Adding live plants will always be one of the smartest strategies you can apply to your fish keeping experience. You’ll never go wrong with a planted habitat, and one of the reasons for this recommended practice is related to the ability of aquatic plants to absorb ammonia from the water. As all aquarists know, keeping ammonia levels down to zero is crucial to the survival of fish and invertebrates, so this is a key advantage to keeping freshwater planted aquariums. Here are a few things you should know about this biochemical process. Understanding Plants and the Nitrogen Cycle When you establish a tank before stocking it with fish, you’re in …

Read more…

Water temperature considerations for any aquarium will always come down to the species you stock your tank with. Whether you care for an aquascape or a planted tank that includes fish or invertebrates, you can’t assume all plants will thrive at the same temperature. Ornamental fish are largely resilient tropical species that can adapt to a range of temperatures. The same can be said about many plant species, but some happen to be more delicate than others. Recommended Water Temperature for Planted Tanks If you ask for freshwater tank temperature advice from your local aquarium supplier, chances are the recommendation will be around 76 or 78 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature …

Read more…

Aquarium sump filtration systems are essentially spaces where fish keepers can consolidate pieces of equipment. Quite a few aquarists design their own sumps, particularly for reef tanks, but these systems can also be used when keeping freshwater species. You’ll rarely see sumps being offered as part of starter aquarium kits. They’re more likely installed along with custom acrylic installations, and they’re often placed under the tank or behind it. In a garden koi pond, a sump drainage and filtration system provides maximum convenience in terms of maintenance. With all this in mind, sumps aren’t common in the aquascaping world, but there’s no reason they should be excluded from freshwater planted …

Read more…

In May 2021, British newspaper The Times published a lifestyle feature about a trend observed among middle-aged men across the United Kingdom. Instead of motorcycles and grueling CrossFit challenges, British men of a certain age are taking up aquascaping, the art of keeping lush aquarium gardens. A few celebrities, such as BBC host James Wong, have been chronicling their new hobbies on social networks such as Twitter, and they’re now fielding questions such as whether freshwater aquarium plants can be grown on gravel substrates. The answer is yes, some aquatic plant species will benefit from gravel being part of the ecosystem. The Main Types of Aquatic Plants Without getting too …

Read more…