Our independence comes first
- No paid placements. Positions in our guides, rankings and verdicts cannot be bought.
- No commission bias. Affiliate earnings — see the Affiliate Disclosure — never decide which product leads a list.
- Disclosed samples, no favours. If a brand sends a sample, we disclose it in the article, and it buys no influence — a negative verdict stays negative.
From question to shortlist
Every guide on Aquarium Tales starts with what readers actually need — the job to be done, the budget, the conditions. We then gather candidates across the price range, from proven bestsellers and category standards to newer models worth a look, and narrow the field on specifications, reputation over time, and value.
How we judge them
- Published specs, compared fairly. We line up manufacturers’ stated figures on the same terms; where a figure isn’t published, we mark it “Not stated” rather than fill the gap.
- What owners report over time. We read widely across owner reviews and expert coverage for the strengths and faults that come up again and again — not just the headline star rating.
- Clear sourcing. Each article tells you what its judgements rest on.
Updates and corrections
When products change, prices shift, or we make a mistake, we update the article and note significant corrections on it. If you spot something that’s wrong or out of date, tell us at [email protected].