Aquariums & Aquascaping
Freshwater and reef aquariums, aquascaping, fish care, breeding, water chemistry and equipment.
About this list
This reading list brings together items from the sources selected for Aquariums & Aquascaping. Open each item at its original source for the complete article, episode or video. This is a selection of current coverage, not a complete archive.
Latest podcasts
Newest first
Updates are delayed. Showing the last checked articles.
A Shot at “Immortality?”
The idea of utilizing some biological material from an existing aquarium to help “inoculate” the biology of a new tank is as old as the modern hobby itself. And the botanical method aquarium lends itself particularly well to this sort of practice.. let’s talk about how our botanical method aquariums are not only never “finished”- they can achieve a certain “ immortality!”
Do You Really Need Expensive Aquarium Filter Media?
Every fish keeper eventually looks at a shelf full of sponges, ceramic rings, porous rocks, bio-balls, and specialty biomedia and wonders: Do I actually need the expensive stuff to keep my aquarium properly filtered?In this episode of Tank Guide Life, we break down what biological filter media actually does—and why the biggest surface-area number on the package doesn’t automatically mean better filtration in your aquarium.We compare familiar options like coarse sponge, ceramic media, lava rock, K1 moving-bed media,
Why Won’t My Pregnant Guppy Give Birth?
Has your guppy looked ready to give birth for weeks, with still no fry in sight? In this episode Art explains why a pregnant guppy might not be giving birth. He covers gestation, stored sperm, the late-pregnancy signs to watch for, and how to tell a gravid female from one that’s bloated or ill. It’s for any fish keeper staring at a round guppy and wondering what to do next. 💬 Join the conversation: Have you had a guppy who seemed pregnant forever? Did she eventually drop a brood, or did it turn out to be something else?
287. Aquatic Insects (Bugs)
This week on the Water Colors Aquarium Gallery Podcast, we got a little weird and had a lot of fun. Since Ben wasn’t here, we got to talk about what we wanted and this time it was aquatic insects. Calder takes the lead and talks about many different types of bugs that could and should be part of the aquarium hobby. From diving beetles to dragonfly nymphs, there are many great options for that spare five gallon tank you have lying around, just be sure to have a tight fitting lid.
In Situ…
One of the long held “best practices” in aquarium keeping is the idea that you need to “cure” wood that you use in your aquascape before adding it into your display aquarium. While the idea behind this practice seems sound to many- perhaps it’s not all that beneficial to those of us who play with botanical method aquariums. Like, what are the “downsides” to letting this process play out in our display tanks? Hint: I’m not seeing any….
Becoming an “Operator.”
Among the many skills we can learn as practitioners of the botanical method aquarium is to become what I call an “operator.” An aquarist who works with and manipulates various factors of the aquarium ecology to create dynamic seasonal changes which mimic those found in Nature. The possible health benefits and spawning opportunities that could arise out of this practice are endless!
The Unexpected
As hobbyists, we plan for and worry about every possible contingency in our aquariums. And when something DOES go wrong, we consider it “unexpected”, or “anamolous”, when the reality is that the cause is out there, somewhere. I personally think that we need to relax about stuff, roll with it. We need to deal with these unexpected things by developing a more resilient attitude.
Should I Isolate My Sick Fish or Treat the Main Tank?
Finding a sick fish can leave you wondering what to do first. Should you move it to a hospital tank? Medicate the entire aquarium? Or could something in the water be causing the symptoms?In this episode of Tank Guide Life, we explore how to make those decisions without rushing into a treatment that may not address the actual problem.Moving a sick fish can be stressful, but leaving it in the display aquarium isn’t always the right choice either.
Dear Agony Aunt (Your Fish Send In Their Complaints)
What would your fish say if they could send you a voice note? In this episode, a goldfish in a bowl, a betta in a vase, a nipped angelfish, a lonely neon and a few others write in to an aquarium agony aunt with the problems they face most often. It’s a light-hearted look at the most common beginner aquarium mistakes, with honest, practical answers for new and experienced fish keepers alike.💬 Join the conversation: If your fish could send a voice note to an agony aunt, what would it say?
286. Blennies
Amy, Ben, and Calder talk about blennies and, boy, was there a lot to say and how they could have gone on for hours. With 6 families, approximately 130 genera and 900 species and counting, there is a lot of information in this week’s podcast. Blennies have amazing personality, colors, and adaptations. Let us know what blennies you have in your aquariums now and tell us about the ones you wish you could too!
Ep. 124 - Greg Thoman: Connecting Buyers and Sellers with AquaFindr
Magic Small Fish Feed is available in 4 sizes to suit your needs: https://www.aquariumcoop.com/products/magic-small-fish-feed?variant=44628323762245 Join AquaFindr as a buyer or seller today: https://aquafindr.com/
What Are These Tiny Worms in My Aquarium? | Identifying Harmless & Harmful Hitchhikers
What Are These Tiny Worms in My Aquarium? | Identifying Harmless & Harmful HitchhikersYou’re looking at your aquarium glass when you suddenly notice a tiny white worm wriggling across it. Or maybe you’ve spotted a strange creature with tentacles attached to one of your plants.The first question is usually: What is that thing, and could it hurt my fish or shrimp?In this episode of Tank Guide Life, we’re exploring the unexpected world of freshwater aquarium hitchhikers.
285. Blackwater Plants (Low Light and Low PH)
Blackwater is a term thrown around in the aquarium hobby and has many different meanings. Blackwater can mean heavily stained, tannic water, or it can mean water that is soft and acidic that receives little light. Today, the team focuses more so on the second definition, referencing environments such as the Rio Negro in South America and plants that grow well in these unique places. Special thanks to Craig this episode for filling in last minute for Calder. We appreciate your adaptiveness and scientific background.
Sand, Gravel or Aqua Soil? Choosing the Right Substrate
Did you choose the stuff on the bottom of your tank by colour? Most of us did, but your substrate affects your water chemistry, your plants, and whether fish like corydoras and eartheaters can feed the way they’re built to. This episode compares gravel, sand, aqua soil, crushed coral, dirted tanks and bare-bottom tanks, matches each to the fish and shrimp that suit it, and works through some of the hobby’s longest-running substrate debates.
284. Freshwater Gobies
Amy, Ben and Calder are here this week to talk about freshwater gobies. This group of fish is so diverse, unique and goofy. There is definetly a species of goby out there for you. For the meantime, tune in and listen to the team talk about some of their favorites!
How Much Should I Feed My Fish? | Debunking the 2-Minute Rule
How much should you actually feed your fish? Advice like “feed only what they can eat in two minutes” sounds simple, but it leaves out some of the biggest factors that determine how much food aquarium fish really need.Different fish have different metabolisms, feeding behaviors, body sizes, diets, and ways of finding food.
Showing 20 of 22 podcasts
Know a source we’re missing? Tell us about it