Erkut Akyildiz

Erkut Akyildiz YouTuber, Photographer & Nature Filmmaker
Founder & Creator of Tropictank (YouTube Channel)
Based in📍Toronto • Canada

It looks as if someone placed a single drop of blood exactly over its heart and that tiny detail gave this tetra its en...
08/14/2026

It looks as if someone placed a single drop of blood exactly over its heart and that tiny detail gave this tetra its entire identity. Mature Megalampodus erythrostigma are far more dramatic than they appear in shop tanks, with deep bodies, elongated fins and that striking black-white-red dorsal pattern. This is one of those fish you really shouldn’t judge until you’ve seen a fully grown group moving together.

How is a fish this beautiful still so underrated?With its sleek body shape, subtle pastel tones, and those unmistakable ...
08/14/2026

How is a fish this beautiful still so underrated?
With its sleek body shape, subtle pastel tones, and those unmistakable silver-tipped fins, the Silver Tip Tetra (Hasemania nana) has everything you’d expect from a much more popular aquarium fish.
It’s simple rather than flashy and maybe that’s exactly what makes it so attractive. In a planted aquarium, a good-sized group brings constant movement and a warm metallic glow that’s hard to ignore.
One of those classic tetras that deserves far more attention.

Most shops never stock these two side by side, and that’s not an accident. Least Rasbora often gets sold under the Chili...
08/14/2026

Most shops never stock these two side by side, and that’s not an accident. Least Rasbora often gets sold under the Chili Rasbora name just for a better price, even though the two have completely different stripe patterns. Redder body doesn’t mean rarer fish; the real ID marker is that tail base spot. Half the “Chili Rasboras” in your local shop’s tank might not be what the label says. Some lucky fish keepers actually have both species.

Apistogramma are not “community dwarf cichlids” once a female decides to spawn. Experienced keepers regularly report fem...
08/14/2026

Apistogramma are not “community dwarf cichlids” once a female decides to spawn. Experienced keepers regularly report females controlling surprisingly large territories and driving males or tankmates away, while recent breeder discussions continue to emphasize heavy structure, caves and sight breaks over simply adding more fish. The myth that every Apisto pair should be kept as a permanent male female pair is also misleading; compatibility varies by species, and some males can be maintained successfully alone.

pH 5.0–7.5 · GH 1–12 dGH · TDS ~30–200 ppm · Temp 23–28°C
Captive breeding is firmly established for many Apistogramma, while rare species and locality forms remain primarily the territory of specialist breeders and dedicated imports.

Guppies are easy to breed, but keeping a genuinely consistent line is a very different task. Experienced breeders know t...
08/14/2026

Guppies are easy to breed, but keeping a genuinely consistent line is a very different task. Experienced breeders know that selective lines can carry reduced genetic diversity, making long term selection, outcrossing and line management more important than simply producing large numbers of fry. The myth that guppies are genetically “bulletproof” because they reproduce so readily ignores the fitness problems that can emerge in closed lines.

pH 7.0–8.0 · GH 8–20 dGH · TDS ~200–400 ppm · Temp 23–27°C
Captive breeding is firmly established worldwide, with an enormous range of established strains available through commercial farms and specialist breeders.

That “Peruvian Altum” isn’t an Altum at all. Rio Nanay collectors gave it the name in the 1990s because the tall body an...
08/13/2026

That “Peruvian Altum” isn’t an Altum at all. Rio Nanay collectors gave it the name in the 1990s because the tall body and dark bars matched the real Orinoco fish. Genetic analysis links it to Pterophyllum scalare, not Pterophyllum altum the name just stuck. Most keepers still buy it as a true Altum without knowing the difference.

Botanicals and blackwater do this fish no favours.Water at the type locality was recorded at pH 7.3 clear, shallow, plan...
08/13/2026

Botanicals and blackwater do this fish no favours.
Water at the type locality was recorded at pH 7.3 clear, shallow, plant-choked, not a tannin-stained pool. Floating food gets wasted too, since they almost never come up for it.
The tanks where they colour up best are rarely the ones that photograph best.

Some aquariums hold fish. Others create an entire world for them.This planted aquascape was built around a group of beau...
08/13/2026

Some aquariums hold fish. Others create an entire world for them.
This planted aquascape was built around a group of beautiful Peruvian Altum angelfish, with dense planting, open swimming space and branching wood creating a calm, natural atmosphere.
For me, it was one of the most beautiful angelfish tanks I’ve ever seen.

Red bellied Piranhas are far less aggressive than their reputation suggests, but their social hierarchy can be unforgivi...
08/13/2026

Red bellied Piranhas are far less aggressive than their reputation suggests, but their social hierarchy can be unforgiving when the group is too small. Experienced keepers know that timid feeding behaviour and sudden fin damage can coexist, especially when several fish compete in confined space. The myth that piranhas need live prey to stay healthy is also outdated; varied frozen and prepared foods are routinely used by experienced keepers. Captive bred Pygocentrus nattereri are readily available, although long term group housing remains the bigger challenge than obtaining the fish.

pH 6.0–7.5 · GH 3–12 dGH · TDS ~80–200 ppm · Temp 24–28°C
Captive breeding is established and captive bred Red bellied Piranhas are currently available in the ornamental trade, although availability varies by region and local regulations.

Congo Tetras are more competitive within their own group than their peaceful reputation suggests, especially when the s*...
08/13/2026

Congo Tetras are more competitive within their own group than their peaceful reputation suggests, especially when the s*x ratio is skewed or the group is too small. Experienced keepers report males displaying and competing over spawning sites, while recent hobbyist reports also show that females can become surprisingly assertive around food and territory. The idea that every Congo Tetra behaves as a passive schooling fish misses how much group structure and tank space influence them. Captive breeding is established commercially, but getting a balanced, well grown group remains more important than simply buying the first juveniles available.

pH 6.0–7.5 · GH 3–12 dGH · TDS ~80–220 ppm · Temp 23–27°C
Captive breeding is well established and Congo Tetras are regularly available through the ornamental trade, although s*x ratios in juvenile groups can be inconsistent.

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