FAQ
Table of Contents
Aquarium Setup for Beginners
Simple answers for first-time aquarium owners looking to choose the right tank, equipment, fish, and care products.
A basic freshwater aquarium setup usually includes the tank, filter, lighting, substrate, water conditioner, fish food, and suitable decorations or plants. Depending on the fish you want to keep, you may also need a heater and water test kit.
A medium-sized aquarium is often easier for beginners than a very small tank because water conditions are generally more stable. Aquascape.ae can help you choose a size based on your space, budget, and fishkeeping goals.
A ready aquarium set can be a practical choice for beginners because it may include several essential components in one package. It can simplify setup and reduce the guesswork when buying separate equipment.
A new aquarium should be properly prepared before fish are added. This usually involves setting up equipment, treating the water correctly, and allowing the tank environment to stabilize.
Live Fish and Shrimp
Find answers about buying live fish, shrimp, compatibility, care, and choosing the right species for your aquarium.
Live fish can be ordered safely when they are handled and packed properly. Aquascape.ae takes care to support safe transport and better customer experience.
Community aquarium fish should be chosen based on size, temperament, and compatibility. Schooling fish and peaceful freshwater species are commonly preferred for balanced community setups.
Schooling fish are species that are generally more comfortable when kept in groups. They can create a more natural and visually appealing aquarium when kept in suitable numbers.
Yes, Aquascape.ae offers shrimp options suitable for freshwater and planted aquarium environments, depending on stock availability.
Custom-Made Aquariums
Get answers about custom tank sizes, materials, planning, quotations, and ordering a made-to-measure aquarium in Dubai.
Yes, Aquascape.ae offers custom-made aquariums for customers who need a tank designed for a specific size, space, or purpose.
A custom-made tank can be used for fish, aquascaping, reptiles, terrariums, planted displays, retail spaces, offices, and other decorative or functional environments.
You can contact Aquascape.ae with your preferred dimensions, intended use, and installation location so the team can review your requirements and guide you on the next step.
Yes, custom aquariums can be planned around available space, interior layout, or display requirements, making them suitable for homes, offices, and commercial spaces.
Yes, custom aquariums can be designed specifically for aquascaping, planted tanks, or nature-style aquarium displays depending on your requirements.
Aquatic Plants
Learn how to choose, plant, and care for live aquarium plants for freshwater and aquascaped tanks in Dubai and across the UAE.
You can buy live aquatic plants from Aquascape.ae for freshwater aquariums, planted tanks, and aquascaping setups. Availability may vary, so it is best to check the website or contact the team before ordering specific plant types.
Beginner-friendly aquarium plants are usually hardy, adaptable, and able to grow without advanced equipment. Good choices often include low-maintenance foreground, midground, background, and floating plants depending on your aquarium size and lighting.
Yes, live aquarium plants need suitable lighting to grow well. Some low-light plants can grow with basic aquarium lighting, while more demanding aquascaping plants may need stronger planted-tank lights.
Many easy aquatic plants can grow without added CO2 if they have suitable lighting, nutrients, and stable water conditions. However, CO2 can improve growth and plant health in more advanced aquascapes.
Potted plants are grown in pots and are usually larger when purchased. Tissue-culture plants are grown in sterile cups and are often free from pests, algae, and unwanted snails, making them popular for clean aquascaping setups.
Aquariums and Ready Sets
Find answers about choosing aquarium tanks, ready aquarium sets, glass sizes, cabinets, and complete setups for homes and offices.
The best aquarium size depends on your available space, budget, fish choice, and maintenance expectations. Larger tanks are often more stable than very small aquariums, while nano tanks are better for limited spaces and carefully planned setups.
Yes, ready aquarium sets can be a good choice for beginners because they usually include key components in one package. This can make setup easier and reduce confusion when buying equipment separately.
A ready aquarium set may include the tank and basic equipment such as lighting, filtration, or a cover, depending on the model. Always check the product details to confirm exactly what is included before buying.
A rimless aquarium has clean, open glass edges and is often preferred for modern aquascaping. A standard aquarium may include frames, lids, or built-in features depending on the design.
Aquascaping tanks usually need clear glass, suitable dimensions, good lighting compatibility, and enough space for hardscape and plant layout. Rimless aquariums are commonly chosen for a premium aquascape look.
Filters and Aquarium Equipment
Understand aquarium filters, heaters, pumps, filter media, and essential equipment for maintaining a healthy freshwater aquarium.
An aquarium filter helps remove waste particles, supports beneficial bacteria, and improves water circulation. It is one of the most important pieces of equipment for maintaining a healthier aquarium environment.
The correct filter size depends on your aquarium volume, fish load, livestock type, and setup style. A lightly stocked planted tank may need different filtration compared to a heavily stocked fish aquarium.
Internal filters sit inside the aquarium, hang-on filters attach to the tank edge, and canister filters sit outside the tank with hoses connected to the aquarium. Each type has different space, maintenance, and performance benefits.
Filter cleaning depends on tank size, fish load, and filter type. In general, filters should be cleaned when flow becomes weaker or debris builds up, but cleaning should be done carefully to protect beneficial bacteria.
It is usually better to rinse biological filter media in aquarium water removed during a water change, not untreated tap water. This helps protect beneficial bacteria that support the aquarium cycle.
Water Quality and Conditioners
Get clear answers about aquarium water testing, conditioners, cloudy water, cycling, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and safe water preparation.
Water quality is one of the most important factors in fish, shrimp, and plant health. Poor water conditions can cause stress, algae problems, fish illness, and unstable aquarium performance.
Dubai tap water should be tested and properly conditioned before use in an aquarium. Water quality can vary, and untreated tap water may contain substances that are not suitable for fish or shrimp.
Aquarium water conditioner helps make tap water safer for aquarium use by treating harmful substances commonly found in untreated water. It should be used according to the product label.
Beginners should commonly monitor ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH, and temperature. Depending on the livestock, plants, or shrimp being kept, other parameters may also be important.
Ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate are part of the aquarium nitrogen cycle. Ammonia and nitrite are especially dangerous to fish, while nitrate should also be controlled through maintenance and water changes.
Terrariums and Indoor Greenery
Explore terrariums, indoor greenery, green walls, aquaponics, and decorative plant setups for homes, offices, and commercial spaces.
A terrarium is a decorative plant display usually created inside a glass container. It can be open or closed depending on the plants used and the type of environment being created.
An open terrarium has more airflow and is often suitable for plants that prefer drier conditions. A closed terrarium holds more humidity and can suit plants that prefer a moist environment.
Yes, many terrariums are suitable for beginners when the correct plants, container, light, and watering routine are chosen. Simple designs are usually easier to maintain.
Watering depends on whether the terrarium is open or closed, the plant type, container size, and indoor conditions. Overwatering is a common problem, so terrariums should be watered carefully.
Most terrariums need bright, indirect light. Direct sunlight can overheat the glass container and damage plants, especially in warm indoor environments.
Aquascaping
Learn how to plan an aquascape and choose suitable plants, rocks, wood, substrate, tools, and equipment for a beautiful planted aquarium.
Aquascaping is the art of arranging aquatic plants, rocks, wood, and substrate to create an attractive underwater landscape. A successful aquascape combines visual design with suitable lighting, filtration, plant nutrition, and water care.
A basic aquascaping setup typically includes an aquarium, filter, light, substrate, hardscape, aquatic plants, water conditioner, and maintenance tools. Depending on the plants and design, you may also need fertilizers and a CO2 system.
Aquascapes can be created in nano, medium, and large aquariums. The best size depends on your available space, budget, preferred design, plant selection, and maintenance experience. Medium-sized tanks often provide beginners with more layout flexibility and stable water conditions.
Choose rocks and wood according to the aquarium size, intended layout, and livestock. The pieces should look balanced together, provide enough room for plants, and be suitable for aquarium use. Avoid collecting untreated materials without confirming that they are safe.
The right substrate depends on the plants you intend to grow. Nutrient-rich aquarium soil is commonly used for rooted plants, while decorative sand or gravel may be suitable for other layouts. Some aquascapes combine different substrates to achieve a particular appearance.
Aquarium Lighting
Find answers about choosing aquarium lights, setting a daily schedule, supporting plant growth, and controlling excessive algae.
Aquarium lighting makes the tank easier to view and supports the natural day-and-night routine of its inhabitants. In planted aquariums, suitable lighting is also essential for photosynthesis and healthy plant growth.
The right light depends on the aquarium dimensions, depth, plant selection, and desired appearance. A fish-only aquarium may have different lighting requirements from a densely planted aquascape.
Many aquariums begin with a consistent lighting period of approximately six to eight hours per day. The ideal duration varies according to plant growth, light intensity, nutrients, CO2, and algae levels, so adjustments may be necessary.
Live plants need light with suitable output and coverage. Hardy, low-light plants may grow under basic aquarium lights, while carpeting plants and other demanding species may require more powerful planted-aquarium lighting.
An RGB light uses red, green, and blue channels to enhance the appearance of fish, plants, and hardscape. Some models allow users to adjust brightness, color balance, and operating schedules.
Fish Food and Feeding
Learn how to choose suitable fish food, establish a feeding routine, prevent overfeeding, and support different aquarium species.
Choose food made for the species you keep and their natural feeding behavior. Depending on the fish, suitable options may include flakes, pellets, granules, wafers, or specialized foods for herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores.
Many adult aquarium fish can be fed once or twice daily in controlled portions, but requirements vary by species, age, size, and health. Always follow the food manufacturer’s instructions and research the needs of your fish.
Offer only an amount the fish can consume within a short time. Uneaten food should not remain in the aquarium because it can decompose, affect water quality, and increase ammonia and algae problems.
Common signs include food accumulating on the substrate, cloudy water, unpleasant odors, excessive waste, rising nitrate, and increased algae. Overfeeding can also contribute to health problems in fish.
Flakes usually remain near the surface before slowly sinking, while pellets are available in floating and sinking varieties. Wafers sink to the bottom and are commonly used for bottom-dwelling fish and some algae-eating species.
Fish Health and Treatment
Recognize common warning signs, understand the role of water quality, and learn when sick aquarium fish may require professional assistance.
Healthy fish generally show normal swimming, steady breathing, an appropriate appetite, clear eyes, intact fins, and coloration typical of their species. Learn the normal behavior of each species so changes are easier to identify.
A fish may stop eating because of stress, unsuitable water conditions, incorrect temperature, incompatible tankmates, unfamiliar food, or illness. Test the water and observe the fish carefully before choosing a treatment.
Some species naturally hide, especially after entering a new aquarium. Persistent or unusual hiding can also indicate stress, aggression, bright lighting, insufficient cover, poor water quality, or illness.
Rapid breathing can be associated with low oxygen, poor water quality, temperature problems, gill irritation, stress, or disease. Check ammonia, nitrite, temperature, water circulation, and surface movement promptly.
Small white spots may be associated with a parasitic condition, but similar signs can have other causes. Avoid treating the aquarium based only on an online description; confirm the symptoms, check water parameters, and follow suitable professional or product guidance.
CO2 and Plant Fertilizers
Understand how carbon dioxide, liquid fertilizers, root tabs, lighting, and nutrient balance support healthy planted aquariums.
Not every planted aquarium needs injected CO2. Many hardy plants can grow in low-tech setups, while demanding species and dense aquascapes may benefit from a properly installed and carefully regulated CO2 system.
A CO2 system supplies carbon dioxide that aquatic plants use during photosynthesis. When balanced with appropriate lighting and nutrients, added CO2 can support faster, denser, and healthier plant growth.
Beginners can use CO2, but they should understand safe installation, adjustment, monitoring, and maintenance first. A low-tech planted aquarium without injected CO2 may be easier for someone building their first setup.
Yes. Excessive carbon dioxide can reduce the oxygen available to livestock and cause distress. Warning signs may include rapid breathing, unusual behavior, or fish gathering near the water surface.
CO2 is normally supplied during the plant-lighting period because plants use it while photosynthesizing. Many aquascapers start the system before the light turns on and stop it before the light turns off, but exact timing depends on the setup.