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Many newbies in the fishkeeping community have problems dealing with algae. An outbreak of algae can be a scary ordeal to face. Algae can appear for a multitude of reasons: offset of nutrients, water quality issues, light exposure to name a few. While there are many ways to fight back the spread of algae, one effective way to combat an outbreak would be to enlist the help of an algae eater or two. For the most part, these animals come in many sizes and shapes. Some of them being more effective than others. While it might be nice to have some of these algae eaters in every tank, I think it would be wise to check on the requirements of the species in question before making any sudden purchases. After all, you wouldn’t want that small pleco you purchased to grow up to be a 12-inch monster in your ten-gallon aquarium. Here are my 5 Top Algae Eaters for your aquarium. 

What Are Under Gravel Filters? Under Gravel filters (UGFs) are a type of filter which water is drawn through a plastic grate that lies under the gravel bed. Normally these tanks are limited to gravel substrates as sand will fall through the grate and will not allow the (UGFs) to function properly. This type of filtration uses mechanical and biological filtration. The gravel acts as a mechanical filtration as it collects the debris. The biological filtration comes into play when a bed of bacteria grows with the help of the oxygen-rich water that flows through the grates. What Type Of...

What is a quarantine tank? Do I really need one? What are the benefits of having a quarantine tank?

Live plants are a great way to set up and decorate your first aquarium. Besides looking better than their artificial counterparts they offer a plethora of benefits. These benefits include a place for your fish to hide, soaking up excess waste in the aquarium and more.

Many first-time fish keepers are unaware of the cycling process that goes on in every fish tank. This one crucial step is vital to maintaining a successful tank. Unfortunately, one of the key steps involved is patience. A properly cycled tank can take weeks to months to fully establish. The time frame is dependent on various factors. The good news is that much of the process is automatic and all you have to do is have a little patience and test your aquarium water from time to time. There are various freshwater testing kits to choose from. They range from test strips that you dip in your tank water to liquid test kits that require a little more attention to detail. Both testing kits have their Pros and Cons. Strip test are relatively cheap and take seconds to get a reading. However, they tend to be less accurate than the liquid test kits. Liquid-based testing kits are little more expensive and require some more work than the testing strips. However, they tend to be more accurate. So, which one should you choose? It’s personally down to the fish keeper. If you have the time and energy required for the liquid test kits, by all means, go for it. However, if you don’t have the time or have multiple tanks and want fast results the testing strips are the tests for you.