Erkut Akyildiz

Erkut Akyildiz YouTuber, Photographer & Nature Filmmaker
Founder & Creator of Tropictank (YouTube Channel)
Based in📍Toronto • Canada
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Paracheirodon simulans gets misidentified so consistently that half the “green neons” in European tanks are probably car...
06/13/2026

Paracheirodon simulans gets misidentified so consistently that half the “green neons” in European tanks are probably cardinals with bad lighting. The red stripe doesn’t lie but nobody’s measuring it at the point of sale.
Keeping these on cardinal parameters kills half the colony. pH tolerance is narrower, hardness sensitivity is real, and group dynamics demand numbers that most tanks aren’t stocked for.
Nobody asks why successful breeding reports are almost nonexistent in the hobby.

Pearl gourami looks delicate. It isn’t.Males will draw blood from each other over territory in tanks most keepers would ...
06/13/2026

Pearl gourami looks delicate. It isn’t.
Males will draw blood from each other over territory in tanks most keepers would call “too big for that.” The thread-like ventral fins aren’t just display they’re the first thing a dominant male goes for.
Blackwater origin gets mentioned, then ignored. Most keepers run them in hard, alkaline tap water and call it fine. It often is. But the fish that colors up fully, builds real nests, and holds condition for years that one lived in different water.
The bubble nest appears. The eggs hatch. Then nothing. And the male gets blamed every time.

After taking tens of thousands of aquarium photos over the years, including fish and plants, I have many favorites, but ...
06/13/2026

After taking tens of thousands of aquarium photos over the years, including fish and plants, I have many favorites, but this Celestial Pearl Danio photo is definitely among them. The color balance, soft background, and natural bokeh came together in a way that still makes this shot feel special to me.

Osteogaster eques has been misidentified so consistently in the trade that getting the real fish shorter body, deeper pr...
06/13/2026

Osteogaster eques has been misidentified so consistently in the trade that getting the real fish shorter body, deeper profile, orange band that starts at the gill cover and doesn’t fade still requires buying from collectors with type locality records. The name “Corydoras eques” gets slapped on half the bronze cory complex.

Nannostomus eques punish busy community tanks faster than almost any pencilfish. Experienced keepers keep reporting the ...
06/13/2026

Nannostomus eques punish busy community tanks faster than almost any pencilfish. Experienced keepers keep reporting the same thing: fish holding their signature angled posture all day, refusing chaotic feeding zones, and slowly fading when forced to compete with faster midwater species. The old myth that they’re fragile usually comes from poor tankmate selection rather than water chemistry; established groups are surprisingly durable once social stress is removed. Recent imports have been arriving in steadier condition than the weak batches that circulated a few years ago, though consistent captive breeding outside specialist circles remains uncommon.

pH [4.8–6.8] · GH [0–4] dGH · TDS ~20–90 ppm · Temp [24–28]°C
Still mostly supplied through South American imports, with captive bred availability remaining limited compared to import driven trade.

Congo tetras spend more time enforcing hierarchy than most keepers ever realize. Experienced hobbyists keep reporting th...
06/13/2026

Congo tetras spend more time enforcing hierarchy than most keepers ever realize. Experienced hobbyists keep reporting the same pattern: dominant males controlling display lanes, subordinate fish fading into the background, and entire groups becoming calmer once tank length and group size increase. The old myth that they require extreme blackwater conditions has never really matched long term results; oxygen, swimming space, and social structure matter far more than chasing ultra soft water. Modern captive bred lines are arriving in stronger condition than many older imports, though serious breeders still debate whether today's fish carry the same vigor and finnage quality as earlier bloodlines.

pH [6.0–7.5] · GH [3–10] dGH · TDS ~80–220 ppm · Temp [23–27]°C
Widely available through commercial breeders and African tetra specialists, with captive bred fish now making up most of the global aquarium trade supply.

A moss heavy layout, supported with stem plants, and a beautiful sense of depth. Another impressive tank I filmed at Liq...
06/12/2026

A moss heavy layout, supported with stem plants, and a beautiful sense of depth. Another impressive tank I filmed at Liquid Nature Vienna, designed by Andi.

“TB line shrimp. If you’re looking to add these to your collection, send me a message.”
06/12/2026

“TB line shrimp. If you’re looking to add these to your collection, send me a message.”

Rasboras can look completely different in a dimly lit planted tank. Their copper tones become deeper, the group movement...
06/12/2026

Rasboras can look completely different in a dimly lit planted tank. Their copper tones become deeper, the group movement feels calmer, and the whole scene looks much closer to how these fish should be seen.

Sometimes the plants growing outside the tank are more beautiful and captivating than anything inside it. This shot from...
06/12/2026

Sometimes the plants growing outside the tank are more beautiful and captivating than anything inside it. This shot from Liquid Nature Vienna is one of the finest examples I’ve come across.

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