Erkut Akyildiz

Erkut Akyildiz I’m Erkut Akyıldız, YouTuber behind Tropictank.

I create content about planted freshwater aquariums, aquascaping, and fish species, sharing knowledge and visuals with aquarium lovers worldwide.

X-ray Tetras (Pristella maxillaris) got their name from their transparent bodies under the right light you can actually ...
08/24/2025

X-ray Tetras (Pristella maxillaris) got their name from their transparent bodies under the right light you can actually see ehtir bones and organs. Combined with the black and yellow fin bands, they’re one of the most unusual yet hardy schooling fish for a planted tank.

Dutch style aquariums have always been one of my favorites to set up, mainly because they let you apply the logic of lan...
08/23/2025

Dutch style aquariums have always been one of my favorites to set up, mainly because they let you apply the logic of landscaping directly underwater. Rows, contrasts, and textures can be arranged almost like planting a garden only this time, it’s a living garden in glass.

Spotted Blue Eye Rainbowfish (Pseudomugil gertrudae) tiny fish, big routine: females drop a few adhesive eggs each day o...
08/23/2025

Spotted Blue Eye Rainbowfish (Pseudomugil gertrudae) tiny fish, big routine: females drop a few adhesive eggs each day over several days, usually in daylight with activity peaking late morning. One male can court multiple females in a session, and the eggs cling to plants on fine filaments.   

Calico (OB) Peacock (Aulonocara): that blotched pattern isn’t a wild Aulonocara trait it comes from the OB variant first...
08/23/2025

Calico (OB) Peacock (Aulonocara): that blotched pattern isn’t a wild Aulonocara trait it comes from the OB variant first seen in Lake Malawi mbuna and later brought into peacocks through hybrid crosses and line-breeding. The OB look is linked to variation at the Pax7 gene and is naturally female biased in Malawi cichlids, so those heavily blotched males you see in peacocks are a human made twist.   

Green S**t (S**tophagus argus) isn’t a lifelong freshwater community fish, juveniles cope in fresh, but adults want brac...
08/23/2025

Green S**t (S**tophagus argus) isn’t a lifelong freshwater community fish, juveniles cope in fresh, but adults want brackish to marine. Add the mildly venomous dorsal spines and the fact they grow dinner plate big, and you’ve got a species that needs a plan. Unpopular opinion: keeping them in freshwater long term sets them up for problems; a staged move to brackish is the way to go. Long term keeper notes always spark the best debates.
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Gardneri Killifish (Fundulopanchax gardneri) is one of the most popular killies colorful, hardy, and easy to breed. Nati...
08/23/2025

Gardneri Killifish (Fundulopanchax gardneri) is one of the most popular killies colorful, hardy, and easy to breed. Native to small streams and pools in Nigeria and Cameroon, they’re known for short lifespans but constant spawning, making them a favorite for beginners and seasoned keepers alike.

Emerald Dwarf “Rasbora” not actually a rasbora. In dense plants they don’t school tight; they move as a loose group, and...
08/23/2025

Emerald Dwarf “Rasbora” not actually a rasbora. In dense plants they don’t school tight; they move as a loose group, and the males do a tiny side by side show where the spots pop for a moment. Small fish, big behavior.

LDA08 Dwarf Claro Pleco (Ancistrus claro) a genuinely small bristlenose that stays compact. Wild fish come from clear, f...
08/23/2025

LDA08 Dwarf Claro Pleco (Ancistrus claro) a genuinely small bristlenose that stays compact. Wild fish come from clear, fast, oxygen rich streams in Mato Grosso’s Rio Claro/upper Paraguay basin. It was sold for years under the DATZ code “LDA08” before its 1999 description, and the code stuck. Adults finish around 6–8 cm; peaceful, cave spawning, with males showing the classic bristlenose tentacles.  

A massive 360 view tank at Green Aqua. When I filmed it, it sat right in the middle of the gallery and looked incredible...
08/23/2025

A massive 360 view tank at Green Aqua. When I filmed it, it sat right in the middle of the gallery and looked incredible. I’m planning a return visit soon can’t wait to see how it’s evolved.

Killifish are kept by locality, not just species. In the hobby, each population is treated as its own “line” with a loca...
08/22/2025

Killifish are kept by locality, not just species. In the hobby, each population is treated as its own “line” with a location code (e.g., … ‘Beira 98’), and mixing lines is a big no-no. Colors, timing, even courtship can vary by locality, so keeping lines pure is part of the culture.

Betta (Betta splendens) a small detail I love: that dark “beard” you see when he flares is the branchiostegal membrane, ...
08/22/2025

Betta (Betta splendens) a small detail I love: that dark “beard” you see when he flares is the branchiostegal membrane, and in mature males it often peeks out even at rest. Give him calm surface and a few broad leaves and you’ll soon spot neat little bubble nests.

A nano aquarium I set up 2–3 years ago for my betta, still one of my favorite little builds. There’s a detailed video of...
08/22/2025

A nano aquarium I set up 2–3 years ago for my betta, still one of my favorite little builds. There’s a detailed video of this tank on my channel.

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