Aquatics by Ash

The Blog

Tips, guides, and advice for aquarium owners in Melbourne and beyond.

20 July 2026

Aquarium Water Parameters Explained – The Numbers Every Fish Keeper Should Understand

pH, GH, KH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate — what each one means and why stable water beats "perfect" water every time.

9 July 2026

One of the most common questions I get asked is why is my aquarium growing algae. Here's what's really causing it and how to fix it for good.

2 July 2026

Planning a fish tank setup? Here's what actually drives the cost — tank size, filtration, and professional installation in Melbourne.

22 June 2026

Clear water doesn't mean a tank is ready for fish. Here's how to properly cycle a new aquarium before adding your first fish.

14 June 2026

There's no one-size-fits-all cleaning schedule. Here's how to read what your fish tank is actually telling you about when to clean.

3 June 2026

New to fish keeping? Here's what every new aquarium owner needs to get right before adding a single fish. Tips from Aquatics by Ash.

22 May 2026

Sudden fish deaths are often ammonia spikes. Clear water doesn't mean healthy water — here's what's going wrong and how to fix it.

15 May 2026

Cloudy aquarium water is common in new setups. Here's what's really causing it — and why over-cleaning usually makes it worse.

7 May 2026

Filtration makes or breaks a tank. Here's what actually matters when choosing an aquarium filter, from a Melbourne aquarium specialist.

18 April 2026

Picking substrate and decor isn't just about looks — the wrong choice makes maintenance harder and stresses fish. Here's how to choose right.

27 March 2026

Setting up a fish tank for the first time? Filtration, water chemistry & adding fish safely — advice from Aquatics by Ash, Narre Warren.