Sections
Guide sections
The guide is divided into four topics, each answering its own set of questions. The first explains what happens to the water and why it is more than just a clear liquid. The second covers the equipment an aquarium can't live without. The third is about fish and other inhabitants. The fourth is about everyday care, which shouldn't turn into a heavy chore.
An aquarium is like a small pond with no rain and no streams. Everything the water cycle does in nature, you do here.
The section topics were chosen around the questions almost every beginner runs into in the first months. We write in general terms and don't replace species profiles: when it comes to water temperature or hardness, the answer always depends on who lives in your aquarium.
Water and cycling
Fish health starts with the water. This topic covers how waste turns into less dangerous substances and how to prepare tap water.
- Glossary: nitrogen cycle, ammonia, nitrate
Simple definitions of how beneficial bacteria neutralise fish waste and leftover food, step by step.
- Tap water
Why chlorine and chloramine are dangerous, why letting water stand only deals with one of them, and what a water conditioner is for.
- Water changes step by step
A practical article on refreshing part of the water without frightening the fish or destroying the bacterial colonies.
Equipment
The filter, heater, lighting and substrate all work together. Here we explain what each part is for, with no product promotion.
- The filter as a home for bacteria
Why the filter sponge isn't rinsed under the tap, and what happens if you clean everything too thoroughly at once.
- Light and warmth
Why an aquarium needs a lighting schedule, why it doesn't belong on a sunny windowsill, and how heating is matched to the species.
- New articles on equipment
A feed of recent pages, with articles about filters, substrate and lighting marked.
Inhabitants
Fish, shrimp, snails and plants all affect one another. This topic covers choosing tankmates and introducing newcomers safely.
- Compatibility and schooling
Answers on why some fish don't get along with others, and why some species do badly on their own.
- Plants and snails
A collection for anyone who wants a living green aquarium and is thinking about snails or shrimp.
- Quarantine and invasive species
Glossary entries on why new arrivals are kept separately and why they must never be released into the wild.
Care
Small regular tasks are more reliable than rare big clean-ups. Here you'll find everything on feeding, observation and holidays.
- Feeding without overfeeding
Why too much food is more dangerous than too little, and how to tell that your fish are getting enough.
- The first month
A reading path for beginners: from setting up the tank to the first scheduled water changes and calm observation.
- Archive of care articles
Every finished page of the guide by date, including articles on holidays and moving house.
Read next
- Guides
A step-by-step article on doing a water change without stressing your fish, plus the article catalogue.
- Reference
A fishkeeper's glossary: nitrogen cycle, nitrite, water conditioner, quarantine, schooling fish and more.
- Collections
Reading paths: your first month with an aquarium, an aquarium with a child, plants and snails.
Sources
- Beginner fishkeeping handbooks
- Materials on biological invasions
Information is current as of the date this page was prepared. Fish, plants and invertebrates vary widely in their needs, so before buying a new animal, always check the requirements of that particular species.