Mechanical vs Chemical Filtration: What I Learned After Losing Gerald
Lost my first betta to a rookie mistake, then went deep on filter media. Here’s what actually matters in your HOB and what’s just padding profit margins.
beginner-aquarium-mistakes
I Ran the Same Ammonia Test 3 Times in One Day. Don’t Be Me.
You don’t need to test your aquarium water 3x daily. Here’s the 4-parameter routine that actually keeps fish healthy (and your sanity intact).
I Lost $60 in Plants to Silver Dollars Before I Learned Which Fish Actually Work
Silver dollars ate $60 worth of plants in 48 hours. Here’s my vetted list of fish that actually help planted tanks thrive, not destroy them.
What Gerald the Betta’s Early Death Taught Me About Cheap Fish Gear
I bought a $5 heater that cooked my guppies overnight. Here’s what’s actually worth buying cheap, and the 7 discount sources hobbyists don’t talk about.
I Killed My First Betta With Cheap Equipment. Here’s What I Buy Now.
I lost Gerald the betta to a cheap starter kit. Now I run a simple upgrade pyramid: filter first, then heater, then lighting. Here’s exactly what I buy.
I Killed a Betta Before I Learned What Substrate Actually Does
After killing my first betta in bare gravel, I finally learned what substrate actually does. Here’s the layering method that saved my planted tanks.
The 3-Minute Check That Saved Me From Two Faulty Canister Returns
A 3-minute dry fit test caught two faulty canisters before they flooded my floor. Here’s the exact inspection routine I use on every build now.