How does beneficial bacteria stay alive in a bottle?Bacteria starter products like Fritz Zyme 7 contain live, nitrifying bacteria to help kick off your aquarium cycle and grow your biological filtration. This beneficial bacteria helps to consume toxic ammonia waste (produce by your fish) and convert it into nitrate, which is much safer for fish. According to the Fritz Aquatics website, "Unlike some heterotrophic bacteria, which can survive in a long-term spore state, only true nitrifying bacteria can cycle an aquarium. True nitrifying bac...
What are the dimensions of the Aquarium Co-Op low iron rimless tanks?Aquarium Co-Op currently sells low iron rimless fish tanks at our retail store in Washington state, and they are not available for sale online. The aquariums come with a rim on the bottom, no rim at the top, a clear lid, and rounded corners on the front two corners. The dimensions are as follows: Aquarium Size Dimensions (length x width x height, rounded to the nearest half inch) 2.5-Gallon Tank 12 x 7 x 8.5 inches 4-Gallon Tank 14 x 9 x 9.5 inches 6.5-Gallon Tank 16 x 10.5 x 11 inc...
Do water test strips expire?In general, the industry standard is that water test strips expire in 2 years. In reality, it is exposure to moisture that causes them to "go bad." If you open up the test strips in a humid area with wet fingers every single day, they will expire faster, whereas if you open them in a dry area with dry fingers, they will last longer. For more information, see our ammonia test strips and multi-test strips.
Can I remove the sliding brackets on the Easy Plant LED light?We do not recommend removing the Easy Plant LED’s sliding brackets or making other modifications to the light, since it voids the 3-year warranty and may compromise the IP67-rated water resistance.
What is velvet (or gold dust disease)?Freshwater velvet is caused by external parasites from the Oodinium genus. Under a bright light, it looks like gold, dust-like particles covering the fish's head, body, and fins. It often starts in the gills, so the fish is very sick by the time you see external symptoms on the skin. Flashing, or sudden rubbing against surfaces, is another common symptom. Unfortunately, this disease is quite difficult to treat, spreads rapidly, and does not respond to most broad-spectrum medications. Som...
Where do you get custom aquariums made?Our founder Cory orders custom glass aquariums from CustomAquariums.com. For fish tanks larger than 125 gallons, he orders custom acrylic aquariums from Clear Fabrications. They are more expensive than many other acrylic tank manufacturers, but the high-quality aquarium you get will last you a lifetime.
Can I still use the Easy Plant LED light if it is cracked?We recommend discontinuing usage of the light since we cannot determine the extent of the damage. Please contact the Aquarium Co-Op customer service so we can assist you with the warranty process.
Does the Easy Plant LED light remember its settings if the power goes out?Yes, the Easy Plant LED is designed to work with an electrical outlet timer that controls the lighting schedule by providing or cutting off power. Whenever power is provided, the light uses the last mode and brightness settings it had before the power was shut off.
Can the Easy Plant LED light fit on an aquarium with a lid?Yes, the Easy Plant LED is designed to fit on fish tanks with a flat, transparent lid. However, we do not recommend removing the sliding brackets on the light to mount it under an aquarium hood since it voids the 3-year warranty and may compromise the IP67-rated water resistance.
How much PAR does the Easy Plant LED light put out?When it comes to planted aquarium lights, many people want to know the PAR rating. PAR stands for "photosynthetic active radiation" and basically measures how bright a plant light is. However, many things can effect the PAR rating of a light — such as the distance from the light, height of the tank, interference from the aquarium lid, and placement of the plants. This video discusses the PAR readings for the Aquarium Co-Op Easy Plant LED that we measured on different aquariums: The...
Is the Easy Plant LED light bright enough for my high tech aquarium and high light plants?Yes, the Easy Plant LED is designed to be bright enough for high light plants and dimmable for low light plants. The amount of lumens emitted by the Aquarium Co-Op Easy Plant LED varies by the model. They range from 1,100 lumens in our 12” model to 4,500 lumens in our 48” model. See the product page for a chart that displays all of the technical information. For information on PAR rating, see this FAQ article.
