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Choosing an Aquarium Filter

For new aquarists, choosing an external filter can be a minefield.

Which is the best brand?

What size do I need?

How many litres per hour should I be looking for?

There are a whole host of questions such as the above that are often asked, so in this article, we’re going to answer them and help you on your way to choosing the perfect filter for your setup and budget.

Fluval Bug Bites

Fluval Bug Bites have been around for a while now and have become a very popular food source amongst fish keepers. 

Bug Bites are created from Black Soldier fly larvae and other ingredients, to produce a nutrient-rich, easily digestible food for our fish.

It makes a lot of sense to create fish food from bugs as, in the wild, bugs would make up a good proportion of most fish’ diet. 

Aquarium Nitrate

Nitrates are, for most aquariums, the last stage of the Nitrogen cycle. A healthy aquarium usually builds nitrates up quite quickly and is one of the reasons that we conduct regular maintenance and water changes.

So aquarium nitrates are certainly worth talking about.

Aquarium Cycling

If you’re new to fish keeping, you have no doubt heard the term ‘Aquarium Cycling’ or something similar and you’re probably either already confused or you’re trying to learn what that means.

This article will cover every base of aquarium cycling in an easy to follow step-by-step manner, so by the time you have finished reading this, it will all make perfect sense……hopefully!

Vinegar Eels – Fry Food

How to feed fish fry is a common concern for aquarists, particularly if you haven’t bred fish before. 

With the fry of many species being so tiny, they can be difficult to feed, especially as their natural instinct does not tell them that flakes and pellets are food.

So what do we feed them?

What Rock can I put in my Aquarium?

As an aquarist, I have always been aware that certain Rocks should not be put in the aquarium. I’ve seen loads of rocks in local rivers that would have looked great in my tank, but I have always avoided them as I am no rock expert and would be unable to identify exactly what they were. 

Many aquarists have thought this for years and you will regularly see lists of rock that are deadly to your aquarium fish. This is why many aquarists spend a fortune on rocks from aquarium shops as that rock is deemed ‘safe’.

But this week I got into a conversation on this with someone much smarter than I am and was slightly more educated on the topic. So now I’m passing this knowledge to you:

“Almost all Rocks are safe for the aquarium”.

Topaz Cichlids are quite rare in the hobby and these are the first group I have seen on offer in a local shop, so needless to say, I snapped them up. 

Cryptoheros Myrnae originates in Costa Rica and Panama in the rivers of the Atlantic slope. In the wild, they are listed as endangered and are on the IUCN Red List. This may well be a reason for their rarity in the trade. 

Epistylis – Fish illness

Epistylis is a disease commonly found in aquarium fish. In many cases, it can easily be confused with White spot/Ich, or as a fungus, due to the visual effect it creates on the fish. 

Epistylis is just as common in the aquarium as White spot and it most commonly occurs in new aquariums. But Epistylis is more deadly than White spot is. 

Salt in the Aquarium

I have seen a lot of cases recently of advice being given to add Salt to Freshwater Aquariums. This has been given for various reasons, including as a remedy for illness.

But it seems that some fishkeepers are adding Salt to healthy freshwater Aquariums.

Why?

Aquarium Salt is often found for sale in Aquarium stores, and it is ultimately no different to the Salt you use on your dinner.

But Freshwater fish are not accustomed to Salt, in fact, in Freshwater rivers, there is very little to no Salt content at all. This means that many freshwater fish do not tolerate Salt in the Aquarium.

The Convict Cichlid

The Convict Cichlid is often described as the best starter Cichlid in the hobby. 

There are loads of reasons why this is the case, they are robust, adaptable, and downright amusing most of the time. 

Convicts are small, easy to keep, easy to feed and they are readily available in shops. It’s very rare to walk around an aquarium shop without seeing a convict or two.

Aquarium water changes

Aquarium water changes are vital to keeping a healthy aquarium and a very common question amongst new aquarists is, how often do I do a water change, and how much?

Unless you are lucky enough to have a tropical river running through your home, there is no escaping water changes if you want to keep a happy, healthy aquarium. 

So in this article, I am going to cover the ins and outs of water changes, so that by the end of this you will understand why water changes are necessary and how to work out when you need to do them.

The best aquarium water conditioner

A common question amongst aquarists is, what is the best aquarium water conditioner? 

A water conditioner is an essential part of keeping fish and there are loads on the market, but which one is the best?

Aquarium heaters – The basics

For those of you who have kept aquariums for a while. You will no doubt know enough about heaters.

But for those who are brand new to Tropical fish, you may have a few (or many) questions about them. 

A little knowledge behind heaters is always useful, certainly if you’re just starting out.

DIY Python aquarium hose

Most aquarists with a larger aquarium(s) will have come across the Python water change hose system. This kit is great and it certainly saves a lot of the work of lifting buckets around. Plus it saves time too.

This bit of kit is a great idea, and I have considered buying one a few times, but never have.

The reason I haven’t bought on is that I use a similar system that cost a lot less than a Python aquarium hose does.

Running a Fish room

Running a Fish room is a dream for most aquarists. With this being such an addictive hobby, it can easily go from getting your first tank to having multiple tank syndrome very quickly.

The issue is that this hobby isn’t the cheapest. With external filters costing 100’s of pounds alone, there are running costs to consider too.

JBL Cristal Profi e1902 Review

For a while now I have been planning a filter upgrade. My main tank has been running on a Fluval FX5 for some time and it’s getting on a bit now.

The FX5 has done a great job, but its certainly time to modernise the filtration a little.

The natural choice would have been to get a new FX6, but I wanted to move away from these filters for a couple of reasons:

All Pond Solutions WM-6000 review – The power of this WM-6000 is perfect for my 5-foot aquarium and the flow of water is spot on to provide plenty of circulation, keeping my tank clean and the inhabitants happy.

I have tried it with and without the additional flow attachments. The attachments allow the wavemaker to produce a narrower flow of water. This means that the flow can be directed more precisely, rather than the wider stream produced without them. 

Aquarium filter setup

Filter setup can seem relatively straight forward, with many filters arriving with pre-installed media. You may also think that as long as each type of media is somewhere in the filter, it will do its job. You would be right. But there are ways to make it far more effective.

Northfin Fish food

As a keeper of Cichlids, I have been familiar with Northfin foods for a while.

As a Fishkeeping enthusiast, I am always on the lookout for high-quality foods that contain what is best for my fish.

Northfin delivers this. They produce high-quality fish foods that are easily digested and provide all the nutrition that your fish need. On top of this, they are packed with natural colour enhancing ingredients to keep your fish looking at their best. 

Aquarium air pumps – There is a common misconception that this air is adding oxygen to the water, it is, but not as it’s flowing upwards. 

Gas exchange takes place at the surface of the water, so as the bubbles hit the surface and pop, it creates surface agitation. This adds oxygen to the water, and that is great for your fish. 

Oxygen in the aquarium is vital, despite living underwater, fish need oxygen.

Nicrew LED lights – If you are looking for a new LED light for your aquarium, you have no doubt come across options from Nicrew. Nicrew have a range of LED’s available for aquariums of all sizes that are budget-friendly.

Ammonia Spike – There are many reasons why an ammonia spike can occur in your aquarium. One of the most common is that the tank is new and has not been cycled (If you have a newly setup aquarium and arent sure about cycling, give our short book a try, FREE on kindle). 

Whatever the reason for the ammonia spike, it needs to be dealt with quickly. Ammonia is highly toxic, so it won’t be long until you find you have very ill or dead fish. 

A video guide on maintaining aquarium plants from the experts at Tropica

Free fish food from nature – 2 videos from Marks aquatics and Mr Andy Woods on how you can cut feeding costs for your aquatic friends

The advantages of Tannins in the aquarium – the blackwater effect.

A review of the JBL brine shrimp hatchery and quick guide to feeding fish fry.

A guide to identifying and treating pH shock in fish.

KaveMan Aquatics top 10 tips for keeping African Cichlids.

a review of Seachem Purigen – possibly the best filter media.

A video guide to using the API Master Test kit by KaveMan Aquatics.

A quick guide with a video tutorial on attaching moss to decorative wood or rock in the aquarium.

Top 3 tips from KaveMan Aquatics on how to get crystal clear aquarium water.

Sponge filters – Bonus Bio filtration!

How to make a DIY inline aquarium heater

A video guide on how to breed Kribensis cichlids.

A short guide to hybrid fish (Cichlids).

A video from Mr Andy Wodds on feeding monster cichlids.

A guide to regular aquarium maintenance.

Competition time – Enter to win an Eheim filter, heater and air pump!

A video guide to breeding Goldfish from Marks aquatics

A guide to Dropsy in fish.

A short guide to Nano aquariums and Jarariums.

A 1-week update on the dry start carpet from RJD Fish Tanks

Fish Illness/Disease: White spot, also know as Ich.

Betta tank setup guide with demo video from Regis aquatics.

A review of the Eheim pickup series of internal filters.

A video guide to breeding Neon Tetra

A 6-minute video from RJD Fish Tanks on the dry start method.

Aquarium vinyl backing fitting – how-to by RJD Fish Tanks

Cherry Shrimp care guide – an introduction to Cherry Shrimp in the aquarium.

Ramshorn snail – care guide. A short guide to Ramshorn snails in the aquarium

A short guide to Freshwater sharks.

A quick guide to Pleco’s

A review of the Eheim Thermocontrol heater range for fresh and saltwater aquariums.

Top 5 Goldfish myths – debunked

How to make your own fish food – by @davescichlids.

Fishkeeping and mental health – can fish improve your mood?

The importance of aquarium size – by seriously fishy

A short guide to breeding Angelfish

Beginners guide to adding live plants to your aquarium

Top 3 external filters for your home aquarium

The secret to crystal clear aquarium water

A review on Betta Thermal Compact heater (200 W)

A short guide to the best algae eaters for your tropical aquarium

A guide on defeating aquarium algae

A guide to buying a used aquarium.

Hints and tips for breeding aggressive fish

Seriously Fishy s open

Seriously Fishy’s guide to shopping for your first tropical aquarium.

A quick guide to speeding up aquarium cycling

A few thoughts to consider before starting a community aquarium

Aquarium filtration and filter media

Green Aqua guide you step-by-step in how to build a nice nano aquascape. Aquarium setup from hardscape selection, through substrates and plant selection to the actual planting.

This video walks you through the build process from start to finish, showing you what products and plants we have used, and how to layout hardscape and plants to create an attractive design.

Refer to aquarium materials: 1. Aquarium Tank: – Aquarium 4.6 Gallon: https://amzn.to/2ZKeJDM  Aquarium 5.4 Gallon: https://amzn.to/2ZLb1tn  Aquarium Cube 7.1 Gallon: https://amzn.to/2SOCUzA  Aquarium 9.6 Gallon: https://amzn.to/2st7wff  Aquarium 17.1 Gallon: https://amzn.to/2Fg4KNa  Aquatic substrate: – Aqua Soil Normal Type: https://amzn.to/35lyv9G  Fluval Plant and Shrimp Stratum: https://amzn.to/3b5wIZY  Aquarium Filter: – Fish Tank Filter: https://amzn.to/35fV0wZ  Filter overflow: https://amzn.to/2ZMgwbj  Matrix, High Capacity Biofiltration 2 L / 67.6 oz.(2-Pack): https://amzn.to/2rOsg0s  Aquarium Lighting: – LED 24-84 inch : https://amzn.to/36wt1KA  USA LED Light : https://amzn.to/2sJlYQ7 Aquarium Heater 100W/150W/200W/300W: https://amzn.to/2SPhuCu  Aquarium Thermometer: https://amzn.to/2ueLtcE  4 IN 1 Tools Cleaning Kit for Fish Tank Starter: https://amzn.to/2svHAj7 or https://amzn.to/2ZMNFUh  Clean and Fill Aquarium Maintenance System: https://amzn.to/37sq2Dh

Water Testing – Checking Water Chemistry

Water chemistry is a key factor in keeping a healthy aquarium. I’ve seen many new starters looking for help online with aquarium issues over the years, only for them to then state that they don’t own a water testing set.  If you’re new to aquariums then I can tell you that a testing kit is essential, never more so than at the start.

Even as an experienced aquarist with very mature aquariums, I still like to have a test kit handy for the occasional check.  If for any reason you are unable to acquire a testing kit, any good aquarium shops will be happy to test your water for you, sometimes for a small fee, but if you’re lucky for free.

Herichthys Cichlids (Texas and Carpintis) identification and comparison with video from Mr Andy Woods.

Top foods for American CA Cichlids in a Tropical Aquarium

A short rant about some recent blunders of chain aquarium shops

A short welcome to Seriously Fishy – Aquarium forum and blog for all.