The ember tetra is one of the most colorful and compatible tetra species available in the aquarium trade today. These small and bright fish bring a spark of life to the freshwater aquarium and can be kept with an assortment of other tank mates. They don’t require much extra care and will look spectacular in … Read more
Maybe one of the simplest pieces of aquarium equipment, the air stone can be used in many different ways, including for oxygenating a tank, filtration, or as decoration. What does an air stone do? Aquarium air stones are typically made from a type of porous rock or limewood. Porous material allows oxygen to be pushed … Read more
At one point or another, the bright and colorful colors of an African cichlid tank have influenced many into setting up their own cichlid aquarium. Being limited to only a few different compatible species for every tank means that color, aggression, and behavior are all key factors when stocking African cichlids. There is one genus … Read more
Water sprite is one of the easier freshwater plant species you can get for your aquarium. This plant can either be planted in the substrate or floated at the surface of the water to provide shelter and shade for fish below. Water sprite is also an incredibly fast grower and will need to be trimmed … Read more
If you’re looking to add a very unusual resident to your aquarium and you have a big setup, you might want to consider one of the species of Bichir that are available in the aquarium trade. Bichirs are sometimes referred to as “prehistoric” or “dinosaur” fish because of their weird, ancient look and bizarre behavior. … Read more
With hundreds of different cichlid species to choose from, it can be a little difficult to narrow down the perfect one for your tank. The firemouth cichlid is a type of semi-aggressive cichlid from Central America whose brilliant fiery colors match its sometimes territorial behaviors. These fish are especially hardy and could be a great … Read more
Whether you have a 125-gallon reef tank or a 5-gallon betta tank, you need a filter system if you’re going to enjoy healthy, long-lived fishes. How so? Well, all living creatures produce waste products. Those waste products, together with decomposing plant matter, leftover food, etc., kick off the nitrogen cycle in your tank. If the … Read more
The Sparkling gourami is a beautiful, lively little fish that can make a great addition to a peaceful community aquarium. These fish are relatively straightforward to care for, too, making them ideal for beginners. Although seldom seen in the home aquarium, Sparkling gouramis can sometimes be found in fish stores and are widely available online … Read more
The koi betta is a variation of Betta splendens, otherwise known as the Siamese fighting fish, with striking patterns that resemble that of a typical koi fish. Their aquarium husbandry does not differ from that of any other betta fish variation, but their beautiful colorings can lead to some unfortunate health problems. Keep reading to … Read more
The Honey gourami is one of many different gouramis, and a school of these pretty little golden fishes can make a lovely addition to a peaceful community tank. Gouramis are generally straightforward to care for and are a good choice for a beginner to the hobby. In this article, we show you how to choose … Read more
The Yoyo loach makes a great addition to a community tank, being playful, beautiful, and helpful to the aquarist thanks to its scavenging habit. Although these loaches are pretty hardy, we don’t recommend them for complete beginners, as they need pristine water conditions. Also, the fishes’ small scales tend to make them prone to some … Read more
One of the most commonly recommended aquarium species of algae eater is the Chinese algae eater. These fish are very popular among beginners due to their algae eater reputation and appealing behavior as they dart around the tank. However, these fish need special consideration as they only tend to eat algae when they’re juveniles and … Read more
Of the many varieties of tetras, the Congo tetra is perhaps the most overlooked when it comes to the aquarium. These beautiful little fishes have luminescent colors all across their body and make a spectacular sight swimming in a large shoal in any community tank. Many people don’t consider or even notice these fish in … Read more
If you want to introduce a splash of vibrant, natural color into your aquarium, you’ll need to add some live plants to the mix. Aquatic plants come in almost as many shapes, colors, and sizes as tropical fish, so there’s no shortage of material for you to play with when aquascaping your tank. Staurogyne repens … Read more
If you fancy keeping something a little bit different from the usual tropical fish and invertebrates that you see in most home aquariums, you might like to consider keeping freshwater eels. In this guide, we provide an overview of how to care for freshwater eels so that you know exactly what you’re taking on. Of … Read more
