Dec 22 2020
1 Comment
aquarium
Aquascapes
beginner
guest blog
guide
layout/styles
shrimpery
tips
Top 5 Aquascaping Styles Written by: Chris (@shrimpery) What do aquascaping and painting have in common? Besides being quarantine-friendly hobbies, there are many styles to work with in each. A skilled painter can evoke just as much meaning and beauty from an abstracted, pointillist piece as they can from a hyper-realistic still-life. Likewise, aquascapers can make an equally beautiful beautiful biotope tank, Iwagumi scape, or traditional nature aquarium. Of course, some styles are more popular than others, but I thought it would be fun to rank my top 5 favorite styles for you to try. Biotope The most...
Dec 16 2020
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beginner
co2
DIY
guest blog
guide
tips
video
Using CO2 in a planted aquarium Written by: Team BP & Anne (expertaquarist) If you just recently established your planted aquarium then I’m sure you are thinking, “how do I get my aquatic plants to grow as fast & healthy as possible?” You need a CO2 setup to make it a reality. CO2 might be lethal for us humans but it is the key to life for plants. CO2 is the biggest benefactor of photosynthesis, which is the way of survival for plant life. You can grow your aquatic plants in your aquascape 5-10 times faster by supplementing CO2. This...
Dec 04 2020
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beginner
guest blog
guide
maintenance
plants
shrimpery
tips
The best way to plant different types of aquatic plants Written by: Chris (@shrimpery) For people who love to work with their hands, planting an aquarium is one of the most satisfying parts of setting up a new scape. While the mind typically jumps to an image of planting stem plants with stainless steel aquascaping pinsettes, that is only one of the methods involved in setting up a planted tank. Depending on the location of the plant in the layout (towards the back, at the very front, on driftwood), different techniques are more effective. Below is a quick overview...
Nov 18 2020
4 Comments
beginner
fish
guest blog
guide
tips
How to Quarantine Fish Written by: Tammy Law (@aquarist_tl) One of the major reasons people new to fishkeeping end up quitting the hobby is because they are unaware of how to maintain their fishes’ health. If they constantly run into problems trying to keep fish alive, eventually they will think that aquariums just aren’t for them. To solve this problem, all they need is a little more insight on what could be causing these issues. In this article, we will go over the topic of setting up a quarantine system for fish. Quarantining new fish is an extremely important...
Nov 05 2020
1 Comment
aquarium
beginner
guest blog
guide
lighting
tips
Lighting Requirements for a Planted Aquarium Written by: Anne (expertaquarist.com) Be it planted in the ground or underwater, plants always are on our side. They bring a bag full of benefits, especially when it comes to planted tanks or aquariums. They are aesthetically appealing by adding color and variety as well as improving the surroundings. Light is life for aquatic plants. It is their bread and butter. So, in order to provide them with a healthy atmosphere, we need the right kind of lighting setup for their growth and well being. There are several lighting requirements for a planted tank...
Oct 23 2020
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beginner
DIY
guest blog
guide
low tech
tips
Advice on How to Fake a High-Tech Aquarium Written by: Bryson (@unso.fish.ticated) As the title suggests, there is a strategy to achieve the high-tech look on a low-tech tank! Let’s dive right in (pun intended). When it comes to high-tech aquariums, CO2 gear, high lighting, and a strict fertilizer schedule is typically the standard. Although, let’s explore ways to create the high-tech look without all of the expensive gear. Thoughtfully Design Your Layout In terms of constructing your hardscape, practice makes perfect. Practice is necessary in order to be able to put together a nice composition that looks...
Oct 15 2020
1 Comment
algae
beginner
guest blog
guide
maintenance
shrimpery
tips
How to Do Planted Tank Maintenance Without Going Crazy by: Chris (@shrimpery) Tank maintenance is one of those topics that planted aquarium hobbyists sort of gloss over when talking shop. Most hobbyists recognize the importance of keeping their tanks clean and healthy, but it can seem difficult to get good information on the subject beyond the basics. Routine upkeep is often portrayed as a tedious task, outshined by more interesting details such as specs, setup, and flora/fauna. In reality, it’s the cornerstone of having a great-looking scape. I’d like to share my process in an attempt to show that...
Oct 09 2020
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beginner
guide
high tech
tips
video
Glass Lily Pipe Maintenance Is your planted aquarium pristine all around EXCEPT for your lily pipes? Trust us, you aren’t alone. Many aquascapers (including us at Team BP!) struggle with keeping this prestigious piece of equipment squeaky clean. However, cleaning your glass lily pipes is not as difficult or time staking as you may think! Follow these 8 easy steps to tank perfection. Scroll to the very bottom of this article for a quick How To Video! Step 1: Materials Needed Gather the necessary cleaning equipment: Disposable gloves Bleach Dymax Hose Pipe Brush Two empty containers Clean water UNS Microfiber...
Oct 03 2020
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beginner
guide
maintenance
plants
tips
Nutrient Deficiencies: Different Symptoms in Aquatic Plants Written by: BP Team member Simon Zhu (@sz_aquatics) Do you have a tank with perfect lighting, CO2, and water parameters, but still having trouble with plant health? Have you noticed that your freshwater aquatic plants aren’t looking healthy for some reason? Are your aquarium plants mysteriously dying and you can’t quite figure out why? It’s possible that your planted aquarium is missing one or several necessary micronutrients that are important for plant growth! Micronutrients are essential vitamins and minerals needed for all living organisms to have healthy growth and immunity. We will be reviewing the...
Sep 25 2020
12 Comments
aquarium
beginner
guest blog
guide
snail
All About Pest Snails in Your Planted Aquarium Written by Tammy Law (@aquarist_tl) There may have been a time when you bought or received live plants for your aquarium, and then immediately placed them into the tank once you arrived home. Several days or weeks later while you’re observing the tank, you spot a random snail or two. A few weeks or months pass by, and suddenly there are snails in every spot of the aquarium you look at! This overpopulation is a common occurrence for those who first encounter pest snails in the hobby, and leaves many aquascapers...
