Fish aren’t the biggest talkers and telling how they feel isn’t always easy. Actually, do fish have emotions and feelings at all? While we can’t know exactly what they feel, fish certainly have emotions. They experience fear, stress, loneliness, pain, and probably an array of other emotional states. Indeed, fish have much more primitive nervous…

Can fish survive a water shock? Yes, if you act swiftly. The most common case of shock is during and soon after regular maintenance. Regular water change is a must, particularly for new aquariums that are yet to reach some form of equilibrium. But replacing 30%-50% of the water has its risks, especially when using…

Are fake plants bad for fish? Can they harm their well-being? Are live plants really better than plastic imitations? These are but a few of the questions I get from friends who come over and see my aquariums a day or two before their scheduled maintenance. Often, a detached leaf or two would be floating…

When your local fish store is relatively small and you never see customers queueing at the cash register, you might get an erroneous idea about the size of the fishkeeping industry. Let me fix that for you: It is HUGE. With global value in the billions and a projected CAGR of 10.5%, it turned out…

Aquarium substrate is massively influential as is! It is essential for the looks of your aquarium. Everything rests on its colors, shapes, and properties. But it has more aesthetic implications than first catches the eye. Does substrate affect fish color? Does it change plant color? Well, it certainly isn’t only a matter of perception. Aquatic…

To the untrained eye, there aren’t many differences between a planted tank and an aquarium full of fish and plants. Both have lighting, filtration, usually a heater, some hardscape in the form of rocks, driftwood, decoration, and probably substrate. Indeed, the overlaps are plenty, but the truth is that a tank optimized for plants has…

Tannins are great, but sometimes they can saturate the water column too much for fishkeepers’ tastes. They boost fish’s immune systems and help certain species reproduce. Not to mention the fact that most natural tannin sources — driftwood, leaves, cones — serve as additional food sources for shrimps and microorganisms. Then again, too heavy tannin concentration…

Aquariums have long been a source of fascination for people of all ages, offering a mesmerizing glimpse into the aquatic world. But not all of the aquatic world, nor all aquariums are created equal. In this guide, I’ve split aquarium types into three different categories: Understanding the different types of aquariums is essential for choosing…

Driftwood is a permanent hardscape that slowly transitions into water particles. Just like dead wood slowly dissolves on the forest floor, hardwoods wash away in many fish tanks, ponds, rivers, and lakes around the world. Wood sits well on the bottom of the tank. A handful of species are great additions to striking aquascenery. Be…

Gravel is one of the most common aquarium substrates. It is pretty, looks natural, allows plants to grow freely, and provides surface aplenty for beneficial bacteria to live. It is not without its drawbacks, but the benefits it adds to any aquatic ecosystem are numerous. Arguably, one of the greatest gravel pros is the ease…