Water chemistry can be a bit daunting to the beginner aquarist; at least it was for me. When I got started in the hobby I was sold a complete test laboratory which included tests for 5 different things. I was diligent about testing and recording the results, but never had a very good understanding about […]

I use municipal tap water in my aquarium. What do I need to know? Most people use tap water in their tanks; it is easiest (and cheapest) to use. Unfortunately (for aquarists), local water companies add chemicals to the water to make it safe to drink (e.g., by adding chlorine or chloramine to kill bacteria).

The most accurate Aquatic plant fertilizers Chemicals & Dosing The elements plants need are available as safe chemicals that are simple salts, called fertilizers. They are in essence dissolved natural rocks similar to mineral water drinks. These fertilizer chemicals have been produced and used by agriculture and horticulture industries to grow plants for decades. The

From the Barr Report at www.barrreport.com: As this method has become popular, it also has had growth pains. Here are the facts about EI or Estimative Index nutrient dosing: 1. It was never meant to be applied rigidly. 2. It is a simple concept, provide non limiting nutrients without having to test to do so. 3. Adding

Before reading this article, I would highly recommend that you read the article on Low-tech, Non CO2 tanks. That article introduces the concept of low-tech tanks and explains in detail the science of low-tech, non CO2 tanks along with some guidelines for maintaining such tanks successfully. One of the drawbacks of this low-tech method is that

Setting up a planted tank for the first time can be a daunting task. There is a lot of information out there on the net but there aren’t any great “All you need to know” guides with all the information put together in one place. In addition, while there are some great forums on planted