Guides
Long-form answers to the questions aquascapers actually ask.
Every guide here is the same shape: lead with the direct answer, walk through the reasoning, link out to the catalogue species mentioned, and cite real sources. Written for aquascapers anywhere.
FAQ deep-dive3 min readHow Many Fish Can You Put in a Tank?
How to work out how many fish your aquarium can hold, why the inch-per-gallon rule fails, and how bioload, schooling, aggression and swimming space really decide stocking.
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Biotope guide3 min readThe Blackwater Aquarium: Botanicals and Tannins
How to create a blackwater aquarium, what tannins and botanicals do, the best leaves and pods, which fish and plants suit tea-stained soft water, and how to keep it stable.
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Tank setup3 min readHow to Trim and Propagate Aquarium Plants
How to trim stems, carpets, epiphytes, rosettes and mosses the right way, and how each propagates, so you keep plants dense, healthy and multiplying for free.
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FAQ deep-dive3 min readWhy Are My Aquarium Plants Melting?
Why new aquarium plants melt, dissolve or lose their leaves, when it is normal conversion, when it is crypt melt, and when melting signals a real problem to fix.
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Tank setup3 min readHow to Attach Plants to Driftwood and Rock
How to attach anubias, java fern, bucephalandra and moss to driftwood and stone, using glue or thread, why you must never bury the rhizome, and how to make moss carpet a surface.
Read- List article3 min read
How to Grow Red Aquarium Plants (and Keep Them Red)
Why aquarium plants turn red, and how to grow and keep vivid red plants, the light, CO2, iron and nitrate balance that brings out colour, plus the easiest red plants.
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Tank setup3 min readCherry Shrimp: The Complete Care Guide
Everything you need to keep and breed cherry shrimp (Neocaridina), water parameters, tank setup, food, tank mates, breeding, and why shrimp die and how to prevent it.
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FAQ deep-dive3 min readHow to Get Crystal-Clear Aquarium Water
Why your aquarium water is cloudy, white, green or brown, and how to fix each cause, from bacterial blooms and green water to fine debris and tannins.
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Tank setup3 min readThe Complete Nano Aquarium Guide
How to set up and stock a nano aquarium under 40 litres, the best nano fish, shrimp and plants, why small tanks are less forgiving, and how to keep one stable.
Read- List article3 min read
Aquascaping on a Budget: A Great Tank for Less
How to build a beautiful planted aquarium cheaply, where to save and where not to, budget substrate and hardscape, free plants, and the low-tech setup that costs least.
Read - Tank setup3 min read
How to Plant an Aquarium: Technique by Plant Type
How to plant every type of aquarium plant, stems, carpets, rosettes, epiphytes, bulbs and mosses, with the right technique for each and the mistakes to avoid.
Read - Tank setup3 min read
How to Grow a Carpet in an Aquarium
How to grow a lush aquarium carpet, the best carpeting plants, whether you need CO2, the dry start method, and why carpets melt or turn to algae.
Read - Comparison3 min read
Low-Tech vs High-Tech Planted Tank: Which to Choose
The real differences between a low-tech and high-tech planted aquarium, cost, effort, growth speed, plant choice and results, so you can decide which suits you.
Read - List article3 min read
The Best Beginner Aquarium Plants (Hard to Kill)
The easiest aquarium plants for beginners, hardy species that grow in low light with no CO2, plus where to place each one and the mistakes that kill new plants.
Read - Tank setup5 min read
How to Set Up a Planted Aquarium: Step by Step
A complete, beginner-friendly walkthrough for setting up your first planted aquarium, from choosing the tank and substrate to hardscape, planting, cycling and stocking.
Read - Compatibility5 min read
Can Neon Tetras Live With Cherry Shrimp?
Adult neon tetras and adult cherry shrimp coexist fine. The only problem is shrimplets. Here is how to set up the tank so both populations actually thrive.
Read - FAQ deep-dive5 min read
How Many Ember Tetras Should You Keep Together?
Ember tetras are obligate schoolers. Bare minimum is 6. Ideal is 10 to 15. Here is the math by tank size and what goes wrong with too few.
Read - Tank setup9 min read
Stocking a 60 Litre Community Planted Tank
A complete stocking guide for a 60 litre planted community tank. Three species plus shrimp, full plant list, equipment, parameters, and 6-week timeline.
Read - Comparison6 min read
Neon Tetra vs Cardinal Tetra: The Real Differences
Neon and cardinal tetras look similar but differ in stripe pattern, size, water needs, and sourcing. Here is the honest comparison and which to pick.
Read - List article6 min read
Best Fish for a 30 Litre Planted Tank
A 30 litre planted tank has one fish slot, not several. Four top picks, why neon tetras do not belong, and three complete sample stockings.
Read - FAQ deep-dive6 min read
Do Otocinclus Really Eat Algae? What to Know Before You Buy
Otocinclus eat soft brown algae and biofilm, not the hair algae most aquarists want gone. Here is when to actually buy them and when to skip.
Read - Comparison6 min read
Java Moss vs Christmas Moss: Which to Choose
Java moss and Christmas moss look alike but grow differently. Christmas is for ornament, Java is for shrimp tanks. Here is the full comparison.
Read - Comparison7 min read
Neocaridina vs Caridina Shrimp: Which Should You Start With?
Neocaridina shrimp tolerate tap water and forgive mistakes. Caridina shrimp need RO water and active soil. Here is which to start with and why.
Read - List article8 min read
Low-Light Aquarium Plants That Don't Need CO2
Six aquarium plants that thrive without CO2 in a low-tech tank. What works, what to avoid, plus a complete starter setup for a 60 litre tank.
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