Basic Advice

How Much Does an Aquarium Actually Cost?: Setup and Maintenance Costs

If you’re an aquarium fan thinking about your first (or your next) aquarium, one of the most obvious things you’re probably interested in finding out is how much it will cost you, both in upfront design/installation costs and then in recurring maintenance costs. Obviously, aquarium size and type are some of the biggest determining factors… […]

Types of Coral for Your New Reef Aquarium Project

Reef aquariums are universally held up to be the most complicated but also most beautiful types of aquariums. These saltwater aquariums not only have to be a home to their fish inhabitants, but also sustain actual live coral, which immediately ups the ante when it comes to how precise owners have to be about every… […]

The 5 Best Single Species Aquariums

Elaborate reef aquariums that have up to hundreds of inhabitants (millions if you choose to count the coral) are awesome. But for those of us looking for a little extra simplicity, single species aquariums are the solution. Here are, in our opinion, the 5 best species for single species tanks: Tiger barbs – these striped… […]

Aquarium Filters, Part Two: Filter Varieties for Your Aquarium

Last month, we covered the basic types of filters: mechanical, chemical, and biological. In this post, we’ll look at some of the actual filters you can purchase for your aquarium, and the differences between them. Sponge filter — pressure from an air pump is used to pull water through a sponge in order to do basic… […]

What You Need to Know about Partial Water Changes

As fish and other organisms live in your aquarium, they naturally create byproducts (like nitrates) which pollute the aquarium environment. Various filters can improve the water quality, but as pollutant density increases, you’re ultimately fighting a losing battle. Eventually, the water in the tank will need to be replaced in order to maintain a clean… […]

Aquariums Plants, Part Two: A Plant for Every Purpose

Last month, we discussed the basics of aquarium plant placement mapping out the basic aquarium areas as foreground, middle ground, and background. Now, it’s time to talk about some specific types of plants you can use in these areas of your freshwater aquarium. In the foreground: Java Moss is one of the most popular carpet plants,… […]

Buying an Aquarium as a Christmas Present: Things to Consider

We may be a little biased, but we think aquariums make some of the absolute best Christmas presents. They’re exotic, compact, and cool to look at. They’re alive. They can add to a room’s interior design. If you’re buying one for a child, taking care of the aquarium can teach him or her a lot… […]

Aquarium Placement in Your Home: Which Room to Choose

When considering where to place your an aquarium in your home, you’ll have a few options, as each room has its own unique qualities. Here is our evaluation of some of the possibilities: The Living Room—the living room is usually the most used room in the house. Putting your aquarium there ensures you’ll get the… […]

Aquarium Fish Lifespans: The Shortest and The Longest

One aspect of selecting aquarium fish that doesn’t get talked about very much is fish lifespans. Fish lifespans differ dramatically by species, going from less than two years to over a quarter century. Fish lifespans can affect aquarium owners financially (because of having to replace lost fish), but more importantly, because most aquarium enthusiasts get… […]

Aquarium Filtration: The Basics

Filtration is one of the most basic components of the aquarium ecosystem. As fish live in the aquarium, they produce waste. This waste is joined by other materials, such as leftover food, detritus shed by plants, and chemical and biological compounds created by the aquarium environment. In open water, these materials aren’t an issue because… […]

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