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THE BENEFITS OF HAVING A NANO AQUARIUM AND TIPS FOR SETTING ONE UP

Written by Kate Barrington Updated March 03, 2023

These days, nano aquariums are all the craze in the aquarium hobby, bringing in a brand-new clientele.

Even though these little tanks seem practical and easy to set up due to their size and portability, there are a number of things to consider before installing them. These issues are crucial to the life of a smaller system yet are comparable to those that arise while managing a bigger system.

Many of the nano tanks available now come packaged with lighting and filtration. Although it might be a simple way for newbie hobbyists to get started, it could pose difficulties for an experienced aquarist who wants to follow the nano trend.

Plants and nanos go together, specifically in freshwater settings. However, there are certain cases where...

What Are GloFish and How Do You Care for Them?

Written by Kate Barrington Updated July 24, 2021

If you've ever seen those fluorescent fish at your local pet store and wondered what they are, you'll learn everything you want to know in this article. Read on!

You’ve seen them at the pet store – those fluorescent-colored fish that look strikingly familiar. They’re called GloFish and there’s a reason they look familiar. They’re nothing more than common species genetically modified for their fluorescent color. Contrary to common misconceptions, they are not injected with dye or artificially colored. They actually inherit their color genetically from their parents, though there is certainly some human intervention involved.

If you’ve been looking for the perfect way to add some intrigue to your tank, GloFish might just be the solution. Read on to learn more about these amazing fish and how to care for them.

What Are GloFish, Anyway?

If you’ve never seen GloFish before, the name alone is enough to conjure up an accurate image. These are simply aquarium fish (freshwater species) that have inherited a brilliant fluorescent coloration. GloFish can be found in all colors of the rainbow including red, orange, green, blue, pink, and purple. Of course, each color has its own branded name:

1. Starfire Red

2. Electric Green

3. Sunburst Orange

4. Cosmic Blue

5. Galactic Purple

6. Moonrise Pink

Though GloFish look unnatural compared to most aquarium fish, the characteristic that makes them glow is actually very natural – it’s called bioluminescence. Bioluminescence is what makes fireflies light up the night sky and it can be seen in a wide variety of underwater creatures. For example, vampire squids native to the deep sea regions excrete a glowing mucus designed to startle predators and hatchet fish are able to...

Creative hacks to keep your aquarium clean

Written by Kate Barrington Updated May 02, 2023

Keeping your aquarium clean doesn't have to be a chore with these simple aquarium cleaning "hacks".

Setting up and decorating a new aquarium can be a lot of fun. Once you’ve done the work, however, it falls on you to keep the tank running. After all, you don’t want all of your hard work to go to waste when, a few weeks or months down the line, all of your tank surfaces are covered in algae and grime.

Keeping your aquarium clean is not just a matter of aesthetics – it also has an impact on the health and wellbeing of your aquarium fish. Remember that an aquarium is a self-enclosed ecosystem, so any problems that arise have the potential to progress and worsen over time if you don’t handle them right away. That’s where these cleaning hacks come into play.

Cleaning your aquarium doesn’t have to be a huge job – with some clever “hacks” you can keep your tank in tip-top shape in no time at all.

Try These 10 “Hacks” To Clean Your Tank

While keeping your aquarium clean is important, you want to avoid doing any large-scale cleaning. You must remember that in addition to housing your fish, your tank also houses a colony of beneficial bacteria – bacteria that support the nitrogen cycle which helps to convert harmful byproducts of waste breakdown into less harmful substances that can be removed via water changes.

So, where do you draw the line between cleaning your tank too much and not cleaning it enough?

Here are some creative hacks you can use on a weekly or monthly basis to...

THE BASICS OF FRESHWATER FISH COMPATIBILITY

Whether you are new to the aquarium hobby or not, there are a few things you should know about freshwater fish compatibility.

HOW TO KEEP YOUR SALTWATER AQUARIUM FROM OVERHEATING

Learn how to keep your saltwater aquarium from overheating.

JEWEL CICHLID SPECIES PROFILE

Jewel Cichlids are a group of brightly colored cichlids from Africa.

GENERAL AQUARIUM ARTICLES

How to Keep Your Tank Safe During a Power Outage

A power outage may only be a minor inconvenience for you but, for your aquarium fish, it can be deadly.

What Are GloFish and How Do You Care for Them?

If you've ever seen those fluorescent fish at your local pet store and wondered what they are, you'll learn everything you want to know in this article.

History Of Fish Keeping As A Hobby

Focuse on fish keeping for pleasure as opposed to keeping fish around as a food source.

Tips for Spotting Signs of Distress in Your Fish Before It's Too Late

When you see signs of stress in your fish, you can then take steps to identify the source of that stress and then to resolve it before it becomes a major issue.