Author: Ian Sterling

Ian Sterling, founder of Fishlab.com, began his aquarium journey over 30 years ago, driven by a deep fascination for fish and their diverse personalities. His website, Fishlab.com, is dedicated to making fishkeeping accessible and enjoyable, offering beginner-friendly guidance, expert insights, and a community for aquarists to connect and share experiences.

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Last update: October 24, 2023

Aquarium Sponge Filters: Cheap Mechanical and Bio Filtration

Sponge filter sitting in small aquarium with goldfish

Sponge filters are the cheapest and easiest way to filter your tank. But don’t write these off as cheap and nasty because they are actually very effective! In fact, your local fish store likely uses sponge filters in their tanks. These guys are trusting sponge filters to take care of hundreds of thousands of dollar’s […]

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Last update: November 21, 2023

Salinity: What Is the Ideal Saltiness of Your Aquarium?

Salt in a glass of water to demonstrate salinity

I don’t need to tell you that the ocean tastes salty. After all, they call it salt water for a reason. But did you know that fish need the ideal “saltiness” to survive? If the salt levels are out of whack, you risk harming your fish. And, you don’t want that! You want the saltiness […]

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Last update: November 2, 2022

Refractometers – The BEST Way to Test the Salinity of Your Saltwater Aquarium

Man looking through eyepiece on optical refractometer to test salinity of his saltwater aquarium

So, you have decided to set up a saltwater tank? Congratulations! Saltwater tanks are a lot of work, and mixing salt water will be a major part of your life now. While it may seem simple, mixing salt water is an art. If the salinity levels are too low or too high, your fish will […]

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Last update: November 2, 2022

Raising Mosquito Larvae for a Nutritious Live Fish Food (It’s FREE!)

Mosquito larvae being raised and farmed in a container for fish food

What if I told you that you want to attract mosquitoes to your yard? You’d call me crazy, right? A few months ago, I would have thought the same. That is, until I learned that mosquito larvae are a fantastic live food for my fish. Many aquarists feed their fish mosquito larvae to help improve […]

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Last update: November 21, 2023

How to Easily Feed Your Fish on Vacation

Women relaxing in hammock on vacation while dreaming of feeding her fish at home

Let’s face it, an aquarium isn’t exactly travel friendly. I mean, try slipping past a TSA agent with a fish tank in your possession – assuming you can carry it, that is! The last time I flew, I was grilled just for having an open water bottle in my bag. Imagine what they would have […]

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Last update: November 3, 2022

Hidden From View – In-line Aquarium Heaters Are the BEST!

In-line aquarium heater for fish tank

I am sure you will agree with me when I say: Heaters that sit inside your fish tank look downright awful! You see that long slender tube firmly stuck to the glass of your tank? Ugly… Wouldn’t it be great if your heater could be hidden away from the world, externally heating your tank? An […]

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Last update: November 12, 2022

No Cooked Fish! The Best Aquarium Heater Controllers

Temperature controller for heater attached to front of fish tank

Imagine waking up one morning only to discover that all your fish are floating upside down at the top of your aquarium. You feel the water only to discover that it is boiling. You have cooked your fish! This scenario is more common than you might think. All it takes is for your heater to […]

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Last update: November 2, 2022

The best aquarium fish nets for your fish tank (Over 30 tested!)

5 different aquarium nets that I reviewed for this guide

It doesn’t matter whether you have a fish bowl, tank or pond – a net is one of the most important tools any fish keeper can have. You don’t realize how important it is until you don’t have one. I use my fish net for the following: Fishing out uneaten food (to prevent stinky fish […]

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Last update: November 21, 2023

What Is pH and How to Easily Test It in Your Aquarium?

Measuring the pH of fish tank with a pH test kit

If you think back to high school science, you might remember talk of water pH. I remember smugly telling my teacher, Mrs. Kennedy, “I will never need to know this when I am older.” Well, it looks like Mrs. Kennedy had the last laugh – pH is something that I now regularly monitor in my […]

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Last update: March 27, 2024

Brown Algae in Fish Tank & How to Get Rid of It

brown algae in planted aquarium

It happens all of a sudden… Without warning… One day your tank is crystal clear. The next it is a brown slimy mess. If you have ever owned a fish tank then you will know it all too well. I am talking about, of course, brown algae. That dreaded brown, slimy substance that, if left […]