The Complete Beginner's Guide to Setting Up Your First Freshwater Aquarium
A step-by-step walkthrough for setting up your first freshwater aquarium, from choosing a tank size to adding your first fish safely.
Hannah Brooks · February 6, 2026Freshwater · Aquascaping · Reef · Fish care
Where calm water
meets clear advice.
Cloviony is a friendly, independent guide to the aquarium hobby — clear, tested advice on freshwater and reef tanks, aquascaping, and keeping fish healthy, whether you're cycling your first tank or fine-tuning your tenth.
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A Simple Weekly Aquarium Maintenance Routine That Keeps Fish Healthy
Build an easy weekly maintenance habit covering water changes, glass, filter care, and testing to keep any aquarium thriving.
Diego Santos
Reef Lighting Guide: How to Choose LEDs for Coral Growth
Compare reef LED options and learn about PAR, spectrum, and coverage so your corals get the light they need to color up and grow.
Mei Lin
Building a Low-Maintenance Walstad-Style Planted Tank
Set up a soil-based, self-sustaining Walstad aquarium that runs with minimal filtration, no CO2, and very few water changes.
Diego Santos
Keeping Shrimp and Fish Together: A Freshwater Compatibility Guide
Which fish can safely share a tank with cherry and Amano shrimp? A practical guide to stocking invertebrates without them becoming snacks.
Hannah Brooks
Why Water Changes Matter and How to Do Them Correctly
An explainer on what water changes actually remove, how much to change, and how to match temperature and dechlorinate safely.
Mei Lin
Feeding Your Fish Right: How Much, How Often, and What to Avoid
A guide to portioning, variety, and schedules that prevents overfeeding, the number-one cause of poor water quality in home tanks.
Hannah Brooks
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Freshwater Aquariums
Community tanks, species profiles and water chemistry made approachable — everything you need for a healthy, happy freshwater aquarium.
ExplorePlanted Tanks & Aquascaping
Live plants, layout and the craft of aquascaping — from low-tech beginner setups to lush, high-tech planted displays.
ExploreSaltwater & Reef
Reef tanks, corals and marine fish — the equipment, parameters and patience it takes to keep a thriving slice of the ocean.
ExploreFish Care & Health
Cycling, feeding, disease and maintenance — the practical care routines that keep your fish healthy and your water clear.
ExploreFreshwater Aquariums
Community tanks, species profiles and water chemistry made approachable — everything you need for a healthy, happy freshwater aquarium.
Keeping Shrimp and Fish Together: A Freshwater Compatibility Guide
Which fish can safely share a tank with cherry and Amano shrimp? A practical guide to stocking invertebrates without them becoming snacks.
Hannah Brooks
Ten Hardy Freshwater Fish That Forgive Beginner Mistakes
A list of ten resilient freshwater species that tolerate parameter swings and rookie errors while you build your fishkeeping skills.
Hannah Brooks
Corydoras Catfish: A Species Profile for the Perfect Bottom Cleanup Crew
Meet the corydoras catfish, a peaceful, social bottom-dweller. Learn ideal group size, substrate needs, and feeding for healthy cories.
Hannah Brooks