Care Guide for Cardinal Tetras — Gorgeous Cousin of the Neon TetraMost people have heard of the neon tetra — an extremely popular, little fish that displays a pair of blue and red horizontal stripes. However, many veteran fishkeepers often prefer its more colorful, higher-priced cousin, the cardinal tetra. Imagine watching an entire school of these colorful jewels swimming back and forth in the midst of a forest of lush, green plants. Find out what it takes to keep this gorgeous species and why they’re totally worth saving up for. Female cardinal tetra Wha...
5 Easy Methods for Cooling Aquarium Water During a Heat WaveDuring the hot weather seasons when heat waves hit, you may struggle to keep your aquarium water cold enough for goldfish, goodeid livebearers, axolotls, and other cool water species. While it is relatively affordable to warm up the water with a heater, it can be much more expensive to buy equipment that reliably cools down the temperature. One simple tool to start with would be some kind of digital thermometer with an alarm that beeps if the water gets too hot (or cold). Then you know when i...
Care Guide for Tiger Barbs – Colorful and Rowdy Schooling FishTiger barbs are often sold at pet store chains to beginners because of their bright colors and strong schooling behavior, but they sometimes get a bad reputation for fin nipping other fish. If you like the action-packed, boisterous energy of African cichlids in a slightly smaller package, keep reading to find out what it takes to care for this fun and fast-paced species. What Are Tiger Barbs? Puntigrus tetrazona is a 2.5- to 3-inch (6-8 cm) barb fish that originally comes from Indonesia and s...
How to Build a DIY Central Air System for Your Aquarium Fish RoomOwning a fish room full of aquariums is the dream of many fish keepers. However, it can be hard to find exact instructions on how to build one since everything is so customizable and cannot be purchased ready-made from the store. One of the main milestones of setting up the fish room is installing a central air system. Rather than plugging in an individual hang-on-back or other filter for each fish tank, many veteran aquarists use a linear piston air pump that can supply air to multiple spong...
Out of Stock - when will it return?Having products available when you want to order them is our number one priority. We work tirelessly with our vendors to keep all the products we offer in-stock. Unfortunately, disruptions in the supply chain occur and impact our ability to keep certain items in-stock. When an item is out-of-stock, customers naturally want to know when it will be available for purchase again and reach out Aquarium Co-Op Customer Service. Providing estimated restock dates are not possible for Aquarium Co-Op as...
Can I use the Quarantine Meds Trio all at the same time?Yes, the trio of quarantine medications (which contains Maracyn antibiotic, ParaCleanse antifungal, and Ich-X anti-parasitic medicines) can all be used at the same time. We have thoroughly tested this combination on thousands of fish that we bring into our retail store. However, if your sick fish is very weak, it may be easier on their bodies to space out the treatment. For exact instructions on how to use the quarantine med trio (either all at once or one at a time), read our article on how...
How do I clean up the "dirt" at the bottom of my aquarium?If you see a brown or black, dirt-like substance collecting in your fish tank gravel or sand, most likely it is mulm (also known as detritus or debris). When organic material – like fish poop, leftover fish food, and plant leaves – decompose in the aquarium, it turns into mulm, which is very similar to the compost you use in gardens. Mulm may look dirty, but it's full of nutrients that are extremely beneficial for aquarium plants. Read our full article on mulm to find out how to remove or...
Which aquarium light fits my fish tank?Not sure which aquarium light to get for your planted tank? Check out our Aquarium LED Light Guide to figure out the right light for your tank size.
3 Types of Planted Aquariums to Inspire Your Next Tank BuildDid you know that a planted aquarium can be more than just adding aquatic plants into a fish tank? There are even a handful of different layout styles and techniques that can make one planted aquarium really stand out from another. Each style has a uniqueness that might add that extra pop to your aquarium you’ve been looking for. Let’s take a look at three different types of easy-to-build aquascapes to help inspire your next planted tank. Iwagumi Style Aquarium The first style that we will co...
What is PAR? Lighting & Brightness Explained for Planted TanksThere are tons of different types of aquarium lights available to hobbyists, but how do you know which one to choose for your aquarium? One important question to ask is whether or not the light source is bright enough to grow the aquarium plants you’re looking to get. Let’s talk about PAR as a helpful determining factor when choosing your next planted tank light. Defining PAR PAR is simply an abbreviation for Photosynthetically Active Radiation (sometimes referred to as Photosynthetically Ava...
The Easy Guide to the Nitrogen Cycle for AquariumsAre you getting started with your first fish tank? Then you may have heard of something called the “aquarium nitrogen cycle,” followed by a bunch of complicated scientific terms and graphs that seem a little overwhelming. No need to panic! Keep reading as we explain the nitrogen cycle in this very short and simple guide. What is the Nitrogen Cycle for Aquariums? The nitrogen cycle basically describes how nature creates food (in the form of microorganisms and plants), fish eat the food and pro...
How to Fight 6 Types of Algae in Your Fish TankDo you dream of having a beautiful aquarium but end up constantly fighting to keep algae at bay? It’s a familiar struggle that many of us have been through, so in this article, let’s get a better understanding of the root causes of algae, the most common types found in freshwater aquariums, and how to gain the upper hand. Is Algae Bad for a Fish Tank? Contrary to popular belief, algae are not evil. Like plants, they use photosynthesis to convert light and organic nutrients in the water (such ...
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 10 Energetic Barbs to Amp Up Your Next Freshwater AquariumBarbs have the infamous reputation for being fun, fast, but a bit feisty and prone to fin nipping. This schooling fish is part of the Cyprinidae family of carps and minnows, and they get their common name from the barbels or “whiskers” on their faces. Many of them can live in a community aquarium, as long as you get enough members in their group and pick the right tank mates to match their boisterous personalities. Find out which barbs on our top 10 list are naughty versus nice. 1. Cherry Bar...
What are the Different Types of Betta Fish?When shopping for your first betta fish at the pet store, it can be a little confusing trying to make heads or tails of all the different types. While they are all technically considered to be Betta splendens, these beautiful creatures have been selectively bred and hybridized with other Betta species over many, many generations to create the vast number of varieties we see today. The International Betta Congress (IBC) is a worldwide organization that holds betta fish shows on six continents,...
5 Best Fish Tank Ideas for Small AquariumsSmall fish tanks between 5–20 gallons are some of the most popular sizes in the freshwater aquarium hobby because of their reduced footprint and cheaper cost. Even with the size limitation, there are countless possibilities when it comes to choosing the species, layout, and purpose of the fish tank. To help get your creative juices flowing, here are 5 stocking ideas that might be perfect for your next nano fish tank. 1. Nano Aquascape Simple aquascape with center island of plants surrounded ...
Care Guide for Cardinal Tetras — Gorgeous Cousin of the Neon Tetra
Most people have heard of the neon tetra — an extremely popular, little fish that displays a pair of blue and red horizontal stripes. However, many veteran fishkeepers often prefer its more colorful, higher-priced cousin, the cardinal tetra. Imagine watching an entire school of these colorful jewels swimming back and forth in the midst of a forest of lush, green plants. Find out what it takes to keep this gorgeous species and why they’re totally worth saving up for. Female cardinal tetra Wha...
5 Easy Methods for Cooling Aquarium Water During a Heat Wave
During the hot weather seasons when heat waves hit, you may struggle to keep your aquarium water cold enough for goldfish, goodeid livebearers, axolotls, and other cool water species. While it is relatively affordable to warm up the water with a heater, it can be much more expensive to buy equipment that reliably cools down the temperature. One simple tool to start with would be some kind of digital thermometer with an alarm that beeps if the water gets too hot (or cold). Then you know when i...
Care Guide for Tiger Barbs – Colorful and Rowdy Schooling Fish
Tiger barbs are often sold at pet store chains to beginners because of their bright colors and strong schooling behavior, but they sometimes get a bad reputation for fin nipping other fish. If you like the action-packed, boisterous energy of African cichlids in a slightly smaller package, keep reading to find out what it takes to care for this fun and fast-paced species. What Are Tiger Barbs? Puntigrus tetrazona is a 2.5- to 3-inch (6-8 cm) barb fish that originally comes from Indonesia and s...
How to Build a DIY Central Air System for Your Aquarium Fish Room
Owning a fish room full of aquariums is the dream of many fish keepers. However, it can be hard to find exact instructions on how to build one since everything is so customizable and cannot be purchased ready-made from the store. One of the main milestones of setting up the fish room is installing a central air system. Rather than plugging in an individual hang-on-back or other filter for each fish tank, many veteran aquarists use a linear piston air pump that can supply air to multiple spong...
3 Types of Planted Aquariums to Inspire Your Next Tank Build
Did you know that a planted aquarium can be more than just adding aquatic plants into a fish tank? There are even a handful of different layout styles and techniques that can make one planted aquarium really stand out from another. Each style has a uniqueness that might add that extra pop to your aquarium you’ve been looking for. Let’s take a look at three different types of easy-to-build aquascapes to help inspire your next planted tank. Iwagumi Style Aquarium The first style that we will co...
What is PAR? Lighting & Brightness Explained for Planted Tanks
There are tons of different types of aquarium lights available to hobbyists, but how do you know which one to choose for your aquarium? One important question to ask is whether or not the light source is bright enough to grow the aquarium plants you’re looking to get. Let’s talk about PAR as a helpful determining factor when choosing your next planted tank light. Defining PAR PAR is simply an abbreviation for Photosynthetically Active Radiation (sometimes referred to as Photosynthetically Ava...
The Easy Guide to the Nitrogen Cycle for Aquariums
Are you getting started with your first fish tank? Then you may have heard of something called the “aquarium nitrogen cycle,” followed by a bunch of complicated scientific terms and graphs that seem a little overwhelming. No need to panic! Keep reading as we explain the nitrogen cycle in this very short and simple guide. What is the Nitrogen Cycle for Aquariums? The nitrogen cycle basically describes how nature creates food (in the form of microorganisms and plants), fish eat the food and pro...
How to Fight 6 Types of Algae in Your Fish Tank
Do you dream of having a beautiful aquarium but end up constantly fighting to keep algae at bay? It’s a familiar struggle that many of us have been through, so in this article, let’s get a better understanding of the root causes of algae, the most common types found in freshwater aquariums, and how to gain the upper hand. Is Algae Bad for a Fish Tank? Contrary to popular belief, algae are not evil. Like plants, they use photosynthesis to convert light and organic nutrients in the water (such ...
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 10 Energetic Barbs to Amp Up Your Next Freshwater Aquarium
Barbs have the infamous reputation for being fun, fast, but a bit feisty and prone to fin nipping. This schooling fish is part of the Cyprinidae family of carps and minnows, and they get their common name from the barbels or “whiskers” on their faces. Many of them can live in a community aquarium, as long as you get enough members in their group and pick the right tank mates to match their boisterous personalities. Find out which barbs on our top 10 list are naughty versus nice. 1. Cherry Bar...
What are the Different Types of Betta Fish?
When shopping for your first betta fish at the pet store, it can be a little confusing trying to make heads or tails of all the different types. While they are all technically considered to be Betta splendens, these beautiful creatures have been selectively bred and hybridized with other Betta species over many, many generations to create the vast number of varieties we see today. The International Betta Congress (IBC) is a worldwide organization that holds betta fish shows on six continents,...
5 Best Fish Tank Ideas for Small Aquariums
Small fish tanks between 5–20 gallons are some of the most popular sizes in the freshwater aquarium hobby because of their reduced footprint and cheaper cost. Even with the size limitation, there are countless possibilities when it comes to choosing the species, layout, and purpose of the fish tank. To help get your creative juices flowing, here are 5 stocking ideas that might be perfect for your next nano fish tank. 1. Nano Aquascape Simple aquascape with center island of plants surrounded ...
