Testing the chemical composition of aquatic ecosystems is something all fish keepers have to do regardless of the kind of habitats they manage. Water testing for quality according to certain parameters is a vital task that can determine the overall health of all species in the ecosystem. When you get started in the aquarist hobby, you begin with a water treatment process that requires daily testing until the tank becomes established and completes the nitrogen cycle. After the initial stocking of species, daily testing is recommended until the first partial water change, and then you can change the frequency to once every week at the least. However, there’s a lot …

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For many aquarists, having saltwater or freshwater planted aquariums serves more than just aesthetic purposes. The natural beauty of aquatic plants is only secondary to the important role they play in balancing the ecosystem. Plants improve chemical oxygenation of water molecules, compete with algae for nutrients, and serve as a surface for Nitrobacter colonies to form. There’s no question that plants are win-win situations for fish keepers, but they also require a certain level of care in terms of nutrition and biochemistry. As organic species, plants will age, reproduce, wither, and cease to exist, but you shouldn’t see them perish at a very fast rate. If you see more than …

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Deep cleaning aquariums is something many aquarists try to stay away from. We’re used to spring cleaning when it comes to our garages, patios, and cars, but aquatic habitats are certainly different situations because you should always provide the least amount of disruption to your species. Completely emptying out a fish tank so you can scrub everything off will involve taking out fish, plants, and invertebrates, and this is something you should avoid. It’s always better to deep clean in various stages so species aren’t bothered as much. Here are some recommendations on how you can give your saltwater or freshwater aquarium a nice spring cleaning without disrupting the ecosystem …

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If there was a way to distill the fishkeeping hobby into a single phrase, it would be something along the lines of constantly doing things that keep ammonia levels as close to zero as possible. We can also rephrase this as always maintaining an optimal nitrogen cycle, and this applies to freshwater aquariums and reef tanks alike. Ammonia (NH3) is a byproduct of closed aquatic ecosystems, and it’s also a lethal pathogen you should always be watching out for. The knowledgeable staff at Aquatic Warehouse, a trusted aquarium supplier, want to share a few things you need to know about ammonia and how to get rid of it in your …

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The nitrogen cycle of an aquarium is a biochemical process crucial to the sustainability of the ecosystem. You should never put fish or invertebrates in an aquarium that hasn’t been adequately cycled. At the same time, you shouldn’t transport fish in water that doesn’t come from an established and cycled tank. Only plants are able to withstand water that hasn’t been cycled, but only for a certain period. In fact, starting a new tank with aquatic plants is one of the first steps toward establishing and cycling an enclosed ecosystem. What Cycling Really Means In the fishkeeping and aquaculture world, cycling is the process of treating the water so it …

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The image of goldfish swimming in a fishbowl is very cinematic. In the 1996 film One Fine Day, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and George Clooney, a bowl with three fancy goldfish is used various times to advance the plot or provide a visual gag. In the acclaimed television series Mr. Robot, the main character hears a lonely male Siamese fighting fish named QWERTY talking to him during psychotic episodes. In most cases, these movie fishbowls lack aeration and filtration systems. What viewers don’t realize is that these fish are normally kept in large tanks and placed in small bowls only for a few hours during filming. If you’re thinking it’s best …

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With climate change creating more extreme weather conditions, unfortunate phenomena such as massive fish die-offs are becoming more common. A 2019 study conducted by marine biologists from the University of California and Reed College estimates that fish kill events caused by heat waves will double by the year 2050 in some Wisconsin lakes. Water temperature plays a very important factor in the health of many aquatic species, particularly those that aren’t migratory since they’re not instinctively predisposed to swim away in search of cooler water. In an enclosed ecosystem such as a saltwater or freshwater aquarium, fish keepers are responsible for regulating the water temperature, and they should know that …

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When you review aquarium maintenance guides, you’ll notice most of them recommend bottled bacteria as one of the most essential fish tank supplies and adding small doses of the bacteria each time a water change is performed. Other guides don’t include this recommendation at all. Instead, they suggest adding a few drops of enhanced water conditioner, which is incorrect. Some fish keepers will tell you there’s no need to add more bacteria to a freshwater or reef tank as long as you’re doing everything to keep ammonia levels as close to zero as possible, and this is also fake news. Not-so-new research confirms the necessity of healthy bacteria and the …

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A freshwater or reef aquarium is a type of enclosed aquatic ecosystem consisting of various parts. The external base of the tank makes contact with a horizontal support element. Right above this part, on the other side of the glass, is the bottom, which should always consist of an adequate substrate. Adequate in this instance means the right combination of materials and elements that will be conducive to the intended ecosystem and all species within the tank. Let’s review some of these elements and how adequate they can be for various tanks. Gravel This is the most popular substrate material, and it will be suitable for most tanks as long …

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