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What's an Iwagumi scape? Being an aquascaping store I’m asked on a weekly basis what is an Iwagumi scape? So I thought I would do a little blog on these every increasing popular scapes. So when your looking on the net I’m sure you would of come across scapes with rock or stones in them and low level plants. This sort of scape is called an Iwagumi. Iwagumi is Japanese and translates into “rock garden”.  These style of aquascape relies on the rock to form the main point of the scape. When your aquascaping an Iwagumi you will normally only use...

In this Blog we look at how important testing your aquarium water really is and what could happen if you don't test on a regular basis. In a newly set up aquarium, water testing is critical to avoid fish loss when high levels of ammonia and nitrites rapidly rise. In an established mature tank, water testing is still so important to ensure the continued health of your fish and plants. FishCove Aquatics recommend that all fishkeepers should have a test kit. If your unsure on which test kit would be best for you, please ask us for advice and we will...

So what is NPK and why is it important for planted aquariums? NPK is made up of 3 macro elements Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium and all 3 are important when it comes to maintaining a healthy planted aquarium. Nitrogen (N) – nitrogen is largely responsible for the growth of leaves on the plant. Phosphorus (P) – Phosphorus is largely responsible for root growth and flower and fruit development.Potassium (K) – Potassium is a nutrient that helps the overall functions of the plant perform correctly. Nitrogen provides a blend of both Nitrate form and plant preferred ammonium form. However no free...

What is a blackwater Biotope? A blackwater biotope simulates a natural habitat. The fish, plants and water chemistry are similar to those that can be found in a specific natural setting like the Amazon. The biotope is that dark, most plants cannot thrive and fish are practically invisible this may sound strange to some, but there can be many reasons to invest in this type of tank. Most fishkeepers like crystal clear water so they can see the fish but some advanced fishkeepers know many of the popular aquarium fish actually dwell in stained, soft, and acidic waters, and are attempting to recreate...

What Are In Vitro Plants? In vitro plants are very young plants cultivated and delivered directly from a laboratory.. In vitro plants are guaranteed to be free from snails, algae and pesticides and therefore are totally harmless for sensitive shrimp and fish. The range offers unique plants! Equipment needed Bowl Pincers Scissors Fresh Water  Step one  Remove from the pot and gently wash off the gel using your fingers, once you have washed most of the gel from the plant give a gentle rinse under the tap to remove the last remaining bit of gel, if all the gel isn't removed...