Home/FRESHWATER

AFRICAN CICHLIDS: A CHALLENGING BUT HIGHLY REWARDING GROUP OF FISH

Part 2: Lake Malawi The continent of Africa is home to Lakes Tanganyika, Malawi, and Victoria, three enormous bodies of water which house a huge variety of fascinating cichlids. In the second article of this three-part series, an overview of cichlids from Lake Malawi is be provided. Setup and care: With over 300 species of Lake Malawi cichlids available, there is no lack of choice for the home aquarium. The variety of colors [...]

2020-10-29T12:50:02-05:00October 29, 2020|FISH, PLANTS & CORALS, FRESHWATER|
Read More

AFRICAN CICHLIDS: A CHALLENGING BUT HIGHLY REWARDING GROUP OF FISH

Part 1: Lake Tanganyika The continent of Africa is home to Lakes Tanganyika, Malawi, and Victoria, three enormous bodies of water which house a huge variety of fascinating cichlids. These lakes are situated within the East African Rift (EAR), an active continental rift zone which first began developing approximately 25 million years ago. The EAR is a divergent tectonic plate boundary, wherein the African Plate is in the process of splitting into two. Depressions [...]

2020-10-05T13:27:07-05:00October 5, 2020|FISH, PLANTS & CORALS, FRESHWATER|
Read More

AQUARIUM SOIL SUBSTRATES

Soil has become a popular substrate option these days, particularly for aquascapers and shrimpkeepers as its size, structure, dark color and shape offer a striking natural canvas in an aquarium. Soil substrates are produced by means of a special manufacturing process that involves high pressure and heat, and that converts mineral-rich volcanic soil into lightweight, granular, voluminous substrates. Soil helps to support conditions that all aquarists hope for: crystal clear water and an abundance of [...]

2020-06-04T14:57:08-05:00June 4, 2020|FISH, PLANTS & CORALS, FRESHWATER, PLANT CARE|
Read More

SOLUTIONS FOR HEALTHY AQUARIUM WATER – PART 2

Part 2: Organic Waste Reduction and Tap Water Conditioner Additives Organic waste control is another reason biological supplements are necessary when establishing beneficial bacteria in your aquarium and filter. Organic detritus and sludge can accumulate on every surface in the aquarium, including the filter and its hosing, the substrate, and the various décor pieces. In aquariums with lots of fish or with larger fish species, this accumulation of organic material can be especially problematic. [...]

2020-05-11T15:27:12-05:00May 11, 2020|FRESHWATER, PLANT CARE|
Read More

SOLUTIONS FOR HEALTHY AQUARIUM WATER – PART 1

Part 1: Nitrification Additives While some aquarium keepers think water conditioners are unnecessary, they often experience aquarium water quality and other related problems as a result. In fact, one of the most common problems that many new aquarium owners face is that of toxic ammonia and nitrite levels, both of which can result in catastrophic fish loss. Had these individuals started their aquariums with a few small, hardy fish, controlled feeding, and added Fluval [...]

2020-03-30T13:47:27-05:00March 30, 2020|FRESHWATER, WATER CARE|
Read More