The Aquarist’s Edge [Weekly Aquarium Podcast]

Aquarium Nutrients Explained: Feeding, Algae, Plant Health & Dosing Tips

In today’s episode of The Aquarist’s Edge, we unpack the critical role of nutrients in freshwater aquariums: from how they fuel plant growth to how they trigger algae when mismanaged. Whether you're dosing fertilizers, battling green water, or simply wondering if your plants are starving, this episode has the answers.

We explore the full nutrient cycle, explain how feeding affects water chemistry, and provide expert tips on managing nitrate, phosphate, and other key elements. We clarify what "dosing" actually means and how to do it safely.

✅ Learn to balance nutrients for a healthy ecosystem
✅ Diagnose common plant deficiencies
✅ Discover how to stop algae before it starts

🎧 Listen now to optimise your aquarium like a pro!

Music: 'Jazz Bars' - Dusty Decks (Epidemic Sound - https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/bOn1vkNE0X/)

Aquarium News Of The Week - 03 August 2025

This week's Aquarium News shares stories of how science and fishkeeping collide in fascinating ways. Discover why deep-sea fish are rewriting our understanding of the carbon cycle, how new muscle research is changing what we thought we knew about the coelacanth, and meet two newly described snail-crushing cichlids from Lake Victoria.

Also in this episode:

• What lanternfish fossils tell us about declining ocean oxygen

• How to give your shrimp and snails the care they truly deserve

• Practical tips for water chemistry, species-specific habitats, and sustainability in your fish room

Whether you're a casual keeper or a passionate aquarist, this episode brings science, conservation, and hands-on advice straight to your ears.

📬 Got questions or story suggestions? Email us at: admin@artsfishroom.co.za

📍 Recorded in Cape Town, South Africa 

Music: "Pool Sticker" - Dylan Sitts (https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/EwXrPyvCvY/)

Referenced Articles and Sources:

• 🌊 Deep-Sea Fish Reshape Carbon Cycle Understanding
  Source: ScienceDaily – Deep-sea fish just changed what we know about Earth’s carbon cycle

• 🦴 Coelacanth Musculature Misunderstood for Decades
  Source: ScienceDaily – 400-million-year-old fish exposes a big mistake in how we understood evolution

• 🐌 New Snail-Crushing Cichlids from Lake Victoria
  Source: AMAZONAS – Two new cichlid species described from Lake Victoria

• ⛈ Lanternfish Fossils Warn of Looming Ocean Oxygen Crisis
  Source: Earth.com – Lanternfish fossils warn of looming ocean oxygen crisis

• 🦐 Invertebrates Deserve Proper Care
  Source: Hygger – Some of the Care Necessary for Aquarium Invertebrates

Where Guppies Come From & Why It Matters

In this episode of The Aquarist’s Edge, we explore the wild origins of guppies and how their native habitats in South America and the Caribbean should inform the way we care for them in aquariums. From the evolutionary pressures that shaped guppy behaviour to the environmental conditions they evolved in, this episode offers a naturalistic approach to guppy keeping rooted in science and ecology.

🌿 Explore guppy behaviour in the wild
📘 Discover the impact of selective breeding
💡 Build tanks that support natural guppy instincts

 

Music: Love Hour (Instrumental) - Adelyn Paik (Epidemic Sound - https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/SvhhJiSY4q/)

Aquarium News Of The Week - 27 July 2025

The first of a regular news update featuring headlines and reports about the freshwater aquarium hobby from around the globe. 

In this episode:

🧬 Hear about the discovery of a ghostlike electric knifefish in Brazil and a blind cave-dwelling loach in Vietnam.
🐟 Dive into the spotlight species of the week – the elegant and often-overlooked halfbeak.
👁️ Discover new research into schooling behaviour and how fish avoid bumping into each other.
🧠 Learn how goldfish remember, cichlids parent, and archerfish recognise human faces.
🌍 Understand the growing threat to Africa’s freshwater fish species and how climate change is reshaping aquatic ecosystems.

Perfect for home aquarists, hobbyist researchers, and freshwater fish lovers.

📩 Send your aquarium questions or news to: admin@artsfishroom.co.za

📍 Recorded in Cape Town, South Africa 

Music: "Pool Sticker" - Dylan Sitts (https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/EwXrPyvCvY/)

Referenced Articles and Sources:

• Miami Herald – Discovery of Porotergus sambaibensis, a new electric knifefish species

• Practical Fishkeeping – Description of Draconectes narinosus, a blind cave-dwelling loach

• Hygger Online – Care, behaviour, and breeding of halfbeaks

• Deutsche Welle – Fish intelligence and complex behaviours

• Princeton University – Giant danios prefer ladder-like formations when schooling

• Mongabay – One in four African freshwater fish species threatened

• ScienceDaily – Marine heatwaves caused widespread marine life collapse

 

The Nitrogen Cycle Explained - Deep Science for Serious Aquarists

Do you think you know the Nitrogen Cycle? Perhaps there's more to it... In today’s episode of The Aquarist’s Edge, we unpack the full complexity of the nitrogen cycle — going far beyond the basics to explore the real science that powers your aquarium's biological stability. 

Learn how nitrifying bacteria actually work, why oxygen levels and substrate depth affect your biofiltration, and how nature handles nitrogen differently than most aquariums. We also explore why “cycled” doesn’t always mean “stable,” and what really causes crashes in systems that seem fine on the surface.

🎧 In this episode:

• The real microbes behind your biofilter (and why Nitrospira matters)

• What makes the nitrogen cycle stall — and how to troubleshoot it

• Why deep substrate zones and plant uptake help in long-term stability

Music: Back Of My Mind (Instrumental) - Melanie Bell (Epsidemic Sound - https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/ItS8aIXVHb/)

GloFish Explained - Genetics, Care, Ethics - All You Need To Know

In this in-depth episode of The Aquarist’s Edge, we uncover everything you need to know about GloFish – the genetically fluorescent fish that have captured both curiosity and controversy in the aquarium hobby. Whether you’re wondering how GloFish glow, whether they’re ethical, or how to care for them properly, this episode has the science, facts, and expert guidance you’ve been looking for.

We’ll walk you through the history of GloFish, how they differ from dyed or painted fish, what their genetic modification really means, and how to set up a thriving tank. We also tackle common problems, legal breeding limitations, and what responsible fishkeeping looks like in the age of glowing pets.

Whether you're a beginner aquarist or a long-time hobbyist, this comprehensive guide will help you understand the glowing truth behind GloFish.

The Clean-up Crew Myth

Are snails, shrimp, and algae-eating fish really the ultimate aquarium janitors, or have they been given an unrealistic job description? We uncover the truth behind the clean-up crew myth. 

We explore what clean-up crews actually do, why they can’t replace maintenance, and how to use them effectively in your tank. Learn about common myths, troubleshooting exploding snail populations, preventing shrimp die-offs, and practical steps to balance your aquarium ecosystem without relying on mythical solutions.

Are You Wasting Money on Gimmicks?

Are you spending hundreds on bottled bacteria, clarifiers, or pH adjusters without real results? In today’s episode of The Aquarist’s Edge, we unpack the science behind these products, explore why biology, consistency, and husbandry matter more than marketing promises, and learn practical ways to keep your aquarium thriving. With insightful quotes from renowned aquarists like Diana Walstad, George Farmer, Rachel O’Leary, and Takashi Amano, this episode will make you think twice before buying another product to add to your aquarium.