Saturday, November 1, 2014
H2ShOw LED Light
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Coralife Aqualight T5 Freshwater Dual Lamp Fixture
I have two fixtures of the same brand in the 24" length on my 55 gallon aquarium. I've NEVER had a problem with them, so it seems like it's an issue particular to the 30" model. If the next one works like it should, I'll update my rating. Keeping my fingers crossed.
UPDATE: The third one did not work, either. I'm advising you not to order this item. Changed my rating from 2 to 1 star, since I can't give it zero. We gave this model 3 tries, and none of the fixtures worked for more than 4 days. Epic Fail. The only thing we can figure is that the 30" model is made at a different plant, or with different parts other than the light tubes. Something makes it severely inferior to the 24" model.
Buy Coralife Aqualight T5 Freshwater Dual Lamp Fixture Now
I purchased this to replace a standard fluorescent strip light on a 46 gallon bow front aquarium. It works very well and they price was excellent for a T5 fixture. My old light only put out 18 watts. This fixture puts out 42 watts, is low profile, and gets warm but not hot. It comes with a 6700K daylight bulb (greenish light), and a colormax bulb (pinkish light). The 6700K light is best for the plants, but it is a little green for my tastes. I may switch it out for a 10,000k bulb later. The colormax really helps the colors on my barbs to pop. This set-up should work very well for low to medium light plants. The light arrived quickly and was well packaged.Read Best Reviews of Coralife Aqualight T5 Freshwater Dual Lamp Fixture Here
After a great deal of searching for a simple, low-cost aquarium light with moderately bright light (enough for plants with low-medium light requirements) I found this Coralife double T5 fixture with a 6500k bulb (good for plants) included. It is very slim/low profile with an attractive anodized black housing. So far, it works excellent. The fish are happy and the plants are doing well.Want Coralife Aqualight T5 Freshwater Dual Lamp Fixture Discount?
Product worked great for the first month, but it just went downhill from there. At first one of the bulbs would go off randomly, then after having had the product for less than two months, the light fixture completely failed. It does not even turn on now.I just sent Aqueon an email inquiring about replacement or refund, so we will see how that goes--
Caveat emptor!
***UPDATE: After waiting for a response for 20 days, Aqueon finally got back to me and informed me that they will replace the unit as it is still under the one year warranty. So yeah, customer service appears to be a little slow.
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Fish Mate Pump Service Kit for 600 Pump
Thursday, September 4, 2014
CareFresh FreshSorb Natural Bedding & Litter - 6 liters
Buy CareFresh FreshSorb Natural Bedding & Litter - 6 liters Now
I haven't found Carefresh to be any harder than any other paper litter material and it's certainly softer than wood shavings (which are, of course, bad for the health of any small animal, anyway). It breaks apart easily, and it's very absorbent. Now, I don't use it for bedding material (I use soft cloth dog crate pads for that); rather, I use it for my rabbits' litter boxes. And it's great for them. It absorbs the odor from their urine very well, it's soft on their feet, and it actually encourages them to use their boxes instead of their bedding for urination.Read Best Reviews of CareFresh FreshSorb Natural Bedding & Litter - 6 liters Here
This stuff might be okay for use in small amounts in litterboxes, but I absolutely would not recommend it for use in the pan of any small animal cage. The manufacturer says it's soft, but it's as hard as a rock and about as absorbant as one. There are so many better products available, so don't waste your money on this. I know I'll never buy this product again.Want CareFresh FreshSorb Natural Bedding & Litter - 6 liters Discount?
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Hatch n Feeder - Brine Shrimp Hatchery
My main complaint is the directions. They reference "hatchery" and "egg chamber" but do not define either. Moreover, the directions on the package differ from the directions found in the hatchery, which differ from the directions on the website . There is a section at the top that has a removable divider. The directions are unclear if you are supposed to remove this divider before adding eggs and/or salt. I have had success with adding eggs with the divider in place, then moving it when adding salt. I have also been successful when adding salt with the divider in place. Moreover, I don't know when you are supposed to turn off the air flow to the hatchery. The directions do not cover this. It seems there may be shrimp being pushed around the portion of the hatchery being moved by the air, but they just seem to flow in a circle without entering the section that allows them to exit into the aquarium. Some guidance on this point would be nice. I guess I should not complain because I am getting brine shrimp, but I would like clearer directions designed to maximize the hatching rate.
Another complaint is in how the unit attaches to the aquarium. Water level is key for the unit to work, yet the hatchery is not secure. The suction cup is fine, but the arms that extend from the cup do not tightly grasp the unit, which means it can easily move and even tip if you are not careful when working inside the tank. It might be best if you can place the unit in a corner so it will be less likely to wobble and/or tip.
The only other comment is that I have no idea what % of the eggs are actually hatching. I have seen a lot of shrimp swimming in the hatchery, but there are also a lot of shells (some of which stay at the bottom, and some stay at the top where you initially pour them into the water). I guess it is just something with which I will have to live.
If anyone has any suggestions or comments, they would be greatly appreciated.
I can definitely recommend this product, but you may have to use it a few times to get the hang of it. I bought aquarium salt from PetSmart and these eggs . If you have baby fish to feed, this product is a good investment.
5/22/11 Update: I added additional eggs without cleaning the unit and they hatched without issue (I also added a bit more salt as I figured some of the salt water probably flowed out of the unit). I did, however, clean the unit after the second set of eggs as it was getting a little messy inside the unit.I've just started raising bettas, and up til now, I've only been feeding with microworms because I was a little intimidated by how much upkeep baby brine shrimp need. And what a pain it is to harvest them. But, ha ha ha ha, it is so very simple now. I was surprised to see the BBS eggs hatch within seventeen hours and willingly swim out of their protective hatchery into the mouths of my greedy betta warriors. However, I am having an issue with the hatchery. You really have to make sure that the water is actually at the water level labeled on the hatchery. It's making changing the water a bit more challenging, because if the water level drops or rises too much, salt water flows out of the hatchery. Ah well. I'd say it's worth it.
Buy Hatch n Feeder - Brine Shrimp Hatchery Now
I haven't bought this product from this person, but I did buy the exact same thing somewhere else. This is amazing. For you bettas breeder you know you gotta keep the tank really clean for the babies. Well, thing does all the work does for you. all you do is add salt and eggs. It just sit in the frys' tank and the saltwater never MIXES. and the eggs that hatch will not float into the tank. the shrimp just swim out and feed the baby bettas non stop around the clock. and you wont even have to add my more eggs to it for days. i just added more after 2 days so i have a fresh brine shrimp for sure! Best product for easier way to feed BABIES.Read Best Reviews of Hatch n Feeder - Brine Shrimp Hatchery Here
I placed this hatchery in a 75 gallon tank containing spotted puffers. I read the poor reviews of this product and specifically looked for the complaints listed here. I found none of them to be accurate. The suction cup is quite strong when placed properly in the tank. I also have a brackish water condition so I have little concern for water mixing. However, if used properly will be very effective in keeping water separate. You will need an air pump for this to function well. If your pump is too strong, purchase an air flow restrictor for very little cost compared to a new pump. my shrimp hatched within 24 hours and began to exit the hatchery within 48 hours. The instructions were clear and easy to follow for someone with experience in aquariums and their care. Very enjoyable and functional product. I can now give my fish a live treat with less cost and no concern of transfering disease or parasites. One tip if you have a fresh water tank and do not want any salt water leakage, do not remove air tubing while still in the tank. Remove the entire unit quickly and into a waiting bucket for cleaning. Handling this unit full while inside the tank can cause some spillage. For salt water and brackish tanks, this is of little concern. However, if you use the same care in removal, no shrimp eggs shells will spill into the tank. Great product for the money!It works just as advertised. The only thing I dislike is how the shrimp swim out. My fish constantly wait at the fish guard gobbling them up. I wish they would have a more constant escape, but it's like in bursts. It should feed them several times a day like it says, but I wish they came out constantly in like a streamline of small quantities instead of just a few large bursts. Also, a lot of dead shells end up in the collection chamber. You also have to leave the air on at all times because if you don't, the shrimp won't get put into the right area to get out, they will try to swim up at the top near the light where they can't get out. So overall, it works as advertised, just with a few little problems. If I had to do it over though, I would just get a cup and do it that way. But it does come with a dropper which is nice.Saturday, June 21, 2014
Laguna Once-A-Year Fertilizer Spike, Aquatic Plant - 3-Pack
Unlike tab fertilizer needing once a month application, these spikes are slow release once a year application.I purchased and used these for some water lilies that I had also purchased here on Amazon.
Note that the 3-pack contains the regular sized spikes, and the 6-pack (also sold here on Amazon) contains the Minis. For a one or two gallon pot, Laguna/Hagen recommends one REGULAR spike with a change frequency of one year.
Also, note that each individual spike is shipped with a protective clear plastic sleeve that MUST be removed (use a razor blade) before use. This plastic sleeve is NOT a component of the time-release feature, and must be removed (as confirmed by my phone call to Laguna's customer support line).
Since I just planted the water lilies, I cannot yet comment on the efficacy of the spikes -but assuming they work, this will be much more convenient than monthly feedings.
Buy Laguna Once-A-Year Fertilizer Spike, Aquatic Plant - 3-Pack Now
Thursday, May 29, 2014
Coral Vue Technology AC20284 Octopus Needle Wheel Skimmer for Aquarium Filter, 4-Inch, 100-Gallon
If you are new to protein skimmers the first thing to know is that you generally want to divide the "gallons rated" value by half. So this 100 gallon skimmer will best work for tank up to about 60 gallons.
Also, this is an in-sump skimmer meaning that it needs to be in a separate aquarium to do its job. It cannot be placed outside on a surface and always needs to be submerged in water. There are 2 water lines on this skimmer... the min water line is just about where it says "reef octopus" in on the acrylic tube and the top water line being just under the large black band under the collection cup. To give you an idea, this means the skimmer should be in a water level between ~6.5-10" of water when operating.
It's pretty easy to put together and don't expect much instructions from the manufacturer. LIke most marine products you have to look on message boards often to find support. Once put together, there is a red dial to adjust the bubble level in the skimmer so it collects the ideal amount of waste. There is no set amount the dial should be turned, you must play around with it for a few days to figure it out. On normal operation you should have to empty the collection cup about once a week.
A couple of issues with this for me was the skimmer just didn't skim as well as I would have liked it to, after playing with it for months now I still think it could do a better job at removing the junk from the water. Also, I wish that it would be easier to disassemble for cleaning purposes because it can get quite clogged and it's a pain to clean.
Final advise: shop around when looking for saltwater tank products online. Amazon many times does not have the cheapest price and you can find this and many products elsewhere for 25-40% cheaper.-Produncto quality is very good.
-The performance, is excellent!
-I recommend this excellent skimmer because it works perfectly.
-100 percent recommend!!!less then 24 hrs and its worked wonders on my tank,
thx guys.
i reccomend this for any sump needing skimming.
Maxi-Jet Pro Aquarium Pump
Update: Since using them for a little while I can see no problems with their reliability and they are solid powerheads like other marineland products. I do however have a little problem with them heating up my tank water. Since I live in a tropical climate my tanks are naturally around 82 to 84 degrees which is warm enough already. I put two in a thirty gallon tank and my tanks temperature skyrocketed to 90 degrees! I have since moved them into my 125 gallon and have no problems with them raising the temperature. Could be great if you live in a colder climate which could save you money on a heater!
Update #2: After using them in circulation mode for a while I have noticed that they have a huge problem creating heat. They give off so much heat that they have even become a problem in my 125 gallon tank. I had to take one off and am now only running one of them. The temperature increase is not noticable with only one of them, but when I try to run two of them it can go up to 88 degrees (normal temperature hovers around 82-84 degrees) in my 125 gallon tank. The reason why I say 88 degrees and not higher is because when I noticed the temperature was that high I took one of them off imediately. Would be great using them in a cooler climate (would take some of the strain off your heater), but here in Hawaii it can be a problem. They are still silent and dont seem like they are anywhere near breaking. The trio of suction cups hold on good and strong. They do make a rather loud clicking/grinding noise when first starting them up (after unplugging them) that makes me think like they might break, but after a few seconds they start up perfectly and do their job very quietly. I think the problem is their large power consumption compared to other circulation powerheads/pumps. I have two Hydor Koralia Evo 1400's that dont even come close to heating the water even in my 30 gallon tank (they also dont make the loud clicking noise when restarting). Still if your looking for a cheap circulation/powerhead and you live in a cool climate, or only want to use one in a large tank, or have a really large tank, they work great. Don't know what happened to other reviewers maxijet pro's but mines are really really quiet, infact over time they have become SILENT. I have to literally put my ear up to the tank where they are mounted to hear anything from them, even then they are still hard to hear (after the restart that is).I have some old Maxi-jet 1200's...they have white impellers & work wonderfully. I needed to add one more & so I figured I'd stick with what's worked well for me in the past. It seems Marineland has changed their models..the new one has a different impeller (it's purple, so that's how you know when you got one of the new terrible ones). The first one I got, the impellers SHEARED OFF completely within a day. So I exchanged it out for a new one...the impeller on it was wobbly & made so much noise it wasnt worth keeping.
I'm so disappointed in these new pumps. It's too bad they couldn't have stuck with their old quality designs. DO NOT BUY.
Buy Maxi-Jet Pro Aquarium Pump Now
I needed a pump to use in a sump I was building. Only needed about 100gph of flow going back into the aquarium from the sump. This was perfect, it's actually more than I need which is good.*** FLOW RATINGS
It's rated for 1,300GPH, which is based on open-flow. Meaning just being used as a powerhead to push water around an aquarium. It comes with a screw (propeller) and an enclosure, and it will DEFINITELY move your water around fast. For "pump" mode, it's rated at 295gph open flow.
With the fittings I used, the smallest restriction is 3/8". The tubing is 1/2". I'm able to get over 200gph of return flow with this setup, which I have to dial-down using a gate valve in order to maintain my precise needs. Remember, more GPH is BETTER than less, because you can't dial-up the flow.
*** FITTINGS AND STUFF
This comes with everything you need for almost any purpose. It has the normal powerhead fittings, as well as a complete screw/cover kit, suction-cup kit, air-scavanger tubing, flow angle thingy, and a really long cord.
*** IT ISN'T LOUD AT ALL
I can't even hear the thing running inside of my sump. If your pump or the direct fittings coming off of it are touching something, then yes you will hear the noise of the pump. The water itself makes no noise. It's no louder than any other powerhead I've tried.
*** SUMMARY
You can't beat the price and speed of shipping when purchasing it through Amazon Prime. Even my local Care A Lot couldn't get it for as cheap!I just purchased a Maxi-Jet 1200 to replace a unit that finally died. I figured I might as welll replace it with the same model as I had not had any problems with the original one. Well I received it today and was excited to install it. Got it all set up and plugged in and sat down on the couch to marvel at the tank. Within 10 minutes the pump stop working.When I went to open the unit I found a propellerless purple impeller (the old one was white). Im pretty disappointed as I thought that Marineland was a name that I could trust...I guess not anymore.The pump moves plenty of water in my 120, but it only ran four days, before it self-destructed. The impeller flew apart and rendered the pump useless. Like I saw in another review mine was the purple impeller. When assembled as a wave maker the pump did move a lot of water, in fact to much water in my 120. Not necessarily a bad thing but worth noting.
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Tetra Glofish Kit 10 Gallon
Once you cut some holes out of the plastic part for the filter and lights, the canopy will fit perfectly. On the box with the canopy it says something along the lines of "cut to fit". It would help if it said a little more than that.
But it took more time than it should for me to get mine. First I ordered one from petsmart.com (after I went to 5+stores in search of a Glofish 10 gallon kit) it came a short time after that but It was shattered (you could tell it was before even opening the box), we sent it back with the ups guy. He also told us it was best not to ship things that.
We went to a petsmart (i was gonna buy everything separate) but surprisingly they had the kit that I wanted so I bought it. I got home, set everything up, and then found the canopy was broken. We returned the canopy and got another one free of charge.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
Aquatic Life 72-Watt Light Aquarium Light, 48-Inch, White/Blue/Purple
Secondly, I picked up this unit in hopes that I might have found a replacement for my Finnex Ray2 Aquarium Day/Actinic LED Light, 48-Inch which had a bad habit of shocking me. Unfortunately, this unit produced far less light than the Finnex. If you'll notice, this unit only has 72 LEDs and as far as I could tell, they weren't the high-output LEDs either (the Finnex has around 380 HO LEDs). The color blend it produced was nice, but simply wasn't strong enough. On the plus side, where the Finnex's light is pretty concentrated, the lens domes on the Aquatic Life unit did allow for full coverage of my 12" wide tank (ie: light hit everywhere). Also, while I'm not sure what exactly caused the LEDs to break on my unit, the aluminum housing felt like a tank. The glass shield did feel a bit flimsy like glass you'd fine in a picture frame. It was also a bit loose fitting and rattled when moving the unit around.
All-in-all, I'd call the unit "ok" it'd probably do well enough in a fish-only tank with additional spot lighting. However, I don't believe it puts out enough light to sustain coral growth.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Hagen Nutrafin Max Marine Granules, 5.64-Ounce
Monday, March 3, 2014
Elite 1-Inch Cylinder Air Stone
The stones fit standard airline tubing. Once you open the pack, place any unused stones in a ziplock back to keep them from collecting dust.
All in all, a great value. Durable, reliable, low priced.These things are sooo tiny! I don't know why, but I was expecting something on the bulbous side of one inch, but these are quite tiny and of course make a ton of bubbles.
For fresh water applications, this product deserves 4 stars. This assumes that you attach the airstone once (don't constantly connect and disconnect the airline tubing from the stone).
When you receive a box of these airstones and first connect them, your impression might be an automatic 5 stars. The water will be bubble-rich. If you run these airstones for a couple weeks and need to disconnect them from their airline, you'll realize they have a 50/50 chance of completely breaking apart in your hand. As far as disconnecting these airstones, I always feel there is a 50/50 chance of them breaking on disconnect (completely crumbling into nothing). IMO they lose a star there.
This is where I take another star: I am running a hydroponics deep-water culture which requires a nutrient solution. After running a brand new air stone in a deep-water culture, bubbles will be rich for a few days, and plants will be happy. After two or three weeks, I notice almost no bubbles reaching the surface of the water, and after I inspect the plant's root zone, the airstone is the problem.
You can unclog these airstones effectively by running them overnight in a water/peroxide mixture, or by soaking them in boiling water for 3-4 minutes, but when they have a 50/50 chance of breaking every time you switch them out ... they aren't worth cleaning or replacing.
I took these airstones out of my hydroponics application, and bought a stronger air pump. My plants seem happier with no airstone and more bubbles coming from the actual air pump. Assuming your check-valves are in place, there's nothing to clog. The next time I absolutely need an airstone, I will most likely drill tiny holes in some airline tubing and use a T connector to wrap a circle.
These 1-inch airstones were amazing until they gave me a headache.
Buy Elite 1-Inch Cylinder Air Stone Now
Unlike the other reviewer, my product arrived in great condition and worked completely as expected. I'd order this again. Bubble bubble bubble :)I had to change the air tubing. Trying to take of this NEW air stone off, it crushed/crumbles and totally fell apart. I have never had and air stone do that before. Very poor product I would never buy again.Filter of excellent quality, providing good bubbles to my aquarium keeping the water well oxygenated, product of warm, Durable air stone diffuses water in every direction Helps release carbon dioxide build-upWednesday, January 29, 2014
Fluval Edge Aquarium Set, 6-Gallon
Now that it's been almost 10 months, I still love my tank and think every penny I spent on it was worth it. There are some funny quirks that serious aquarist would rather skip, but none of the quirks have deterred me from my love of the tank.
Pros:
-I love the modern look. I like how my cords and pump are all hidden and out of view. I hate buying those fake aquarium backings to hide everything.
-I like the 360 view. I like being able to look into my tank from the top and clearly see through to the bottom. It helps to keep track of my fish too.
-I like how it's a sturdy glass. Hagen didn't cheap on the glass construction. When you pick it up (it's a little heavy), you know you have a quality glass tank.
-Halogen lights give off a nice heat that actually helps heat the tank. I live in a place that has an average yearly temperature of about 67. So the extra heat from the lights help keep my tank warm.
-Halogen lights make my fish/plants look fine. I've had no "bleaching" issues with the lights. The fish retain their color just fine and I know what they look like when they are bleached (my fish were PALE when I moved).
-Filtration system works like a charm. I can stir up the bottom organic material to get it pretty turbid, but the pump/filters can clear it up in about 15 minutes. I change my filters regularly as is suggested, but you could probably go longer as long as you rinsed them every once in a while.
-I've had no problems with the tank that warrant any complaints. The minor quirks is as bad as it's gotten for me.
Cons/Quirks:
-The Fluval Edge heater (bought separately) only heats the water to about 2 degrees above the ambient temperature. This would be fine if I lived somewhere warm, but I live along the central coast of California and we're lucky if the weather gets hotter than 70 degrees. So sometimes my water gets down to 72 degrees even with the heater on or won't trigger quickly enough because the ambient temperature is within range. Get a different heater.
-The pump seems to be a little strong for my fish. My fish and shrimp swim fine in the tank, but since there's a small opening for food placement, tetras have to catch the food quickly or it gets pushed to the bottom before they can get to it. Not a big issue because the shrimp eat the excess food, I watch my fish to make sure they're eating enough, and I put flakes in at the corner furthest away from the inflow of water to keep the food on the surface longer, but it's still a little annoying. My fish do like to swim underneath the inflow of water and "play" in it, though. Anyway, delicate fish might not be ideal with the pump.
-Halogen lights don't disperse enough light to allow for flowering plants. Not a big issue again because I just replaced my more delicate plant (thinner leaves and flowered) with a plant with broader leaves and the plants are doing great. They're getting really big and my shrimp and suckerfish love the "levels" they can hide on.
-Lights do grow a green algae that can get pretty tough if left sitting long enough. If you've got a good suckerfish, shouldn't be a problem. Mine are pretty whimpy and did well the first few weeks I got them and now are kind of lazy.
-Hard to clean. Not a big issue again, but I bought a magnetic algae cleaner (non-Hagen brand), hand scrubber, and scrubber with handle. The scrubber with the handle works great, but can only be used for the back of the tank. Because of the opening, the handle gets in the way of allowing you to get the top, front of the tank. So the magnetic algae cleaner (really quite great) gets to the areas I can't or I just use the scrubber without the handle. I actually recommend the magnetic algae cleaners. The one I have makes life really easy.
-Had to buy the Fluval Edge fish net. Do NOT buy a NORMAL fish net with this tank! It will be worthless, stress your fish out, and make you want to do something bad to your tank, fish, or net. My boyfriend and I spent easily 1.5 hours trying to catch my fish/shrimp when I was moving and it was a huge frustration. The only way we got the shrimp finally (even with only a quarter of water left) was we put a plastic bag into the tank and herded the shrimp and fish into it. The Fluval Edge fish net, though, is a triangle shape and allows you to get into the corner of the tank with the opening. It's not perfect, but makes life a WHOLE lot easier. Definitely worth the buy to lower your fish and your stress level.
-Small concern about the glass tank hanging over the base. I live in California where there are earthquakes. It'd have to be an earthquake of the century for it to shake the tank off the base (it's kind of "hooked on" by the lid/pump to the base) thanks to how heavy it is with the water and glass tank, but it does kind of run through my head. It has survived perfectly fine through a few high 3's and a low 4, though.
As I said, the cons aren't really cons, but more quirks. You have to be willing to put up with the small quirks, but it hasn't affected anything for me.
A few comments on other reviews:
-I agree that if you had dual breathing fish this tank wouldn't be the best for you.
-My halogen lights have had no problems whatsoever. I haven't had to replace them or clean them. They look a little dirty, but nothing bad enough that requires me to clean them. They do heat up the metal grating at the top of the lid, but not enough to burn me, melt the cover, or allow for rusting to occur (I suspect the rusting occurred because it was a saltwater tank and less because of the lights). It's kind of a nice warmth you can rest your hand on and it's fine. Plus, as I said earlier, the heat helps heat my tank. The sockets of the lights have been fine too.
-The halogen lights wouldn't be ideal for jumping fish. I wouldn't be surprised if the fish got hurt if they jumped at a light.
-The button at the top and the cover, for me, have also been fine. The button turns and you can remove the cover if you want, but I leave mine on for added protection. No issues there.
-Bottom intake water pipe-thing is pretty open for anyone who wants to breed fish/shrimp and/or have smaller fish. I'd buy the extra thing to put over it to make sure your fish don't get sucked up into the filter. For me, I don't need it, but it would be needed for smaller fish (as in anything baby size).
Anyway, when it's all said and done...if you want a nice looking tank and don't mind putting in heartier fish/shrimp/plants into your tank, this tank will work just fine for you. The quirks I've had with it are manageable and don't require that much extra work, money, or time. If you don't want to mess with the fuss and the look doesn't grab you, don't buy it. If you like the look as I do and don't mind the quirks, I'd say go for it. I'd recommend the tank to anyone based off of my current review. The quirks aren't bad enough for me to not recommend it and the pros outweigh the quirks. I only give it a 4/5 because of the quirks. It's not perfect so shouldn't deserve a perfect rating.
======== UPDATE ==========
12/16/10 It has been almost 11 months to the day I bought my Fluval Edge and ONE of the halogen lights finally died on me. Easy replacement (pull out the old one, put in the new one). I'm wondering when the 2nd one will die now.
I also mentioned in my review not to buy a normal fish net. I'm going to suggest to buy both. Buy a small regular rectangle net and buy the Fluval Edge net. At minimum, just do the Fluval Edge net and forget the regular one. I find, for whatever reason, I use the regular fish net for day-to-day things (smoothing gravel, moving things, catching the easy fish, etc) and will use the Fluval Edge one more for removing air bubbles and catching my hard-to-catch fish and shrimp.
One thing I did not mention earlier is a trick to remove air bubbles if your tank isn't level: Use your Fluval Edge net and simply shove it near the air bubbles at the top and "move" or "pull" the air bubbles out to the opening. Takes a few back-and-forth motions, but gets them out EVERY time with no other fuss. My tank is always 100% full without air bubbles. It always impresses people when they see the tank is 100% full too.
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08/10/11 I wanted to do another update now that it's been over 1.5 years of having the tank. It's been through 3 moves (pretty much the same fish, except I now have 3 neon tetras, lost a glolite tetra (from age, it was always my biggest one from the start), and 2 of my shrimp died (presumably from age too)) and I just wanted to warn people who decide to move their tanks. My first two moves I pretty much packed the tank (base, cover, and glass tank) as it would be set-up in a box and stuffed it so it doesn't shift. It was fine after both moves. This last and most recent move, I was a little less careful because the box I had would only fit the tank and nothing else and I was in a rush. Well...Everything did okay except the cover. I kind of threw all the random aquarium stuff into a box and put it into the moving van and I think the cover might have gotten a little warped. It no longer fits as well as it used to. It's not a huge deal, but I have to gently "shove" it down now instead of it kind of sliding (more-or-less) down. So, if you move, make sure you pack everything (especially the top) in a manner so they don't get warped or damaged.
I also wanted to update about lights. I still use the Fluval halogen lights, but I think I got a bad batch of lights once because I had to replace them within a month of each other. So, technically, in 1.5 years, I'm on my 3rd set of lights for both sockets. The ones in right now have been there for about 6-7 months so I'm assuming I got a bad batch of Halogen lights for the 2nd round. Aesthetics are important. I dislike traditional aquariums and wanted a product that concealed the pump, heater, cords, etc. I chose the Edge over the BioOrb because it's made from real glass, doesn't obligate me to use cheesy synthetic plants, and is well designed. I love the appearance of the product, but there are a few functional flaws you need to be aware of if you decide to purchase. First, its two halogen lights are insufficient. They effectively light up the center of the aquarium, but the edges go dark. This limits the ability to use aquatic plants that traditionally don't require CO2. The Edge does not come with a heater, however, the power cord can easily be run through the same conduit that conceals the pump. Do not purchase African Frogs as there is no air at the top (which is also one of it's better qualities). The box also says the aquarium is ideal for goldfish, but nothing could be further from the truth. Goldfish require large aquariums and produce a considerable amount of waste. They also grow quite quickly. It's difficult to clean the Edge, so go the low maintenance route. I added a heater, a few low-light aquatic plants, and some neons. No issues. The pump is more than adequate for the size of the aquarium. In fact, you may need to adjust the power to 50% as it's a little strong for fish. I highly recommend this product if you don't a mind a little maintenance and a limited ability to grow plants.
Buy Fluval Edge Aquarium Set, 6-Gallon Now
Fluval (Hagen)has an almost winner here. When set up it looks stunning, the plants grow right out the top of the tank even with no CO2 and with the standard lighting, but! just try to maintain this tank and you will shortly begin looking for another tank. The provided access port is so small it is near impossible to clean the substrate, or work with plants. Catching a determined fast shrimp will have you looking for glass cutters! I hope that when Hagen creates a successor to this tank they find a way to allow useble access.Read Best Reviews of Fluval Edge Aquarium Set, 6-Gallon Here
You have to know something about tanks and fish.One review here I completely disagree with. If you can do fish stuff then you can do this tank. Most people are too lazy though I think. This tank doesn't *make* fish dull or colourless looking, the stress levels and poor food do that. This tank can be the MOST beautiful tank out there...
Planted with white sand substrate is incredible... with neons, gold tetras and a few smaller tetra types of fish...
Just get a different tank if that's what you want.
The aqua-clear filters are the best kind of filter you can get. I've been crazy heavily into fish for more than 15 years...
Want Fluval Edge Aquarium Set, 6-Gallon Discount?
I have owned several 10 gal aquariums, and always love them for a little while and then get tired of the maintenance. I wanted something easy to take care of, and cool looking. I got both with this.Looks: Without argument, this is the coolest looking aquarium I have ever seen (outside of celebrity homes). It has clean lines, no nasty residue showing all over it, and small enough to put almost anywhere. The only mechanics showing will be the tube in the back of the tank that can be covers by the Fluval bamboo wall. The top of the aquarium is glass touching water so you can look in it from all angles. The top covers the filter and surface of the water, so it looks like it is just a cube of water. The filter hangs on the back of the tank, concealed in a cover with the power cord coming out of the bottom so you don't see any of this.
The design is amazing, and don't be concerned about the fish health as long as you put fish in it that don't need a lot of room, or wont outgrow it. I will talk about that below.
Getting it started: They give you very detailed instructions on how to start your fluval edge. I also watched a YouTube video of a professional setting it up to make sure I wasn't going to kill my first batch of fish. The filter system is pretty easy to set up and once it is running, it is VERY QUIET. I can't hear mine unless I lean close and listen. The most important thing to me was making it look great. Because the opening is so small, you can't fit big decorations in it. I went with a small stone Chinese lantern, the Fluval Bamboo wall, a small fake bamboo plant, and 3 small real plants. (If you are new to real plants I recommend them, and will talk about them as well.) I also bought a bag of river rocks (about 4 smooth, round, palm-sized rocks) and placed them around the bottom. This turned out great looking and not too much going on in the small aquarium.
You will need to let your aquarium cycle with bacteria that is provided for a couple of days (at least). This makes the aquarium less perfectly clean, which will shock your fish. I gave mine only about 4 days because I was putting in a Betta fish and they are a very hardy fish that are used to a clean bowl every few weeks. My Betta (Frank, as I so affectionately call him) loved it. He didn't have any problem adjusting to the new environment (he was in a 1 & 1/2 gal bowl) and figured out where the air surface was quickly. (Betta's and frogs have lungs, and need to go to the surface to breath.) I used normal aquarium rocks as the bottom instead of sand, as that was recommended. I have had my aquarium for about 6 months, and it still looks great. The plants are thriving, the fish and frogs are doing great, and I change the filter only as often as needed. This is a well oiled machine.
Plants: I had never done plants before and assumed they would not make it as most of my house plants don't. I am not a plant person, by far. I went to the pet store, asked for plants that wouldn't overtake my aquarium, and bought 3 little plants I was told didn't need a ton of light. (The light in the top of the Fluval Edge is perfect, but not overly bright.) I put them in as I set up the aquarium. 2 went in the little boxes on the Fluval bamboo wall, with some aquarium rocks holding them in, and one went in the back behind my stone lantern. I put them in when the water was just barely over them, and then filled it up gently, not to displace them. I had to re-plant them once, cause they came out of the rocks, but once they take root they don't budge. I had a couple of stem losses, but over time they are doing awesome. So easy, no work. If you can't keep them alive, they sell plant nutrients that you add to the water that wont hurt your fish. Try the plants, they look so much better than fake, and help keep the tank clean.
Fish: I knew I wanted to put Frank, my male Betta, in the tank, but didn't know what else. I let Frank chill in there alone for a couple of weeks, let him get the tank fishy enough that it was at good levels for other fish. I read so many blogs about how the Fluval Edge was not safe for fish, and that you should only put in one fish, or three fish, or only certain fish. I understand their concerns, but I am not that picky. I believe you should be smart, and pay attention to the tank and it's occupants. If you notice a problem, act fast and ask your local pet store about any problems. I worried my Betta would bully the other fish. So, I read African Dwarf Frogs would be good tank mates for them. I bought 2 and put them in. (Make sure they are African Dwarf Frogs and not African Clawed Frogs. Some pets stores confuse the two, and sell one as the other. African Clawed Frogs are more aggressive, so look up the difference to make sure you buy the right one.) I made sure they could find the surface, and they did after swimming to the top glass and sliding along it until the found the air. Frank thought they should know he owned the place and started swimming up to them and trying to nip. After they swam away, and just moved whenever he came around, Frank got bored with it and they now will hang next to each other without any problems. I also bought a small Chinese algae eater (very pretty fish, kind of an orange-pink color) and made sure he had algae disks in case there wasn't enough algae build up. He is really funny, and likes to swim at my cats as they watch and get them riled up. He often will try to clean Frank, which he does not appreciate and they will due a little 20 second chase. I believe you don't have to worry too much about what fish you put in as long as you: check how big they get, how aggressive they are, and that they don't need special treatment (like salt or high heat).
Ongoing Care of the Fluval Edge: I have had no trouble keeping the water level high (as the water does evaporate and need a refill about every 2 weeks) and continue to keep track of my plants, water clarity, and tank occupants. Unfortunately, one of my frogs died, so I replaced him with 2 more. I have a total of 1 Betta, 1 small algae eater, and 3 frogs. I noticed one day, about months after buying my Fluval edge, that Frank had a light spot on his head, and it looked cloudy. His fins also looked clumpy and ragged. So I googled it and found out he had a fungus infection. I hurried to the pet store and bought a new filter and treatment tablets (all pretty cheap) and started as the box directed. Since most tablet treatments are for 10 gal tanks, I called the help number on the box and they said to cut it in half for the 6 gal Fluval. I changed out about a gallon of water for fresh water, removed the carbon out of the filter, and put in half a tablet. I noticed Frank's head started clearing up and him being active after a couple of days. I am now looking into ways to prevent this from happening.
Overall, this is a great aquarium for someone that wants the look without the hassle of an aquarium. It is stylish and fun, but not hard to set up or maintain. As with all pets, you need to just keep an eye out for warning signs and ask your local pet store any questions you have. I don't think you need to put a lot of fish in this small of a tank, but if you want more than I have just keep an eye on them. They may cause your tank to need cleaning more often. Also, I would get a small magnetic cleaner scrubby thing, simply to push any bubbles that build up at the top of the tank to the surface area, so nothing obscures your view.
Well, I hope this review really helps. I had to look up so much and read so many conflicting articles that I decided to just try it for myself. I hope this helps you make the decision on if this aquarium is right for you. Thanks for reading, and God bless!
Friday, January 3, 2014
JW Pet Company 14-Inch Aquarium Algae Scrubber
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this is great for my fish tank. I bought it for my girlfriend as she recommended we get it and it works great.Read Best Reviews of JW Pet Company 14-Inch Aquarium Algae Scrubber Here
Saturday, December 21, 2013
Finnex Memorized Digital Temperature Heater Controller w/ 800 Watt Tube Hc-0810m & Th-0800
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Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Laguna Pressure-Flo Replacement Foam Kit for Pressure-Flo 3200 UVC Filter - 5-Pack
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Penn Plax Dora Deco Aquarium Decorating Kit
Monday, November 18, 2013
Nutrafin Betta Bowl Conditioner, 2 Ounces
Chlorine dissipates from tap water if it sits uncovered for a day. Nitrates, nitrites and ammonia are needed by plants. You keep them from reaching toxic levels by doing regular partial water changes. If Betta Plus does anything more to condition the water, I would like to know what it is.
I Googled Nutrafin's #5942232 "Stress Reducing" formula. It appears to be for a concoction of chemical and herbal remedies that have not been proven to be beneficial to fish. If your Betta's water is properly maintained, and he is still stressed, therapy should bring better results.
Betta Plus neutralizes any active chlorine in the water; that is the only reason I gave this product one star.I must agree with the previous comment about this product being too alkaline. I bought this product due to the Indian Almond leaf extract which I know is beneficial to bettas being a part of their natural habitat. But my pH rose too much while using this. Bettas do prefer their water slightly on the acid side & this product raised my pH up to 7.6 which is too alkaline.
I stopped using this & now do my water changes with another water conditioner. I also bought some Indian Almond leaves & have added them to his tank.
Buy Nutrafin Betta Bowl Conditioner, 2 Ounces Now
I rarely write reviews and I really don't know all that much about fish, but my son wanted a pet fish and we went through two poor fish until I discovered this stuff. I attribute our current bettas long life span (we have had him for almost six months now) to this water conditioner. He is a happy fish, blows lots of cool bubble nests and looks beautiful. Thanks Nutrafin!Read Best Reviews of Nutrafin Betta Bowl Conditioner, 2 Ounces Here
This is one of the worst betta conditioner I've ever purchased. IT IS NOT ABOUT QUALITY, BUT QUANTITY. It is super expensive if you compare it apple by apple with other conditioners.Want Nutrafin Betta Bowl Conditioner, 2 Ounces Discount?
Years ago I had a Betta fish and it didn't live long at all. Then my mother-in-law got two different Betta fish that died over night. I thought I would never get another Betta again.My 5 year old son wanted his own fish so we went to our local pet store and talked to the man in charge of the fish and he helped us find the perfect Betta fish and find the perfect tank for him. The tank came with Nutrafin Betta plus. I went back to buy more Nutrafin Betta plus but the store didn't carry this product and suggested I try something else. I decided to look on line and find what I know works well with our fish. I am very happy to be able to find it here. Our fish is very happy and beautiful. We have had him almost six months now and look forward to having him for many years.
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Eshopps AEO21025 2-Pack Jellyfish Black for Aquarium Decoration
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My only real complaint is that the coloring came off, which means it went into my fish tank. I can only hope it was sucked up by the filter. Other than that I get a lot of compliments from people who think I have a real jelly fish in the tank. :)Read Best Reviews of Eshopps AEO21025 2-Pack Jellyfish Black for Aquarium Decoration Here
While the idea is great, in practice, It looks like exactly what it is A stationary, cheap plastic fake Jellyfish!Guess perhaps thats exactly the idea tho, right?
Idea was much better in theory..
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these do not look real at all and have no glow effect or movement at all do not buy this productMonday, October 21, 2013
API Activated Filter Carbon, Half Gallon Carton, Net Weight 22-Ounce
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i use this charcoal in my aquarium filters--this is the most economical way to buy aquarium charcoal. works great--just be sure to rinse it before adding to the aquarium.Read Best Reviews of API Activated Filter Carbon, Half Gallon Carton, Net Weight 22-Ounce Here
listed as a half gallon.....actually22 ouncesas shown on the package. Being dry, the 22 oz must be a measure of weight 1 pound, 6 oz. Who translated this into a liquid measure?'Want API Activated Filter Carbon, Half Gallon Carton, Net Weight 22-Ounce Discount?
excellent item, you have to buy this product if you want to removes smells or pollution on you aquariumregards

