All Posts

An in-depth conversation with aquascaper Dennis Wong , exploring the origins of the 2Hr Aquarist Method, his journey into competitive aquascaping, and how time-efficient systems can still produce world-class planted aquariums. By Amar Salvi, Editor — The Weekend Aquarist Estimated read time: 7–9 minutes For this exclusive podcast interview, I caught up with Dennis Wong, co-founder of the 2Hr Aquarist brand, to explore his approach to time-efficient aquascaping. Dennis is know

A tribute to Heiko Bleher’s extraordinary life of exploration, tracing his decades-long journeys across the Amazon and beyond, his role in shaping modern discus breeding, and the philosophies that defined his approach to fishkeeping and natural history. By Amar Salvi, Editor — The Weekend Aquarist Estimated read time: 7–9 minutes A name that shaped modern aquariums How can any tribute truly capture the magnitude of a life like Heiko Bleher’s? For more than seven decades, he d

An editorial selection of ten of Heiko Bleher’s most influential discoveries, highlighting the species, regions, and stories that left a lasting impact on the global aquarium hobby and brought remote ecosystems into the spotlight. By Amar Salvi, Editor — The Weekend Aquarist Estimated read time: 7–9 minutes A name that shaped modern aquariums How does one do justice to an article featuring Heiko’s discoveries and bring it down to only ten? That was a dilemma we faced, and we

A rapid-fire tour with Beta  Mahatvaraj a.k.a Meenkaran on hardy classics, subtle stunners, and a few divas from India you should only keep if you’ll meet their needs. By Amar Salvi, Editor — The Weekend Aquarist Estimated read time: 7–9 minutes Why this list matters India’s waters hold an insane range of aquarium-ready species—many you’ve probably kept without realising they’re local. Beta and I finally sat down to rank ten favourites by a mix of beauty, behaviour, availabil

A field visit to an ultra-compact, high-output setup—on perfecting black rams, raising L-series plecos, and the discipline behind consistent spawns. By Amar, Editor — The Weekend Aquarist Estimated read time: 7–9 minutes From a fifth-grade gift to a lifetime craft Deepak’s story starts with a birthday tank in fifth standard  and grew into ~40 years  of hands-on learning—pre-internet, no mentors, just trial, error, and persistence . He’ll tell you plainly: “I killed a lot of f

A field visit with founder Amartya Ghosh —from science-driven planted tanks to hydroponic vertical forests and “mini phytospheres” that turn any room into a slice of nature. By Amar, Editor — The Weekend Aquarist Estimated read time: 7–9 minutes “City of Joy,” slab of rainforest I’ve tracked TiCi Nature Lab  on Instagram for months, but stepping into Amartya’s gallery in Harua, Kolkata  is different. The first thing that stops you: a waterfall-washed rock wall —not plastic, b

A field visit with founder Sanjay Khandagale —from award-winning discus strains to angels, plecos, and a purpose-built farm that runs like a lab. By Amar, Editor — The Weekend Aquarist Estimated read time: 6–8 minutes A visit long overdue On a rain-washed afternoon, we finally rolled up to Sam’s Discus India  for a long-promised on-site interview with founder Sanjay Khandagale . Joining me was Niranjan  ( Discus Ninja ), who was behind the camera. This visit felt special for