you’re new … Read more
Fissidens fontanus is a relatively newly-discovered aquatic plant that’s native to the US and is taking the hobby by storm; being gorgeous to look at, incredibly easy to grow, and hassle-free to care for once it’s taken root. If you want to bring a whole new dimension to your fish tank, keep reading to learn … Read more
Ludwigias are a popular family of aquarium plants because of their stunning red colors, but it’s important to know that some species are much easier to grow than others. Ludwigia arcuata is a beautiful variety with slender, narrow red leaves, but it is also harder to grow than some of its relatives. Let’s look closer … Read more
When I bought my first fish tank in my teens, I was daunted by keeping live plants, so I opted instead for plastic replicas. My favorite of these was a green and red broad-leafed imitation which was quite realistic and added a welcome splash of color to the aquarium. Little did I know, then, that … Read more
The Aponogeton ulvaceus is a delicate bulb plant from Madagascar that I found out about when I was looking to add some greenery to my aquarium. While doing my research, I saw a picture of an Aponogeton ulvaceus in full bloom and was hooked! Since then, I’ve become a huge fan of these tropical plants. … Read more
