Last updated: September 2026
Every product recommendation on Best Fish Tank Hub goes through the same process. This page explains exactly how it works, including what we test ourselves and what we don't.
Who Does the Testing
Products are tested by Bobby Rawat, who has kept aquariums for the past five years. Testing happens in real home aquariums here in Australia, not in a lab. That means products are judged the way you'll actually use them: with Australian tap water, through hot summers and cool winters, and during normal weekly maintenance.
Tested or Researched: We Always Tell You Which
We can't personally use every product on the market, and we won't pretend to. Every recommendation falls into one of two groups:
- Hands-on tested: we've used the product in one of our own tanks, through normal maintenance cycles, before writing about it.
- Researched: we haven't used it ourselves, for example a canister filter built for a much bigger tank than we run. The recommendation is based on manufacturer specifications, independent reviews and the experience of long-time keepers.
Our reviews and roundups say clearly which products fall into which group.
What We Look At
Each type of product is judged on what actually matters for your tank:
- Filters: real flow compared with the claimed rating, noise, how easy they are to clean and restart, space for filter media, and how water clarity and ammonia and nitrite readings hold up.
- Heaters: temperature accuracy checked against a separate thermometer, stability between day and night, and safety features such as auto shut-off and shatter resistance.
- Lights: brightness and colour for fish and live plants, timer and control options, heat output and build quality.
- Air pumps: noise level (would you sleep next to it?), air output at tank depth, and vibration.
- Test kits: how consistent the results are, how easy the colour charts are to read, cost per test, and how readings compare with a second kit.
- Water conditioners and treatments: how clear the dosing instructions are, how they handle chlorine and chloramine in Australian tap water, and value per litre treated.
- Fish and plants: hardiness in typical Australian water and temperatures, beginner-friendliness, and whether you can actually buy them here.
Made for Australian Buyers
We only recommend products you can buy in Australia, and we check the Australian price at the time of writing. For electrical equipment, we look for products sold for Australian 240V power with Australian plugs, not grey imports.
What We Don't Do
- We don't accept payment for reviews or for a spot in a "best" list.
- Brands never see or approve our content before it's published.
- We don't recommend products based on star ratings or spec sheets alone.
- If a brand ever sends us a product for free, we'll say so in the review, and it goes through the same testing as everything else.
Keeping Reviews Up to Date
Products change, get discontinued, or get beaten by something better. We revisit our roundups regularly, replace products that are no longer worth buying, and show the date each post was last reviewed.
Your Tank May Differ
Our results come from our tanks and our water. Your results may vary depending on your setup, water chemistry and livestock. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions, double-check before you buy, and see our Disclaimer.
Questions or Suggestions?
If there's a product you'd like us to look at, or you think we've got something wrong, please get in touch.