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Quick answer: A stocking calculator is a planning tool, not a permission slip. Use it to catch obvious problems (tank too small, incompatible fish, not enough filtration), then confirm with real-world signals like nitrate trend and fish behavior. Stock slowly, aim conservative (often ~70–85% on calculators), and adjust based on your maintenance habits. What a stocking calculator actually…

This is one of the most common aquarium questions—and one of the easiest to answer badly. The truth is: your tank’s “fish limit” isn’t just about gallons. It’s about adult size, waste load, swimming space, aggression, and how strong your filtration and maintenance routine really are. In this guide, I’ll show you a realistic way…

If you’ve ever stood in front of a wall of fish food wondering which tub actually matters—this guide is for you. The “best food for tropical fish” usually isn’t a single product. It’s the right staple + rotation for your fish’s natural diet, feeding level (top/mid/bottom), and your tank’s ability to keep water clean. Quick…

In home aquariums, “too much food” usually hurts fish in two ways: it overloads their digestion and it pollutes the water. The second one is often what causes the real disaster. Quick Takeaways (If You Only Read One Minute) Most aquarium fish will keep eating when food is available—don’t assume they’ll “stop when full.” Uneaten…

Overfeeding is one of the fastest ways to turn a healthy aquarium into a stressed, cloudy, algae-filled mess. The tricky part? Fish will often act hungry even when they don’t need more food. Below are the most reliable signs you’re overfeeding fish—plus simple fixes you can do today. Uneaten food breaks down fast and can…

I used to think “a pinch” meant “a healthy amount.” It didn’t. My tank looked fine… until I started getting cloudy water, algae, and rising nitrates. The fix wasn’t a new filter—it was feeding less, watching what actually gets eaten, and being honest about leftovers. 1) The 3 rules that keep beginners out of trouble…

Once a day for most fish. Twice if you want—but HALF the portion each time. Whatever disappears in 2-3 minutes. That’s it. I wasted 2 years feeding 3× daily before learning this. I killed a 40-gallon tank in 2020 by feeding “a pinch” 3 times a day. Nitrates hit 160 ppm. Fish gasping. Algae everywhere….

EMERGENCY FIRST: If you already added untreated tap water to your tank, add dechlorinator NOW (even 30 minutes later helps). Seachem Prime: 2 drops per gallon. API Stress Coat: 1 ml per 10 gallons. Skip to Emergency Protocol below. I killed 3 guppies in 2019 because I thought “leaving tap water out overnight” was enough….

  The pH Obsession That’s Killing Your Fish (Literally) I’m going to say something controversial: You’re probably worrying about pH way too much. When I started keeping fish, I spent weeks obsessing over pH. My tap water was 7.8, but I’d read that tetras need “6.5-7.0” so I bought pH Down chemicals. I’d dose the…

Here’s the Thing Nobody Tells You About Cloudy Water I’m going to save you a lot of panic right now: cloudy water in a new tank is almost always harmless. I know that’s not helpful when you’re staring at your brand-new aquarium that looks like milk soup. I’ve been there. My first tank looked like…