Short reads with practical takeaways. Click through for the full story.
The Tank Guide is an educational aquarium website from FishKeepingLifeCo, sharing freshwater lessons for busy keepers.
First steps, setup mistakes, and confidence builders.
10 min read
Low maintenance aquariums aren’t about tougher fish. Learn how bioload, tank size, and planning create stability—and why “hardy” is the wrong term for beginners.
Read the blog →
8 min read
Learn how filtration really works, why the nitrogen cycle matters, and avoid the filter cartridge conspiracy that crashes beginner tanks.
Read the blog →
12 min read
Real-world lessons on keeping bettas peacefully in planted community tanks — and how balance makes them calm kings of the aquarium.
Read the blog →
Core Principles • ~5 min
A plain-English path from confusion to stable tanks — fishless vs fish-in, plants, seeding, and simple habits that work.
Read the blog →
Core Principles • ~8 min
Stability-first guidance for Ich and common freshwater illnesses—compassionate, system-wide care with humane decisions.
Read the blog →Custom builds, plumbing layouts, and hands-on system upgrades.
11 min read
A real-world account of designing a 5-gallon sump for a 29-gallon planted aquarium—covering refugium integration, gravity-fed overflows, custom media stacks, and stability results inspired by saltwater systems.
Read the blog →Real-world fixes and maintenance wins.
Spot-dosing, lighting, and flow tweaks that finally shut down stubborn BBA.
Stop treating snails as algae tools. Learn how to integrate snails into your aquarium ecosystem ethically, prevent shell erosion, and maintain long-term balance.
Hand-picked gear that earned a spot in the sump.
Showroom-level clarity with a simple placement and one honest “downside.”
~9 min read
Why heater failures happen quietly, and how temperature controllers add the safety margin that protects your fish.
Read the blog →Holiday checklists, gift guides, and seasonal care.
~8 min read
Safe, thoughtful gifts that support the hobby—without stressing the keeper or the fish.
Read the blog →Ready to level up your fishkeeping? The Tank Guide blog offers science-backed guides on planted tanks, aquarium setup, and beginner education.