Quick answer Dwarf sagittaria (Sagittaria subulata) is a hardy, grass-like aquarium plant that spreads by runners and grows well without CO2. It tolerates a wide range of conditions, roughly 20 to 28°C (68 to 82°F) and pH 5.0 to 8.0, and grows in sand or gravel provided it gets nutrients Read more
Quick answer The best low light aquarium plants are Anubias, Java fern, Bucephalandra, Java moss, Cryptocoryne, Amazon sword, Vallisneria, hornwort, Anacharis, water wisteria, guppy grass and floating plants like frogbit. None of them need CO2 injection. They grow more slowly than high tech plants, which is the trade off, and Read more
Quick answer Caridina japonica is the older scientific name for the shrimp now classified as Caridina multidentata, and known to most aquarists as the Amano shrimp. It is a freshwater shrimp native to Japan and Taiwan, reaching around 2 inches (5 cm), living roughly 2 to 3 years, and kept Read more
Quick answer The best aquarium fish for beginners are hardy freshwater species that are peaceful and forgiving of small mistakes while you learn. Most beginner tropical fish on this list fit a standard community tank. Zebra danios, guppies, platies, corydoras catfish, harlequin rasboras, ember tetras, cherry barbs, white cloud mountain Read more
Quick answer Caridina multidentata, better known as the Amano shrimp, is a hardy freshwater shrimp kept mainly for algae control. Adults reach around 2 inches (5 cm), live roughly 2 to 3 years, and do well in temperatures of about 18 to 27°C (65 to 80°F) with a pH near Read more
Quick answer: Most aquarium snail eggs fall into three looks. A clear jelly blob stuck underwater on glass or a leaf is from a pest snail like a bladder, pond or ramshorn snail, and it hatches in one to three weeks. Tiny hard white dots like sesame seeds are nerite Read more
Quick answer: White fuzz on aquarium plants or new driftwood is almost always a harmless biofilm or water mold. Bacteria and fungi feed on sugars leaching out of fresh wood and on decaying bits of plant, and it looks like soft white cotton or slimy cobwebs. It won’t hurt your Read more
Quick answer Detritus worms are thin, white or tan, wiggly worms that live in aquarium substrate and feed on waste. They are generally harmless to fish, shrimp and aquarium plants. They are not parasitic worms and do not attack healthy tank inhabitants, and they are common in established tanks whether Read more
Quick answer Most keepers who have dealt with Anubias rot report that it spreads from one plant to another, often losing several Anubias in a row over a few weeks. The cause has never been firmly identified, so nobody can say for certain what is spreading or how. The practical Read more
Quick answer Aquarium plant deficiency symptoms are read by looking at which leaves are damaged and what the damage looks like. Problems on old leaves usually mean a mobile nutrient is running short: yellowing old leaves can point to nitrogen deficiency, small pinholes can point to potassium, and dark or Read more