What is redox potential, and why is it important in my aquarium?
To make a long story short, this is a measure of the livability of the water in your aquarium. Redox potential broken apart means the potential of the water molecule to oxidize or reduce. In other words, the affinity for the water molecule to engage in chemical reactions with other molecules, or how social the water is. This parameter is measured in millivolts (mV) and is a culprit for many of the things that happen in an enclosed aquatic environment. This is an area that has been misunderstood by many, and ignored way too long for those who are are sticklers about aquarium water chemistry. Redox potential can be regulated and has become popular to the aquarist over the past decade. Protein skimming, ultraviolet sterilization, oxygen, or ozone injection are popular ways of artificial redox potential control.
