Exactly, this is what this hobby is all about. Yes? Experimenting with and learning about aquatic life in ones spare time.
Well, make sure your initial assumptions are correct, and you have done some homework prior, this will help you figure things out much easier with much less time and pain.
So read the good stuff, ask others, think about what types of test might answer that question well, and think about all the potential things you might have over looked.
Regards,
Tom Barr