Marisol Vandekamp

Aquarium plants grow roots above the substrate when conditions at the base are not ideal. These roots are called aerial or adventitious roots, and they form so the plant can absorb nutrients from the water column, anchor itself more securely, or prepare for propagation. I have run planted tanks for over a decade, and aerial … Read more

I remember the first time I noticed dark patches creeping across my Anubias barteri. My heart sank. I had spent weeks carefully attaching it to a piece of driftwood, and now it looked like something was eating it alive. If you are asking why Anubias develops black spots on its leaves, you are in the … Read more

You just finished your weekly water change, and suddenly your tank looks like a champagne glass. Streams of tiny bubbles are rising from every leaf, every stem, every carpet of green. It is a beautiful sight, and if you are new to the planted tank hobby, you probably have one question: why are aquarium plants … Read more

If you are asking yourself “why is my pleco turning pale,” the short answer is that your fish is sending you a warning signal. Plecos fade, bleach out, or turn washed-out when something in their environment, diet, or health is off. In most cases the cause is stress, poor water quality, an inadequate diet, an … Read more

I still remember the first time I walked into my fish room late at night and saw my Common Pleco racing up the aquarium glass like it was trying to escape. My heart sank. Was something wrong with the water? Was my fish sick? If you are reading this, you have probably had the same … Read more

Three weeks after I added six kuhli loaches to my 29-gallon planted tank, I had counted exactly zero sightings. I knelt by the glass at midnight with a flashlight. I stirred the sand. I peeked under every piece of driftwood. Nothing. I assumed the worst: they had died, been eaten, or vanished into the filter. … Read more

Most new fish hide for 1-3 days as they adjust to unfamiliar territory. Full adjustment typically takes one to two weeks, and hiding beyond two weeks with no signs of eating or exploring is when you should start investigating. If your new fish is still hiding after day 14, that’s when it moves from “normal” … Read more

Fish get sick after being moved to a new tank primarily because of new tank syndrome, a condition where toxic ammonia and nitrite build up in water that lacks the beneficial bacteria needed to break them down. I have moved fish between tanks more times than I can count, and the first two weeks after … Read more

Yes, aquarium temperature fluctuations can absolutely make fish sick. Sudden swings of just 1–2°F (0.5–1°C) can stress tropical fish and weaken their immune systems, while a rapid 9–15°F (5–8°C) drop can trigger digestive shutdown, abdominal swelling, and long-term illness. I learned this the hard way when a faulty thermostat killed two discus in a single … Read more

Notice your fish hovering around the heater constantly? Don’t panic just yet. When fish crowd the heater, they’re usually responding to a temperature difference in the tank, seeking warmth their bodies naturally crave, or dealing with poor water circulation that creates cold zones. I’ve kept tropical and coldwater tanks for over a decade, and I’ve … Read more