Is Nitrate Good or Bad for Your Aquarium?If you search online for information about nitrate in fish tanks, many articles immediately pop up to warn you about the dangers of high nitrate and the best methods for lowering it. But how much nitrate is considered dangerous? And if nitrate is so toxic, why do many aquarium plant fertilizers increase nitrate levels when they are made to be safe for fish, shrimp, and snails? Let’s talk about one of the main points of confusion in the aquarium hobby — nitrate. What is Nitrate? When fish and ...
How to install an aquarium air pumpAn air pump is responsible for sucking in air from outside of the fish tank and pumping it into a submerged aquarium apparatus. Therefore, you need a few air pump accessories to guide the air flow in the right direction and at the right pressure. For most beginners, we recommend getting a roll of airline tubing and check valve to get started. Use airline tubing to connect the air pump outside of the aquarium to the aquarium device (e.g., sponge filter, fish tank decoration, etc.) inside the...
What are power heads?For larger aquariums or fish tanks that need faster flow, a power head is great option because of its versatility in multiple applications. A powerhead is simply a submersible water pump that sucks in water from the input and sprays out a powerful stream of water from the output. This device can be used to speed up water changes, create your own DIY filtration, and of course boost water circulation in your aquarium. For more information, read our full article on water circulation.
Care Guide for Shell Dwellers – Smallest African CichlidsAfrican cichlids are some of the most colorful, exciting fish in the freshwater aquarium hobby, but many species often require 55-gallon aquariums or larger. If you’re living in a bedroom or apartment with limited space, consider getting shell dwellers instead. As one of the smallest African cichlids available in the pet trade, they have the same fiery personality but condensed into a 2-inch (5 cm) package. Best of all, they can live in a 20-gallon nano tank. What are Shell Dwellers? In this ...
Daphnia Culturing – How to Raise DaphniaHow would you like to cultivate and raise your own separate tank of Daphnia (also known as water fleas)? These tiny plankton-like freshwater crustaceans grow to about 3 millimeters in length or less. They’re actually kind of cute looking as you watch them swim almost vertically in their tank. They live quite happily in large groups within a tank, so that you can harvest them when you need them to feed your fish, tadpoles, salamanders, newts, or aquatic insects. In this article, we’ll discu...
Care Guide for Guppies – The Most Popular and Colorful LivebearerGuppies (Poecilia reticulata) are one of the most popular fish in the aquarium hobby because of their brilliant colors, lively personalities, and ease of breeding. In this care guide, we answer your most frequently asked questions about this simple yet beautiful species. Why Are Guppies So Popular? Discovered in South America around the 1860s, this hardy livebearer (or fish that gives birth to live young) was once used as pest control for mosquitos. They were eventually introduced to the pet ...
How to Choose the Right Aquarium HeaterOne of the most common questions we get is, “Does my aquarium need a heater?” Well, most fish are cold-blooded animals that rely on the surrounding waters to regulate their body temperature, and most freshwater pet fish are tropical species that enjoy balmy temperatures around 78-80°F. So, if you usually keep your home cooler than that, then the answer is yes. Now it’s true that the majority of aquarium fish can tolerate cooler temperatures than recommended because in nature, the environment ...
How to Get Started with Aquarium PlantsAquarium plants are an amazing addition to nearly any fish tank. Not only are they beautiful and natural-looking, but they also help greatly with biological filtration and create a comfortable environment for your fish. However, many people are afraid to try them because growing plants underwater is such unfamiliar territory. Not to worry – here are our top four tried-and-true tips for getting started with your first aquarium plants! Tip #1: Use a Good Fertilizer Easy Green all-in-one fertil...
How to Set Up an Easy Planted Tank for African CichlidsIt’s a popular belief that African cichlids and live aquariums plants can never go together. But with the right stocking choices, plants can be an excellent means of blocking line of sight and keeping alpha males from getting too aggressive. Here is a step-by-step tutorial on how to set up an eye-catching planted tank that will do well with fish like mbuna and peacock cichlids. Step #1: Prepare the Aquarium For our setup, we purchased a 75-gallon aquarium that is approximately 4 feet long and...
Anubias Rot: Symptoms, Causes, and SolutionsAnubias rot is an uncommon disease that can affect anubias plants in the aquarium hobby. Unfortunately, there is very little information about how it starts and how to stop its spread. In this article, we explain the symptoms for anubias rot, possible causes, and the best course of action to take if you spot it. Why Is My Anubias Dying? Before we dive into the details of anubias rot, let’s make sure your anubias isn’t suffering from other, more common issues. Firstly, is your anubias plant pr...
When Should I Dose Iron in My Planted Aquarium?Just as people need certain nutrients to function correctly, aquatic plants require a unique mix of fundamental building blocks to live and grow. Macronutrients (like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous) are nutrients that plants consume in large quantities, where as micronutrients (like iron and boron) are nutrients that plants consume in trace amounts. Many all-in-one liquid fertilizers like Easy Green already contain iron (Fe), so when is it necessary to dose additional iron in your plant...
Cory McElroy | Company Owner and Founder Started Aquarium Co-Op in June of 2012Q: Your Favorite thing about working at Aquarium Co-Op? A: My role is always evolving, however the one thing that mains true is that I love helping people. Whether it’s one on one in person at the store or at an event or in a video, I take pride in my work knowing what I do helps others. Master Aquatic Horticulturalist Served on the Board of Directors for the Greater Seattle Aquarium Society as the Fish Breeder Award Program Chair Named in Pet Age Magazine as a top 40 under the age of 40. Q: ...
10 Best Aquarium Fish for BeginnersIf you’re getting into freshwater aquariums for the first time, it can be intimidating to know which fish to pick. Ideally, you want something hardy, budget-friendly, and colorful with an interesting personality. Check out our list of top 10 beginner fish (in no particular order) that are easy to care for and would make a great addition to your aquarium! 1. Rasboras There are many types of rasboras, but our favorite ones are the harlequin rasbora (Trigonostigma heteromorpha) and lambchop rasb...
Aquarium Salt: When and How to Use It ProperlyShould aquarium salt be used in freshwater tanks? Some people recommend dosing it all the time to provide fish with essential electrolytes, while others say it’s mostly used for treating diseases. After years of testing with hundreds of fish, we’ve witnessed the true power of salt. Sodium chloride (NaCl) is one of the best, all-encompassing “medications” on the market that’s effective against bacteria, fungus, and external parasites. We love it because it’s cheap, readily available in all cou...
Lots of Colorful Fish at Aquarium Co-Op!Lots of color in this week's orders at Aquarium Co-Op! Rainbow-colored assortment of Small Discus, Peacock Gudgeons, Black Neon Tetras, and Gold Australe Killifish (sold in M/F pairs) as well as a batch of nice-sized Panda Garra. The retail store also got a huge restock of plants in our orders this week! We have a lot of the usual favorites like Rotala H'RA (which came in flowering), Ludwigia Repens, Crypt. Spiralis, and the return restock of Moneywort. This week I wanted to...
Echinodorus Vesuvius – An Oddball Sword Plant with a TwistHave you ever heard of the narrow-leafed sword plant that grows in a spiral? Meet the Vesuvius sword plant – also known as Echinodorus angustifolia, Echinodorus ‘Vesuvius,’ and Helanthium ‘Vesuvius.’ Similar to corkscrew vallisneria, vesuvius looks like curly underwater grass, but its blades are narrower and grow in a tighter twist. Its common name was chosen because the leaves appear to be rising from the base of the plant much like the smoke wisps spiraling out of Mount Vesuvius. However, b...
Is Nitrate Good or Bad for Your Aquarium?
If you search online for information about nitrate in fish tanks, many articles immediately pop up to warn you about the dangers of high nitrate and the best methods for lowering it. But how much nitrate is considered dangerous? And if nitrate is so toxic, why do many aquarium plant fertilizers increase nitrate levels when they are made to be safe for fish, shrimp, and snails? Let’s talk about one of the main points of confusion in the aquarium hobby — nitrate. What is Nitrate? When fish and ...
Care Guide for Shell Dwellers – Smallest African Cichlids
African cichlids are some of the most colorful, exciting fish in the freshwater aquarium hobby, but many species often require 55-gallon aquariums or larger. If you’re living in a bedroom or apartment with limited space, consider getting shell dwellers instead. As one of the smallest African cichlids available in the pet trade, they have the same fiery personality but condensed into a 2-inch (5 cm) package. Best of all, they can live in a 20-gallon nano tank. What are Shell Dwellers? In this ...
Daphnia Culturing – How to Raise Daphnia
How would you like to cultivate and raise your own separate tank of Daphnia (also known as water fleas)? These tiny plankton-like freshwater crustaceans grow to about 3 millimeters in length or less. They’re actually kind of cute looking as you watch them swim almost vertically in their tank. They live quite happily in large groups within a tank, so that you can harvest them when you need them to feed your fish, tadpoles, salamanders, newts, or aquatic insects. In this article, we’ll discu...
Care Guide for Guppies – The Most Popular and Colorful Livebearer
Guppies (Poecilia reticulata) are one of the most popular fish in the aquarium hobby because of their brilliant colors, lively personalities, and ease of breeding. In this care guide, we answer your most frequently asked questions about this simple yet beautiful species. Why Are Guppies So Popular? Discovered in South America around the 1860s, this hardy livebearer (or fish that gives birth to live young) was once used as pest control for mosquitos. They were eventually introduced to the pet ...
How to Choose the Right Aquarium Heater
One of the most common questions we get is, “Does my aquarium need a heater?” Well, most fish are cold-blooded animals that rely on the surrounding waters to regulate their body temperature, and most freshwater pet fish are tropical species that enjoy balmy temperatures around 78-80°F. So, if you usually keep your home cooler than that, then the answer is yes. Now it’s true that the majority of aquarium fish can tolerate cooler temperatures than recommended because in nature, the environment ...
How to Get Started with Aquarium Plants
Aquarium plants are an amazing addition to nearly any fish tank. Not only are they beautiful and natural-looking, but they also help greatly with biological filtration and create a comfortable environment for your fish. However, many people are afraid to try them because growing plants underwater is such unfamiliar territory. Not to worry – here are our top four tried-and-true tips for getting started with your first aquarium plants! Tip #1: Use a Good Fertilizer Easy Green all-in-one fertil...
How to Set Up an Easy Planted Tank for African Cichlids
It’s a popular belief that African cichlids and live aquariums plants can never go together. But with the right stocking choices, plants can be an excellent means of blocking line of sight and keeping alpha males from getting too aggressive. Here is a step-by-step tutorial on how to set up an eye-catching planted tank that will do well with fish like mbuna and peacock cichlids. Step #1: Prepare the Aquarium For our setup, we purchased a 75-gallon aquarium that is approximately 4 feet long and...
Anubias Rot: Symptoms, Causes, and Solutions
Anubias rot is an uncommon disease that can affect anubias plants in the aquarium hobby. Unfortunately, there is very little information about how it starts and how to stop its spread. In this article, we explain the symptoms for anubias rot, possible causes, and the best course of action to take if you spot it. Why Is My Anubias Dying? Before we dive into the details of anubias rot, let’s make sure your anubias isn’t suffering from other, more common issues. Firstly, is your anubias plant pr...
When Should I Dose Iron in My Planted Aquarium?
Just as people need certain nutrients to function correctly, aquatic plants require a unique mix of fundamental building blocks to live and grow. Macronutrients (like nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous) are nutrients that plants consume in large quantities, where as micronutrients (like iron and boron) are nutrients that plants consume in trace amounts. Many all-in-one liquid fertilizers like Easy Green already contain iron (Fe), so when is it necessary to dose additional iron in your plant...
Cory McElroy | Company Owner and Founder Started Aquarium Co-Op in June of 2012
Q: Your Favorite thing about working at Aquarium Co-Op? A: My role is always evolving, however the one thing that mains true is that I love helping people. Whether it’s one on one in person at the store or at an event or in a video, I take pride in my work knowing what I do helps others. Master Aquatic Horticulturalist Served on the Board of Directors for the Greater Seattle Aquarium Society as the Fish Breeder Award Program Chair Named in Pet Age Magazine as a top 40 under the age of 40. Q: ...
10 Best Aquarium Fish for Beginners
If you’re getting into freshwater aquariums for the first time, it can be intimidating to know which fish to pick. Ideally, you want something hardy, budget-friendly, and colorful with an interesting personality. Check out our list of top 10 beginner fish (in no particular order) that are easy to care for and would make a great addition to your aquarium! 1. Rasboras There are many types of rasboras, but our favorite ones are the harlequin rasbora (Trigonostigma heteromorpha) and lambchop rasb...
Aquarium Salt: When and How to Use It Properly
Should aquarium salt be used in freshwater tanks? Some people recommend dosing it all the time to provide fish with essential electrolytes, while others say it’s mostly used for treating diseases. After years of testing with hundreds of fish, we’ve witnessed the true power of salt. Sodium chloride (NaCl) is one of the best, all-encompassing “medications” on the market that’s effective against bacteria, fungus, and external parasites. We love it because it’s cheap, readily available in all cou...
Lots of Colorful Fish at Aquarium Co-Op!
Lots of color in this week's orders at Aquarium Co-Op! Rainbow-colored assortment of Small Discus, Peacock Gudgeons, Black Neon Tetras, and Gold Australe Killifish (sold in M/F pairs) as well as a batch of nice-sized Panda Garra. The retail store also got a huge restock of plants in our orders this week! We have a lot of the usual favorites like Rotala H'RA (which came in flowering), Ludwigia Repens, Crypt. Spiralis, and the return restock of Moneywort. This week I wanted to...
Echinodorus Vesuvius – An Oddball Sword Plant with a Twist
Have you ever heard of the narrow-leafed sword plant that grows in a spiral? Meet the Vesuvius sword plant – also known as Echinodorus angustifolia, Echinodorus ‘Vesuvius,’ and Helanthium ‘Vesuvius.’ Similar to corkscrew vallisneria, vesuvius looks like curly underwater grass, but its blades are narrower and grow in a tighter twist. Its common name was chosen because the leaves appear to be rising from the base of the plant much like the smoke wisps spiraling out of Mount Vesuvius. However, b...
