Dustin's Blog — fish tank

Read Time: 4 minutes So, you’ve got some experience with aquariums; you’re seeing growth on your beginner aquarium plants; and you’ve realized how awesome this whole planted tank thing is. But now, you’re squinting at other species and wondering, “Are there aquarium plants for people who want to try something new without biting off more than they can chew? Maybe I want to get better lights? I think I want to try fertilizer.” Congrats. You’ve landed on the right page. Welcome to part two of the series on which aquarium plants are right for you based on difficulty, maintenance, and...

Read Time: 5 mins “Can I have a planted tank without special lights, fertilizers, or a CO2 system?” This is a question everyone in the freshwater aquarium hobby has asked at some point, and we have good news: the answer is a resounding yes. If you want beautiful aquatic plants without feeling like you have to sell a kidney to afford tech to keep them alive, we've got you.   This is the first of a two part series on which aquarium plants are right for you based on how much maintenance they need. In this post, we'll list out some...

Read Time: 4 minutes One of the funniest comment threads I've ever read came from a guy who said, "Everyone has a ratio of swimming water to urine they're comfortable with." The immediate reaction to his post was a unanimous "Absolutely not." Then he explained it further: if someone pees in your hot tub, you’re climbing out and pissed off (Or, pissed on, maybe). On the flip side, we all know people and marine life urinate in the ocean. But no one goes running for the shore even knowing that. So the guy made the claim again, this time to...

Read Time: 4.5 minutes Killer Plants for Killer Fish: How to Have a Planted Tank with Goldfish, Cichlids, Silver Dollar Fish, etc. Some fish roll out of bed, look in the mirror, and say a daily affirmation: “Today, I will cause problems on purpose.”  I’d never had a love-hate relationship with a fish before until I watched my friend’s cichlid tank when she was out of town. Watching an aquarium for someone usually means taking care of things while the owner is away, but this felt more like getting free tickets to a demolition derby and being told two seconds...

Read Time: 7 mins Bettas are one of the most popular aquarium fish out there. Unfortunately, they’re also one of the most notoriously badly kept aquarium fish out there. These myths are part of the reason for that. Welcome to Mythbusters: Dustin’s Fishtanks Edition (For a quick reference for best betta parameters, scroll to the bottom).  Myth #1: Bettas Like Tiny Tanks/Cups Verdict: Absolutely not.  Starting off with the biggest (or, maybe the smallest) myth, we’ve all seen the wall of betta cups. At best, they look bored. More often, it’s outright depressing. The reason they’re kept in cups is...