fshfanatic’s Blog

Nicknamed by hobbyists as “nana petite” this neat little plant is one of my favorite low maintenance mid-ground plants. It’s not demanding and fills up the little empty spaces in between nooks and crannies. Best of all this tiny plant can be moved around since it’s best tied onto small rocks or small pieces of driftwood.  Anubias nana ‘Petite” has great aquascaping potential just about every aquarium, including nanos. Continue Reading »

In my quest to gain the knowledge necessary to set up a beautiful planted tank, it was evident in my search that many people gave up on planted tanks because of massive algae blooms and continuous algae issues.  The struggle to contain it and permanently eliminate algae was simply too much, and the would be aquascaper gives up on planted aquariums. Are algae wars magically selective for one person, and not another?  Of course not. Yet the truth remains, there are some who seem ideal algae aquarium growers, and there are those lushly planted aquascapes without a signal sign of algae. How does one keep an algae free aquarium? Continue Reading »

The term “Nano” Aquarium is often used by hobbyists as a descriptor for small aquariums, usually under 20-gallons in total volume. Many “nanos” are 10-gallons or less. These tanks with their small footprints are ideal for kids and/or desktops. However, due to their size, stocking them successfully with fish and invertebrates can become problematic. Some simply find it too hard to resist adding “just one more”! So, let’s talk about how to stock such aquariums with long-term success. Continue Reading »

Algae can become a problem in the aquarium if left unchecked or uncontrolled. Luckily, in the planted aquarium there are a few species that can help out, but their suitability depends on the type and size of the aquarium you have, and what other species already inhabit the tank. For the most part, these algae eating fauna can fit any tank. Here is a quick guide to a selection of suitable fish and shrimp that help fend off algae. Continue Reading »

West Africa is host to a variety of aquatic habitats harboring many tropical fish of interest to the hobbyist. In this article I’ll show you how to set up an aquarium to accommodate some of them.

The region is vast, and regular imports include fish from areas such as forest streams, river rapids and flood plains. The selection of species is rich and diverse and is comparable to that of the Amazon.

If you’re into keeping oddballs then a West African tank could be the tank for you. Take your pick from lungfish, mormyrids, pufferfish, knifefish, spiny eels, snakeheads and Polypterus. Continue Reading »

It can be incredibly frustrating when all your efforts at growing healthy aquarium plants come to naught.

But there are a variety of aids on the market that can boost your chances of success. Here are a few suggestions. Continue Reading »