There are various ways to measure success in the world of fish keeping. Some aquarists are fully dedicated to creating habitats worthy of winning competitions such as the International Aquatic Plants Layout contest or the Aquarama reef tank competition. Other fish keepers enjoy dazzling members of their household and guests with elaborate tanks set up on custom-made cabinets. Perhaps a better way of determining success among fish keepers would be to focus on the ultimate goal of providing a healthy and balanced ecosystem for all species. Creating a self-enclosed habitat is a rewarding experience in and of itself, but it should be equally rewarding for fish, invertebrates, plants, and microorganisms. …

Read more…

Periodic cleaning of aquariums is something all fish keepers know must be done if they want their aquatic species to live healthily and thrive in their enclosed ecosystems. This is non-negotiable, although the frequency of cleaning can be reduced through smart strategies. Each time an aquarium is cleaned, fish keepers get to learn more about the habitats they manage. To a certain extent, a sparkly clean aquarium isn’t only aesthetic but also conducive to a healthy ecosystem. However, there are some situations in which too much cleaning can bring about complications. Cleaning Versus Water Changes The main purpose of keeping aquariums clean is to inhibit the excessive production of nitrogen, …

Read more…

In their natural habitats, the tropical fish we choose for aquariums don’t face issues related to eating more than they’re physiologically capable of. The reality of fish living in rivers, streams, lakes, and the ocean is that their nutrition is compromised by the availability of food, which can sometimes be difficult to come by. Some predatory species are biologically hardwired to kill and eat as much as they can because that’s what Mother Nature has granted to them. Sharks will eat until they’re more than full, but they’ll resort to natural disgorging functions to make more space and continue eating. In an aquarium, eating is a learned behavior many species …

Read more…

Advances in diving and submarine technologies have allowed marine biologists to explore some of the deepest points of the sea, and the species they’ve been able to research and classify range from the fascinating to the horrifying. Deep sea species swim, feed, mate, and reproduce in a habitat of complete darkness. However, they’re quite different than the tropical species we keep in freshwater aquariums and reef tanks, and their sleep cycles don’t correspond with periods of light. All aquarium species, including plants and invertebrates, need to synchronize their rest and sleep cycles with the movement of the Earth around the sun. Even if they live in tanks that aren’t reached …

Read more…

Seasoned fish keepers are known to be strong advocates of planted aquariums. In fact, some of them choose to make aquascaping a full-time hobby that can get them recognized by the Aquatic Gardeners Association or the International Aquatic Plants Layout Contest. The more you get into aquatic plants, the better off your aquarium ecosystem will be. The advantages of freshwater planted aquariums range from chemical oxygenation of water to reduced potential for algae bloom. Plants provide shelter and hiding places for some species, and they can ultimately serve as nourishment for some fish and invertebrates should they go a few days without feeding. As an aquarist, you have everything to …

Read more…

Aeration is one aspect of fish keeping that doesn’t get as much attention as it should. Beginners in the aquarium hobby consider aeration to be mostly a part of the filtration system. This isn’t an incorrect observation, but it ignores the larger contribution of injecting air into the water that tanks or ponds hold. Aquatic species cannot breathe atmospheric air, but they still need oxygen to survive. The estimated amount they require is about 5 percent, which they’re able to get from water through a dissolution process. In freshwater planted aquariums and koi ponds, oxygen dissolution is affected by temperature and pH. In reef tanks, salinity plays along with pH …

Read more…

Ideal habitats should provide enough space for species to feel comfortable and live healthy lives. When a habitat becomes overcrowded, species not only run out of space for their instinctive activities but also start competing for resources. At the same time, the byproducts and waste they create will start to accumulate, thus resulting in health hazards. In the aquarium hobby, overstocking is the term used to describe an ecosystem compromised by the presence of too many species. When you introduce too many fish, plants, and invertebrates to a tank or garden pond, this is known as overstocking, and it can result in a headache for fish keepers. The friendly staff …

Read more…

One of the most appealing aspects of the fish keeping hobby is that aquarists get to learn practical lessons in biochemistry and microbiology. Without understanding the biological and environmental factors that can contribute to a healthy tank, aquarists wouldn’t be able to adequately maintain a self-enclosed aquatic ecosystem. One important lesson to learn is related to the biological load of a tank, more commonly referred to as “bioload.” Even though bioload sounds like something you could measure, there really aren’t any standard unit measurements, but you should always try to keep it as low as possible. Understanding Bioload When you see recommendations about stocking a saltwater or freshwater aquarium with …

Read more…

Crystal-clear water isn’t necessarily a sign your aquarium is healthy. Many aquarium species are able to survive and thrive in the muddy waters of their natural habitats, but this isn’t the case in the enclosed ecosystems of glass and acrylic tanks. Frequent and periodic cleaning of your aquarium is essential to ensure the fish, plants, and invertebrates stay healthy. Cloudy or murky water isn’t always a sign the ecosystem isn’t properly balanced. It’s more important to check water chemistry with a good test strip kit like an API (https://www.aquaticwarehouse.com/testing-/api-freshwater-master-test-kit) and take appropriate action, but unclear water may be a signal of excessive fish waste and too much algae. There are …

Read more…

All ecosystems have a certain degree of interdependence complexity. For example, in a coffee farm where gourmet beans are cultivated, trees should be planted around crops to attract birds, which in turn eliminate insects that can be harmful to plants. In the case of freshwater aquariums and reef tanks, nitrifying bacteria colonies are crucial in terms of promoting a healthy aquatic habitat. The nitrogen cycle of a tank or pond cannot be reached unless Nitrobacter can bloom, grow, and continually colonize. This is where biological filtration comes in. A filter is one of the most essential saltwater and freshwater aquarium supplies, and it must be understood to avoid the following …

Read more…