Author Archives: Richard

No.  Kits wrongly stored, used incorrectly or beyond their recommended expiry date cannot be expected to give reliable information.  Faulty kits also exists and if this is suspected you must compare results with a identical kit.

It is best that water tests are taken at the same time of the day to give a more reliable base on which to compare unusual readings.

Yes, they can be mixed to cover the colour spectrum or to achieve a desired effect. This is the most popular way of lighting a marine aquarium as it is the most flexible lighting solution to allow spectrum adjustment.

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Domestic spotlamps can be very wasteful of electricity, provide the wrong colour spectrum and tend to run too hot to used above your aquarium.  Halogen bulbs are commonly mistaken for halides as they look similar and halogen bulbs are sometimes used by aquarists as they are much cheaper than halides but we strongly advise against

Yes…  As with fish and inverts, most bacteria require a certain amount of dissolved oxygen to perform effectively, rapidly increasing temperature reduces the waters oxygen levels causing the bacteria to die/loose ability to function.  The remaining bacteria will endanger livestock by competing for the available oxygen.  Therefore a stable aquarium temperature is essential for an

The warmer water becomes, the less dissolved oxygen it can hold although carbon dioxide can still rise dangerously higher than normal.  An increase in water circulation is vital as oxygen-depleted water will be more frequently presented to the surface to absorb oxygen and disperse unwanted carbon dioxide.

No, apart from lowering the temperature buy the required amount, a chiller cannot alter the water passing through it.

Yes,  25°C (77°F) suits most aquariums but some setups vary.  Livestock will suffer below 22°C (72°F) and above 27°C (80°F).

The aquarium sizes will dictate the optimum glass thickness for safety.  In general, the deeper the aquarium, the thicker the material used.   Always invest in a decent quality aquarium material or even better, use a reputable aquarium builder.

If your aquarium is to house fish only, then we recommend at least 20 gallons net excluding live rock/other substrates.  An invertebrate aquarium would need to accommodate more water for greater stability and we would recommend at least 30+ gallons net as a starting point.