First Glance: HI-Q Zero Water Exchange System

There are two classes of products in the marine aquarium industry that get me really excited. The first is the products that assist experienced reefkeepers in maintaining the environment by taking away the hassles and making the hobby easier and more enjoyable for those of us that are already hooked. The second and more important group of products is those that decrease the failure rate and expense for newcomers to the hobby. While most saltwater hobbyists who have more than a year or two in the hobby quickly lose sight of the simpler side of the product market and want ever more technical and expert series products; anyone who has experienced the retail side of the hobby will tell you that just under half of the revenue in the hobby is from newcomers or those that have less than 2 years experience. HI-Q's Zero Water Exchange product fits squarely into the latter category.

The HI-Q Zero Water Exchange is a product whose aim is to reduce the need for one of the most tiresome parts of the hobby: changing water.  The system is a 4-part product using a reverse undergravel filter fed by two Eco Magic bio towers in the corners.  It also comes with Bio Magic:  starter and maintenance bacterial cultures and food source, along with trace minerals.  The third part is Vita Magic which is a mix of botanical extracts and vitamins intended to enhance the slime coat of your fish.  The final stage is the Clean Magic stage and includes a small hang-on-back (HOB) filter that houses a series of products meant to take the nasties out of the water.  As a nice touch it also includes a schedule for when certain maintenance tasks need to be done, and a section for recording the parameters of the tank.  Things like re-seeding the bio culture and minerals or changing the clean magic cartridges are all laid out and having a newcomer record parameters is a great habit to get into.  The last part alone can be a great way to help their success and knowledge of the hobby. 

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