Category: Blog

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Last update: August 16, 2024

Aquarium Bubblers – Cheap & Effective – Are They Necessary?

Fish swimming in planted tank with bubbler

As a kid, I remember staring at our goldfish tank for hours. There was only one thing in the tank that interested me more than the fish… The bubbles. The way they floated through the water in a hypnotizing rhythm was fascinating. That was my first experience with an aquarium bubbler… A memory that was […]

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Last update: November 2, 2022

The best water conditioner for aquarium to make your tap water safe!

holding a bottle of water conditioner in front of freshwater aquarium

You can’t see it… You can’t smell it… Often, you can’t even taste it… But this invisible assassin is an expert at killing your fish. I am talking about disinfectants, like chlorine and chloramine, found in your tap water. To you and me, these disinfectants are considered harmless. But to your fish, they are deadly. […]

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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: June 12, 2024

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’ve decided to set up a saltwater tank? Congratulations! Saltwater tanks require dedication, and mixing saltwater will become a major part of your routine. While it may seem straightforward, mixing saltwater is an art. If the salinity levels are too low or too high, your fish will become stressed and, in extreme cases, may […]

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Last update: July 9, 2024

Raising Mosquito Larvae for a Nutritious Live Fish Food

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

What if I told you attracting mosquitoes to your yard is a good thing? Sounds crazy, right? A few months ago, I would have agreed. But then I discovered that mosquito larvae make excellent live food for fish. Many aquarists use mosquito larvae to enhance their fish’s color, boost breeding, and ensure good health. Your […]

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Last update: August 15, 2024

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: August 6, 2024

No Cooked Fish! The Best Aquarium Heater Controllers

Temperature controller for heater attached to front of fish tank

Imagine waking up one morning to find your precious fish floating lifelessly in an overheated aquarium. It’s a devastating scenario, but one that can be easily prevented with the right equipment.  An aquarium heater controller is an essential device that ensures your tank’s temperature remains stable, protecting your fish from potentially fatal temperature fluctuations. In […]

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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 […]