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Dallas North Aquarium has served North Texas aquarium keepers for over 3 decades. Located in Carrollton, the store carries freshwater fish, saltwater livestock, corals, plants, aquariums, equipment, food, and water-care products. Some customers arrive with a detailed stocking plan. Others walk in holding a jar of cloudy tank water and hoping for answers. Both are welcome.

Discus do require more planning than many common freshwater fish. They need warm, clean water, a mature aquarium, compatible tankmates, and an owner willing to follow a consistent maintenance routine. What they do not need is constant panic, endless chemical adjustments, or a laboratory disguised as a living room.

The Mandarin dragonet is one of the most recognizable fish in the saltwater aquarium hobby. Its maze of blue, green, and orange markings looks almost too elaborate to be real. Unfortunately, good looks have gotten plenty of Mandarins into trouble. They are peaceful, stay fairly small, and appear easy to care for—but feeding one properly can be a serious challenge. Before bringing one home, the aquarist needs more than a reef tank. They need a feeding plan.

Live aquarium plants need light, nutrients, and carbon dioxide to grow. Most planted tanks already contain some CO₂ from fish respiration, bacteria, and natural gas exchange. The problem is that demanding plants may use that supply faster than the aquarium can replace it. Adding CO₂ can improve plant growth, color, and overall health. It can also make carpeting plants and other demanding species much easier to keep. Still, a CO₂ system is not a magic button. Light, fertilizer

Why Are Nano Tanks Harder to Stock? Every fish, shrimp, and snail produces waste. In a large aquarium, that waste is diluted by more water. In a nano tank, the same amount can have a much greater effect. Temperature and water chemistry can also change quickly. A little evaporation may noticeably raise the mineral concentration, while one extra feeding can leave more waste than the filter is ready to process.

Few marine fish look as electric as the powder blue tang, and few punish shortcuts as quickly. This fish is active, bold, beautiful, and less forgiving than many beginner favorites. When its tank is too small, unstable, or crowded with the wrong fish, problems can show up fast. A healthy Powder Blue Tang is one of the great showpiece fish in a reef tank. It cruises all day, picks at algae, flashes its bright blue body and yellow dorsal fin, and acts like it owns every inch

Tiger barbs (Puntigrus tetrazona) are active freshwater fish known for their black stripes, orange coloring, and confident personalities. Native to Southeast Asia, they are a popular choice for aquarists who enjoy a busy aquarium with plenty of movement.

Odessa barbs (Pethia padamya) are active freshwater fish known for their silver bodies, dark markings, and striking red coloration. Mature males develop a red stripe along the body, while females usually display softer colors and fuller bodies. The species is native to Myanmar and was formally described in 2008. Despite the common name, the Odessa barb does not come from Odessa. The name originated through the aquarium trade, proving that fish names occasionally take the s

Why a 75-Gallon Aquarium Is the Best All-Around Tank for Freshwater and Saltwater Hobbyists: Ask a group of aquarium hobbyists what the "perfect" tank size is, and you're almost guaranteed to hear a different answer from everyone in the room. Some enjoy the challenge of nano aquariums, while others believe that bigger is always better. But when it comes to finding a balance between stability, flexibility, cost, and long-term enjoyment, one size consistently stands out: the 75

An aquarium can completely change a room. Fish moving through the water, plants swaying in the current, and corals opening under the lights create the kind of atmosphere no framed “Live, Laugh, Love” sign has ever managed to achieve. What people do not always see is the work happening behind the glass. Aquariums are living systems. Water chemistry changes, algae appears, filters collect waste, equipment wears down, and fish occasionally make questionable life choices.

Goldfish, Carassius auratus, are domesticated freshwater fish descended from wild carp. Their long history in aquariums and ponds has produced many varieties, from streamlined common goldfish to round-bodied fancies with flowing fins. They are popular for good reason. Goldfish are active, visible during the day, and full of personality. Many learn where food appears, respond to the person who feeds them, and investigate changes in their environment.

Activated carbon is one of the most familiar filter materials in the aquarium hobby. It appears inside disposable cartridges, media bags, canister filters, sumps, and chemical filtration reactors. It is often included with new aquarium filters, which can make it seem as essential as the filter itself.

A healthy freshwater aquarium does not need constant scrubbing, complicated chemicals, or a weekly aquatic renovation. It needs a consistent routine. Regular water changes, gentle filter cleaning, equipment inspections, and sensible feeding help prevent cloudy water, algae problems, stressed fish, and filters that suddenly sound like they're grinding coffee beans. Whether this is your first aquarium or your fifteenth, the basics still do most of the heavy lifting.

Introducing new fish to a home aquarium is an exciting moment for any aquarist, but a careful and patient acclimation process is crucial for the health and survival of your new aquatic pets. Abrupt changes in water temperature and chemistry can cause significant stress, shock, and even death. This guide outlines the standard and most effective procedures for temperature acclimating your new fish.

Setting up an aquarium can be one of the most rewarding experiences. Watching your fish swim peacefully in a well-maintained tank brings a sense of calm and joy. But if you’re new to this hobby or even if you’ve been at it for a while, the process of setting up aquariums can sometimes feel overwhelming. That's why we suggest picking out your dream fish first, the center piece. Do some research about your fish and then pick your tank from there.