The March 2009 issue is now on sale from February 18 to March 17 2009.

It has two great extra sections in this issue: Gear Guide Essentials – our 22-page guide to buying freshwater and marine aquariums, filters, lighting, heating and test kits – and a 20-page planted aquarium special. You can’t afford to miss this issue of PFK!

Planted aquarium special: Your 20-page green-fingered special starts here. Simply the best: Neale Monks feels that the versatile Vallisneria are the finest plants that can grace your aquarium. Putting on the style: Aqua Design Amano experts visit the UK for the first time and give planted tank fans a step-by-step demonstration to remember. George Farmer joins the audience. Glorious gardens: George Farmer helped to judge the AGA aquascaping contest.

Here’s his reaction – and the results. Welcome to the jungle: Tom Messenger’s planted aquarium benefits from being low tech and minimal maintenance – but still looks great. Buyers’ guide to planted tank substrates: George Farmer looks at a wide range of products that promote health and happiness among your aquarium plants. Win a CO2 kit from TMC: We have 50 TMC CO2 units to give away in this competition.

Focus on Rasboras: Members of the rasbora group are some of the most popular in the hobby. They are suitable for all sizes of aquarium – from nano right up to giant show tanks. Pete Cottle looks at these size-no-problem favourites. Sulawesi Surprises: Beautiful, inquisitive and adaptable – in fact everything you don’t generally associate with aquarium snails. Chris Lukhaup explains why Tylomelania are truly exceptional.

Breeding first: Ralf Britz and Ritva Roesler describe a historic breakthrough with the Reed fish or Rope eel, Erpetoichthys calabaricus. Gear Guide Essentials: 22 pages of advice on buying freshwater and marine aquaria, internal and external power filters, heaters, lighting and test kits.

Ask the Experts: Tips, advice and the answers to your questions, plus a glossary of fishkeeping terms. Bleher’s Biotopes: Heiko Bleher presents another of his natural biotope aquariums – this time a Lake Victoria biotope recreating the Ugandan shores.

Back to Basics: George Farmer looks at choosing, positioning and maintaining plants to help create a stunning aquascape. Unusual amigos: Mary Bailey investigates some of the out of the ordinary South American dwarf cichlids. Shoptour: We visit East Sussex.

A sin to not like cardinals: Scott Michael professes his deep affection for the family Apogonidae. Diving with sharks: Do you see sharks as dangerous? Ever wondered what it would be like to swim with them? Practical Fishkeeping’s designer Katie Wilkinson finds out at the Blue Planet Aquarium.

Algal attraction: Not always the bad guys, some algae can actually look good and help your aquarium to thrive. Dave Wolfenden explains. Beautiful mystery: Bob Goemans gets enthusiastic about an astonishing new sponge appearing in the trade.

Stars from China: Jeremy Gay gets to drool over some fabulous fancies. News: The latest news from the world of fishkeeping, including our take on why the ban on Puntius denisonii isn’t going to work. Readers’ Tanks: Do you have a tank you’re particularly proud of? Here’s your chance to show it off to the rest of our readers. Lateral Lines: Readers’ letters.

Source: Practical Fishkeeping