Can leaf litter give a tank a fall look without dye?
Dried oak, beech, and Indian almond leaves can tint tank water tea-brown without dye. Learn which leaves to use, how many, and how long they last.
Tank Care
44 articles
Does expanding foam belong in a fish tank
Expanding foam can work in a fish tank if you buy pond-and-stone foam, cure it fully, and soak it before adding fish. Here's how to do it safely.
Can a rimless tank carry a foam-and-stone riverbank?
Yes, a rimless tank can carry a foam-and-stone riverbank if the glass, stand and foam are right. Here's how to check each before adding water.
Rim holders, grow lights, and driftwood that won't sink: setting up a riparium
Set up a riparium with rim holders for pothos, a light for leaves above water, and driftwood soaked until it sinks, plus a week-one checklist.
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.
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…