The use of carbon in the fish keeping hobby is relatively new. While many bodies of water are exposed to carbon in the form of bituminous coal, which is a form of organic rock, the biochemical processes that carbon deposits generate in natural habitats aren’t necessary in fish tanks. They’re complementary, but they can also provide benefits that make fish keeping more efficient. Unlike other important fish tank supplies, carbon isn’t something you’ll normally find as part of an aquarium starter kit. Incorporating it into your tank maintenance routines is a personal choice. A healthy aquatic ecosystem doesn’t hinge upon using carbon, but some of its properties make it ideal …

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Fish tanks come in many shapes and sizes, but not all of them can be described as being the most adequate for either aquatic species or their human keepers. The main goal of the aquarium hobby is to replicate natural ecosystem conditions in an enclosed artificial environment. With such a goal in mind, the best habitat size and shape for freshwater species wouldn’t be a tank at all. A very large garden pond that can hold about 50,000 gallons of water would be perfect for tropical fish. In the case of saltwater species, an artificial lagoon with 100,000 gallons would do the trick. Naturally, very few aquarists have the space …

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Fish tanks are generally acquired by their volume. For example, 20-gallon tanks are often sold as part of starter freshwater aquarium kits for beginners, and their shapes are rectangular for the most part. The volume capacity of a fish tank gives you an idea about how heavy it can be once it’s filled with water, substrate, decorations, and aquatic species. In the case of 20-gallon tanks, we’re talking about approximately 225 pounds, which means you would have to provide furniture or a structure to support such weight. The volume measurement refers to the tank filled to the very top, but you should never fill it up so much. Recommended Aquarium …

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Entering the world of fish keeping isn’t complicated. Some tanks are kits that have been specifically put together with beginners in mind, and they’re meant to become enclosed ecosystems for tropical fish (make sure you ask, because not all starter kits are created with everything that’s needed). The aquarist hobby is an excellent introduction to biochemistry, marine biology, and ecology. Plus, it boils down to giving pets the tender loving care they deserve. Whether you go with an aquarium starter kit or decide to take it slow and complete a nitrogen cycle on your own, here are some tips to guide you along the way. Choose Between a Freshwater or …

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Virtually all aquatic species need some sort of physical activity to enjoy healthy lives. Tropical fish and invertebrates, whether they’re kept in freshwater or saltwater tanks, stand to benefit the most from exercise because they’re already living in enclosed ecosystems that are generally far smaller than their natural habitats. Aquarium fish incorporate exercise into their lives through activities such as swimming, feeding, mating, establishing territory, and escaping aggressors. This need for exercise is something fish keepers should keep in mind when setting up their tanks. The friendly and knowledgeable staff at Aquatic Warehouse, a trusted provider of saltwater and freshwater aquarium supplies, would like to share some important details about …

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From 2011 to 2018, some of the most exuberant and spectacular aquariums were featured on the reality television show Tanked, which aired on the Animal Planet cable network for more than 150 episodes. Every aquarium shown on Tanked was (though we will say that most were a bit zany and over the top) designed by a professional acrylics manufacturer with many years of experience setting up freshwater and saltwater tanks for commercial establishments, celebrities, and interior decorators with wealthy clients. Retaining the services of professionals who set up aquariums for discerning clients isn’t the only way to make a tank look as if it could have appeared on an episode …

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The rewarding hobby of fish keeping revolves around routines. Just like other pets—such as cats and dogs—require daily care and feeding, fish and invertebrates also need your attention frequently, although some tasks can be streamlined and automated if you have all of the necessary fish tank supplies. Aquarists know the maintenance performed on their tanks is vital because they’re in charge of balancing the biochemistry of enclosed aquatic ecosystems. Keeping an aquarium clean and balanced will translate into healthy and happy species. This is something you can accomplish in just 30 minutes each week for freshwater tanks, or about an hour each week for saltwater tanks. Daily Aquarium Tasks Fish …

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Even though aquarium fish are traditionally kept for their ornamental value, we tend to appreciate them as pets. For this reason, seeing these aquatic creatures suddenly dying can be extremely frustrating. Quite a few tropical fish don’t have long life spans, but even guppies should live a couple of years in a healthy ecosystem. Some of the tiny saltwater goby species will only live about a year in captivity or in a natural reef habitat. Since the fish you get from aquarium shops are usually juvenile, you should expect to keep them for about three quarters of their regular life span. If they die shortly after you introduce them to …

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Bottled water is an industry that has taken over the world, and the United States is where this market is the most active. Water that comes from bottles sold at a supermarket is perfectly fine for human consumption, and it can be one of the various sources of water for your aquarium, but only if it’s adequately treated. However, for the most part, there are no good reasons for fish keepers to use bottled water unless the municipal water is of suspect quality. The Best Water for Fish Tanks Established H2O that has completed the nitrogen cycle and been enriched with beneficial Nitrobacter colonies will always be the best solution …

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You don’t have to be a seasoned aquarist to accept that not all fish will get along. Aquatic species, whether they come from freshwater or saltwater habitats, are guided by certain behaviors that can make them aggressive. Such behaviors may be inherent or a result of events and conditions within enclosed ecosystems such as fish tanks. Fish will fight over food, territory, reproductive mates, or because it’s in their nature to fight for survival. In community aquariums, different species are expected to coexist peacefully. These are the tanks nearly all aquarists strive to keep because of their colorful diversity, but physical aggression can even break out in these habitats. Here’s …

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