Understanding Biofilm on Aquarium Wood: What It Is & Why It's Nothing to Fear! So you have just created a beautiful aquascape using let's say Red moor root and a few days later BAM Slimy white stuff!  If you've recently added wood to your aquarium, you might have noticed a slimy, white or clear fuzz forming on the surface. Don’t panic this isn’t a sign that something’s gone wrong. In fact, what you're seeing is a natural process known as biofilm. What Is Biofilm? Biofilm is a thin, often slimy layer of microorganisms, primarily bacteria and fungi that colonise surfaces submerged...

All About Water Parameters: The Beginner’s Guide to Healthy Aquariums Keeping fish and plants happy doesn’t just come down to feeding them and switching on the filter — the real secret is in the water parameters. These invisible measurements determine whether your aquarium is safe, stable, and thriving. At Horizon Aquatics, we often meet newcomers who proudly say their pH is fine, but then struggle with fish health. The truth is: pH is only one piece of the puzzle. The most important things to understand are ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and the nitrogen cycle. This guide explains water parameters in simple...

Pest Snails in the Aquarium – What You Need to Know & How to Get Rid of Them Snails are often a controversial topic among aquarium hobbyists. While some snail species can be beneficial to your tank’s ecosystem, others are considered pests. These so-called "pest snails" can appear overnight and multiply rapidly, leading to frustration for aquarists of all experience levels. In this blog, we’ll cover the most common types of pest snails, why they become a problem, and how you can manage or remove them from your freshwater aquarium. Common Types of 'Pest' Snails 1. Malaysian Trumpet Snails (Melanoides...

Fishkeeping vs Aquascaping: Why Water Change Needs Are So Different When it comes to maintaining an aquarium, one of the most important — and often misunderstood tasks is water changing. While many assume all tanks require similar care, there’s a huge difference between traditional fishkeeping and aquascaping. Understanding this difference can save you from algae outbreaks, stressed fish, or a tank that’s constantly out of balance. Let’s break down why aquascapes demand more frequent water changes and how this contrasts with the simpler needs of a fish-only tank. What Is the Difference Between Fishkeeping and Aquascaping? At first glance, a...

Essential Aquascaping Tools: What Every Aquascaper Needs Aquascaping is both an art and a science. Creating stunning underwater landscapes takes patience, creativity, and the right tools. Whether you're new to the hobby or refining your technique, having a reliable set of core aquascaping tools is crucial for planting, trimming, and maintaining your aquarium layout. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the essential aquascaping tools every aquascaper or planted aquarium lover should have in their tool kit. 1. Aquascaping Scissors Scissors are a must-have for shaping and maintaining aquatic plants. There are 3 common types: Straight Scissors – Great for general...

How to Maintain a Clean Aquascape – Weekly Aquarium Maintenance Guide We've broken down our cleaning routine into simple, easy-to-follow steps for you. Our weekly maintenance routine is standard for a mature aquascape. For new aquascapes, however, the process is a bit different during the first few weeks. You can read more about that in our other blog post. *Everything you need to know to set up a Planted Aquarium* Visual Overall Aquarium Health Check Each week, we begin our routine for each aquarium with a visual inspection to assess what needs attention. This includes a general health check of the...