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Episodes from The Aquarist's Edge
Best Schooling Fish for Home Aquariums (Shoaling vs Schooling Explained)
Ever bought “schooling fish” and watched them split up into little cliques? In this episode of The Aquarist’s Edge, Art breaks down the real difference between shoaling vs schooling, why many popular “schooling fish” don’t actually school in home tanks, and how to set up your aquarium to bring out natural group behaviour. You’ll learn which freshwater species are the best schooling and shoaling fish for community aquariums, plus the practical rules that make a school look tight, confident, and stress-free. If you want a calmer tank, better fish confidence, and that “moving as one” look, this episode is your bl...
Unusual Everyday Foods You Can Safely Feed Freshwater Aquarium Fish
In this episode Art explores unusual everyday foods that can be safely used as occasional treats in a freshwater aquarium. From courgette, cucumber, peas, spinach, pumpkin, butternut, sweet potato, carrot, and green beans, you’ll learn which foods suit different freshwater fish and how to prepare them properly. We also explain why these foods should supplement, not replace, a balanced fish food diet, and how to avoid common feeding mistakes that can affect water quality. Whether you keep goldfish, guppies, mollies, bristlenose plecos, corydoras, bettas, shrimp, or snails, this episode will help you make safer, more informed feeding choices. You’ll a...
Why Guppies Are So Fun to Keep - Colour, Personality, Easy Care & Fry Surprises
Guppies are more than “beginner fish"! They’re colourful, interactive, and endlessly entertaining in a home freshwater aquarium. In this episode of The Aquarist’s Edge, Art shares why guppies are so fun to keep, from their bold personalities and constantly-on-the-move behaviour to the way lighting and tank design make their colours explode. He also covers the reality of guppy breeding and fry, smart stocking and tank setup tips, and simple troubleshooting for common guppy problems like fin damage and stress. _____________________________________________ guppy fish, guppies, guppy care, guppy tank setup, livebearer fish, freshwater aquarium fish, guppy breeding, planted tank guppies, beginner fishkee
Why Minerals Matter in Your Freshwater Aquarium: GH, KH, Fish Health & Plant Growth Explained
In this episode of The Aquarist’s Edge, Art explores why minerals are essential for a healthy freshwater aquarium. From GH and KH to pH stability, fish health, shrimp moulting, snail shell development, and aquarium plant growth, you’ll learn how dissolved minerals quietly shape the success of your tank. Whether you use tap water, RO water, or a planted aquarium setup, this episode will help you understand what your water is really doing. We also explain why clear water is not always healthy water, why chasing pH can cause problems, and how to create stable, suitable water for your fish...
Activated Carbon (Charcoal) in Aquariums: What It Does, When to Use It, and Common Myths
Activated carbon (often called “charcoal”) is one of the most common aquarium filter media, but what does it actually do, and do you really need it running all the time? In this episode of The Aquarist’s Edge, Art breaks down how activated carbon works, what it removes, what it doesn’t remove, and the best times to use it in a freshwater aquarium. You’ll also learn why pet shops sell carbon so aggressively and how to avoid the cartridge-replacement trap that can destabilise your filter.
How to Build a Low-Stress Aquarium: A Stable, Low-Maintenance Freshwater Setup for Busy Fishkeepers
Want a freshwater aquarium that stays stable, looks great, and doesn’t turn into a weekly stress project? In this episode of The Aquarist’s Edge, Art breaks down exactly how to build a low-stress aquarium setup. An aquarium that’s forgiving, low-maintenance, and reliable even when life gets busy. You’ll learn how to pick the right tank size for stability, simplify filtration, choose hardy fish and easy plants, set a sensible lighting schedule, and create a routine you’ll actually stick to.
The Joy And The Stress Of Aquariums
Keeping a freshwater aquarium at home can be one of the most calming, rewarding hobbies; until a heater fails, algae takes over, or the guilt of fish loss hits hard. In this thoughtful episode of The Aquarist’s Edge, Art reflects on the real positives and negatives of home aquariums: stress relief, routine, learning, ethics, hidden costs, and how to keep the hobby enjoyable without chasing perfection. You’ll walk away with practical ways to simplify your setup, reduce anxiety, and build a tank that fits your real life.
Aquarium Lighting Explained: PAR, Spectrum, Algae & How to Choose the Right Fish Tank Light
Art breaks down aquarium lighting in a way that makes real sense for everyday freshwater fishkeepers. He covers the science behind PAR, spectrum, lumens, Kelvin, and photoperiod, and explain how these affect plant growth, fish behaviour, and algae control in a home aquarium. Whether you are setting up a low-tech planted tank or trying to understand why your aquarium light is causing problems instead of solving them, this episode gives you practical, easy-to-apply guidance. You’ll learn how aquarium lights actually work, why more light is not always better, how to avoid common lighting mistakes, and what to look for wh...
The Filter Isn’t a Box: How Flow, Oxygen & Biofilm Make (or Break) a Healthy Freshwater Aquarium
Your aquarium filter is a living habitat where biofilm, oxygen, and water flow decide how stable (or fragile) your freshwater tank becomes. In this episode of The Aquarist’s Edge, Art breaks down what actually happens inside sponge filters, canister filters, and hang-on-back filters, and why upgrading a filter can sometimes make a tank worse if the habitat shifts. You’ll learn how filter flow rate, surface agitation, and filter media choices shape your biological filtration, water clarity, and long-term consistency. 💬 Join the conversation: Have you ever upgraded a filter and your tank got worse? Tell us what changed. SEO keyword...
10 Proven Ways To Make Your Aquarium Healthier
In this episode of The Aquarist’s Edge, Art breaks down 10 proven ways to make your freshwater aquarium healthier. This episode will help you stabilise your tank and prevent problems before they start. Expect practical fishkeeping advice, clear science, and realistic routines you can follow even when life gets busy. You’ll learn how to improve freshwater fish health, protect your biological filtration, manage ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, and create a healthier aquarium environment with less stress and more consistency. **LISTENER NOTE** - This is the first episode with no music in the background. Let me know if you prefer it t...
10 Proven Ways To Make Your Aquarium Healthier
In this episode of The Aquarist’s Edge, Art shares 10 proven ways to make your freshwater aquarium healthier. If you’re dealing with cloudy water, algae flare-ups, stressed fish, or “mystery” health issues, this episode will help you stabilise your tank and prevent problems before they start - practical fishkeeping advice, clear science, and realistic routines you can follow even when life gets busy. You’ll learn how to improve freshwater fish health, protect your biological filtration, manage ammonia, nitrite and nitrate, and create a healthier aquarium environment with less stress and more consistency. 🎵 Music: "Hall Light - Instrumental" - Victor Lundberg...
The Phase Where Most Aquarists Quit
Many aquarists don’t leave the hobby at the beginning of their aquarium journey. They leave during the stage when their aquarium suddenly becomes difficult to manage. Algae outbreaks, plant melt, unstable water conditions, and constant adjustments can make even a promising tank feel frustrating and discouraging. In this episode Art explores the phase where many aquarists consider giving up. He shares why this stage happens, what is actually going on inside the aquarium ecosystem, and how hobbyists can move through this difficult period toward a more stable and rewarding aquarium. Topics covered include: The difference between cycled tanks and ma...