The Aquarist’s Edge [Weekly Aquarium Podcast]

Art breaks down the top five New Year resolutions that truly make a difference for freshwater aquarists - not only for your fish, but for your long-term success and enjoyment of the hobby. From building stable aquarium ecosystems to simplifying maintenance routines and improving feeding habits, this episode focuses on practical changes that lead to healthier fish and less stress. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced fishkeeper feeling overwhelmed, these aquarium resolutions will help you create more balance, consistency, and confidence in your tanks throughout the year. 👉 Leave a review and share your experience with these resolutions 🎵 Music: "Swaying" - Candelion (Epidemic Sound - https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/b99559b7-b6ca-4bd8-b1d0-682f3c9411bf/)

In this episode of The Aquarist’s Edge, Art unpacks the subtle ways your freshwater aquarium can mislead you. Crystal-clear water, active fish, lush plants, and “good” test results can all hide underlying stress, unstable chemistry, and long-term problems. Learn how to read the real signals in your tank: from fish behaviour and flow patterns to plant growth, algae types, temperature stability, and social dynamics. You’ll learn how to think beyond appearances, understand the biology and chemistry happening behind the glass, and build simple habits that stop your tank from “lying” to you for long. Whether you’re cycling your first community tank or refining a mature planted setup, this episode will sharpen your eye for early warning signs, system-wide patterns, and long-term stability. If this episode helped you see your aquarium in a new way, please consider leaving a rating or review as it really supports the show and helps more aquarists find us. 🎵Music: 'Just One Of Those Things' - Victor Lundberg (Epidemic Sound - https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/0b04aaed-024f-4485-b8c7-bc5b266b3b40/)

In this episode of The Aquarist’s Edge, Art unpacks the mindset behind the title “Don’t Assume You Know” and expose the hidden mistakes that quietly ruin freshwater aquariums. From so-called “beginner fish” and misunderstood nitrogen cycles to tap water assumptions, equipment myths, and misread fish behaviour,  learn more about the science and how to stop guessing and start understanding your tank. You’ll learn how to read your fish and plants, how to interpret your water test results properly, and how to build habits that keep your aquarium stable, healthy, and thriving long-term. Whether you’re a new aquarist or you’ve kept tropical fish for years, this episode will help you avoid the silent errors that cost fish lives and money. 🎵Music: "Do It All For You (Instrumental)" - Garden Friend (Epidemic Sound: https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/a3b90e79-4bae-4989-b0cb-711a0a9b3e47/)

This episode takes a deep but practical look at overfiltering in freshwater aquariums and explains why more filtration isn’t always better for fish health or long-term stability. Many hobbyists unknowingly create stressed, fragile systems by using excessive flow, oversized filters, or overly aggressive mechanical filtration. You’ll learn how filtration affects fish behaviour, beneficial bacteria, and planted tanks, along with clear signs your aquarium may be overfiltered and how to fix it without sacrificing water quality. If your tank looks clean but never feels stable, this episode will help you rethink filtration from the fish’s point of view. 👉 Leave a review and share your experience to help other aquarists build calmer, healthier tanks. 🎵 Music: "In The Afterglow" - Thruent (Epidemic Sound - https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/2899677c-2b5e-35be-9990-0a37b4790348/)

In this Christmas holiday special of The Aquarist’s Edge, Art shares calm, practical Christmas and holiday aquarium rituals to keep your freshwater fish tanks thriving while life gets busy. From intentional end-of-year water changes and equipment check-ups to quiet observation sessions, you’ll learn how to turn maintenance into meaningful, repeatable habits. The episode also walks through a simple holiday game plan for feeding, travel, and maintenance.  Whether you keep planted community tanks, nano species, or larger freshwater setups, this episode will help you reset, reflect, and plan realistic aquarium goals for the year ahead without overwhelm. If you enjoy the show, please consider leaving a rating or review and sharing this episode with another freshwater hobbyist. 🎵 Music: "A Sleigh Ride Into Town" - Howard Harper-Barnes (Epidemic Sound - https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/3fc22dd4-5e4f-3ad7-a9f5-a64ec43e010f/) 🎵 Music: "You Let Go" - Thyra (Epidemic Sound - https://www.epidemicsound.com/music/tracks/115cd6d6-f18f-4489-a3c0-29337ae3c7ca/)