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Planted aquarium knowledge

Ten articles on the chemistry, the biology and the routine — written from first principles, with the parameters stated rather than assumed.

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FeaturedBeginner4 February 202614 min read

How to Start a Planted Aquarium: A Beginner's Guide

The decisions that actually matter in the first month, in the order you should make them — and the four things beginners spend money on that change nothing.

Editorial DeskRead it

Setup11 February 202611 min read

Understanding the Nitrogen Cycle

Ammonia to nitrite to nitrate, why it takes weeks, and the three tests that tell you where you actually are.

R. Nakamura

Setup18 February 202612 min read

Choosing Substrate for Planted Tanks

Aqua soil, sand and gravel do completely different things to roots and to water chemistry. This is how to pick, and how to lay it.

M. Hollis

Plants25 February 202613 min read

Aquascaping Styles: Nature, Iwagumi, Dutch

Three approaches to composition, what each demands of your hardscape and plant list, and how to choose one that suits the tank you have.

M. Hollis

Plants4 March 202615 min read

CO₂ Injection: Benefits, Risks, and Setup

Carbon is usually the limiting factor in a planted tank. Injecting it changes what is possible — and puts livestock at risk if the rate is wrong.

R. Nakamura

Livestock11 March 202612 min read

Choosing Compatible Fish for Your Tank

Water match, adult size, temperament and territory — the four filters that decide a stocking list, in the order that eliminates the most options.

Editorial Desk

Plants18 March 202613 min read

Aquatic Plant Care: Light, CO₂, and Nutrients

Photosynthesis needs three inputs in proportion. Diagnose which one is limiting from the symptoms the plants show.

M. Hollis

Maintenance25 March 202614 min read

Algae Control: Causes and Solutions

Algae are a symptom, not a disease. Identify the type, find the imbalance that caused it, and treat the cause rather than the growth.

M. Hollis

Water1 April 202611 min read

Water Testing: What to Test and When

Five parameters, four kits, and a testing schedule that takes ten minutes a week. Plus the readings that mean nothing.

R. Nakamura

Maintenance8 April 202612 min read

Aquarium Maintenance: Weekly and Monthly Tasks

A routine that takes forty minutes a week and twenty minutes a month, and the reason skipping it is the most expensive decision in the hobby.

Editorial Desk

Planted aquarium knowledge

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