Fishkeeping, cleared up.
A calm, welfare-first reference for the home aquarium — real fish profiled by tank size, water parameters and temperament, care how-tos in plain language, and every term cross-linked. No hype, no fabricated numbers.
Get the water right, and the fish look after themselves
Real parameters, laid out plainly
Every species profile gives the numbers that actually matter — minimum tank, temperature and pH range, adult size, temperament and diet — not vague vibes.
Welfare before convenience
No bettas in bowls, no skipping the cycle, no overstocking. When a common shortcut harms the fish, we say so and give the setup that doesn’t.
One idea, cross-linked
Species link to the guides and concepts behind them — the nitrogen cycle, hardness, tankmates — so the whole reference reads as one connected picture.
Fish worth knowing before you buy
Betta (Siamese Fighting Fish)
A hardy, long-finned labyrinth fish that breathes air — best kept alone in a heated, filtered tank of at least 19 litres (5 US gallons).
Read the profile →Neon Tetra
A tiny, iconic schooling fish with an electric blue-and-red stripe — peaceful, soft-water and best kept in groups of six or more.
Read the profile →Guppy
A hardy, colourful livebearer that breeds readily — beginner-friendly, but males and females together will multiply fast.
Read the profile →Corydoras Catfish
Peaceful, armoured bottom-dwelling catfish that forage the substrate — social, hardy and best kept in groups of six or more.
Read the profile →Freshwater Angelfish
A tall, graceful cichlid that needs a deep tank — a beautiful centrepiece, but semi-aggressive and a threat to very small fish.
Read the profile →Zebra Danio
An extremely hardy, fast-swimming striped schooling fish — tolerant of cooler water and ideal for a first cycled community tank.
Read the profile →The how-tos that keep a tank healthy
Cycling a New Aquarium
How to establish the beneficial bacteria that make a tank safe for fish — the single most important step before adding any livestock.
Read the guide →Doing Regular Water Changes
The core maintenance routine — how much water to change, how often, and how to do it without shocking your fish.
Read the guide →Feeding Your Fish Properly
How much and how often to feed — and why overfeeding, not underfeeding, is the more common danger to fish and water quality.
Read the guide →Setting Up a Planted Tank
What live aquarium plants need — light, nutrients and substrate — and why starting with hardy, low-light species is the reliable path.
Read the guide →Your First Aquarium: A Beginner Setup
A start-to-finish plan for a first freshwater tank — why bigger is easier, what equipment you actually need, and the order to do things in.
Read the guide →The ideas that make the rest make sense
Stable water is what keeps fish alive. These are the core ideas — explained once, in plain language — that every species profile and care guide builds on.
The Nitrogen Cycle
The bacterial process that converts toxic fish waste into safer compounds — the invisible engine that makes an aquarium livable.
Understand it →pH in the Aquarium
The measure of how acidic or alkaline your water is — and why keeping it stable usually matters more than hitting an exact number.
Understand it →Water Hardness (GH & KH)
The dissolved-mineral content of your water — GH affects fish, KH buffers pH, and together they explain how stable your tank really is.
Understand it →The Stocking Rule
How to judge how many fish a tank can hold — and why the old "inch per gallon" guideline is only a rough, and often misleading, starting point.
Understand it →Start where your tank is
Beginner Fish
Hardy, forgiving freshwater species that tolerate the small mistakes of a first tank — good starting points once a tank is cycled.
Community Fish
Peaceful species that generally coexist in a mixed community tank when sizes, temperaments and water needs are matched.
Centrepiece Fish
Larger or more striking single fish often kept as the focal point of a tank, with more specific space or temperament needs.
Tank Setup
Getting a new aquarium running — choosing size, cycling, equipment and the first weeks of a healthy tank.
Maintenance & Water Care
The routine that keeps water stable and fish healthy — water changes, feeding, testing and troubleshooting.
Water Chemistry
The measurable properties of aquarium water — pH, hardness, temperature and the nitrogen compounds — and what they mean.
From tap water to a thriving tank
Learn the water
Read the core concepts first — the nitrogen cycle, pH and hardness. Stable water is what keeps fish alive; everything else builds on it.
Pick fish that fit
Match species to your tank size and water, not the other way round. Each profile spells out the space, parameters and tankmates a fish really needs.
Set up & stock slowly
Follow the setup and cycling guides, then add fish a few at a time. Patience at the start is what turns a first tank into a lasting hobby.
Everything the reference knows, in one place
Species, care guides and the concepts behind healthy water — cross-linked, welfare-first and free to read. Begin with the fish or start from the setup.