Native North American Fish for Aquariums (and the Rules on Collecting)
Some of the most colorful aquarium fish swim in American creeks. Five natives that do well in a river tank, and the rules you need to know before you net one.
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Why Did My Fish Die? A Calm Checklist After a Sudden Loss
Finding a dead fish is upsetting, and the first instinct is to start dumping in medicine. Here's a calm, step-by-step checklist to find out what happened and protect the rest of the…
Why Is My Fish Digging? Gravel Moving Explained
You wake up and the gravel has been rearranged, plants are floating and there's a pit in the corner. Here's why fish dig, which ones do it, and when it means something's…
Algae Wafers: Who Eats Them and How Much to Feed
Algae wafers are made for the bottom of the tank, but not every bottom-dweller should live on them. Who eats them, how many to drop in, when to feed, and how to…
Underrated Freshwater Fish That Deserve a River Tank
Skip the usual suspects. Six hardy, active freshwater fish that rarely get the spotlight but look great in moving water: rosy and Odessa barbs, glass bloodfins, panda garras, zebra loaches and cherry…
Cold-Water River Tanks: Do You Need a Heater?
Many river fish come from cool streams and don't need a heater in a heated house. When a heater helps, when it hurts, how to size one, and the fish that do…
Nerite Snails: Care Guide
Nerite snails are algae-eating machines that won't overrun your tank. Care, water needs, tankmates, the white eggs they leave behind, and why they climb out.
Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate: Reading Your Test Kit
The three numbers that tell you whether your tank is safe. What each one means, the readings you want, how to test without fooling yourself, and what to do when a number…
White Cloud Mountain Minnows: The Unheated River Tank Fish
White Clouds are tough, colorful, cheap and happy in cool water without a heater. Tank size, temperature, tankmates, food and breeding for this classic beginner fish.
Best Fish for Strong-Current Tanks
Some fish hate current. These love it. The best fish and invertebrates for river tanks and high-flow setups, what each needs, and how to mix them.
How to Set Up a River Manifold (One-Way Flow) Tank
A river manifold pushes water in one direction down the length of the tank, like a real stream. How it works, what you need, a simple DIY layout, and which fish love…
How to Quarantine New Fish
One sick new fish can wipe out a whole tank. How to set up a simple quarantine tank, how long to keep new fish there, what to watch for, and when to…