FISH TANK ARTICLES

Freshwater Water Parameter Guide (Complete 2025 Edition)
Keeping your aquarium water stable is the foundation of fish health. Whether you keep a betta in a 5-gallon tank or a planted community aquarium, your fish rely on balanced water chemistry for strong immunity, proper breathing, good coloration, and normal behavior. This complete freshwater water parameter guide explains each major parameter—pH, GH, KH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, temperature, and TDS—using simple, real-world explanations. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to maintain clean, healthy water for any freshwater setup.

Why Water Parameters Matter in Freshwater Aquariums

Water parameters affect nearly every biological process inside your tank, including:

  • Fish respiration and metabolism
  • Beneficial bacteria growth
  • Plant nutrient uptake
  • Shell and bone formation in shrimp and snails
  • Stress resistance and disease prevention

Most fish adapt to a range of conditions—but they do not tolerate sudden changes. Consistent, stable parameters matter far more than achieving “perfect numbers.”

The Most Important Freshwater Water Parameters

Here are the eight key parameters every aquarist should understand:

  • Ammonia (NH₃/NH₄⁺)
  • Nitrite (NO₂⁻)
  • Nitrate (NO₃⁻)
  • pH
  • GH (General Hardness)
  • KH (Carbonate Hardness)
  • TDS (Total Dissolved Solids)
  • Temperature

Ammonia: The Most Dangerous Parameter

Ammonia is produced from fish waste, uneaten food, and decomposing organic matter. Even small amounts burn gills and cause immediate stress.

Safe Levels

  • 0 ppm only — any detectable ammonia is harmful

What Causes Ammonia Spikes?

  • Overfeeding
  • New tanks that haven’t cycled
  • Overcleaning filter media
  • Dead fish or plants hidden in the tank

How to Fix High Ammonia

  • Stop feeding for 24–48 hours
  • Perform a 30–50% water change
  • Add live plants or bottled bacteria
  • Check for decaying organic matter

Nitrite: Highly Toxic Even at Low Levels

Nitrite interferes with oxygen transport in fish blood, causing brown blood disease.

Safe Levels

  • 0 ppm only

Fixing Nitrite Spikes

  • Add 1–2 teaspoons of aquarium salt per 10 gallons (protects gills)
  • Increase surface agitation
  • Perform partial water changes
  • Add beneficial bacteria boosters

Nitrate: Safe in Small Amounts

Nitrate is the final product of the nitrogen cycle. It is less toxic but still harmful in high amounts.

Recommended Nitrate Levels

  • 0–20 ppm for...
Top 10 Nano Predators (and How to Keep Them Peacefully)
Nano aquariums have never been more popular, and with them comes a growing interest in nano predators—small fish with big personalities, hunting instincts, and fascinating behaviors. Unlike aggressive large predators, these miniature hunters can thrive in small tanks when given the right environment. In this guide, we’ll explore the top 10 nano predators that aquarium hobbyists love in 2025, plus how to choose compatible tankmates, avoid aggression, and keep your mini predators peaceful and thriving.

What Are Nano Predators?

Nano predators are small fish—usually under 2 inches—that exhibit natural hunting behaviors. These species may target tiny invertebrates, fry, worms, or micro-crustaceans, but they are far from dangerous when kept correctly.

They are ideal for:

  • Planted nano tanks (5–20 gallons)
  • Species-only setups
  • Hobbyists who enjoy unique behaviors
  • Microlive-food cultures (like baby brine shrimp or daphnia)

Nano predators are not “aggressive fish.” They simply follow their instincts and can be kept peacefully with the right tankmates—depending on the species.

Top 10 Nano Predators (Ranked for Beginner-Friendliness)

1. Pea Puffer (Carinotetraodon travancoricus)

  • Size: ~1 inch
  • Tank: 5 gallons for 1, 10 gallons for 3
  • Temperament: Curious, nippy, bold

The iconic nano predator. Pea puffers hunt snails and worms, show intelligent behavior, and interact with their keepers. They must be kept with caution—ideal in species-only tanks unless tankmates are extremely quick or armored. For deeper care, see our full pea puffer article on stocking and compatibility.

2. Scarlet Badis (Dario dario)

  • Size: ~0.8–1 inch
  • Tank: 5+ gallons for a male; 10+ for a small group
  • Temperament: Peaceful but predatory toward microfauna

One of the most beautiful nano predators. Males show brilliant red bars and spend their time stalking tiny prey like copepods, daphnia, and worms. Best kept with peaceful nano species that won’t compete for food.

3. Clown Killifish (Epiplatys annulatus)

  • Size: ~1.2 inches
  • Tank: 5+ gallons with floating plants
  • Temperament: Peaceful surface predator

These tiny, colorful “rocket-tail” killifish feed on wingless fruit flies,...

Fish Compatibility Checker: How to Build Peaceful Freshwater and Saltwater Communities
If you’ve ever stared at a wall of fish at the store wondering, “Will these guys actually get along in my tank?”—you’re not alone. A fish compatibility checker can be an incredibly helpful tool for planning peaceful freshwater or saltwater communities, but it works best when you understand what it can (and can’t) tell you about your future tank mates.

What Is a Fish Compatibility Checker (and How Does It Work)?

A fish compatibility checker is a tool that compares species and tells you how likely they are to coexist peacefully in the same aquarium. On RateMyFishTank.com, you’ll find dedicated tools for both freshwater and saltwater setups that let you select specific species and instantly see where they fall on the compatibility scale.

In general, compatibility checkers use a combination of factors such as:

  • Temperament – peaceful, semi-aggressive, aggressive
  • Adult size – a 2-inch tetra and a 10-inch predator don’t mix
  • Water parameters – pH, hardness, temperature preferences
  • Tank zone – top, mid, or bottom dwellers
  • Special needs – like brackish water, reef safety, or heavy planting

Used wisely, a checker can save you from classic headaches—like putting a male betta with fin-nipping barbs, or housing tiny neon tetras with a hungry angelfish.

To explore these tools, start with the Fish Tank Tools hub, which links to both compatibility tools and charts for quick planning. 

Using RateMyFishTank’s Compatibility Tools Step-by-Step

RateMyFishTank offers several compatibility resources, including a Freshwater Fish Compatibility Tool, a Saltwater Fish Compatibility Tool, and visual compatibility charts for quick reference.

Here’s a simple way to use them as your “fish compatibility checker” workflow:

  • 1. Start with your tank size. Know your volume (e.g., 20, 40, or 75 gallons) and whether it’s freshwater, brackish, or saltwater.
  • 2. Pick a “star” fish first....

MOST RECENT ARTICLES

Freshwater Water Parameter Guide (Complete 2025 Edition)
FRESHWATER WATER PARAMETER GUIDE (COMPLETE 2025 EDITION)
Keeping your aquarium water stable is the foundation of fish health.
Top 10 Nano Predators (and How to Keep Them Peacefully)
TOP 10 NANO PREDATORS (AND HOW TO KEEP THEM PEACEFULLY)
Nano aquariums have never been more popular, and with them comes a growing interest in nano predators—small fish with big personalities, hunting instincts, and fascinating behaviors.
Fish Compatibility Checker: How to Build Peaceful Freshwater and Saltwater Communities
FISH COMPATIBILITY CHECKER: HOW TO BUILD PEACEFUL FRESHWATER AND SALTWATER COMMUNITIES
If you’ve ever stared at a wall of fish at the store wondering, “Will these guys actually get along in my tank?

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