Sand has many attractive qualities for the budding aquarist and aquascaper. It is affordable, doesn’t affect the water parameter, and looks natural, but it comes with several considerations. Is it easy to maintain? Can you plant aquatic plants in the sand? Does it provide nutrients? Sand is a great choice for many water plant species….

Gravel is an obvious and popular choice for fish tanks. This inert substrate comes in various shapes, colors, and sizes, and it is pretty and affordable. But is it suitable for all kinds of tanks? Can you plant aquatic plants in gravel and expect them to grow? Gravel is an excellent choice for root-feeding water…

Stress is an intrinsic part of life. It is essential for growth and development, but it can also be detrimental and even fatal. That’s true for complex mammals like humans and for vertebrates like fish and other aquatic animals. Stress in fish is the physiological reaction to threatening situations. In moderation, it helps fish grow…

Fish tanks without any plants exist outside of fish shops too. There are gorgeous minimalistic setups, full of healthy, happy fish. It is definitely a style of aquascaping I’d like to explore, only that I keep on postponing it. The thing is that I like gardening and I like plants. They add so much to…

Interacting with your aquatic pets can certainly be entertaining for all parties and outright impressive for your friends. But playing with fish is not for every fishkeeper, nor for every fish. Some species are more intelligent than others and respond better to training. Cichlids and betta fish (they are somewhat related) come to mind, but…

Aquarium fish are sensitive creatures accustomed to living in specific conditions. A sudden, large change in the environment can send them reeling. If the change in water parameters is slow and over an extended period of time — hours or days as opposed to seconds or minutes — the fish’s health may still deteriorate, but…

If you are like me and listen to music all the time, choosing the right spot for a fish tank becomes even more challenging. Especially if you like loud music. While there is a discussion to be had about whether fish like music at all, they certainly don’t headbang. It is safer to assume that…

Fish are not credited with the most amazing intellect, but most species have excellent eyesight and memory. Make a sudden hand movement next to your fish tank, and you’ll likely startle a few of its inhabitants. Fish definitely see you through the tank glass. Most fish recognize their owners or, more precisely, their feeders. Particularly…

Keep fish for a few months, and chances are that darkness will descend upon your tank. Aquarium lighting breaks, electricity goes off, and fishkeepers need vacations. We’ve all been there. But is it safe to leave the aquarium in darkness, and for how long? Fish could survive in the dark for a few days, but…