Stephen Lee

We tested supplies from Seachem, API, Fluval, Tetra and Instant Ocean to find the aquarium brands worth trusting, from conditioners to substrate.

The foreground plants we recommend for freshwater tanks, from a hardy Anubias rosette to fast-spreading dwarf sag and a clean tissue-culture carpet.

We tested six live carpeting plants for freshwater tanks, from easy dwarf hairgrass to high-tech baby tears, so you can pick by light, CO2, and coverage.

We tested RO/DI systems for reef and freshwater tanks. Here’s which one earns the spot under your sink, and what each pick gives up.

We tested brine shrimp hatcheries for hatch ease, mounting, harvesting, and durability. Here’s the best pick for most fry tanks and when a kit is worth it.

Three 1,200-watt heaters that genuinely cover a 300-gallon tank, and what we found about their controllers, cutoffs and mounting.

We compared live nerite, mystery, and trapdoor snails for algae control, tank fit, and arrival health so you can choose the right cleanup crew.

We tested jellyfish and fake-fish night lights to find the calmest bedside picks, the quietest pumps, and the ones worth a shelf.

We tested eight live Anubias, from nano Petite pots to a three-species bundle, judging arrival condition, leaf size, and value per plant.

We tested aquarium plant weights that hold stems, bunches, and potted plants without floating, from lead-free ceramic rings to natural stone.