5 Quick and Easy Steps for Treating Fin Rot What do you do if your fish’s fins and tail are looking ragged or discolored? It may be a bacterial disease called fin rot. This illness is simple enough to treat but can lead to other serious complications if left unchecked, so follow our five easy steps for curing fin rot. How Do I Know If My Fish Has Fin Rot? Fin rot is commonly found in aquarium fish such as betta fish and goldfish. The symptoms can vary based on how long the fish has been affected: Stage 1: The fins and/or tail start s...

Care Guide for Cory Catfish – The Perfect Community Bottom Dweller Looking for a peaceful beginner fish with tons of personality? Look no further! The cory catfish, or Corydoras catfish, is one of the most popular community fish because they’re so happy-go-lucky, easy to breed, and helpful as a clean-up crew. In this care guide, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this adorable bottom dweller. What are Corydoras? This genus of South American catfish includes more than 160 species, with several hundred more that are waiting to be class...

Fish Tank Filters: Which One Should You Get? What do most people think when they hear you keep pet fish? They probably conjure up memories of their great aunt’s dirty goldfish tank, covered in mystery slime and reeking of stagnant swamp water. But you and I know the secret to having a beautiful aquarium with crystal clear water… clearly, we just need to find the perfect fish tank filter! Why do Aquariums Need Filtration? As one of the key components of an aquarium, filtration is responsible for moving and cleaning the tank water, making...

Marimo Moss Balls – The World’s Easiest Aquarium “Plant” Do you lack a green thumb when it comes to keeping live aquarium plants? Or maybe you want to add a touch of nature to your betta fish tank without a lot of effort? Let me introduce you to the marimo moss ball. This velvety green orb is neither a moss nor plant, but a species of green algae known as Aegagropila linnaei that gets its unique shape from tumbling about the bottom of freshwater lakes. The nickname “marimo” roughly translates from Japanese as “water plant that’s kind of like a boun...

Banana Plant – An Unusual Aquarium Plant for Beginners Have you ever seen this bizarre plant at your local pet store that looks like it’s growing a bunch of baby bananas? Say hello to the aquatic banana plant, also known as the banana lily or Nymphoides aquatica. This species is native to slow-moving waters in the southeastern United States and is quite popular as a beginner-friendly, low light plant. Nymphoides aquatica with banana-like tubers How to Plant Your Banana Plant Introducing a new banana lily to your fish tank is very simple. First, ...

Care Guide for Kuhli Loaches – The Coolest Oddball Fish for Beginners Kuhli loaches will either fascinate or freak you out because they look like a wriggly mass of miniature snakes hiding in your aquarium. In this care guide, we answer some of the most frequently asked questions about this popular oddball fish. What Are Kuhli Loaches? Kuhli loaches are a hardy, beginner-friendly fish, known for their unique eel-like bodies, beady black eyes, and bristly barbels or whiskers around their mouths. Multiple species are labeled as kuhli loaches, but Pangio kuhlii is ...

Echinodorus Vesuvius – An Oddball Sword Plant with a Twist Have you ever heard of the narrow-leafed sword plant that grows in a spiral? Meet the Vesuvius sword plant – also known as Echinodorus angustifolia, Echinodorus ‘Vesuvius,’ and Helanthium ‘Vesuvius.’ Similar to corkscrew vallisneria, vesuvius looks like curly underwater grass, but its blades are narrower and grow in a tighter twist. Its common name was chosen because the leaves appear to be rising from the base of the plant much like the smoke wisps spiraling out of Mount Vesuvius. However, b...

Randy Reed | Vice President Q: Your Favorite thing about working at Aquarium Co-Op?

 A: That’s a tough one as there are so many awesome things about working for the Co-Op, but if I had to pick one it would be working with vendors/manufacturers to improve existing, or source entirely new, products. Knowing that customers are going to be just as excited as I am for new and better products is very rewarding. Your Key Information(Degrees, accomplishments, other facts that relate to your job or the hobby) BA in Economics f...

Cory McElroy | Company Owner and Founder Started Aquarium Co-Op in June of 2012 Q: Your Favorite thing about working at Aquarium Co-Op? A: My role is always evolving, however the one thing that mains true is that I love helping people. Whether it’s one on one in person at the store or at an event or in a video, I take pride in my work knowing what I do helps others. Master Aquatic Horticulturalist Served on the Board of Directors for the Greater Seattle Aquarium Society as the Fish Breeder Award Program Chair Named in Pet Age Magazine as a top 40 under the age of 40. Q: ...

Red Lizard Whiptail Catfish: A Special Addition to Your Nano Tank! This week at the Aquarium Co-Op retail store in Edmonds, we received a handful of amazing new fish! We received Red Lizard Whiptail Catfish, Dwarf Neon Rainbows, Marble Hatchet Fish, and last but not least Sterbai Corydora! We also received some incredible new plants! We brought in Dwarf Sagittaria, some huge Pogo Octopus, and the long awaited Anubias Nangi! For this week's tank tip, I wanted to highlight the Aquarium Co-Op Med Trio! The Med Trio is important to always have on hand. ...

Kuhli Loaches: The Perfect Bottom Feeder for any Tank! This week at the Aquarium Co-Op retail store in Edmonds, we received some really awesome fish! We received a new batch of Kuhli Loach, Female Powder Blue Gourami, Assorted Kribensis, and lastly a handful of Red Eye Monk Tetra! This week we brought back a fan favorite, Jungle Vallisneria, some beautiful Tiger Lotus, and last but not least some nicely grown Moneywort! For this week's tank tip I wanted to highlight the benefits of using a pre-filter sponge in your aquarium!

Meet the Rosy Barb: Your Aquarium's Beautiful Algae-Eating Superstar! This week at the Aquarium Co-Op retail store in Edmonds, we received some special new fish! We received the beautiful Rosy Barb, a Flagtail Prochilodus, Golden Dojo Loaches, and Amazon Puffers! This week I would like to highlight some awesome plants! We brought in Java Fern, Micro Sword, Bacopa Caroliniana, and Crypt. Wendtii Red. For this week's tank tip I wanted to share a video highlighting Cory's best tips for preventing algae in your aquarium!

Discover the Fascinating Serpent Loach: Your Next Unique Aquarium Addition! This week at the Aquarium Co-Op retail store in Edmonds, we received some really incredible new species! We brought in Serpent Loach, Short Body Platinum Koi, Congo Tetra, and Flagtail Porthole Catfish! This week in plants, we have some beautiful Dwarf Aquarium Lily, Dwarf Hairgrass, Vallisneria, and Ruffle Sword! For this week's tank tip, I wanted to share a video highlighting Cory's top six must try aquarium fish!

Sparkling Gouramis: The Ideal Centerpiece for Your Nano Tank! This week at the Aquarium Co-Op retail store in Edmonds, we received some beautiful new fish! We received some incredible Sparkling Gourami, Roseline Sharks, Pristella Tetra, and some beautiful Super Red Koi Angelfish bred by Dean! This week we have an awesome plant selection such as Anubias Nana Petite on Lava Rock, Ozelot Sword, Ludwigia Repens, and a personal favorite Crypt. Lutea! For this week's tank tip I wanted to highlight a tool used to help properly clean your aquarium ...

Brighten Your Aquarium with the Vibrant Orange Laser Corydora! This week at the Aquarium Co-Op retail store in Edmonds, we received some awesome new fish! We received some vibrant Orange Laser Corydora, Threadfin Rainbowfish, Gold Barbs, and even some beautiful Gardneri Killifish Pairs! This week we have the long awaited Java Moss mat back in stock, as well as Anubias Nana, Crypt. Lucens, and Crypt. Wendtii Green! For this week's tank tip I wanted to share a video talking about how to tell if your fish tank is really cycled!

Eques Pencilfish: A Fun and Unique Schooling Fish! This week at the Aquarium Co-Op retail store in Edmonds, we received some fun and unique fish! Starting off with Eques Pencilfish, Albino Cherry Barbs, Gold Pristella Tetra, and even some Gardneri Killifish Pairs! For this week's plant delivery I am excited to highlight Baby Tears, Pearl Weed, and some incredible Crinum Calamistratum! For this week's tank tip, I wanted to highlight how to optimize and clean your Aquarium Co-Op Easy Flow Sponge Filter!