Written by: Tammy (@aquarist_tl) and Team Buce Plant    Have you ever seen carpeting plant seeds for aquariums being advertised online? If so, be cautious of spending your money on these "magic seeds." Unfortunately, they are more than likely falsely advertised products. Although they seem like a cheap and easy shortcut to getting a beautiful, carpeted aquarium, these seeds are likely to turn your aquarium into a mess in the long run. In this article, we’ll discuss reasons why you should stay away from these aquatic carpet seeds, and tips on how you can properly grow a car ..read more

  If you asked me why I bought my first freshwater aquarium, I could give you plenty of reasons. I could talk about the health benefits of watching aquarium fish or the appeal of a statement tank as a conversation piece, but the innate appeal of fishkeeping is intangible and hard to explain. Aquatic environments are beautiful, exotic, otherworldly, electrifying, foreign and familiar, and sometimes slightly frightening. The idea of encapsulating all of this in a glass box in your living room is romantic and seductive. It also makes it easy to ignore the practical realities of fishkeeping ..read more

Written by: Tammy (@aquarist_tl)    Have you ever encountered this ugly black fuzz growing on the tips of plant leaves or on your aquarium’s hardscape? If so, it's most likely Black Beard Algae (BBA), also known as Black Brush Algae. Out of the many types of algae that we see in freshwater fishkeeping, black algae in the fish tank is arguably one of the most stubborn to remove...but don't get discouraged! Although it can be somewhat troublesome to get rid of, it is not impossible. In this article, we’ll cover what exactly this black algae is, how to prevent it, and how to remove ..read more

Written by: Tammy (@aquarist_tl)      Keeping freshwater fish, shrimp, and snails is different from raising other types of pets. Essentially, we have to maintain an entire ecosystem for them. Their fish tank is the world they live in, and it’s our responsibility to make sure everything is running smoothly in it. We have to keep many factors in mind, such as water parameters and waste levels. It's important to consider not just the current health of your fish, but the entire aquarium. Here are some aquarium tips I’d like to share that have helped me keep my aquariums in ..read more

Written By: Chris (@shrimpery)   Before they became mass-produced, household carpets were a symbol of luxury, found only in the homes of the wealthy. Growing carpeting plants- the fine-leaved aquarium plants used to blanket the substrate of a tank- can seem similarly lofty to beginner hobbyists. Even some more established planted aquarium keepers encounter challenges with previously healthy carpets suddenly turning yellow or melting. Despite their intimidating aura, I have found that, with the right materials and techniques, growing and maintaining a rich carpet is one of t ..read more

 Written by: Tammy (@aquarist_tl)    Have you ever wondered why we often see fish tanks in the waiting rooms of dentists and doctors’ offices? As a planted aquarium keeper, I would personally argue that aquariums can have a positive, calming, stress-relieving effect on both their owners and viewers, which may be helpful in a stressful environment like the dentist! In fact, there’s scientific evidence of aquariums being beneficial to both physical and mental wellbeing. A study has suggested that people who spend time around aquariums will see an improvement in their health a ..read more

  So you decided to add some plants to the barren scenery of your betta's aquarium but have no clue where to start. Luckily, being something of an "expert," we can point you to the best live aquatic plants for a new betta tank. Essentially, you should always aim to add extra floating aquatic plants to the setup because that's what makes Bettas feel at home. However, any 5-gallon tank or bowl can benefit from a handful of ground plants here and there. In this article, we will walk you through some good picks for betta fish plants and give you some helpful advice along the way. Our newest ..read more

Written By: Chris (@shrimpery)   Gorgeous planted aquariums aren’t hard to find online, but a few stand out more than others. You know it when you see it: nearly every aquarium plant leaf looks crisp, fresh, vibrant, and healthy; for a split second, you question if there is any water in the tank. Algae is nowhere to be seen. What is the secret to everything looking so pristine? Even the “cleanest” planted tanks are still rife with bacteria, algae, and livestock waste. How pristine a tank looks comes down to whether these elements- all relatively beneficial in moderation- are present ..read more

Written by: Tammy (@aquarist_tl)    Most aquascaping hobbyists have heard the importance of testing specific water parameters like Ammonia, Nitrate, and Nitrites. But when it comes to water hardness, many new aquarists don't test for it, or even know it exists! Water hardness is a parameter that is commonly forgotten about, even though it can play an essential role in the health of the aquatic specimens being kept. In this article, we’ll be answering the following questions: 1. What is water hardness? 2. How do you measure water hardness? 3. Why should I adjust my aqua ..read more

Written by: Tammy (@aquarist_tl)    If you have ever kept an aquarium, then chances are you’ve run into diatoms before. Diatoms are commonly referred to as “brown algae,” one of the most common forms of algae that we see in the fishkeeping hobby that usually forms within the first month of a new tank setup. In this blog post, we’ll go over what brown algae exactly is, what causes it, and how to get rid of brown algae from our aquariums.   What is "Brown Algae"? As mentioned previously, diatoms form brown algae layers that appear in a newly set-up tank after about 1 to 3 wee ..read more