A riparium is a tank with a shoreline. What you actually need
Learn what a riparium is and what you need to build one: an open-top tank, planters, plants that tolerate wet roots, and light above the water.
Tank Care
28 articles
Are store-bought Halloween ornaments safe underwater?
Learn which Halloween ornaments are safe in a fish tank, why craft-store decor is risky, and a simple screening test before adding one.
Can you put a real pumpkin in a freshwater tank?
Discover why whole pumpkins damage aquarium water and how to safely offer small pieces as seasonal treats.
Fall Leaves in the Aquarium: Indian Almond, Oak, and What's Safe
Which leaves are safe in a fish tank, how many to use, how to collect and prep oak leaves, and which trees to skip.
Feeding Fish While You're Away for the Holidays
Going away for Thanksgiving? Most healthy adult fish are fine for a long weekend without food. How to prep the tank before you leave, when an automatic feeder makes sense, why to…
Aquarium Lights in Fall: How Many Hours, and What Riparium Plants Above the Water Need
Shorter days change the light coming through your windows. How many hours to run your aquarium lights, why a timer beats your memory, and how to light the plants growing above the…
Powerhead vs. Wavemaker: Which Makes Better River Flow?
Powerheads push a narrow, steady jet. Wavemakers make wide, variable flow. Which one builds a better river current, how much flow you need, and how to place it so fish can still…
Java Fern and Anubias: Plants That Grow on Rock in Strong Flow
Two plants that never go in the gravel and don't mind current: how to tie or glue java fern and anubias to rock and wood, light and care, and growing them above…
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…
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…
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…
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…