Unique Aquarium (& Pond) Information Articles

Revised 2/8/19

• UV Sterilizer Articles, Reviews
  Reviews and articles about the use of UV Sterilization in pond, aquarium, and home.
  Including just a few samples below:
  • Actual UV-C Emission from a UV Bulb; Aquarium or Pond
    This article/post explains the implication of the actual wattage used and the wattage of actual energy emitted via the essential 254nm UVC.
  • UVC irradiation and immune response
    This article/post explores an aspect of UVC irradiation that few outside of the research community are even aware of
  • 9 Watt UV Bulb Review
    Clear and factual information as to why you should NOT waste your money on cheap UV bulbs, such as those often found at eBay or Amazon
  • Internal/Submersible UV Sterilizers, Pump, Filters
    This article/post explores a growing in popularity UVC device that unfortunately is mostly made up of VERY poor quality units
  • Correct UV Sterilizer/Clarifier Applications
    This article/post looks into the use of a UV Clarifier to solve too many pond filter issues when pond filtration should be improved; the second part of this article explores the correct flow rates and UV-C penetration for successful aquarium use
  • Green Pond UV Clarifier
    This article/post looks into the control of Green water in Ponds, and specifically a UV Clarifier or Sterilizer.
  • UV Sterilizers Gimmicks; Twists, Baffles Wipers
    This article/post looks into some of the gimmicks used to sell certain UV Sterilizers/Clarifiers at higher prices often with somewhat lower results such as with the Coralife Turbo Twist
  • UV Sterilization Articles; UVC for Home or Office Air Purification & Surface Sterilization
    Not necessarily a unique article, however this post shows other uses for UVC light, which is a subject (UVC radiation) that still generate more controversy than it should considering the science behind its use
  • Long Life UV Bulbs, are these worth purchasing??
    Information and facts about the sadly popular “long life UV Bulbs” often sold online (especially at eBay) which produce a fraction of the UV-C necessary for level 1 or 2 sterilization that the premium 254nm High Output µW/cm2 UV-C Hot Cathode Quartz Germicidal Bulb produces
 
• Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle
  Easily one of the best if not the best article about the Nitrogen Cycle as it pertains to Aquariums & Ponds.

  This article covers many aspects of the Aquarium & Pond Nitrogen Cycle, from basic to advanced and unlike many articles such as one found at Fish Lore that rely on anecdotal information that is often quite outdated (such as the professionally discredited “raw shrimp” cycling method that the before mentioned article still puts forth), this article is regularly updated with researched information.

 
• AQUARIUM DISEASE PREVENTION; Steps to a Healthy Aquarium & Sick Fish
  
  Following the steps outlined in this article will not guarantee a disease free aquarium, but the facts are your disease incidence will be markedly lower. (Please read ALL the steps outlined later in this article).

  Video Version of the above article:
  
  Aquarium Disease Prevention | Sick Fish Help

 
• Pond Care
  A simple yet still content rich web page that anyone either not familiar with pond ownership or one who is having problems SHOULD read!
 
• Aquarium Lighting; Light Facts and Information
  This is very in depth and frequently updated article, and although the subject is not unique, the content is due to the fact that most information about aquarium lighting is vastly out of date, often totally ignoring facts from research going back over at least a decade.
  
  Bluntly the Best article dealing with the complicated subject of Aquarium Lighting. Unlike most articles of this subject, the content is researched outside of the very anecdotal aquarium keeping community, which is often very behind in this subject, with many still suggesting the very archaic “watts per gallon” so-called rule. This article has information about bulb types such as T2, SHO, Induction Lighting and more that is missed by most. As well the important subjects PAR, watts per lumen, useful light energy, focused lumens and more are addressed.

Video Version of the first section of the above article:

Aquarium Lighting 2018 | Kelvin, PAR, Watts and More

 
 
• Aquarium Lighting Digest
  This is a much shortened version of the Aquarium Lighting Facts & Information article that provides some of the same information in a simple digest format
• LED Aquarium Lights, Lighting
• LED Aquarium Lights Review; Maxspect, Double Bright, Ecoxotic, Boost LED, More
  For a Top Notch Review of many LED Lights now flooding the market, some OK, some excellent, most junk:
• Aquarium LED Light Installation Options
  The purpose of this post/article is to give generalized ideas for installing the two most popular types of LED Light Fixtures; the “Tile” or the “Strip”
• Review of Aqua Illuminations Sol (AI Sol) LED
  Review of the “Feature Rich” but vastly over rated AI Sol LED Aquarium Lights and Controllers (over promoted in a thread at Reef Central where key PUR information is disregarded)
• Aquarium Article Digest; Iridovirus in Gouramis
• Aquarium & Pond Keeping Acronyms, Abbreviations such as PAMR
 
• Use of Salt in Freshwater Aquariums; Aquarium Answers
  This article/post deals with a subject that has considerable controversy on both sides, where often both sides have half the information/facts and are both “half right & half wrong”
 
• Fish Diseases | How to Treat Sick Fish
  A unique article about a subject that already has a plethora of information available via the Internet. However this article is not to provide any specific treatment regimen for the readers fish, rather to provide an outline that will provide a better chance for success over the typical “my fish are sick and what medications & how much should I dump into my aquarium” question.
 
• Use of RO, DI, Softwater in Aquariums
  An excellent article that is a MUST READ for anyone considering the use of RO, RO/DI, or home water softener water for their fresh or saltwater aquarium. As well this article corrects the misinformation about the popular economy RO/DI systems sold by discounters and bulk reef retailers that use less efficient components such as TFC (thin film composite) membranes
 
• Aquarium Algae; Brown Diatom, Thread/Hair, Green Spot, Marine, BBA (Black Beard Algae)
  An Aquarium Answers article (post) algae control article, intended to address the types of algae that receive the most questions; including Brown Diatom Algae, Thread/Hair Algae, Black Beard Brush Algae (BBA), and Marine Hair Algae aka Filamentous marine algae (I address other algae as well in this article).
 
• Aquarium Silicone; Tank Repair
  The most in depth article online about choosing the correct silicone sealant, Aquarium Repair, and DIY aquarium building
 
• PUR, PAS, PAR in Aquarium Reef/Planted Lighting
  The most in depth and resourced article about the subject of light quality and light quantity. This article helps clear up many of the myths about this subject
 
• Do Fish Drink? Osmoregulation/Osmotic Function in Fish
  An Aquarium Answers article (post) about osmotic function in fish. This is probably one of the best, most in depth & researched articles on this subject you will find on the Internet. Vastly more accurate and information than what you would find on most Google searches for this subject!!
 
• Pond Veggie Filter
  An Aquarium Answers article (post) about a DIY Pond Veggie/Bog/Plant Filter.
  This article is based on experience with these pond filters going back to 1979, long before these were a fad.
 
• Cyanobacteria in Ponds and Aquariums
  The original Aquarium Answers article post for an important reason; this is a subject that the author has spent decades of experience and research dealing with (along with continued research), as well this is a subject that sadly the majority of cut & paste web sites and blogs simply get wrong. So “googling” this subject is likely going to bring up a plethora of bad sites whose answer is simply to dump Erythromycin in your aquarium or pond despite the eventual environment havoc that will be reeked.
 
 
• Fish as Pets; Misidentification of Planaria
  A subject that is common example of internet “cut & paste” of misinformation.
  With Google’s Penguin Update and constant Plagiarism of Websites, the chance of getting good information about Aquarium Planaria and other subjects is getting lower all the time.
 
• Fish as Pets; UV Sterilizer Myths #5
  A basic article, however it provides insights into the common misinformation surrounding the use of UV Sterilizers for aquarium.
 
• Fish as Pets; Aquarium Forum Hall of Shame #10; Aquatic Community
  A post at “Fish as Pets” that deals with what I would describe as a VERY intellectually dishonest forum thread from Aquatic Community & BettaFish.com about aquarium chemistry and Wonder Shells in particular.
  
  This is a post that will either make you laugh or cry depending upon your mood based on the lazy misinformation posted in the thread quoted here (it is that bad!).
 
• PUR or RQE, YouTube Video Fail- Guide to lighting a planted tank
  A newer article dealing with an either very dishonest or very misinformed YouTuber who incorrectly calls out correct science based aquarium lighting information, all the while putting out information discredited over a couple decades ago.
 
• Common Aquarium Keeping Myths
  A newer article dealing with the myths of Betta Tail Biting, PAR as a definitive measurement of LED Light energy, & more.
 
• Pet Mountain
  A review of an aquarium/pond retailer whose ethics are quite questionable.
 
• Fish as Pets; Aquarium Moon Lights
  This post from “Fish as Pets” deals with the extreme misinformation found sadly in most LFS, forums, blogs, and even light manufacturers about what color moonlite actually is and how it relates (as per lunar cycles) to reef aquarium health
 
 

I will add more resources over time to this post.

By Misti K.