Jen Clifford
BA In Biology
Jen Clifford has more than 30 years experience as a biologist, aquarist, and fishkeeper. She started her first aquarium in childhood when she snuck a fishbowl into her bedroom and filled it with African dwarf frogs and ten-cent feeder goldfish.
Her passion grew from there, and by high-school she was breeding African cichlids and selling them for profit. At Reed College, Jen made ends meet by caring for the biology department aquariums and mastered the retail side of the industry by working for a local aquarium specialty store.
Jen is an expert in setting up new tanks and maintaining naturally-planted freshwater habitats, and has experience raising a wide variety of aquatic species. She can help you with any of your fishkeeping problems. Whether you need advice on filters or substrate, or just want to know if you should take the plunge and get an aquarium, Jen has the answers for you!
Read More From Jen Clifford
Pictus Catfish 101: Care and Feeding for Freshwater Catfish!
Pictus catfish are active and friendly scavengers that make great additions to large freshwater aquariums, so check out our detailed care and feeding guide!
How To Care For Freshwater Fish: Tips And Advice For Beginners
Starting an aquarium can be intimidating, so I’ve compiled these 15 tips for beginners to learn how to care for freshwater fish!
Freshwater Aquarium Sharks
A guide to caring for freshwater aquarium sharks, including details on tank requirements, feeding and dietary recommendations and detailed species profiles.
Best CO2 Diffusers and Reactors For Your Aquariums
Carbon dioxide is a critical fertilizer if you want a lush, planted aquarium, so check out this guide to the best CO2 diffusers!
Best Nano Aquariums – Reviews & Buyer’s Guide
Learn how to choose the best nano aquarium for your home with this guide and our in-depth product reviews!
Underwater and Overwater Flowering Aquarium Plants
This guide to the 15 most-popular flowering aquarium plants will help you find the perfect underwater bloomer for any size tank, and includes detailed care info!
Best UV Sterilizers For A Bacteria-Free Aquarium
What are UV sterilizers for aquariums and how do they work? Get tips, advice and product recommendations in this short introduction!
How To Treat Ich (White Spots) in Aquarium Fish
If you see white spots on fish in your aquarium, they probably have ich or White Spot Disease. Learn how to prevent and treat an outbreak in this short guide!
Best 10 Gallon Fish Tank
How do you choose the best 10-gallon fish tank, and should you buy a kit or design a set-up from the tank on up? Check out our detailed guide for answers!
What Is A Protein Skimmer And What Does It Do
What does a protein skimmer do and how do they work? Learn all about saltwater protein skimmers in this short guide!
Turtle Tank Ideas – Setup Guide and Affordable Habitats
A brief guide to setting up turtle tanks. Includes an extensive list of attractive and cool turtle tank ideas from easy kits to extensive DIY turtle aquariums!
Best Nano Reef Tanks
A guide to choosing the best nano reef tank, including advice on how to pick the best kit for your needs and a list of recommended products!
Best Self Cleaning Fish Tank
Learn all about the best self cleaning fish tanks and how to pick the ideal type of low-maintenance aquarium for you or your child’s needs!
Why Are My Aquarium Plants Turning Brown? Causes And Cure
Planted tanks are great fun, but what should you do if your aquarium plants are turning brown or dying? This guide will help you troubleshoot plant problems!
Best Filter Media For A Healthier Aquarium
A short guide to the filter media and the best types for freshwater and saltwater aquariums. Includes detailed product round-ups!
Goldfish Lifespan: How Long Do Goldfish Live?
What’s the average life expectancy of a goldfish, and how can you help your fish live a long and healthy life?
Best Sponge Filters
A brief guide to aquarium sponge filters and how to find the best sponge filter or tip for any type of tank!
Goldfish – Ultimate Guide
A comprehensive guide to goldfish care, including details on their natural history, anatomy, biology, ideal aquarium set-ups and water conditions!
Do Goldfish Sleep? How To Tell And For How Long
Do goldfish sleep, and if so, how do they sleep when they can’t close their eyes? I answer these questions and more in this short guide to goldfish sleeping habits!
Compatible And Safe Tank Mates for Your GoldFish – With Chart
It’s not easy to keep other fish with goldfish. If you’d like to add companions to your aquarium, take a look at our list of the best goldfish tank mates!
21 Nano Fish For Small Tanks – Best Types & Care Guides
This guide to nano fish profiles 21 tiny species that thrive in small, heavily planted habitats often referred to as nano tanks.
Best Hob Filters for Your Aquariums
Choosing the best HOB filter can be a challenge, so this product review guide walks you through their features and offers tips for using hang on back filters!
Fish Compatibility Chart for Freshwater And Saltwater Pets
Our freshwater and marine fish compatibility charts are the easiest way to quickly determine whether different species can share your community aquarium.
Best Aquarium Filters – Top Picks For A Clean Tank
Complete guide to types of aquarium filters, with tips for choosing the best style for a tank of any size! Includes product reviews and recommendations.
Popular Types Of Goldfish – Varieties You Can Have At Home
A complete guide to the types of goldfish and a breakdown of their colors, scales, unique traits, and basic care requirements.
Best Aquarium Lighting For Fish Color
A guide to choosing the best aquarium lights for fish colors and enhancing the appearance of your plants and corals.
Best Reef Led Lighting – A Favorite Among Tank Enthusiasts
The best reef LED lighting can help maximize your coral growth while highlighting the other fish in your tank.
Best Algae Eaters
A detailed guide to dealing with aquarium algae outbreaks and the best algae eaters to help control their growth in freshwater tanks.
Best Substrate for Planted Tanks
An introduction to the best substrate for a planted tank, with a buyer’s guide and detailed product reviews.
Aquascape Ideas – Styles and Inspiration for Planted Tanks
Aquascaping is the art of gardening inside an aquarium. Learn how to use natural rocks and sticks to highlight the plants in your aquarium!
Best Substrate for Bettas
A brief guide covering the best substrate for betta aquariums along with detailed product reviews.
How To Clean Fish Tanks – The Importance Of Regular Cleaning
Provides information, advice and step-by-step instructions on how to clean a fish tank or bowl of any size.
Female Betta Fish – Appearance, Behavior and Care Guide
Learn everything you need to know about caring for female betta fish in sorority and community aquariums.
Aquarium Sand Vs Gravel – Which Substrate Should You Choose
A detailed guide on aquarium sand vs gravel and choosing the best substrate for a freshwater tank.
Best Betta Water Conditioners
A quick guide to choosing and using the best betta water conditioner for your tank! Includes product recommendations and detailed reviews.
Best Betta Tank Heater For 1, 5 and 10+ Gallon Tanks
A quick guide to the best betta heaters! Includes features to look for, how to choose the right type of heater, and in-depth product reviews.
57 Of The Best Tank Mates For Betta Fish – Compatibility List
Find the best betta tank mates for any size aquarium, how many buddies to add and more from this list of friendly community fish.
Best Filter for Bettas
A quick guide choosing the best filter for bettas, including how to modify a filter with a baffle and product recommendations for tanks of all sizes.
Betta Fin Rot – Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
Betta fin rot is a progressive disease common to tropical fish. This in-depth guide covers the symptoms, treatment, and prevention of fin rot in bettas.
Types of Betta Fish – A Guide on Patterns, Color and More
A primer on the types of betta fish by color, scale pattern, and tail and fin configurations. Includes a list of betta varieties from common to rare.
Best Betta Tanks From Small to Large
Choose the best betta tank for your pet with this detailed buyer’s guide! Includes tips and product recommendations to suit all needs and budgets.
Betta Fish – Facts, Proper Care, Diet and Species Guide
This complete guide to betta fish offers detailed information and advice, including their natural history, diet, care requirements and health tips.