Aquarium Pharmaceuticals

Metal halide bulbs should be replaced every 8 to 12 months.

It has been our experience that VHO lamps seem to degrade faster than normal fluorescents in terms of a ratio of output in lux over time when measured underwater with a light meter.

What we mean by this is that we have measured a faster reduction in intensity over time for VHO lamps compared to when the lamp was new than what weve measured for normal fluorescent lamps. We base our opinions on our observations. What we have observed is that in VHO

In general: the primary excretory product of fishes and invertebrates is ammonia (whether theyre fed or not). Were it not to dilution by water change, chemical filtrants and/or biological filtration ammonia would accumulate to toxic concentrations.

As the story goes ammonia is converted to nitrites by way of microbes, notably by Nitrosomonas bacteria. Nitrites are in turn changed into nitrates by other microbes, especially Nitrobacters. This assortment of populations takes a while to establish itself

We change the bulbs, and the animals and algae spring back to life! That simply doesnt happen as often in the reef aquariums we maintain which use metal halide and/or Power Compact lamps. Therefore, for reef aquariums that employ VHO lamps, we recommend changing these bulbs two to three times a year in order to maintain the overall health of the environment.

The other problem we have encountered with VHO lighting is that for some

First, imagine what is going on between your pump (the motor, housing, volute and impeller) and the lines bringing water to and away from it... What would Elvis say? "A whole lot of shaking goin on!". Next, think on how soft PVC is and what will happen to it as time goes by with all that vibration twixt the pump and its plumbing... Small wonder so much salt creep and many leaks occur here. There are a few things one can do to avoid these messes.

1) The pump... lo

Scratched Glass
Most of us have run into this problem at one time or another. Care to share your experience with scratched glass? "Does any one know how to fill some scratches....