What is the most important thing in the aquarium and the least understood? The water, most people look at their fish in the aquarium and hardly give the water a second thought as long as it looks clear then it must be okay. Wrong just because it looks okay you should never take it for granted. I check my tropical Aquariums water every fortnight for pH and Nitrate and in the Malawi Cichlid tank water hardness, none of these will show up as a visual look it the water.

What causes High readings of pH, nitrite and nitrate in the water?

The pH can be affected by many factors but mostly excess waste in the aquarium from over feeding (the most common) too many fish in the tank producing excess waste products or new tank syndrome when the Aquarium is going through The Nitrogen Cycle.

Another cause is the tap water the ph will vary depending on where you live and can be anywhere from pH 6 – 10 and the majority of community fish are happy in the pH 6.5 – 7.5 range.

Nitrite will become high as the aquarium goes through the Nitrogen Cycle (New Tank Syndrome)

Nitrate as the Nitrite but other causes are overfeeding and overcrowding. The bacteria cannot cope with the excess waste and rotting food. 

So ValueAquatics have the answer the API Freshwater Master Test Kit. It comes with everything you need to test for pH, Ammonia, Nitrite and nitrate. You should get over 800 tests with this kit making it very economical and cheaper than buying individual tests.

What you get in the Kit is High range pH, Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate testing solutions, Computer-calibrated laminated colour cards, 4 glass tubes, a holding tray for the test tubes,. There is an easy to follow none technical instruction booklet with added information on how to correct unsafe water conditions.

The API Freshwater Testing Kit comes in a durable, unique transparent dome allowing a clear view of the contents. 

Highly accurate and economical

Over 800 tests

Compact

Easy to use

None technical and informative booklet

John

These Aquarium Cabinets are made exclusively for ValueAquatics. They are very sturdy and robust and have a central strengthening bar for added strength and stability and designed to take the weight of a full aquarium. The cabinets are made from high density fiber board.

They come flat packed and are extremely easy to put together only 8 screws and 8 cams. There are no shelves so there is plenty of room to put your external filter and air pump, giving easy access to them.

They come in BLACK only and in two sizes for 24” and 30” aquariums. 

Always stand the Aquarium on an aquarium mat or some polystyrene tiles as a cushion before filling the Aquarium; otherwise the base of the Aquarium can crack if there is the smallest grain of sand under it.

John

Melafix is a natural antibacterial remedy made from Tea Tree oil. It can quickly repair damage from bacterial infections like fin rot, mouth fungus very effectively. Melafix also works on open wounds and increases the fish’s resistance to infections. I find that it woks best when used together with Stress Coat.

It can be used as a preventative and used whenever you introduce new fish to your aquarium. It does not harm your filter and will not discolour the water or harm plants.

Marines: Although it does say it is safe for marines and reef systems I would use it with caution as ~I have found that it causes a lot of foam initially in salt water system especially in skimmers so add slowly.

ValueAquatics have both 120ml and 237ml sizes for sale.

John

The most common type of lighting for Aquariums must be the fluorescent tubes that come in a vast range of colour temperatures. The type of tube is a personal choice some like the warm effect that shows the blues and reds off best that comes from the Gro Lux tubes or the more natural light from the Fresh water type of tube.

No matter which tube you like you will need a starter unit for them and the best in the market is Arcadia who have been in the pet care lighting business since the 1960’s. Arcadia’s products have an unparalleled reputation for design, performance and quality and are sold in over 55 countries worldwide.

The Arcadia Ultra Seal Controllers  available from ValueAquatics come in a complete range of waterproof single Fluorescent Controllers that come with the new Ultra Seal  IP67 Tube Holders.

Complete with all fittings, clips, screws & universal mounting bracket
Easy tube changing
Waterproof
GS & CE approved for extra safety

ACU58 is a special order not a stock item.

John

Bio Chem Zorb is a filter medium that is a mix of two organic scavenger resins, two pharmaceutical grade ion-exchange resins and Activated Carbon in an easy to use pouch.
First rinse the pouch under the tap to wash off any dust from the outside, then place the  pouch inside an internal or external filter in the last compartment. Can be used in either freshwater or marine aquariums, in a marine aquarium it can be placed in the sump.
It takes out the brown discolouration in freshwater aquariums caused by the tannins in bogwood almost overnight leaving crystal clear water.

Removes organic waste
Suitable for both fresh and marine aquariums
Removes toxic heavy metals
Removes toxic gases, foul odours, phenols and water discolouration
Does not contain phosphates
Removes light blocking impurities for improved growth of plants and corals in marine aquariums
Removes aquarium medications and treatments.

Using Bio Chem Zorb in a marine Aquarium
It is extremely useful in taking out refractory organics in the water or the “Yellow Water” that occurs when organic pollutants reduce the amount of light that is necessary for the well being of most marine invertebrates.

ValueAquatics sell API Bio Chem Zorb as a 283g pillow (enough to treat up to 208 litres).

We also have the
Bio Chem Zorb Proof through Science Video

Jacqui

Are you tired of the heavy metal AC/DC drummer in your aquarium cupboard then look no further The TetraTec APS air Pumps are what you need. These have been designed especially with noise, vibration and flow rate in mind. The APS range of air pumps is amongst the quietest of diaphragm air pumps on the market.

These pumps are especially effective when used with deeper aquariums where the back pressure often defeats other pumps of the same rating.

The innovative design and advanced sound reducing technology creates a better environment in the aquarium fore your fish, and you don’t have to turn the Television up to maximum to cover the sound of that old pump.

There are 5 sizes of The TetraTec air pumps available from ValueAquatics to suit the vast majority of aquariums.

John

The problem when feeding your aquarium fish is that the fish that live at the bottom get very little food, as those at the top and mid water get the majority of the food. The answer is to feed your catfish, loaches etc., on Hikari Tropical Sinking Wafers for tropical fish. Hikari have formulated the wafers after many years of research into the feeding habits of Corydoras other catfish and Loaches.

 Hikari Sinking wafers contain Fish meal, wheat-germ meal, wheat flour, alpha starch, soybean meal, fish oil, dried seaweed meal, krill meal, dried bakery product, brewer’s dried yeast, spirulina, enzyme, astaxanthin, garlic, DL-methionine, monosodium glutamate, vitamins and minerals including stabilized vitamin C.

All to keep the bottom dwellers healthy and active. Never overfeed the fish feed only once a day one wafer will be enough for most average community aquariums. If any of the wafers is left after hour either siphon it out or net it out with a fine net.

Perfect nutritional food
High levels of vegetable matter
High in vitamin C reduces stress and improves disease resistance
Does not dissolve or cloudy the aquarium water
ValueAquatics offer Hikari Tropical Sinking Wafers in two sizes 25g & 110g

James

Sadly Gravel cleaning is one of those things that most people miss out in the aquarium maintenance and it is the most important task. As with most UK Aquariums there are very few plants in the aquariums so a build up of detritus builds up unseen in the gravel. Due to this phosphate and Nitrate levels increase causing an outbreak of algae and when it gets very high the fish start to mysteriously die off.

So as part of a weekly maintenance regime a quick gravel wash can be incorporated with the weekly water change. One of the best bits of inexpensive kit that you will buy for your Aquarium will be a gravel cleaner. There are quite a few to choose from and they mostly work on the same siphon principal and are very easy to use.

1. Place the gravel cleaner completely submerged into the aquarium including tubing. Have a bucket on the floor under the aquarium.

2. Put your thumb or finger over the siphon tube and lift out over the aquarium, making sure the wide big rigid tube stays under the water.

3. Release your thumb or finger when the siphon tube is over the bucket, and by simply raising or lowering the end of the siphon you can regulate the flow.

4. Clean the gravel by pushing the end of the large bore tube into the gravel and watch the dirt get sucked out agitating and leaving the gravel behind.

Continue this going round the plants try not to go through the roots if possible. A bucket of water is about the correct amount for a 3’ aquariums in one go unless it is extremely dirty. If it is extremely dirty and there are high phosphate and or nitrate levels a lot of small water changes are better than one massive change. If the phosphate or Nitrate is very high then a phosphate/Nitrate remover should be used along with water changes and gravel washes every other day until levels return to normal. The two best removers are a Polyfilter or Cleanwater both are either added to an external filter or an internal filter.

ValueAquatics offer what we think is the best Gravel cleaner on the market  the Interpet Prime Gravel Cleaner comes in five sizes Mini, Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large for those deep aquariums. The interpet Gravel Cleaners come with an integrated one way valve in the head so that the siphon can be started by plunging the gravel cleaning end up and down in the water to start the siphon. I do not like this method as it causes a lot of stress to the fish I prefer the method I described earlier it is quicker and less stressful to the fish.

James

The innovative Smart Heater/Thermostats by the highly respected Rena Company use an electric sensor that accurately checks the water temperature. The thermostat can be set from 20°c to 34°c. The heater has a warning light that will flash if the temperature goes 3° above or bellow the set temperature. This is good news for all those keepers of large robust fish like Oscars or Aquatic reptiles like terrapins/turtles, as they are said to be unbreakable as it is made from composite materials. The Smart Heater is insensitive to mechanical or thermal shocks.

Fish are less likely to get burnt on the smart heater as the water is drawn up through the centre of the heater, thus warming it up and passing the warmed water out of the top. It can be used with an external canister filter with the connection kit (not supplied) allowing it to be connected to the 16mm internal diameter hose inlet tube.

If the inlet tube of your filter is 12mm internal diameter simply use a step down adapter.  Both the heater and the external filter adapter are available from ValueAquatics.

Fully submersible
Works in any position
Unbreakable
Shock resistant
Switches itself off if not fully submerged in water
Available in 50w, 100w, 150w, 200w and 300watt

Jacqui

Monarch Aquarium Hoods are made from aluminium making them both light and very robust. The hoods come in two finishes black and silver, they have a flap on the top front that allows easy access for feeding and maintenance. A compartment at the back of the hood takes the lighting ballast unit, make sure it is firmly fixed into place, the hoods have push out holes to take the light tube, fittings and wiring. All the hoods are designed so that they will take the same size fluorescent tube sizes i.e., a 24” x 12” hood takes a standard 24” tube. All the hoods come complete with drip trays. ValueAquatics offer the Monarch Majestic Hoods in the following sizes.

18” x 12″
24” x 12”
30” x 12”
36” x 12”
48” x 12”

It is also possible with these units to add a second tube to increase the light intensity, the hoods are very well designed, and the black Monarch Majestic hood, goes well with any colour cabinet / stand. If your looking for a budget purchase say for a 2ft standard aquarium, to go in a childs bedroom for example, you won’t do better than a black 24inch Monarch Majestic  Hood combined with our budget Black Aquarium Stand, plus if you bought both you would get free next working day delivery.

John G & Mark H