Aquarium Seasoning is Better Than Aquarium Cycling (and Here’s Why)Whenever someone has a fishkeeping problem and asks for help on social media or online forums, people immediately ask if the fish tank is “cycled.” Yes, it’s important to know about the aquarium nitrogen cycle, but just because a tank can process ammonia waste does not necessarily mean it’s a good environment for housing live fish and plants. For example, just because someone has an official college diploma does not mean that he or she is automatically skilled in that field. There are many, m...
Top 10 Pufferfish You Can Keep in Freshwater and Brackish AquariumsOut of all the oddball fish, we’ve always had a fascination with puffer fish because of their highly intelligent nature, helicopter-like maneuverability, and large, inquisitive eyes. Plus, they have unique defense mechanisms, such as inflating like a living water balloon and carrying the tetrodotoxin poison that discourages would-be predators. (Note to self: do not try to eat a pet puffer.) Most pufferfish are semi-aggressive to aggressive carnivores with ever-growing teeth like a beaver, so ...
Care Guide for Mystery Snails — Entertaining and Useful ScavengerMany aquarium hobbyists don’t like pest snails like bladder, ramshorn, and Malaysian trumpet snails because they can rapidly increase in population even if you only start with one. In contrast, mystery snails (Pomacea diffusa and P. bridgesii) are really cool, little pets that you can buy at your local pet or fish store for only $3–4. They cannot self-fertilize or change their sex, which makes it much easier to control their breeding, and unlike their larger apple snail relatives, they won’t ...
Care Guide for Otocinclus Catfish — Peaceful, Schooling Algae EaterIf you start getting algae in your new fish tank, most major pet stores will recommend that you buy a pleco or suckermouth catfish. The problem is that most plecos grow rather large, especially the common pleco that can reach up to 2 feet (60 cm). Instead, why not get their much smaller cousin, the otocinclus catfish? They are the perfect fish that have a peaceful personality and amazing cleaning skills. Learn how to keep these adorable algae-eaters and make sure they’re getting enough to eat...
Top 5 Red Plants to Try in Your Next Planted AquariumOne of the basic design principles of aquascaping is to create interesting spaces that catch the viewer’s attention, such as by utilizing plants with different textures, heights, and colors. However, most plants are green in color, so how do you prevent your planted tank from looking all the same, like a solid green background? Thankfully, there are several red plants that have pink, scarlet, bronze-red, and even reddish-purple leaves, so let’s talk about our top 5 favorites that you should t...
Care Guide for Pygmy Corydoras – The World’s Tiniest Cory CatfishCory catfish are beloved in the freshwater aquarium hobby because of their happy-go-lucky nature and interesting behaviors, such as constantly shuffling through the substrate for snacks. While some hobbyists enjoy keeping the larger species, like the hognosed brochis (Corydoras multiradiatus) or emerald cory catfish (C. splendens), nano aquarium enthusiasts take special pleasure in finding the most petite corys. The pygmy cory (C. pygmaeus) has become quite popular because of its adorable app...
How to Care for Your Aquarium Fish During a Power OutageBad weather or maintenance by the power company can cause a loss of electricity and send fishkeepers into a panic. A lot of aquarium equipment — like the heater, filter, light, and CO2 system — all runs on electricity, and some of them are vital for keeping your aquatic animals alive. Plus, most of the time we have no idea how long the power outage will last, which unfortunately makes it harder to know what appropriate actions we should take. At Aquarium Co-Op, we’ve had a lot of experience w...
Where is the Best Place to Buy Live Aquarium Fish?Even though Aquarium Co-Op has a brick-and-mortar retail store that sells pet fish to the general public, we personally choose not to sell them online through our website and instead focus on shipping dry goods and live plants. Therefore, many people want to know where we recommend buying pet fish, especially if they don’t live near our fish store. Each source has its advantages and disadvantages, so in this article, let’s discuss the different options and which may be the right ones for you....
Care Guide for Silver Tip Tetras — Fun and Interactive Schooling FishSilver tip tetras are one of our favorite schooling fish. Beginners love them because they are hardy and energetic, and if you have a big enough group, they will follow your finger as you trace it along the outside of the aquarium glass. Plus, their sunshine colors look dazzling in a lushly planted tank. Find out how to keep this fun, little fish both happy and healthy in your home aquarium. What are Silver Tip Tetras? Hasemania nana is a 2-inch (5 cm) schooling fish that hails from the river...
5 Easy Tips to Save Money in the Fishkeeping HobbyThe fishkeeping hobby can be a little expensive, especially in the beginning when you’re starting with nothing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy having aquarium fish if you have a smaller budget. Learn about 5 of our favorite money-saving hacks to get the best bang for your buck. 1. Get More Out of Your Test Strips This trick works with our Aquarium Co-Op ammonia test strips and multi-test strips, but our founder Cory also did this for years using other brands of test strips while workin...
Top 10 Fish That Are Perfect for Planted AquariumsOne of the reasons why we love live aquarium plants is because their natural beauty just seems to magically enhance the appearance of your fish and invertebrates. Plus, some of the animals start to exhibit unique behaviors that you wouldn’t normally see unless they’re surrounded by a jungle of leaves, stems, and roots. If you enjoy aquatic plants as much as we do, try pairing them with our top 10 favorite plant-friendly fish and see which ones you love the best. 1. Elephant Nose Fish Gnathon...
5 Quick and Easy Tricks to Improve Your Aquarium FilterThere are a million and one ways to hack the filtration in your fish tank to optimize its efficiency, save money and time, and more. Some of these methods are just gimmicks, while others are pure gold that experienced veterans in the fishkeeping hobby have discovered over time. After owning hundreds of aquarium filters in our fish store and personal fish rooms, we’ve narrowed down our top 5 simple tips and tricks for getting the best performance out of your filtration. 1. Switch to Reusable F...
Top 5 Easy Fish Breeding Ideas for Your Next 20-Gallon AquariumWhen our founder Cory first got into fishkeeping, funds were tight, so he started breeding fish to help with his hobby expenses. After many years of experience keeping fish rooms and tanks of all sizes, he still loves breeding fish at home in the versatile 20-gallon aquarium (both the high and long versions). Learn about his top 5 favorite fish and invertebrates that are easy to spawn and raise up in a colony setting. 1. Mouth-Brooding Bettas Betta albimarginata Most people know about Betta ...
Care Guide for Green Neon Tetras — Perfect Nano Fish for Planted TanksGreen neon tetras are a favorite fish for aquascapers because their glowing blue stripe is so eye-catching yet doesn’t take away from the beauty of the aquarium plants. As the little cousin of the more common neon tetra, you can easily fit a small school of green neon tetras in a planted nano aquarium or get a huge swarm to fill a larger tank for an amazing visual impact. Find out what makes this species so special and how to keep them happy and healthy in your home. What are Green Neon Tetra...
Care Guide for Cherry Barbs — Peaceful Barb for Community TanksBarbs often get a bad reputation because of their boisterous, fin-nipping behavior, but cherry barbs are an exception to the rule. This 2-inch (5 cm) schooling fish acts like your average, mild-mannered tetra and mixes well with other community fish. They are commonly sold at pet stores because of their vivid redness, energetic personality, and ease of breeding. Learn all about how to care for this popular and peaceful barb. What are Cherry Barbs? Puntius titteya are found in the rainforests ...
How to Balance Aquarium Lighting to Grow Healthy Plants (and Avoid Algae)A brand-new planted tank always looks so beautiful and pristine, but if the tank is unbalanced, those same plants may become sickly-looking and overrun with algae within a couple of months. Plants and algae both use the same resources— such as light, nutrients, and carbon dioxide — so the goal is to balance these resources so that the plants grow stronger and outcompete the algae. For instance, too much or too little light can cause algae growth, so we need to fine-tune it for optimal plant g...
Aquarium Seasoning is Better Than Aquarium Cycling (and Here’s Why)
Whenever someone has a fishkeeping problem and asks for help on social media or online forums, people immediately ask if the fish tank is “cycled.” Yes, it’s important to know about the aquarium nitrogen cycle, but just because a tank can process ammonia waste does not necessarily mean it’s a good environment for housing live fish and plants. For example, just because someone has an official college diploma does not mean that he or she is automatically skilled in that field. There are many, m...
Top 10 Pufferfish You Can Keep in Freshwater and Brackish Aquariums
Out of all the oddball fish, we’ve always had a fascination with puffer fish because of their highly intelligent nature, helicopter-like maneuverability, and large, inquisitive eyes. Plus, they have unique defense mechanisms, such as inflating like a living water balloon and carrying the tetrodotoxin poison that discourages would-be predators. (Note to self: do not try to eat a pet puffer.) Most pufferfish are semi-aggressive to aggressive carnivores with ever-growing teeth like a beaver, so ...
Care Guide for Mystery Snails — Entertaining and Useful Scavenger
Many aquarium hobbyists don’t like pest snails like bladder, ramshorn, and Malaysian trumpet snails because they can rapidly increase in population even if you only start with one. In contrast, mystery snails (Pomacea diffusa and P. bridgesii) are really cool, little pets that you can buy at your local pet or fish store for only $3–4. They cannot self-fertilize or change their sex, which makes it much easier to control their breeding, and unlike their larger apple snail relatives, they won’t ...
Care Guide for Otocinclus Catfish — Peaceful, Schooling Algae Eater
If you start getting algae in your new fish tank, most major pet stores will recommend that you buy a pleco or suckermouth catfish. The problem is that most plecos grow rather large, especially the common pleco that can reach up to 2 feet (60 cm). Instead, why not get their much smaller cousin, the otocinclus catfish? They are the perfect fish that have a peaceful personality and amazing cleaning skills. Learn how to keep these adorable algae-eaters and make sure they’re getting enough to eat...
Top 5 Red Plants to Try in Your Next Planted Aquarium
One of the basic design principles of aquascaping is to create interesting spaces that catch the viewer’s attention, such as by utilizing plants with different textures, heights, and colors. However, most plants are green in color, so how do you prevent your planted tank from looking all the same, like a solid green background? Thankfully, there are several red plants that have pink, scarlet, bronze-red, and even reddish-purple leaves, so let’s talk about our top 5 favorites that you should t...
Care Guide for Pygmy Corydoras – The World’s Tiniest Cory Catfish
Cory catfish are beloved in the freshwater aquarium hobby because of their happy-go-lucky nature and interesting behaviors, such as constantly shuffling through the substrate for snacks. While some hobbyists enjoy keeping the larger species, like the hognosed brochis (Corydoras multiradiatus) or emerald cory catfish (C. splendens), nano aquarium enthusiasts take special pleasure in finding the most petite corys. The pygmy cory (C. pygmaeus) has become quite popular because of its adorable app...
How to Care for Your Aquarium Fish During a Power Outage
Bad weather or maintenance by the power company can cause a loss of electricity and send fishkeepers into a panic. A lot of aquarium equipment — like the heater, filter, light, and CO2 system — all runs on electricity, and some of them are vital for keeping your aquatic animals alive. Plus, most of the time we have no idea how long the power outage will last, which unfortunately makes it harder to know what appropriate actions we should take. At Aquarium Co-Op, we’ve had a lot of experience w...
Where is the Best Place to Buy Live Aquarium Fish?
Even though Aquarium Co-Op has a brick-and-mortar retail store that sells pet fish to the general public, we personally choose not to sell them online through our website and instead focus on shipping dry goods and live plants. Therefore, many people want to know where we recommend buying pet fish, especially if they don’t live near our fish store. Each source has its advantages and disadvantages, so in this article, let’s discuss the different options and which may be the right ones for you....
Care Guide for Silver Tip Tetras — Fun and Interactive Schooling Fish
Silver tip tetras are one of our favorite schooling fish. Beginners love them because they are hardy and energetic, and if you have a big enough group, they will follow your finger as you trace it along the outside of the aquarium glass. Plus, their sunshine colors look dazzling in a lushly planted tank. Find out how to keep this fun, little fish both happy and healthy in your home aquarium. What are Silver Tip Tetras? Hasemania nana is a 2-inch (5 cm) schooling fish that hails from the river...
5 Easy Tips to Save Money in the Fishkeeping Hobby
The fishkeeping hobby can be a little expensive, especially in the beginning when you’re starting with nothing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy having aquarium fish if you have a smaller budget. Learn about 5 of our favorite money-saving hacks to get the best bang for your buck. 1. Get More Out of Your Test Strips This trick works with our Aquarium Co-Op ammonia test strips and multi-test strips, but our founder Cory also did this for years using other brands of test strips while workin...
Top 10 Fish That Are Perfect for Planted Aquariums
One of the reasons why we love live aquarium plants is because their natural beauty just seems to magically enhance the appearance of your fish and invertebrates. Plus, some of the animals start to exhibit unique behaviors that you wouldn’t normally see unless they’re surrounded by a jungle of leaves, stems, and roots. If you enjoy aquatic plants as much as we do, try pairing them with our top 10 favorite plant-friendly fish and see which ones you love the best. 1. Elephant Nose Fish Gnathon...
5 Quick and Easy Tricks to Improve Your Aquarium Filter
There are a million and one ways to hack the filtration in your fish tank to optimize its efficiency, save money and time, and more. Some of these methods are just gimmicks, while others are pure gold that experienced veterans in the fishkeeping hobby have discovered over time. After owning hundreds of aquarium filters in our fish store and personal fish rooms, we’ve narrowed down our top 5 simple tips and tricks for getting the best performance out of your filtration. 1. Switch to Reusable F...
Top 5 Easy Fish Breeding Ideas for Your Next 20-Gallon Aquarium
When our founder Cory first got into fishkeeping, funds were tight, so he started breeding fish to help with his hobby expenses. After many years of experience keeping fish rooms and tanks of all sizes, he still loves breeding fish at home in the versatile 20-gallon aquarium (both the high and long versions). Learn about his top 5 favorite fish and invertebrates that are easy to spawn and raise up in a colony setting. 1. Mouth-Brooding Bettas Betta albimarginata Most people know about Betta ...
Care Guide for Green Neon Tetras — Perfect Nano Fish for Planted Tanks
Green neon tetras are a favorite fish for aquascapers because their glowing blue stripe is so eye-catching yet doesn’t take away from the beauty of the aquarium plants. As the little cousin of the more common neon tetra, you can easily fit a small school of green neon tetras in a planted nano aquarium or get a huge swarm to fill a larger tank for an amazing visual impact. Find out what makes this species so special and how to keep them happy and healthy in your home. What are Green Neon Tetra...
Care Guide for Cherry Barbs — Peaceful Barb for Community Tanks
Barbs often get a bad reputation because of their boisterous, fin-nipping behavior, but cherry barbs are an exception to the rule. This 2-inch (5 cm) schooling fish acts like your average, mild-mannered tetra and mixes well with other community fish. They are commonly sold at pet stores because of their vivid redness, energetic personality, and ease of breeding. Learn all about how to care for this popular and peaceful barb. What are Cherry Barbs? Puntius titteya are found in the rainforests ...
How to Balance Aquarium Lighting to Grow Healthy Plants (and Avoid Algae)
A brand-new planted tank always looks so beautiful and pristine, but if the tank is unbalanced, those same plants may become sickly-looking and overrun with algae within a couple of months. Plants and algae both use the same resources— such as light, nutrients, and carbon dioxide — so the goal is to balance these resources so that the plants grow stronger and outcompete the algae. For instance, too much or too little light can cause algae growth, so we need to fine-tune it for optimal plant g...
