Editorial policy

Our principles

• Accuracy first. Care data comes from reference sources such as FishBase, recognised hobby literature and scientific papers, and is cross-checked when sources disagree.
• Ranges, not false precision. Fish live in a range of conditions; we give widely accepted ranges for temperature, pH, GH and KH rather than a single magic number.
• Animal welfare first. When sources differ on minimum tank size or group size, we lean towards the more generous figure.
• Native local versions. Each language version is written for its market, with local product availability and vocabulary, while keeping the same facts and ranges.
• Clear units. Metric everywhere; the English version adds gallons, inches and °F.

How buying guides are built

Products in our buying guides are selected from manufacturer specifications and widely documented user feedback: suitability for the tank size, reliability, ease of use, safety for fish and invertebrates, and availability in each market. We do not claim hands-on laboratory testing, and we never invent test results, ratings or review counts.

There are no paid placements. Links to retailers may be affiliate links, but a commission never decides whether a product is included or where it ranks; see our affiliate disclosure.

Health content

Pages about diseases and water problems give standard, conservative guidance. We do not give doses we are not sure of: always follow the label of the product you use. For serious or persistent cases, see an aquatic veterinarian.

Updates and corrections

Every page shows an "updated" date. Guides are reviewed when better information becomes available. If you find an error, please report it through the contact page; confirmed mistakes are corrected and the date is updated.

How guides are written

Guides are prepared by the handsoffmyhobby editorial team with the help of AI writing tools, then checked against reference sources before publication. These tools help with drafting and language versions; they do not replace source checking, and the editorial team remains responsible for what is published.