Set Up

Algae is a normal part of any aquarium; the goal isn’t zero algae, but steady control. This guide shows beginners how to balance light, nutrients, CO2, and flow, choose the right routines, and use plants, cleanup crews, and equipment to prevent blooms. It covers freshwater and reef systems, teaches you to identify common algae types and their causes, and offers targeted fixes—from tuning photoperiods and feeding, to UV for green water and safe spot treatments. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to do daily, weekly, and when problems pop up to keep your tank clear, healthy, and stable.

Lighting is the backbone of a healthy, beautiful aquarium. This guide demystifies LED lighting—covering Kelvin, PAR/PUR, CRI, spectrum, spread, and depth—then shows how to choose, size, and schedule the right fixture for fish-only, planted, nano, and marine setups. You’ll learn to reduce fish stress with gentle ramps, prevent algae with smart photoperiods, and pick proven models for any budget, plus get safety, maintenance, and troubleshooting tips to keep your tank thriving.

Keeping a beautiful fish tank doesn’t have to be wasteful or complicated. This beginner-friendly guide shows you how to build a balanced, low-maintenance aquarium that relies on beneficial bacteria, live plants, and energy-smart gear. Learn the nitrogen cycle in plain language, choose a stable tank size and gentle filtration, set up efficient LED lighting and reliable heating, and use treated tap water wisely. Discover easy plants that clean the water, feed in ways that cut waste, prevent algae without harsh chemicals, and reuse change water in your garden. You’ll get simple routines for testing, water changes, filter care, and travel prep, plus tips on stocking peaceful communities, quarantining new fish, and solving common issues like cloudy water or ammonia spikes. With a slow, steady approach, you can enjoy clear water, calm fish, and lush plants—while saving time, money, and energy.

A planted aquarium is a living underwater garden where light, nutrients, CO2, and stable water work in balance. This beginner-friendly guide covers planning your aquascape, choosing low- or high-tech setups, essential equipment, substrates and fertilizing, and when CO2 helps. It explains plant selection by tank zones, hardscape design for depth and focus, and a step-by-step setup with cycling and early algae control. You’ll learn weekly maintenance, trimming, stocking peaceful fish and shrimp, budget strategies, and troubleshooting. With simple rules and steady routines, you can grow a lush, healthy aquascape without expensive gear.

Beginner-Friendly Planted Tank Guide: from goal setting, tank size & placement, substrate & filtration, and lighting & CO₂, to water parameters, fertilization, and easy plants—build a stable ecosystem step by step. Includes algae-control essentials, fish-and-shrimp stocking tips, and a 90-day grow plan to help you create a lush, low-maintenance aquascape.

Feeding fish seems simple, but timing and portion size can make or break tank health. This beginner-friendly guide shows how often to feed, how much to offer, and which foods to choose—so you can prevent overfeeding, keep water clear, and help your fish thrive.

Bright, healthy koi don’t happen by chance. This simple, step-by-step feeding guide shows what to feed, when to feed, and how to choose foods that boost color and strength without clouding pond water—ideal for beginners and improving keepers alike.

A friendly, step-by-step guide to your first tropical aquarium: plan the right tank, master water basics and the nitrogen cycle, choose hardy fish, and maintain with simple routines. Learn feeding, cleaning, and troubleshooting so your water stays clear and your fish stay healthy.

A clear, practical guide to nano aquariums: learn what qualifies as a nano tank, how to stock based on behavior and bioload, the best fish and invertebrates for 2.5–20 gallons, simple aquascaping and equipment tips, feeding and maintenance routines, plus beginner-friendly stocking plans for thriving, peaceful setups.

New to aquariums? This plain-English guide helps you set up a simple, stable freshwater tank and choose hardy, peaceful fish that thrive in beginner setups. Learn cycling basics, essential gear, water testing, stocking plans by tank size, easy feeding and plant tips, and quick fixes for common hiccups—so your first aquarium is calm, colorful, and low stress.