Showing posts with label aquarium fish prices. Show all posts
Showing posts with label aquarium fish prices. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

New Life Spectrum Large Fish Formula - 2270 g

New Life Spectrum Large Fish Formula - 2270 gIn my opinion, this is the best food on the market for African Cichlid fish and can be used with some New World Cichlids as well. It promotes healthy fish and good color. I feed it to all the African Cichlids that I sell through my web site: The small pellet size of this food can feed any African Cichlid ranging from 1" to 15". It comes in several size containers. I use this size because I carry 800 to 1000 Cichlids and I need the large size to feed them. It also is less expensive to buy in the large size, per ounce. The supplier I bought this food from on Amazon is very good, has a great price, and ships the food quickly. One word of caution with this food. Feed it lightly, especially to Peacocks. It has a fairly high meat protein content and too much can cause bloat.

Does not stay afloat as long as I wanted it to and the pellet size is smaller than I though, but my cichlids loves them. I hope there are larger size, like 6-12mm due to the size of my fishes.

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My fish are so energetic since I began using this fish food! I do recommend it. My African Cichlids are happy!

Read Best Reviews of New Life Spectrum Large Fish Formula - 2270 g Here

My Malawi Cichlids love it, BUT it nothing like the Cichlid formula. I called New Life before I bought this and they said it is the same ingredients as the Cichlid formula. Well after I used it the first time I knew that I was not going to like it. I have a 125 gallon tank and was shocked to see how the small amount of food (3mm) that I gave to the fish turned into this "orange cloud" that moved across the tank. They ate all of the food before it hit the gravel. It is very messy. I have to give a very small feeding with the (3mm)and finish with the (1mm). I found that I need to clean my wet/dry much more often. I also found that I have to do a larger water change to get back to clear water. The clean up hassle is not worth the larger food size and will go back to the (1mm Cichlid Formula) when I finish this 5lb bucket.

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Fast shipping and unbeatable price. That is important when you have as many fish as I do.

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Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Eshopps AEO19250 Magnetic Pet Bowl and Probe Holder

Eshopps AEO19250 Magnetic Pet Bowl and Probe HolderI got it in a timely manner but one of the magnets was broken (the casing) a little upset I decided to just super glue it back together and forget about it. As I was installing it into my Refugium the other magnet broke in the same way as the first, just fell apart. So now I had to stop what I was doing and fish out the plastic piece and glue it back together.

I purchased this probe holder to use with a pH, ORP, and temperature probe and this setup was worked well. Good quality and magnets were strong enough for 1/2" glass. This setup is better than suction cups that eventually fall off and loosen up over time.

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I too had the same experience of it breaking while attached on the sump, the line holder side of the magnet just desinigrated and the small metal fragments fell into the sump water. I took pictures to share with MFG but no return calls or emails to show them the problem. You are lucky yours broke and you knew it mine broke and didn't know it until the damage was done to my tank.

Read Best Reviews of Eshopps AEO19250 Magnetic Pet Bowl and Probe Holder Here

Monday, October 6, 2014

Petco Strawberry Red Aquarium Gravel, 20 lbs.

Petco Strawberry Red Aquarium Gravel, 20 lbs.This aquarium gravel is a great value. The price per pound is very competitive and the color is vibrant. My only complaint is that there have been a few stones where the color has chipped off (the tank has been established for less than 2 months).

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Monday, September 29, 2014

Marina 15 Watt Clear Showcase Bulb, 2-Pack

Marina 15 Watt Clear Showcase Bulb, 2-PackThese lights work well and are just bright enough for my small 12 gallon aquarium. They put off a little heat, but it is the perfect amount for my fish.

Its hard to find these in a two pack. They are much cheaper this way. Most aquariums have two bulb sockets, so they should all be sold in two packs.

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The package arrived promptly and the light bulbs did not break in the mail. The are not as bright as the bulb I am replacing.

Read Best Reviews of Marina 15 Watt Clear Showcase Bulb, 2-Pack Here

These 2 light bulbs only lasted 5 to 6 weeks in our aquarium.

The vibration during shipping may have shortened the anticipated life of them.

I recently noticed that my local pet store had these bulbs for $2 ea sold individually which is +/40% less than I paid here.

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turned it on and it seemed yellow, not white/clear as i had thought it would be. however, cost is low and it worked.

Friday, September 12, 2014

Hydor 25W Submersible Aquarium Heater - Original Theo

Hydor 25W Submersible Aquarium Heater - Original TheoI was only hesitant to purchase this because I needed to use it for a ten gallon tank (It's designed for a 7gal) and this was the most affordable option. I urge you to not be anxious yourself, however, as this heater is splendid. It looks reasonably nice and will heat your water (even in a ten-gallon tank); what more can I say? If you need an aquarium heater and have a 10gal, don't sweat it. Just buy it.

Also, it's worth mentioning that the heater doesn't look exactly like the one in the main picture. It's shorter and fatter (proportionately at least...) than pictured. This isn't a bad thing. Just don't freak out, because you ARE getting what you ordered.

This is a nice choice for a tank that holds up to 7 gallons. It's totally submersible, ACCURATE, has a very effective thermostat, and is fairly unobtrusive. One feature I like is that its light glows while the water is heating and shuts off once the correct temperature has been reached. It's a good fit for a tank such as the Eclipse 3, especially if you want to house a betta (it also works well in an Eclipse 6); the Theo allows me to acclimate new fish at 86º for a week or so to rid them of any ich they might be harboring, after which it's easy to gradually reduce the temperature to my (and their) preferred 82º.

I also use Marineland Stealths, which I like because they're plastic but frankly, it bears mentioning that Marineland's "lifetime guarantee" carries an Orwellian caveat, i.e., some Stealths are more guaranteed than others. Rather than providing mail-in product registration to activate the warranty, you're expected to hang on to your receipt...well...for a lifetime (yeah, right). In addition, if they don't like the vendor, e.g., you bought it brand new and sealed but from an eBay or Amazon seller, you can kiss your hopes of replacement for a defective unit goodbye (they claim this is due to widespread fraud and people trying to obtain replacements for units found in the trash, but why were so many units trashed if they work forever, and who are these dementos who make a career of scavenging for them? Liver-lipped Finnish Ugly Boy trolls?). Marineland (actually, Aquarium Systems; they manufacture the item in Italy), after much coaxing, replaced a brand-new dead unit for me, but it's only carrying a 90-day warranty; this is because I bought it on eBay and I received an e-slap to the effect that NONE of my other Internet purchases would be covered. On this basis, my suggestion is to boycott Stealths (unless you want to pay list at a pet store) and go with a Theo. They're also manufactured in Italy, they do a great job, and I suspect they're nicer about warranty issues.

Buy Hydor 25W Submersible Aquarium Heater - Original Theo Now

I bought a Marineland 10W heaters for my 2.5 gallon tank, but found that it overheated the water way too much. That heater may have a sensor that tells it when the water temp is too cold, but it does not shut off when the water temp skyrockets above 78 degrees Fahrenheit.

This heater, on the other hand, while larger and more obtrusive, does a much better job in regulating water temperature. I never have to worry about finding my tank temps in the high 80s the way I did with the other heater. Also, the fact that it has a regulator dial is a huge plus. While the dial calibration may be off by a degree or two, it does work. You turn it up, the water temp goes up (but not too high). Also, the little indicator light is a nice way of checking that the heater is on and working.

Even for small tanks, I would skip the unregulated 7.5W and 10W heaters and go with this one.

Read Best Reviews of Hydor 25W Submersible Aquarium Heater - Original Theo Here

I have owned two Hydor Theo 25W heaters. The first I used in a 2.5gal aquarium with betta for 5 months, and it worked great. I got rid of the 2.5 gal tank for a 5.5gal tank, and the heater worked for only a few more months. At first, the temperature was 2 degrees higher then what I set it to. Soon, it was 4 degrees higher. Finally, it consistently kept it at over 8 degrees higher, and at this point the LED/heater never shut off. Soon it stopped heating altogether. I bought a second one which malfunctioned within three months of use in the 5.5 gal tank. My betta got developed severe fin rot from the inconsistent temperature.

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I purchased this for an Eclipse Hex 5 tank and it works perfectly. Heater is very accurate I have it set at 78 degrees, and my thermometer verifies that the water is actually 78 degrees. There is an orange light inside the glass tube near the top that glows to let you know the heater is on, and when the water reaches the set temperature the light turns off to indicate that the heater is off. The heater is very high quality and feels very durable. The package also includes two suction cup mounts.

Like a previous commenter noted, the actual heater is shorter / stubbier than the one pictured. It worked out great for me since the Hex 5 tank isn't that tall.

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Wednesday, August 6, 2014

JW Pet Company Aquarium Acrylic Scrubbing Pad

JW Pet Company Aquarium Acrylic Scrubbing PadA long time hobbyist of 35+ years it seems the battle against Algae is one that will rage on indefinitely. This scrubber is excellent. Thick and coarse spun nylon makes removal of both green and brown algae as effortless as it can be. The scrubber is perfect for the sides and bottom and equally effective in edges for corners and those hard to reach places.

Acrylic tanks are gorgeous but as you already know they scratch easily I've never had a problem using these, just always make sure to never use the pad on dry acrylic above the water line.

A few of my tanks get indirect sunlight so for those it's a weekly effort and I keep lots of these and the smaller single pads on hand, It's important especially if you keep a variety of different species in separate aquariums to avoid cross contamination and the Lee's line of scrubbers for both glass and acrylic are affordable enough for each tank to have a dedicated set.

Cross contamination has long been linked to toxic tank syndrome which can wipe out your tank in 24 hours, so best to have gear that's dedicated to one specific tank.

5 FINS UP!

Monday, July 14, 2014

Microbe-Lift Aquarium Cycling and Water Conditioning Kit - 3 Pieces

Microbe-Lift Aquarium Cycling & Water Conditioning KitUsed this to setup my 10 gallon Betta tank and so far everything is fine.Its a good product that will help your tank cycle which helps keep the water clear and your fish safe and happy!!!!

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Saturday, June 28, 2014

Fluval G3 Advanced Filtration System

Fluval G3 Advanced Filtration SystemLike most of you, I did a lot of research before I choose a filter. I have a saltwater 90 gal tank and has been going for three years. I won't get into what kind of filtration I had, but I needed to clean up the green haze in the water. I was not to fond of canister filters because of all the mess you have to go thru, but the Fluval G3 caught my eye. So, after hours of reading all that was available, AND reading all the reviews, I choose the G3. It arrived in two days and well packaged. I had downloaded the instructions on-line and carefully read them. BUT, the best thing I did was to go on YOU-TUBE and watch three vids on the installation of the filter. Before I started with the installation, I did a complete cleaning of the tank along with the standard water change. It was a mess. This would be a challange for ANY filter to take on this project. OK, here we go. I started at 3 pm and was ready to plug it in at 4:45PM. After reading a few reviews about a few problems with the PUSH BULB, I was a bit nervous, BUT I pushed it in a few times, saw the air bubbles come out the return, and plugged it it. AND ..... WALLA. It worked the first time, and with 100% flow. Impressive. I was going to write this review right away, but thought i'd wait for a few days to see if there were any issues. When I got up in the morning, the tank was CRYSTAL CLEAR. I was impressed. Its been four days now and the screen shows a small dip in the water flow. So, I said what the heck, lets pull the filter and clean it. I shut down the filter, lifted the handle, pulled the filter, cleaned it out, put it back into the G3, closed the handle, pumped the button two or three times, and plugged it back in. PRESTO, its back working again with NO mess. Pretty sharp if you ask me. My tank was a mess when installed the G3, so in the four days its been running, I expected to clean the filter sooner than later. Its going to be interesting to see how far the next will take me. OH YEA -The G3 is way quiet, my computer makes more noise than the filter. Am I happy with my decision??? You bet. Good luck in your quest for your next filter. The G3 has been a fine purchase for me.

I've been in the hobby more than 2 decades, and changing canister filters was always a PIA. No more. This little gem makes it easy easy easy, and DRY with its ingenious engineering. Plus, it offers a lots of add-on filter medium options, with 100% flow through. Add to that the cool built in computer read out that tracks with an easy to read line chart over the days the temp, ec, and flow rate flucuations and! blinks to alert you when the temp or ec falls above or below entered ranges... Well, nothing compares to it. My only regret is that it took so long for a company to finally figure out how to make a really good canister filter.

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There's no doubt this filter clearly stands alone as the best filter on the market. The three complaints I've read are cost, flow rate and the pre-filter clogging after days of operation. The first, we'll it's been several years now since release and the cost has come down considerably and it's now cheaper than an Eheim Pro 3e and IMHO a better filter when you compare the prefilter option of foam vs Fine polishing media. Flow rate, Hagen's responded to this and claims its superior when you actually consider loaded flow rate, not just what a motor can pump. With regards to the filter clogging, think about it. Muck that was in your tank is now in the filter where it should be. On the other now antiquated filters out there maintenance, if they actually were trapping it, would be a pain, on this filter it's a 2 minute swap with a new pre-filter or 5 minute clean and replace if you prefer. I have a 46G Bow front with 4 African jack Dempseys and do find I need to clean the pre-filter every two weeks to maintain 100% flow rate. The flow rate graph is really nice for letting you know when to do maintenance, there's also programmable schedules for each media to help track and each with optional alert.

Easy maintenance is a key feature, but it's also allows you to quickly changes out your chemical filter to meet a specific condition. Algae starting to take foot, grab your phosphate filter and run it for a few days, nitrate to high grab the nitrate filter. Maintain them all with the triflex filter or use the optional replaceable media filter to use the media of your choice.

EC, time will tell but for now I'll take some indicator over the alternative of no indicator.

The lady that had a priming issue... make sure you prime before you plug it in..it makes ALL the difference as stated in the manual. Priming never been a problem for me, only takes two pumps. She either has a defective unit or didn't read the manual.

On the negative side I'm not thrilled with the suction cup intake and output tube fixtures. I have a film backing on my tank which precludes use of the rear suction cups and I don't want to cut it. I actually found reversing the clamp and putting the large plastic piece in the inside of the tank provides a more stable mount considering only one suction cup is used. I'd also prefer the output y-adapter to be a T-adapter if you planned to use the spray attachment. BTW, the filter comes with the nozzles attached to the y-dapter, you simply pull them off and push on the spray bars or you could have one nozzle and one spraybar if you like. You can get an inline alignment but it would work a bit better with a T then a Y. Both of these are really minor complaints, but they're the only negatives I have. I simply love this filter, it's made fish keeping a joy and a bit more fun as well.

Read Best Reviews of Fluval G3 Advanced Filtration System Here

-The G3 is an amazing filter. It is by far the easiest canister to maintain as the cartridges are removed and cleaned w/o even getting your hands wet w/ the brush.

-Dead quiet, and I mean it. You will not even be able to hear it running unless you stick your ear to it.

-LCD screen provides useful information as temp & conductivity, plus reminds you when its time for maintenance.

-Lots of included bio-media (G-nodes)

-Flow is stronger than you think, don't go by just the GPH. I would recommend this filter up to a 55 gallon max. by itself.

-Separate cartridges are sold, such as the Nitrate cartridge which is supposed to help lower and maintain nitrate.

The only thing I will say is that the intake tube isn't that strong, so in terms of picking up waste, it isnt that great by itself. However, an easy solution would be to add a powerhead (I used the aquaclear 50), and it really helps push the waste on the floor into the intake.

Before I purchased the G3, I was comparing/researching numerous amounts of canister filters.

The main problem that seems to be pretty common with many canisters (including some fluval products) is leaking.

The G3 is near impossible to leak, and it is sealed tight.

Just add a powerhead and this will be one the best and high-tech filters you've had.

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I have bought two of these filters, the pump failed on one within six months, and the other is limping along until I can find a replacement. Forget about customer service, it's designed to make you give up trying. The pumps are a nightmare to prime, sometimes it takes more than an hour pushing the priming button and reseting the filter by uplugging it again and again before the "microprocessor controlled" pump decides to work. I have had to disassemble the pump probably more than two dozen times when the filter inexplicably shuts down and a "Check Impeller Rotor" message comes up, and yet nothing appears to be amiss. That's followed by the usual priming nightmare. In fact, getting the filter primed is such an unpleasent experience, you are reluctant to clean it. What fun! Then the delecate plastic "ears" on the mechanical filter snap off without any mishandeling, and it really doesn't keep the water that clean anyway. To all this is added the fact that the GPM is seriously overrated; I am sure it doesn't aproach half of what's advertzed.

The Fluval G3 is a clever concept, very, very poorly executed. Beware! Whay pay twice what other pumps cost for that? I never will again.

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Sunday, May 25, 2014

AquaClear 110 Ammonia Remover Insert - 19.7 Ounces

AquaClear 110 Ammonia Remover Insert - 19.7 OuncesProduct arrived in a timely manor. Cheaper than other pet stores even on sale. I have a 35 gallon hexi tank and this works great!

This ammonia remover was useless, I didn't see any changes plus it made my water cloudy. I prefer the activated carbon over this.

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This is a great product. Be sure to buy the one that looks like little pebbles of sand as it work better than the one with larger pieces and usually comes with the product divided into 2 bags.

Read Best Reviews of AquaClear 110 Ammonia Remover Insert - 19.7 Ounces Here

I really like this filter product, it has worked great for many of years and I hope I can continue to use it for many more.

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Saturday, May 24, 2014

Zoo Med PMC-11 Blue Mechanical Sponge Replacement 3 Pk For 318 TC-20 and 304 MC-10

Zoo Med PMC-11 Blue Mechanical Sponge Replacement 3 Pk For 318 TC-20 and 304 MC-10These sponges would be better if the filter they are designed for also had an encasement for scuttes. They stop absorbing as soon as they come in contact with scuttes. They can be rinsed out during half tank changes though. So I give them a practical and hardy use 3.

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Thursday, May 22, 2014

SeaView Aquarium Background Mounting Solution

SeaView Aquarium Background Mounting SolutionGreat product; It works by locking out air in between the background picture and the aquarium.

I bought this mounting solution to adhere a stunning background River Rock/Sea of Green Reversible Background 24"to my son's new fish tank, a gift for his eighth birthday.

PROS

PRODUCT DELIVERS: Amps the background picture significantly: picture appears more believable, and the colors super bright. I don't think the background would give the same effect by my simply taping the background to the back of the tank.

MARKET MONOPOLY: The only product I know of out there like it

EASY APPLICATION: I expected a gooey, overly-sticky consistency, sort of like wallpaper paste or contact paper adhesive and braced myself for the torture of applying it, but its texture is not sticky at all, really: it's almost like a liquid silicone. I had no problem smearing it on the background and it wasn't so sticky that it stuck together or tried to stick folds of the aquarium background together.

Does not produce the toil and agony that super-sticky contact paper inflicts.

CONS

BEWARE OF THE BUBBLES!: This cost it a star on its rating. While the consistency is not bad, the challenge is fighting those tricky little air bubbles. Unfortunately, I did not see the bubbles until I had the ENTIRE tank filled and installed, complete with decorations, LED spotlights, filter tubes positioned, and a super-cool volcano positioned and installed with suction cups. There needs to be a warning about that somewhere in the product info, like: WARNING: THE BUBBLES ARE NOT VISIBLE UNTIL THE TANK IS LIT.

And I didn't just slap the adhesive on there, either. I carefully applied the gel and I used a squeegee to firmly press all the bubbles out like the directions suggest. It looked great--without the lights on. I filled the tank and put it all together, turned on the LED hood light and bam! a swarm of little black air bubbles appeared.

The bubbles aren't permanent; you can work them out toward the edges. However, it IS tedious and not so easy to work them out, especially when you have to contort yourself around to the back of a filled tank.

Exhausted from putting an entire fish tank together, I worked out the largest bubbles, but left the smaller ones until the next time I change the tank. They kind of give the illusion of little shadows of fish swimming deep in the water anyways, and the bubbles aren't so obvious that they obscure or ruin the view of the background. It is just annoying because I know they are there.

Would I buy this product again? Yeah, it's worth the money. It's the only product out there like it, and made the tank look way more bright, and believable. Cool product.

I have tried this product several times and I always start getting streaks in a couple of days. I have even changed backgrounds and could not keep it smooth. After some research I switched over to an adhesive background

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This product works as advertised so I gave it 3 stars. I'm pretty sure its just mineral oil or something similar. I used mineral oil on a second tank and it performed the job just as well. The mineral oil cost me $4 for a pint which makes this product 16x more expensive.

Read Best Reviews of SeaView Aquarium Background Mounting Solution Here

I was a little skeptical when I received this item, but this stuff is GREAT! I first taped my background to the aquarium to ensure I got the exact size I needed and was bummed that it looked extremely DULL. Once I got the gel applied and the background in place, I was amazed at how brilliant the aquarium looked. I did not find Sea View difficult to apply in the least. It did take a little time to smooth the air bubbles, but with the aquarium light on, it was very easy to see which areas needed work from behind without having to go to the front repeatedly to check where I needed to smooth next. I used a plastic ruler and kept a rag handy to wipe the gel that came out around the edges as I smoothed the background out. I am very satisfied with the end result. I did not have any trouble with the background coming off, but I did follow the instructions and rolled my background the opposite direction it was curling (and left it for a few hours) to ensure it was flat and ready to apply. The gel is odorless and wipes up easily. Would buy again and again =) The picture on the package was exactly what my aquarium looked like before and after.

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If there is a Petco near you check it out first. Their price (at least here in FL) was $4.99. Didn't see this product the first time I went there to look for it, but they had it there yesterday and felt foolish for paying over $8.00 (well, to be fair, that included 2-day UPS shipping).

The product itself was decent; did the job, not overly messy and not overly easy, either (squeezing out bubbles with a ruler and cleaning up ooze from the product around the tank was expected, but took me longer than I had anticipated). My suggestion is to try using mineral (or olive?) oil, as someone previously suggested, first, or some alternative with that type of viscosity.

My tank's background is about 36" x 18" and there was enough to adhere it to my tank, but *very* little left over (one-time use only). If/when I decide to switch out the background, I'll have to buy another tube, but again, I think I'd try a less expensive alternative first and see how that goes.

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Captain Kidd Treasure Aquarium Ornament, Small

Captain Kidd Treasure Aquarium Ornament, SmallThe product fits beautifully in our 10-gallon tank, providing color to an otherwise bleak underwater world.

Wendy Whale, our goldfish, is oblivious to the product, but that is as it should be. Our son, however, loved receiving and then placing the unit in the tank.

My only criteria for the product, that the unit do no harm to the fish, was met completely. Wendy Whale continues to live in good health.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Fish & Aquatic Supplies Floating Lionfish Ornament

Fish & Aquatic Supplies Floating Lionfish Ornamentfins rotating in a filtered aquarium make the fish appear realistic. he moves around the area he is placed in and his movements seem to make my other artificial fish move morereal or not I guess the lion fish is ultimately king of the water! fish is a good buy. get it if you don't want the responsibility and maintenance of a real one, this fish is for you!

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Saturday, May 10, 2014

Instant Ocean-Aquarium Systems AIO0048012 Duetto Suction Cups 3pk

Instant Ocean-Aquarium Systems AIO0048012 Duetto Suction Cups 3pkThe Duetto is an excellent in tank filter, but it's one weakness in my experience is that the suction cups wear out quicker than larger/more robust suction cups. The replacements were shipped quickly and are in place keeping the filter tight against the tank again.

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Thursday, March 13, 2014

PondCare Stress Coat,

Stress Coat Conditioner Size: 64 OunceWorks very well. Was hoping that it would help heal my one koi fish better (slight ammonia burn) but it didnt really help much with that... slime coat on fish seem to be better though. Decent product although I was hoping it would have better healing properties.

I use Stress Coat regularly whenever I add water to my pond or when I feel my fish may be stressed. The solution seemed to aid in healing my fish when they got some skin ailment. I only use this product and Algae Fix to treat my water. Both products are great for doing their jobs!

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Tuesday, February 25, 2014

AquaClear Power Filter (UL Listed)

AquaClear 110 Aquarium Power Filter - for 60 to 110 GallonUnlike other filters that force you to spend money on new filters pads every two weeks, spending a lot on money you didn't think you would have to, this filter does not require replacement filter pads. Instead, it has a block of foam that is used to trap the dirt in the water. Every two weeks, simple clean the foam in water by squeezing it a few times! Just do it in your water changing bucket with de-chlorinated water.

You can change the carbon filter whenever you choose to. In fact, it is not needed all that much. I have run my tanks without carbon for a month at a time, no big deal. If the water starts to look yellow or brown, it is time to change it and put in some fresh carbon.

I bought my AquaClear 30 in early July. It was definitely quieter than the previous filter and seemed to do a better job keeping the tank clear. I've had it long enough to have cleaned it and, as filter cleaning goes, I find this design very user friendly. Then, yesterday, we had a power bounce and the filter didn't come back. After eliminating the outlet as a problem, I noticed the bottom of the unit was very warm. I unplugged it, let it cool, plugged it back in. Nothing. Today, I went to my nearest PetCo for a new filter. The filter is under warranty but I needed something for the fish today. Upon learning which filter I had, then gentleman helping me said that these filters almost never die and his is about 14 years old. He showed me how to remove the propeller box and clean it out. He told me that sometimes debris settles during a power failure and the propeller can't turn when the power comes back. He was right. I got home, took 2 minutes to clean the propeller, and we're back in business. No need for a new filter after all! I'm feeling really good about my choice of filter. Easy to maintain (once you know what you're doing) and works well!

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There is so much to say about this filter, it's hard to know where to start.

I bought this filter to replace a very ineffective Marineland Pengiun HOB filter. I have a 20 gallon tank, but have a heavy bioload due to a dozen or so fish being born in our tank (thank you Petsmart). The issues we ran into with the Penguin filter were many (see my review), so I looked for a more powerful and configurable filter. The Aquaclear 70 fit the bill.

The housing has plastic walls that I think are a bit thin. I feel the need to be very careful with it when I take it apart and put it back together. That's about the only critical thing I have to say about this filter. It has a dial on the back to help keep the filter level. The impeller and motor can be easily replaced with a simple twist.

You get two intakes with this unit, so you can have it at mid-level, or extend it to get closer to the bottom. The intake swivels a bit, which causes a reduction in the water intake. This is a very useful feature, as it recycles some of the water already in the filter to mix with the water from the intake to give you extra clean water, just at a slower rate. This also comes in handy when you want to reduce the water disturbance for feeding.

The filter media included with the unit is exceptional. You get a filter sponge that catches the debris, a carbon "sock" to catch the very fine particles and chemicals, and "bio max" which is just a media to keep beneficial bacteria. The sponge can be rinsed and reused to your heart's content. It's very sturdy and seems to be effective. The carbon "sock" is huge! Although there is some debate among aquarists if you need continual carbon filtration or not, you certainly can get a lot of chemical filtration should you so desire. The last media, "Bio Max", is rough surfaced cylinders meant to capture bacteria to help keep your tank clean. This is very helpful since, if you were to replace your sponge and carbon, the beneficial bacteria would still reside in the "Bio Max".

Now the true beauty isn't with what you get (which, again, is great), it's what you can CHOOSE to do. The filter housing is very simple, and you can put in most any filter media you want. You can cut filter fabric to size, remove the carbon and add another sponge, or use a different biological filtration method. This, I feel, is key to running a clean tank. If I were to treat the tank with a chemical, I can simply remove the carbon and leave the other filter media in place. This wasn't possible with the Penguin and wound up being a serious problem.

Another great aspect of the filter media is the price. Seeing as how you don't need to replace the sponge or biological media, you just have to replace the carbon "sock". With that, you can buy a replacement for this specific model filter, or you can create your own by buying a filter sock and carton of activated carbon.

We've been running the filter for months without issue... Ok, somehow our Otocinclus got into the filter. Luckily, I found him and got him back into the tank. He must have been watching when we had Finding Nemo on the TV. Maybe an intake with thinner grates would be something to explore.

One thing I would caution against is Hagen's return procedure. I had picked up one of these from Petsmart and it was defective (I'm almost certain it was used and Petsmart put it back on the shelves). Hagen said that if I want to return it to them, I would have to pay for all of the shipping. Luckily, Petsmart exchanged it without issue.

I highly suggest this filter and hope it will work out as well for you as it has for me.

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Hi..if you are reading this and looking for a new or replacement filter, AquaClears are great. My 70 (300) is extremely quiet and my aquarium is crystal clear. Even though the filter comes with sponge, carbon and BioMax, you can set it up which ever way you want. The sponges can be washed in aquarium water to save a few dollars and maintain your biological filter. Cleans easily. The old number represented the gallons per hour. The new number represents the maximum size aquarium. Good luck.

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The Aquaclear power filters are the best in the market. These filters provide a HUGE surface area for an efficient biological treatment of the aquarium water. I own four of these filters and have been running continuously for more than three years! They are extremely quiet. I have experienced only two problems with these filters. First, the filters drain into the aquarium during power outages and will not restart on their own. Second, if not cleaned frequently the foam blocks will be pushed upwards and displace the cover. Overall, these are great filters and I would not replace them for another power filter.

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Wednesday, January 15, 2014

EHEIM Jager Aquarium Thermostat Heater 50W

EHEIM Jager Aquarium Thermostat Heater 50WThis is my first Enheim/Jager heater and so far I'm very happy with it. It holds a steady temp (+/1) and has been reliable thus far. The ability to re-calibrate the heater (while confusing at first if you neglect to read the instructions like I did) is a nice feature and an uncommon one. Another nice feature is the run dry protection, the heater automatically shuts off when it's out of water. I tested this feature as soon as I received the unit because I have a nasty habit of doing water changes and forgetting to unplug my equipment and the feature works as advertised.

For some reason, the product description has the dimensions listed as 1" x 1" x 1". While that would be awesome and I'd pay 4 times the price for the reliable heater that size, the unit is actually 9" long (23cm). I had to look this info up on another site prior to purchasing, because size does matter sometimes.

I would recommend this heater. FYI I'm using it on a ~7 gallon (~26L).

In response to the previous comment, these heaters are top of the line. A 1 degree difference is not significant so you're just splitting hairs buddy. For lack of a better word the heater is perfect, been working flawlessly for the last 4 years, no complaints here.

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This heater is great! I have been wanting one for my 2.5 gallon betta tank, but most thermometers for a tank that small are unregulated. I was going to get the 25 watt heater, but it was just as big as this one and only a few dollars less. Therefore, I went with this one because I could also put it in a bigger tank. It keeps the temperature from fluctuating very well, even when put in the tank diagonally. Just keep in mind, in a tank this small the dial will have to be significantly below the desired temp. to get it where you actually want it. But it works well, I would definitely recommend it.

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wow, looks match performance. you can calibrate it if needed. high tech looking so I didn't feel the need to hide it behind plants

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great all around. see other review i have of 125w

only thing i wish is it was a little smaller. also instructions says to mount vertically but i use it horizontally as well with no problems. make sure you are careful when you set temp because i am not sure if mounting horizontally affects how the heater adjust temp.

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Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Hydor H2Show Magic World - Gargoyle and Book Decoration Combo Pack

Hydor H2Show Magic World - Gargoyle and Book Decoration Combo PackWhen I saw the Magic World "Hogwarts"-themed background, I just knew I had to have a Harry Potter aquarium! I know these are not officially licensed Harry Potter products, but it's pretty obvious -the background, in particular -what Hydor was going for with this themed set. We purchased the gargoyle and book (Hogwarts: A History, undoubtedly, yes?) and the owl in the tree, as well as the background image, for our 16 gallon bow front aquarium. The products (the gargoyle and the book) arrived loose in their packaging. As they are resin, there was no chipping, though. Both pieces had two large globs of dried glue on the bottoms, which I assume was how they had been originally anchored in the packaging. Prying these dried spots of glue (each around the size of a penny) from the decor was really difficult! I placed the gargoyle and the book in the tank and they look quite nice, especially with the background. The owl piece of decor is almost 12" high, which I did not realize when I ordered it; it's way too big for a 16 gallon tank, so I will be returning the owl (it's an attractive piece, though, for a larger tank). I opted to skip the crystal ball and the rock formation, which was a good choice as the pieces are of good size and the entire set could easily overcrowd a smaller-sized tank. The gargoyle and the book are, obviously, hollow, so there are holes to keep them from floating out of place. Normally one would hide the air holes for aesthetic reasons, but I left the air holes in the book remain slightly above the substrate to provide a refuge for our African dwarf frogs. It works perfectly for this purpose. All in all these are nice pieces of aquarium decor and are perfect for a wizarding or Harry Potter theme (again, I realize these are not officially licensed Harry Potter products; they just happen to match a Harry Potter theme nicely). I will try and upload a picture showing the gargoyle and book in their places. I would recommend these decor items.

These item are nice but the book is really large for my 55 gallon tank and the gargoyle is pretty standard. If would be nicer if I had a bigger tank but there nice.

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I received this quickly, but the gargoyle was in pieces. It had no protective padding at all, the worst packaging I have ever seen for a fragile item. The Book was surprising intact, and is very pretty.

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Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Como Green Oval Leaves Emulational Aquatic Plastic Plant Decor 24" for Fish Tank Aquarium

Como Green Oval Leaves Emulational Aquatic Plastic Plant Decor 24' for Fish Tank AquariumVery happy with this product. Good quality, looks good in the tank, and it has a solid base that is easy to bury and hold it down.

These plants are vary full and vibrant. They cover a large area and look great. I have a 75 and three of these are an awesome addition. I will be buying more for my next big tank.

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Beautiful in the tank! Has great color and looks amazing!

It was much larger than I expected to get! It completely hides where the filter is with no problem!

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One of the prettiest artificial plants I have ever bought. It has a graceful bend in the water, very similar to the photo. Very full and lushious looking. The base is tan and heavy so holds this large plant in place. At a generous 24 in tall, it looks great in my 75gal tank. The leaf color is light green which look really nice against a blue or black backdrop.

I have found that i like plastic better than silk while silk plants look nice to start with, they start to get discolored and start to fray after about 5 mths. Living plants are more work and take time to get this big. So I'm sticking with easy inexpensive artificial plants.

very happy with this, going to buy more!

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Saturday, October 12, 2013

Zoo Med Nano 511 External Canister Filter

Zoo Med Nano 511 External Canister FilterI thought this filter was going to be overkill for my 10 gallon freshwater aquarium, but I was wrong!

My PX-360 canister filter for my 10 gallon aquarium went out on me, so I needed something more reliable..

It lasted about 2 months, then the pump started loosing power, resulting in weak filtration and flow..

What I like most about this filter is that it flow regulators included, for both the IN and OUT lines to the tank and filter (aka: send and return).

I found myself running the IN line (filter) at max, and the OUT (return) and 3/4 power, because there was some bubbles in the return of the water,

possibly due to the CO2 diffuser in the mix..

The thing that wasn't so hot is the canister lid, which is supposed to open easily, but doesn't in my opinion.

Not a huge deal, it works great and I'm sure it would do well for a saltwater aquarium too!

I got this a few days ago my local pet store had this on massive sale (40%) off so I figured what the heck, why not? It beat waiting for the Fluval 105 to drop to even greater clearance prices. I ADORE this. You can't buy more filter media that's this brand but that's one of the best parts. It's made so you can get your own media bags and fill it with what you need carbon, ammo-carb, etc. And there's enough room for my small baggie of peat granules to soften my water.

Like the other reviewer I love how I can change the flow for the intake and output hoses. Because my tank is a tall 15 gallon I have them both set on high but for a smaller tank or a tank with more currentsensitive fish this feature is a must.

Lastly, like the 1st reviewer, I have noticed that the opening to fill the canister doesn't open easily. It creates a very tight suction so I have to unscrew it before I put the whole top back onto the canister, but it seals easily enough so that's not much of an annoyance. In fact I like that kids couldn't accidentally open it while the filter was running.

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