Showing posts with label aquarium design. Show all posts
Showing posts with label aquarium design. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

JW Pet Company 12-Inch Anchorstone Sand Airstone Aquarium Accessory

JW Pet Company 12-Inch Anchorstone Sand Airstone Aquarium AccessoryThis is my setup: 55 gallon tank, Rena 400 Air Pump, Lok Tite 5 Outlet Air Control Valve, Undergravel Filter with 4 upright tubes. My Air pump has two outlets and both of those are connected to the Air Control Valve. 4 of the outlets from the Air Control Valve run the air stones in the undergravel filter and the fifth outlet runs this 12" air stone.

It does exactly what I wanted it to do. It has a nice curtain of bubbles along the center of the back of my tank. I don't have it buried in the gravel because it is already hidden by rock and driftwood, and it is heavy enough to stay on the bottom. Between this air stone and the air stones in the undergravel filter, a really good surface current is created. That circulates the water from back to front along the surface and down the front of the tank. My danios love swimming against the flow.

Originally, I had this stone as one of two air stones off the same airline DON'T do that. You will be disappointed with the bubbles from both stones. If you do have more than one stone, be sure to have an air pump that can handle it and a multi-valve air controller so you can control the amount of air through the stone.

I like that it sinks to the bottom and stays there with the air on. Only half of the line produces steady bubbles though. I need to buy another two to complete the bubble wall along the back of the aquarium.

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Bubbles, bubbles everywhere. These worked perfectly, sending bubbles up the entire length of the airstone! They also stayed put on the bottom. Good deal!

Read Best Reviews of JW Pet Company 12-Inch Anchorstone Sand Airstone Aquarium Accessory Here

This airstone worked okay for approximately 2-3 weeks. Now there are whole sections where no bubbles come out at all and bubbles have started coming out at both ends disappointed to say the least.

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half of the stone doesnt put out bubbles. waste of money. my broken one works better! oh well you get what you pay for.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Aqua Ultraviolet Advantage 2000+ Transformer, Black, 15 Watt

Aqua Ultraviolet Advantage 2000+ Transformer, Black, 15 WattI had the lower-power version of this sterilizer ("Advantage 2000"; a 7w unit) for several years before the bulb finally died. My local aquarium store mistakenly sold me the higher power Advantage 2000+ 15w bulb. A call to Aqua indicated that I could not reliably run the 15w bulb from the 7w transformer (I supposed as much), so I ordered the 15w transformer to match the new bulb and it works just great. I have a 150 gal aquarium and although the 7w bulb did keep the algae at bay, I figured the 15watter should do a little better; it certainly took me from opaque green to crystal clear water in about a week.

Thursday, September 4, 2014

Fluval Magnetic Impeller w/Curved Fan Blades, (Original 404 series)

Fluval Magnetic Impeller w/Curved Fan Blades,Part came in quickly as described! Using this and another part I was able to take a "free" fluval 404 which was given to me and fix with these parts for less than 20 dollars. So thank you to this seller for taking the time to list these parts on Amazon!

This was the exact fit! It was easy to install and is working great. The fish are very happy! Thanks!

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Thursday, August 14, 2014

Cruise Ship Stern - CRUISE SHIP BOW - MEDIUM

Cruise Ship Stern - CRUISE SHIP BOW - MEDIUMI am a Titanic person. I have loved the Titanic WAY before the movie in 97. Anyway. I found this on here and knew I had to have it for my tank. I am very happy with the quality and detail.

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Sunday, August 10, 2014

Tetra Whisper EX Filter

Tetra 26313 Whisper EX 70 Filter, 45-70-GallonI have 7 tanks set up all with power filters. Half of my power filter is tetra EX. They have been in this line of business for a long time and have been known to be reliable and trust worthy.

Power filter that hang at the back of the tank are design for aquarium of 5 to 80 gallons. For tanks of 10 to 55 gallon I definitely would say power filter is the best type of filter for them. You should get a power filter that is rated twice the size of your tank and may be even up to 3 times if you have a lot of "living things" in your tank. So the EX 30 is perfect for 10 gallon tanks and reasonable for 20 gallon tanks.

Power filter performs three filtration functions, mechanical, chemical and biological filtration. Each type of power filter has its advantage and disadvantages and none is perfect for all three functions. The EX is good in mechanical and chemical filtration and is great for biological filtration. The chemical filtration is great if you use bio bag and added more chemicals inside the bag instead of using the sealed cartridge. The sealed cartridge is more expensive but easier to handle. The bio bag is more time consuming to use but you can add more and different types of chemicals and I think the mechanical filtrations is also better. (The carbon that comes with the bio bag is the same amount as in the seal cartridge and you should add a lot more chemicals to the bio bag and I like the Ammo-Carbon) Another advantage of the bio bag is if you need to remove the carbon for some medication you can just empty the chemical out of the bag and keep the bag for mechanical filtration. If you use the sealed cartridge you have to remove the whole cartridge and lost the mechanical filtration (or replace it with an empty bio bag).

The noise level of the EX is better than most other power filters. The best power filter especially in mechanical filtrations is Aqua Clear. Unfortunately Aqua Clear has one big disadvantage. It will not restart by itself after a power failure. You need a UPS (uninterrupted power supply used by computer system) to make sure if you lost power for a short period of time the Aqua Clear stays working. If you do not have an UPS using Aqua Clear is a big risk and if there is a power failure and you are away for a few days you may lost your whole tank.

I bought 4 other power filters before this one. They either failed within a year and/or were loud and not doing a good job of cleaning the tank. I finally came across this one and it's a keeper. It's really quiet, does a thorough job of filtering the water and keeping it clear, especially if I replace the filter regularly. I use this for an aquatic turtle tank and they are difficult to keep clean but this pump does the job. I used to have to buy a new power filter every 9 or 12 months due to failure but I've had the Whisper EX30 for 2 years now and it's still going strong and still quiet !

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I have 7 tanks set up all with power filters. Half of my power filter is tetra EX. They have been in this line of business for a long time and have been known to be reliable and trust worthy. Power filter that hang at the back of the tank are design for aquarium of 5 to 80 gallons. For tanks of 10 to 55 gallon I definitely would say power filter is the best type of filter for them. You should get a power filter that is rated twice the size of your tank and may be even up to 3 times if you have a lot of "living things" in your tank. So the EX 70 is perfect for 29 gallon tanks and reasonable for 48 gallon tanks. This filter uses 2 cartridges and there are some advantages for using 2. You can clean or replace one at a time and you still have the other one working for you.

Power filter performs three filtration functions, mechanical, chemical and biological filtration. Each type of power filter has its advantage and disadvantages and none is perfect for all three functions. The EX is good in mechanical and chemical filtration and is great for biological filtration. The chemical filtration is great if you use bio bag and added more chemicals inside the bag instead of using the sealed cartridge. The sealed cartridge is more expensive but easier to handle. The bio bag is more time consuming to use but you can add more and different types of chemicals and I think the mechanical filtrations is also better. (The carbon that comes with the bio bag is the same amount as in the seal cartridge and you should add a lot more chemicals to the bio bag and I like the Ammo-Carbon) Another advantage of the bio bag is if you need to remove the carbon for some medication you can just empty the chemical out of the bag and keep the bag for mechanical filtration. If you use the sealed cartridge you have to remove the whole cartridge and lost the mechanical filtration (or replace it with an empty bio bag).

The noise level of the EX is better than most other power filters. The best power filter especially in mechanical filtrations is Aqua Clear. Unfortunately Aqua Clear has one big disadvantage. It will not restart by itself after a power failure. You need a UPS (uninterrupted power supply used by computer system) to make sure if you lost power for a short period of time the Aqua Clear stays working. If you do not have an UPS using Aqua Clear is a big risk and if there is a power failure and you are away for a few days you may lost your whole tank.

Read Best Reviews of Tetra Whisper EX Filter Here

The filter is very quiet and easy to set up the fish tank water was clear the next day.

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I needed a filter system for my aquatic turtles, however knowing this filter is for fish.... I knew this would make the water exceptionally clean... I used to own this filter, cause the old one malfunctioned ! If you need a quiet water filter, buy this one! And it has a tracker to tell you when to Change the filter pad! You must fill the water up to the water line on filter to make it work.....

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Wednesday, August 6, 2014

KONG Easy Freeze Chicken Soup Refills Frozen Dog Treats, 4-Refills

KONG Easy Freeze Chicken Soup Refills Frozen Dog Treats, 4-RefillsEasy to make.. just add water then freeze. They do get a little stuck but with some persistence they'll come out of the tray. Our adult dog and puppy both love them especially when its hot out.

My Pit pup is teething, I came across these and they were a huge hit. I didn't purchase the kong trays for them, instead I made a normal 12 cube tray up and stick either natural chew sticks or bully sticks in them and freeze for a pup-sicle!

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I bought this along with the easy freeze ice cube trays for my two dogs. My vet put my lab on a diet so I have been looking for low calories treats to feed him for his evening snack. Each packet is only 30 calories and will fill one easy freeze ice cube tray (six large ice cubes for the extra large size). One packet will also fill my labs kongxl and my terriers Kong medium. They love it and make sure they lick their Kong's clean without getting bored with it. Overall a great snack!

Read Best Reviews of KONG Easy Freeze Chicken Soup Refills Frozen Dog Treats, 4-Refills Here

Saturday, May 3, 2014

Aquatop IPF-305 Aquarium Internal Filter

Aquatop IPF-305 Aquarium Internal FilterI ordered these filters to assist during my weekly cleaning of a turtle tank. My canister filter does a great job of keeping the water clear but during water changes and filter maintainence, the water becomes really cloudy and dirty when all the dirt and grime that settles on the rocks and sand is stirred around.

These filters are incredible! Firstly, they come with various adapters that make them useful in many aquarium situations AND the flow rate is adjustable. Secondly, and most importantly, they work great. I replaced the filter media supplied by Aquatop with a slightly more dense sponge material (the sponge included with the filter is too porous in my opinion) and they work perfectly. I could not believe that my turtle tank was crystal clear within 30 minutes of a water change. Usually, it takes 2-3 hours with my having to stir the water repeatedly so sediment can be suspended in the water and flow through the canister filter.

Needless to say I ordered 2 more of these, just to keep around. Excellent filter with excellent flow.

Poor quality. I know why it is 20 dollars and has only one review. The power was weak. Didn't stand up to my 40 gallons, even though it says up to 100

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My husband was looking at an additional Filter for his 60 Gallon tank but was trying to avoid a canister just yet.

Currently he has 2 Marineland filters and Emperor 400 and a Penguin 350. So he could not get another Hang on Tank filter. It it working perfectly and exceeded his expectations the water is crystal clear. It has been in the tank for 2 weeks without any issues.

Read Best Reviews of Aquatop IPF-305 Aquarium Internal Filter Here

Thursday, April 24, 2014

All Glass Aquarium AAG10005 Tank, 5.5-Gallon

All Glass Aquarium AAG10005 Tank, 5.5-GallonAll-Glass makes some of the best aquariums on the market. I spent about a year working at a boutique pet store, and All-Glass produced the best products we sold. In that time, I didn't see a single defective product or hear a single customer complaint about All-Glass. I even bought a complete 45-gallon setup (tank, stand, hood and light) when I established my own aquarium.

Yes, All-Glass aquariums cost a bit more than the acrylic tanks you can pick up at Petsmart, but it's worth it. For one thing, glass won't scratch like acrylic will. If you think algae looks bad, wait until your acrylic tank has accumulated a few years of nicks and scratches. The stands are also a bit pricey, but they're sturdy, level and attractive. Keep in mind that fresh water weighs around 7 lbs per gallon (salt water ranges around 10 lbs, depending on salinity), which doesn't even include hardware and gravel. Even a freshwater 5.5 gallon aquarium will weigh over 40 pounds and a 20 gallon tank can weigh anywhere from 150-200 lbs. A sturdy, level stand is an important part of buying an aquarium.

Glass isn't for everyone. It's very dangerous if it gets broken, which is always possible with young kids around. But if you have children old enough to be respectful around their pets, this 5.5 gallon aquarium is a great way to start. It's also an excellent option if you don't have much room/budget, or you're setting up a quarantine tank for your main aquarium. Either way, I highly recommend any All-Glass products.

Please do your research. You can get a tank like this at Petsmart (made of GLASS) for no more than $20, probably less. And with a tank so small, you really shouldn't be that concerned with getting a super high quality/expensive tank. Maybe if you are getting a 55 gallon you should be more concerned. Acrylic and glass have their advantages/disadvantages, and Petsmart actually doesn't carry very many acrylic tanks.

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Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Suction Cups for Airline Tubing - 4 pk

Suction Cups for Airline Tubing - 4 pkThese are excellent suction cups that actually stay in place. I've been keeping fish for over 35 years and find most hobbyists, myself included spend far to much time concerned with the big expenses that come with the territory. Recently I've been switching my tanks over to acrylic and for the most part I order a black back piece as it really makes your fish, flora and corals pop.

I've replaced all my filter intakes and out takes with black and use black airline hose these suction cups are perfect for hiding hose, electrical wires that run your LED air wands and stones and so much more. The also keep tubing and wires organized on the back or sides of the tank.

Regardless of "style" these little essentials can help makee a huge difference in the look of most any set up. At the give away price here on Amazon and with Free Two day shipping with a Prime membership it makes sense to stock up.

Great suction, easy to reposition during tank cleanings, dark color is discrete and doesn't detract from the focus of the tank: the fish, the plants, and the decoration.

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I've been using this combination of suction cups with the airline tubing for several months now and haven't had any problems. The airline tubing hides well and the suction cups keep them secured on the back wall of my tank.

Read Best Reviews of Suction Cups for Airline Tubing - 4 pk Here

I would probably get a larger size so I could work with them easier. But they do have a lot of suction just try and pry

them off! Good idea for airline tubing, just make sure you put them in the right place the first time!

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fits my needs, but have to be reattached frequently. i didn't have much choice or selection, so i deal with it

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Saturday, January 11, 2014

biOrb Life Aquarium

biOrb Life 60 Aquarium, 16 Gallons, Piano BlackI bought two biorb aquariums, the Life 60 (16 gallon) and the Life 30 (8 gallon) 4 months ago and haven't had any problems (both are a freshwater setup). They look sharp and everyone notices them right away when they come over. The tanks come with ceramic media, filter, air pump w/ one way valve, air stone, and LED lighting. The amount of ceramic media that came with my tanks seemed low so I purchased more. If you are an experienced aquarists you should have no problems keeping fish in these tanks. I would consider both my tanks to be over stocked and in 4 months still have not lost a single fish. I have found replacement filters and air stones at all my local pet supply stores. The supplied air pumps have big rubber feet and don't make much noise. The LED lighting is amazing and gives you half a dozen setup options. I use the 14 hour day setting, it gives you 12 hours of full day light with an hour sunrise transition and hour sunset transition then 10 hours of moonlight. The top of the tank has two small holes, one is for feeding and I also use it when obtaining water sample with a pipette, the other is a small notch at the back that I use to pass the power cable for my heater and the cable for my digital thermometer through.

UPDATE (1 Year): Just wanted to quickly update my experience with these tanks. It has been a year since I bought them and my fish are healthy and still no loses. I am still using the supplied air pumps with out any noise problems. If you are careful you shouldn't have to worry about scratching the acrylic, my tanks still look as good as the day I bought them. Only drawbacks are the small feeding holes and you can only get one hand/arm through the top of the tanks when setting up and cleaning, this can make it difficult when trying to reach the bottom of the 16 gallon tank because of how tall it is.

I have had this this fish-tank (the 8gal Bio Life) for a few weeks now.

I added the ceramic media, and conditioned the water with Stress Coat and Stress Zyme, Installed the filter which was a breeze! and let it run without fish for over a week so the tank could settle.

I also made sure that the temperature was stable for the fish that I wanted to keep. I live in Jamaica, where it is mostly warm, but we have a air-conditioner in the living room where the tank is so it can get a bit cooler than normal.

All other water parameters were good, meaning Ammonia, PH, Nitrate, and Nitrite Levels were all good.

Now it was time to add the fish, Not to overload the tank, I am starting out with a group of 4 Neon Tetras (I will add 4 more in a month to make it a school). I know they are not the recommended starter fish for a New Tank, but I thought I would give it go seeing that all tested conditions were good.

I have to say I was a bit worried at first with all the information on the Net saying how hard Tetras were, and that you definitely need a heater etc. etc., I has been over a week, and I am glad to say that my fish seem very happy, and tank is doing fine! and without a heater. I even grew some brine shrimp to give them a treat, and they ate them readily!

I really love this tank it is not only beautiful to look at, it is so convenient in every way! Here are my Likes and Dislikes:

Likes:

Beautiful A Work of Art

Convenient Adequate Filter System So Far

Convenient Feeding Hole.

LED Lighting to mimic real light situations and saves energy.

It's Acrylic which is stronger than glass! Also, not many people realize, but Acrylic does not Conduct the Outside Temperature to the Water inside the tank very readily because Acrylic is a poor heat/cold conductor. So it keeps your water at a more stable temperature than a glass one. (see for yourself, place ice inside a glass, and place some in a plastic cup which one can you feel more cold on the outside? The Glass of course.

Comes Complete with almost everything that you will need to start (You will still need a Net, a fish tank water changer/cleaner, and more fish food and water conditioners, and replacement media)

Note: To save on buying replacement filters, buy just one more Replacement Bio-filter, and some Bulk Activated Carbon Pellets, and Some Diamond Blend or other Ammonia Removing Product. So when you need to change the filter you can, rinse the sponge filter in some of the tank water removed (not to kill the good bacteria), and replace the carbon and ammonia stones with what you bought, and you can vary the amount of each depending on your tank conditions.

Dislikes:

LED Light should have a 24HR Moonlight setting

Could have a diverter air valve inside so that you can connect other air stones, etc, without having to push an air line through the top.

Overall I really like this tank, and thinking of buying the 16gal.

I will followup this review, as I have the tank longer if anything out of the ordinary happens.

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After purchasing the biUbe 9 gallon aquarium for a bedroom (and loving it) here on amazon.com, we decided to get the biOrb Life 60 for our living room. I would say it's an in between tank (better than those little Sponge Bob tanks but not as good as a regular 20 or more gallon tank with optional filtration). The upright design makes it a perfect addition due to limited amount of space. We set it up as a small freshwater tropical tank for some Glofish. It fits nicely in the corner and is the first thing you notice when you walk into the room.

The tank comes with everything you need to set it up. If done correctly, it makes a beautiful aquarium for our small tropical fish. I like the upright design of the tank and the fact that it is flat (as opposed to the biUbe which is round and distorts my fish) so you can see the fish clearly.

Pros:

Nice upright design for those looking to save space and can't fit a long rectangular aquarium.

Comes with everything you need to get started. Directions are clear to follow.

The light is nice and bright just like the fluorescents you see in those nice big tanks.

Cons:

Overpriced. I brought mine on sale, and though I love the look of the tank, I think they are way overpriced.

The air pump that comes with the tank makes a buzzing noise and doesn't last long. I use mine as a spare and purchase a Rena 100.

It's acrylic which maybe stronger than glass, but scratches very easily, so be careful when maintaining.

There is a limited amount and types of fish you can keep in these.

So basically, if you have the room to fit a big tank in your house, than get a bigger cheaper one (the bigger the tank, the easier it is to maintain). But if you are like me and don't have a lot of space and would like to keep a small amount of fish in a designer aquarium, than the biOrb Life is right for you.

UPDATE: After having the tank for a couple of months I wanted to update my experience with this tank. The one complaint I have is the top of the tank. The opening is a bit small which makes it a little hard to do regular maintenance and leaves little room for any added filters and such (the little opening in the light fixture is just big enough to fit the cord from the heater). I added an internal filter for some extra filtration because I like to over filter my tanks, so my light fixture doesn't fit perfectly in the opening due to the extra cord coming out of the tank (no big deal though). Also, because of how deep the tank is, I find siphoning the bottom to be somewhat difficult. This is something I can deal with. Other than that, so far so good.

Read Best Reviews of biOrb Life Aquarium Here

PLEASE DO NOT BUY THIS TANK. Save yourself some grief. We lost so many of our beloved fish in this tank and we're experienced fish keepers.

This review is for the 16 gallon tank but, I'm pretty sure it applies to the other sizes.

Pros:

Great looking tank. That's it.

Cons:

Inadequate filter system

Inadequate lighting system

No additional filters, lighting or feeders in the market that are made specifically for this type of tank

Very difficult to balance the tank due to all of the above

Our experience:

Plants wither and die.

Fish are unhappy and we lost a lot of fish due to difficulty in balancing tank.

We bought a standard tank and transferred the other fish and they are thriving in that tank. The standard tank has been low maintenance and the fish and plants are thriving.

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I bought the 12 gallon BioOrb Tank in Feb from Amazon. After 1 month, the fish tank exploded and the water, rocks, and fish ended up on my living room floor. I have pictures.

Worst tank ever. Don't be fooled by the slick design, that is if you care about your floorboards and furniture.

Friday, January 10, 2014

Oval Bed/Posh Plaid

Oval Bed/Posh PlaidWe wonder why anyone buys any other dog bed than those made by FurHaven! We have had one of these for three years different fabric) and just bought another for our second home. We have tried others but our dog likes these best and we like the fact that your can wash EVERY part of it!

The bed appears to be well made. My Shih Tzu prefers the synthetic Sherpa surface to sleep on so that is one reason I chose this bed. It has also withstood my Frenchie puppy digging around in it, chewing, and throwing it around. The size medium is roomy for the Shih Tzu and may still fit the Frenchie when she is full grown. I haven't washed it, yet. The cover zips off of the bed for washing, however, the cover does not zip off of the pillow that sits inside the bed. The wording in the description reads "Zippered, removable covers" so I assumed the plural meant that the pillow cover also zipped off. I have a front loading washer so it won't be a problem for me. I was disappointed that the bottom of the bed is just a flimsy fabric with no padding so that all the padding is provided by the pillow insert, but it still seems comfy for the dogs. I would have preferred the corduroy and Sherpa version, but it was more expensive, the shipping was higher and it was sold out in all but one color. If I am going to pay more, it should at least come in a color that I like. If the bed does not hold up through the wash, I will be submitting an addendum.

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Monday, October 28, 2013

Petco Newport 20 Gallon Wooden Tank Stand

Petco Newport 20 Gallon Wooden Tank StandFor this price it is alright. Assembly was easy, but it's a little wobbly. Once you put the fish tank on and fill that up it is a little bit sturdier, but still has some movement. (not enough to where you think the tank will topple over, just a tiny sway if you push on it) For this price I'd say it is a winner!

This stand is everything I could have hoped for, it looks great, very stable, and cheap :D.

I only gave it a 4 though because it does scratch easily.

>Also putting this stand together was a massive headache. If one of those plastic nuts isn't properly aligned you'll have a hell of a time with a flashlight trying to figure out why the nut and "bolt" isn't sitting right.

>Can be a bit wobbly if not set up on even ground

Overall though, this tank really pulled together my 15 gallon freshwater display wonderfully!

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Friday, October 18, 2013

Hagen Marina Pearlscaper Red Ludwigia Plant, White, 12-Inch

Hagen Marina Pearlscaper Red Ludwigia Plant, White, 12-InchNice neutral color to contract with bright colors. No sharp edges from when it was molded. Not a bad price, amazon gives you a good selection of aquarium decor that you might not find at your local shop. Hagen is a good trusted brand.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

R2 Fish School Complete Fish Training Kit

R2 Fish School Complete Fish Training KitGot the training kit and think it is pure genius. I have been in the professional animal training world for 35 years. I specialized in elephants and exotic animals . I learned operant conditioning at an early stage in my career and was able to use this knowledge to improve my understanding of training theories and applications in training for more humane results.

I agree with the other reviews that this kit is complete and was put together with real some real indepth thought behind it. The DVD is so easy to follow and the pieces almost self explainatory in the way they snap together.

This kit is super for parents just wanting to interact with their children. The kit would be wonderful also for teachers wanting an in classroom project. A Shrine Hospital treating kids or a day care could easily have a mascot for the children and teach the fish for fun as well as entertainment.

Where I see the real value in the R2 Fish School trainig kit is teaching adults though. I know many adults would think they are beyond a fish training kit .In my years of teaching and consulting on behavioral modification in the Zoo world I could have definately used this kit to expand peoples understanding of operant conditioning and learning theory. There seems to be a new wave of people involved in what is known as clicker training . There are some trainers even holding seminars to share these techniques. One noted expert has newcomers to the field of operant conditioniong train chickens so the students can learn the theory and application hands on in a class room. The fish could replace the chicken and is easier to house, clean and care for in many enviorments than are chickens.I know you can get more reinforcements into a chicken but each of these animals has its individual benifits to training it. Training this little fish demonstrates most of all that animals can and wil learn with out physical coercion. No bridle or bit, no choke chain or leash . Just you your intelect and the use of positive reinforcements to accomplish a wide range behaviors you never thought a fish could do.

If you want a fun productive, interactive, and worthwhile training tool this is it.It is not just for kids.

You clicker trainers out their interested in this R2 fish kit may take note. This kit does not have a clicker included .Those of you who would want to use this to teach adults could use a slight single tap on the side of the glass when pressenting a food reinforcement . This taping noise association quickly would replace the clicker as a secondary reinforcer or bridging stimulus.

Do not be surprised if you see this in the Sea World gift shops soon.

"Army" Maguire

Got mine Friday....already trained my Betta to swim through the hoop....Tunnel trick next. The DVD and manual are really easy to understand. The DVD is actually very entertaining....I'm sure my Betta won't be as successful as Comet but we'll give it a shot! The parts are very well made and well engineered. I recommend this product to any fish lover...its also great for kids educational & fun. My son can't wait to participate in our nightly training sessions!

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R2 Fish School

I purchased the R2 Fish School to explore the possibility of Animal Assisted Therapy. With the advancement of microcontrollers and sensors it'll be possible to setup a tank that is interactive and gives feedback.

I've gone through a two year program that teaches you how to train your own assistance dog. Shane and I graduated four years ago and I use operant conditioning to improve upon current skills or teach new ones that we need.

I think the greatest benefit of the R2 Fish School kit is that it removes barriers of learning positive reinforcement that happens when you try to train a dog.

* Even though 90% of our dog's communication is through body language, we assume they understand full sentences, and get frustrated when they don't. We don't expect that with fish.

* We expect that dogs have the same learning curve as us, and get frustrated that it's ten times greater or that they'll chain together behaviors quicker. We don't expect that of fish.

* It's easy to get physical with the dog to put him in the right position. Can't do that with fish.

* The hardest thing for people to grasp about operant conditioning is that the animal is the operator, you are the vending machine. When the animal deposits the right change (behavior), you dispense the treat. You're forced to do that with fish.

If you want to become a better dog trainer, fish will help you get the techniques of operant conditioning faster. In my mind the cost of starting for scratch with a brand new tank, fish and R2 Fish School will save you a lot of frustration.

As other reviewers have pointed out there is a lot of value in the R2 Fish kit.

* 45 minute DVD that shows you the training techniques. Father and son Dean and Kyle Pmerleau developed the kit and Dean leads you through the process of using the kit and training the behaviors. Kyle provides comic relief to breakup the segments.

* 32 page booklet on how to use and assemble the equipment.

* Large Fish School Platform with holes to plug in the equipment

* Compact Weighted base

* Feeding Wand

* Feeding Wand extension

* Five 4.5 inch post

* One 6.5 inch post

* Two 5 inch Uprights with holes to create a goal post or limbo bar

* Cross bar for the upright post

* Expansion hoop connector & tubing so that you can create a variable size hoop for your fish to swim through

* 3 inch sheet of plastic to construct a tunnel

* 5 inch sheet of plastic to construct a tunnel

* Tunnel mount

* Two 1.5 inch tunnel straps

* Two 2.5 inch tunnel straps

* Retrieval & placement tool with a hook

* Retrieval & placement tool with a net

* Three different size soccer balls for your fish to push into the goal

* Soccer goal

* Soccer Goal Post Clips to help guide the ball into the net

* Football designed so that your fish can pick it up.

* Three different size fetch rings for your fish to retrieve

* Slalom Adapter

* Basketball that floats on the surface so that your fish can make a basket

* Basketball hoop with suction cup so that the hoop can be placed near the surface for the basket ball.

A lot of thought went into this kit. An example is the goal post clips that guide the soccer ball into the net. Without them the soccer ball could become trapped between the goal post and the training platform walls. It's important that you plan your training session so that the animal doesn't get frustrated. The goal post clips are an example of this technique.

I had known for a few years that it was possible to train fish, but had never taken the time to do it. Dean & Kyle took the time and a lot of thought and care went into the design of this kit. Operant conditioning isn't a way to control your pet, but a way of communicating.

My assistance dog Shane was considered un-adoptable by both the humane society and the Labrador rescue group. Everyone who adopted him found him to be too wild and demanding. But he passed his temperament test for the assistance dog school, he was given to me by the Labrador rescue foundation and I was told I couldn't give him back.

Operant conditioning saved his life and improved mine. I know from experience that if I had this kit back then it would have helped me get the training techniques faster.

Read Best Reviews of R2 Fish School Complete Fish Training Kit Here

I just received my R2 Fish School Training Kit and I just LOVE it! These folks have thought of *everything* retrieval tools, feeding wand, various hoops and tunnels and fetch rings too! The items are all made with really nice sturdy quality. I think this is a really nice set up for those of us learning to train a fish. Thank you, R2 Fish School!

Helix Fairweather Clicker Expo Faculty, Karen Pryor Academy Faculty

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I was given a goldfish from the fair a few months ago, and decided to try out the kit. It is amazing how quickly he learned and actually being able to interact with a fish. This kit got me so impassioned about the little guy that he now has a huge well maintained pen, four tank mates, and a much more engaged and responsible fish owner. All four of the goldfish (one is a black moor) do tricks now and through teaching the tricks I have learned about each of their "personalities". I am leaving the community tank behind for college, but I may buy a cichlid or bring one of the fantails with so I can have a real college pet and because the trained fish really are a hit with my friends.

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Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Pond Fish Net - 14" Diameter/33"-60" Telescopic Handle

Pond Fish Net - 14' Diameter/33'-60' Telescopic HandlePerfect for my 1/4 acre natural pond. Scoops up algea and debris much better than the flatter type. Handle is sturdy and the extensions lock into position; and the net is supported with a strong frame. I don't scoop up the fish with it but it would certainly do the job.

Love it.

Got this for my annual fall leaf cleanout, and it worked fine. Kept me off my hands and knees digging in the pond to get the leaves out.

Pros:

Telecoping handle so it doesn't take up too much space

Soft exterior on net (not sharp metal or tough) so I'm not worried about puncturing my pond liner

Cons:

It does feel flimsy. I'm not sure how this will hold up to a couple years of use, or if I were picking up things heavier than a leaf.

Buy Pond Fish Net - 14" Diameter/33"-60" Telescopic Handle Now

Purchased two for twin grandsons...we have a small pond (frogs etc.)...used butterfly nets to catch frogs but nets didn't last long. These "Pond Nets" are excellent...durable, sturdy, light and the telesoping handle is "super". We have some good size "bull-frogs" and no problem picking them out of the water...handles don't bend either. I think I'm gonna get another one for me.

Read Best Reviews of Pond Fish Net - 14" Diameter/33"-60" Telescopic Handle Here

This is poorly made. The net came apart at the pole within a month after I purchased. I recommend you look for another product.

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We use this net to clean leaves out of our fountain. It is well made and the perfect size for our needs. Thank you Amazon!

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Nylabone Healthy Living Puppy Chicken Chews with Calcium

Nylabone Healthy Living Puppy Chicken Chews with Calcium, 24-Count PouchMy dog has eaten these since he was a puppy and almost a year later loves these treats. We cut them into tinier pieces and they make good training treats.