AquaClear 70 Foam

Since buying this product and other products needed for my 55 gallon fish tank, I've haven't the need to clean my fish tank every two weeks. This is a must have for your filter to keep the tank clean.

This filter does a good job of keeping the water at a clean level. It's not as good as Marineland's but still good non the less.

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This foam worked great. I used it in helping cycle a tank and I have 0 complaints. It held the beneficial bacteria just PERFECT!

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My items arrived on time and as always with aquaclear filters great as ever,i would very highly recomend these filters to anybody looking for a great filter at a very reasonable price...great service and shipping from amazon

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Tetra Half Moon Aquarium Kit, 10-Gallon

I used to own a number of tanks and my dad bred fish when we were growing up, so we had as many as 30 tanks in our house at once. I finally convinced my wife to get a tank for our children, which we wanted to fit on their tall dresser in their bedroom. The regular rectangular shaped 10 gallon was a little too big, so we went with the half moon. We have had this one up for just over a week now.

Pros:

Small foot print so it fit onto a narrow/ tall dresser

Super quiet filter, perfect for the kids bedroom.

I like that it is taller than a normal 10 gallon so the plants can grow taller.

The filter seems to pump plenty of water for the tank. You can really see the water movement and if the fish don't eat quickly, some of the food will get sucked into the filter within just a few minutes. The water has been crystal clear.

Cons:

I don't like that they taped things to the inside of the tank when they shipped it. You don't want to use soap or goo gone inside a tank so that you don't kill the fish and it was a bear to clean off the glue with a paper towel.

Because the tank is narrow and tall, you have less surface area, so it technically will hold less fish than a regular 10 gallon tank

The half moon distorts the fish at certain angles and you have to move around to see the corners

Did not come with net or glass scraper

We are happy with the tank and based on our requirements, it fit our needs. The kids love the tank and we have 6 fish in it so far, 3 midnight tetras, 1 glofish and 2 molly's. We plan to add a cat and possibly a siamese fighter, but the number of fish will definitely be maxed at that point.

I just set up this tank today and immediately noticed the poor quality filter that came with this aquarium. I don't like the idea of an open top on the filter plus there are so many better filters on the market that will fit this tank. I am also not crazy about the provided top. It's just a piece of plastic that sits loosely on top of the tank with a hole in the front for feeding and two holes in the back for the heater and filter. They should have made this a hinged lid instead as there is a chance fish will jump out. Poor design! However, the tank looks beautiful and with a few minor adjustments, it will be a nice addition to my office. If you do decide to add a better filter, use the AquaClear 20. It's fantastic and will keep the aquarium in much better shape than the provided filter. Fits perfectly. Just remove the cut out portion of the back of the lid and the AquaClear fits beautifully. The AquaClear has a lid so the water is not exposed and requires very little maintenance.

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We bought this tank today and after setting it up, we absolutely love it. I wanted an elegant/stylish tank, and that is exactly what I got.

Things that I love about the tank:

1. Shape the half moon shape is great for viewing your fish, plus, it is a nice change from traditional rectangular fish tanks

2. The filter is very quiet

3. The filter replacements are not very expensive (I looked them up after purchasing the tank)

4. The LED light is bright and does not require much energy

5. The heater can be placed almost anywhere in the tank, allowing you to hide it behind plants or water features.

Things to note:

1. While I love the light, the tank that is the next size up comes with a day/night LED light feature which allows you to use one light for both day and night, instead of purchasing a separate night-time light if you want to view your tank during off hours without stressing your fish out.

2. The filter does not have a lid, so it is a little unfinished looking if you are standing directly over the tank

3. I wish the instructions would have been a little more visual and less technical. We wanted to get the tank set up quickly, and had to stop for each item and read the long instruction sheets.

While we've only had the tank and set up for one day, we absolutely love it. It is a stunning feature in our home.

Read Best Reviews of Tetra Half Moon Aquarium Kit, 10-Gallon Here

For a total of about six weeks, this was an attractive and enjoyable aquarium.

I bought this kit looking for a decorative aquarium to hold about five fresh water fancy goldfish. The tall tank with its clear lid has a lot of eye appeal: the fish and contents are much more visible than in more conventional tanks with a dark rim or a hood obstructing the upper portion. For a ten gallon tank, it has a lot of viewing area.

While the filter is nothing fancy, it does the job well provided that the tank is kept properly filled and the filter's waterfall edge is positioned not too far above the waterline. Positioned like this the system is admirably quiet, but if either the fill level is off or the filter is improperly positioned, you will experience splashing and quicker evaporation losses. It is not a bubbler-type system, so if you need to have a lot of air injected into the water you'll want a different pump/filter.

I was happy with my aquarium for aboout five days when I noticed it was leaking at the bottom left corner. I returned it and received an immediate replacement. This worked fine until, about five weeks later, I awoke to a significantly lower water level in the tank, and a correspondingly upsetting puddle on my stand and floor. I was willing to accept the first failure as a fluke, but after the second tank's failure I gave up on this item and bought another manufacturer's product.

After dissassembling the failed tank I noticed that the silicone sealant between the front curved glass, the flat glass backplate, and the plastic base appeared to have been sloppily applied in several places, including at least one place where the leaks occurred. There were a couple of other spots where upon close inspection I could see voids or finger grooves. Maybe my two tanks were made on the same day by the same inexperienced or careless assembler, and/or checked by the same indifferent inspector. Whatever the cause, poor quality control is what soured me on this product. If you really like this tank's looks in spite of its problems, I recommend you consider applying extra sealant to the seams along the inside of the base and hopefully avoid the issues I experienced.

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Something with the curve of the glass and sudden light changes drives fish to jump out! I've had this tank for a year and a half and have lost close to 20 fish. I had 1 type in there and after 5-6 jumped, I decided to move it and stock it with different fish. Same results, very upsetting to find your favorite fish dried up behind the tank/stand. Platies, Guppies, Cories, ...doesn't seem to matter, they all jump. Stay away from this tank or completely cover with saran wrap or plexiglass cut to perfect size. This will keep your fish alive, but I don't think they will be very happy.

Hagen 12-Pack Fluval U4 Poly/Carbon Cartridge Aquarium Water Filter

This is really a great deal. What a way to save in the long run. I replace both filters twice a week when I clean my tank. It's been handy to have a stockpile onhand.

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VIP Products Mighty Sammy McSnapper Ocean Dog Toy, Red and Orange

This toy was given to our Goldendoodle as a gift and she loved it. I bought one for my granddog, a Golden Retreiver who destroys his toys, because it said that it was practically indestructable. Wrong! Within 5 minutes the first fin was gone. So, if you have a dog that doesn't destroy toys it's great. Not so much for the big time chewers!

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CaribSea Phos Buster Pro for Fresh or Salt Water, 8-Ounce

best thing out there, saved my fish. i got tiered of changing filter media to control phosphate level. great product, Too bad petland does not sell it.

It took a lot of work, but I finally discovered that my freshwater algae problems were being caused by high phosphate levels in my tap water. A phosphate medium in my canister filter did not fix the problem, but a blast of PhosBuster Pro once a month is doing the trick. I can't use traditional algae control products as they are hazardous for my Cobalt Lobster. I have no idea why it is so expensive, but it was worth every penny!

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Aquarium Pharmaceuticals PondCare AlgaeFix

It blows everything I've ever tried away hands down. It says a teaspoon per 50 gallons and my experience is maybe even less. I use about a teaspoon in over a hundred gallons every month or so and my algae problems have completely dissapeared. There are people who to supplement this with barley, I say humbug. I don't supplement with anything. My plants look great. I have baby fish now in the pond and no problems. There are very few products I've tried I've been this happy with for aquariums or ponds.

2000+ gallon pond, this works great, and fast! Clears up the water in the middle of summer and doesn't hurt any of the aquatic life including snails, tadpoles, and plants.

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I have a small (150-200 gallon) ornamental pond in the front of my house. it gets full sun all day. before the lilly pads can even get a chance to grow & start shading my pond, the string algae takes over. for the third year in a row, i have used this product with great success. i have live plants and fish in my pond and have had a lot of difficulty finding a product that will kill the algae without killing either the fish or the plants or sometimes both! I highly recommend this product.

Read Best Reviews of Aquarium Pharmaceuticals PondCare AlgaeFix Here

Cleans out algae already in your pond, and will keep it clean with weekly applications. Cuts down on the number of times you have to empty and clean out pond.

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We have more rains this year than all previous years, and my outdoor pond got more algae than I have ever seen before. I bought the PondCare and and apply it as the instructions. The algae were getting worsen and one of my Koi fish die. After a few days, the conditions did not improve, and I have to manually clean the pond.

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Panacea Products APN70008 100 Count Pan Marbles for Aquarium, Lustre Clear

This is the same bag of marbles you'll see for $1.99 from other suppliers. The price is higher to account for "free" prime shipping.

The "vase" in the picture is not actually a vase; it appears to be a small 3x3x3 votive candle holder. Nice picture, but to be clear you're not really going to fill a vase with just one $8 bag.

The upshot is that it only takes about 2 bags per vase to weigh it down sufficiently.

There weren't as many as I thought there would be (I know the number was listed in the description). I guess I'm not good at visualizing the number of marbles. I just thought there would be more for the price.

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These marbles were used for a decorating product (not fish) and were perfect for my application. This vendor performed above my expectation for an item so inexpensive.

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A simple order that was inexpensive as well as effortless. My items arrived fast as lighting, and in great shape. I'm happy:)

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Tetra Betta Bowl, Silver

Too small for a temporary home. Not bad I guess if you wanted to put one in there while your changing your REAL tank. You can get a 5 gal for cheaper at some places. Please be kind!

This is a simple and sweet bowl for your Betta. It is a good bowl but take note that the food will get buried beneath the rocks so it requires extra cleaning.The light is nice and runs on batteries, it is an LED light.

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I bought my betta a few weeks ago as a pet for college. Unsure of what container to get, or how much room I would have on my desk, I opted for this bowl.

I have been very pleased with this product. Although the bowl is smaller than I would like, my fish has grown increasingly happy and responsive the longer he has lived in it. There was enough room to place a small "fish castle" in the middle, which he absolutely loves! It gives him a wonderful place to hide, but also something to do. I also placed a few small rocks at the bottom for him to rest on, and to compliment his color.

Unfortunately, this bowl does not have a filtration system, so it requires almost daily examination/care. This is not a huge issue for me, but I can assume that it will become too much work eventually.

I plan on switching to a larger, filtered tank eventually, but for now, this bowl has been great for my happy, healthy little friend. :)

Read Best Reviews of Tetra Betta Bowl, Silver Here

I would never use this for any of my fish. Bettas needs are too many. Heck any fishes needs are many. Filtering, heat, freshness...

I do however love this tank for raising food for my fish. Its not a bad spot for brine shrimp.

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this is crazy! bettas jump first of all, and need a heater! what kind of cracked up evil fish designer at Tetra came up with this one? Anders Behring Breivik??

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Perfecto Reflector Fluorescent Light Strip 48in Bl

Good product for the money, it has a long cord, it is grounded, which is a nice feature also this item was a quick shipment.

Wasnt sure at first as it didnt work out of the box. We twisted the light until it was tight and its been working fine ever since. Glad to find a light strip this size!

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Fast shipping. Well packaged. No damage upon arrival. Great item to fit my needs. This product I will recommend for anyone trying to use it with reptiles or fish.

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Just as described. Works perfectly. And the price is about 1/4 of what I had seen them selling for locally. My fish are happy again.

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Great product. The additional lighting has made my fish tank look amazing. Easy to use and turn off and on. Love it!

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Fluval EDGE Gravel Cleaner, 15-inch Intake Tube

This gravel cleaner is perfect to clean not only the intended Edge tanks but any other tank since it consist of a plastic tube with a hose. There are no compatibility issues as some reviewers seem to suggest. It's too simple for having a problem. And the size of the tank you are cleaning has an importance mostly based on your style and preferences. I prefer to take my time and clean thoroughly every spot I want. This cleaner allows me to do that in a 29 gallon aquarium because a so-called "ideal" gravel cleaner for that size (namely a 2" tube with a 1/2" hose) would suck a bucket of water every 30 seconds or so, which is way too fast in my opinion. So, what you have to keep in mind when selecting a gravel cleaner is the debit of water sucked per second, and that is given by the diameter of the hose. It's a concept that everyone who went to a high school should know: Venturi effect. Every gravel cleaner on the market has basically the same flow speed ratio between the tube and the hose. The difference observed by users is obviously given by the fact that the diameters of the hoses are different from one cleaner to another. A better understanding of the suction power would be to consider what would happen if only a hose would be used, making abstraction of the gravel.

So, this gravel cleaner works great in Edge tanks but also in any other tank, big or small, as long as you keep in mind that the hose has an internal diameter of 3/8" so the suction power is limited by that. That doesn't mean no suction power. To me it's actually the ideal power for most sizes of aquariums. And this cleaner comes with 2 cleaning heads that improve the options you have when cleaning deep clean or hard to reach areas. I enjoy the deep cleaning the most.

The bigger sizes of gravel cleaners have hoses with 1/2" internal diameter which in my opinion is only appropriate for over 50 gallon aquariums since with that size, you will fill a bucket very fast and for smaller aquariums you will end up making a 50% or more water change with every cleaning. That is not recommended.

This gravel cleaner is designed for the 6 gal Fluval Edge (Nano) tank. It works great for this purpose. It looks like some of the reviewers didn't realize this was designed for a 6 gal tank.

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This is a handy gravel cleaner for smaller tanks. Larger tanks would require a larger vac opening

Cheers !

Read Best Reviews of Fluval EDGE Gravel Cleaner, 15-inch Intake Tube Here

This is well made, but a little large for a small tank. It works well to clean the gravel without having to completely drain the tank. I would definitely recommend this for anyone who cleans there tank frequently.

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I purchased this gravel cleaner to use with my Fluval Chi Aquarium Kit, 5-Gallon. It has worked great for this so far! It is a small cleaner, which is really helpful for small tanks, because it means it doesn't empty the tank too quickly, so it can be used for partial water changes. It was easy to get the suction started, and the filter picked up detritus well. It also picked up one of my ghost shrimp, but he's okay!

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AQUARIUS AQ0080 Aquarium Mini Internal Filter 45gph flow rate

i had purchased several aquarium kits that contain these filters. after looking for quite some time for replacement cartidges. i contacted the company and found that you can use the tetra whisper 3i replacement cartrideges for this filter

I've had this filter for 2 months now. I use this filter for my 5-gallon tank and it keeps the water crystal clear. I also enjoy the quality aeration it produces in the water so I never need to buy an air pump. Additionally, I have a very small room so the only location I have for my aquarium is next to my bed, and though I'm sensitive to noises, I sleep with no disruptions. I thoroughly enjoy this little compact filter.

The only hiccup is that the filter cartridges for this model are not sold anywhere, but Tetra's small Bio-bag filter cartridges work just fine. Still, this hiccup doesn't affect my satisfaction of this little filter.

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This is a very good filter, but it has a short life, at least for me. My second Mini Might Filter just crapped out on me. Don't know if it's something I'm doing, or it's just a bad product, because it is a good filter. I've had this one for a bit more than a month, and it's having the same problem as my last filter. It makes this awful Darth-Vader sucking noise. That's the best way to describe it. Still seems to filter, but that terrible noise! I feel so bad for my fish to have to endure that :( All the other filters I have seen have been huge, I want a tiny filter, but this one isn't working!

Read Best Reviews of AQUARIUS AQ0080 Aquarium Mini Internal Filter 45gph flow rate Here

I've had this for a long time. It filters very well for a little one, and is so tiny, it hardly takes up any space. The odd sucking noise is not the filters fault, it happens with any filter that is exposed above air. To rid any filter of that noise, stick it under the water, like it should be.

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this filter is very quiet unlike other filters I have and the only bad thing is the cartridges you have to buy tetra mini cartridges its own company does not make them but always keeps water crystal clear

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Aquarium Fish Tank Oranment Vividly Goldfish Decor

I would designate these a child's toy for pretend play without water. As an ornament for an outdoor pond, these are pretty useless. Compared to real goldfish, they are about 50% the size. In the product information, it says "Attached weights position fish in any depth aquarium." This is the main reason I purchased these fish. There is no such thing in the fish I received. They float on the surface with the dorsal fin above water, like a shark, or after a short time sink to the bottom. They are cute, and nicely made. Shipping was quick, and from Hong Kong, about the only place in the world that has these.

Vibran-Sea Amazon Flowering Cluster Aquarium Plant Assortment

I purchased these recently for my Betta tanks and I'm very happy with them. The colors are nice and vibrant and the material is soft. One warning though: if using it with Bettas or fish with delicate fins, make sure to take off those hard plastic "branches". They will snag your fish's fins. This has happened to me in the past with similar plants, so I always take that part off so that the fabric part is just remaining.

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Petco Blue Jean Aquarium Gravel, 20 lbs.

Very nice for a great price. I really liked the color of the rocks for the tank. They made it an aqua blue color with the light in the fish tank!

Nice addition to any Aquarium. The blue mix really enhances the tank and decor of the room. Anothe good purchase.

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Gravel is BEAUTIFUL. It makes you feel as if you were looking at the ocean. I highly reccomend to those who love the ocean and even those who need to relax. Water is proven to relax us and this truly makes you feel as if you were watching the ocean.

Read Best Reviews of Petco Blue Jean Aquarium Gravel, 20 lbs. Here

Kordon Fish Protector

I have been using this product for about a year now after discovering it in small 4 oz bottles at a pet store (in another city). Fortunately, I was able to find the 16 oz. bottles online. I use this whenever I notice any kind of stress and even take it along with me when I go fish shopping in other cities ("have bucket will travel"). This product calms any fish that shows agitation or aggression and aids healing. I have used other Kordon's products since 2006 and have been very happy with them as well. I have asked local stores to try to stock the product, but so far, haven't had any luck (one would order a whole case for me! but the price per bottle was quite a bit higher than what I pay on line...I continue to order online).

Note: This is not a de-chlorinater you will still need other products for that.

This is seriously the best thing ever created for fish!!!(Saltwater AND Freshwater) I used to go through so many bottles of this stuff until it's recently been out of stock and not being reordered at any of our Petsmart's or Petco's. But it's great for so many things like if you have a violent fish attacking another one, you can pour in a bunch of this stuff to calm them down and mellow out. It's like a stress coat but better because you can't overdose with it!!!! This stuff has saved so many of my fish, and it's perfect for when you're transferring a fish from one tank to another. ( I usually put them in a bowl with half a capful of Fish protector and slowly introduce the new water). Awesome product!!!!

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This stuff is a big help in fighting fin erosion when your fish are under stress from illness. Kordon claims on the label that the polymer coating absorbs methylene blue, malachite green, nitrofurozone and antibiotics like tetracycline and acts as a carrier for the medications. My own experience in treating velvet is that without this stuff I lost a veil tale to stunningly rapid bacterial fin erosion down to the roots, and with this stuff, fin erosion halted and I did not lose any of my other fish. And with an early enough application in another tank, there was no fin erosion at all when that horrible gold dust had to be treated there. (If you experience velvet, keep in mind that it is exceedingly virulent and take extra precaution not to spread it to other tanks.)

Read Best Reviews of Kordon Fish Protector Here

I use this product in my tanks weekly, and after all water changes & adjustments. Again, I have used multiple other brands that claim to do the same, but with less than good outcomes. My fish are thriving and healthy, due to this product and my regular use of Hagen's Nutrafin brand.

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i bought a small bottle of this a while ago and bought two new cichlids yesterday and intro to new family was not fun for one of the newcomers...put some of this in the tank and in an hour it was a "Whole new world"...LOL...gentle, calm no chasing , no aggression from the Alpha male..I want to know what is in this stuff, I reorganized the tank and put in some of this and I have had great results..I want to get a large bottle my 4 oz is 75 % gone...i will be buying more and recommend for aquatic newcomers...they need to feel loved.

Aqueon 01206 Betta Bowl Starter Kit

I have no real experience to draw upon, but my wife gave me this and a pair of Bettas as a gift. I am a writer and having this on my work desk is great! I will update if I find any trouble with keeping it clean, but so far, it has been a pleasure. I have no trouble with the divider if I simply open the feeding hatch and place my finger on the divider when I remove the lid.

So far, my Bettas seem happy in their new home.

This product looks great, and as a mom who wanted to get a gift for her daughter's seventh birthday, it sounded like a perfect fit (since her five year old sister would also want one of her own fish). It is partially my fault for not doing further research before making the purchase, but after discussing it with a Petco fish professional and doing further internet research, it was made clear to me that ONE Betta fish needs at least ONE GALLON of water If you think a fish is an "easy" pet to start off with like I did, do your research if you want you fish to live. You'll want your kids to learn to do the same before making decisions involving live animals!

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Just because a Betta can survive in small conditions because in their natural environment during the drought season doesn't mean that we should keep them in those conditions. Many Bettas don't survive these rough conditions that nature provides in their home territory. If you buy small cups and throw a fish in themyou are just condemning them to solitary confinement in a prison cell. My Betta is in a 10 gallon tank and you wouldn't believe the fun he has exercising and playing in all that space. If you careyou would never subject this beautiful creature to cups of water if you saw them in gallons of HEATED (they are tropical fish) water!!!!!! Study this fish and you will understand that we take for granted their survival mechanisms and exploit them for our own foolish pleasure.

Read Best Reviews of Aqueon 01206 Betta Bowl Starter Kit Here

This tank is far too small for a fish. Bettas need more space, a gallon at the bare minimum to survive. Putting 1 fish in this tank is cruel, let alone 2. Small aquariums are subject to drastic temperature changes and are not as stable as larger ones. Bettas will be miserable in a tank this small. Please get educated about bettas before buying one. I kept my first betta, out of ignorance, in a small cube and it lived for 8 months, amazingly. There is plenty of info available online. They are not just live ornaments meant to sit in miserably confined jail cells, but living creatures that need warm and clean water, plant cover (live plants are needed for health and tank conditions), and space to live. My current betta lives in a 2 gallon tank with a small heater, and filter (which I run about half the time). He is happy, active, and curious. Bettas do not need air pumps since they get oxygen at the water surface. The only worthwhile use for this "aquarium" would be to hold your betta temporarily while you clean his larger tank, or transport him for some reason. Just because the tank is "compact and fits my desk well", does not mean it is a good idea. Buy a bigger tank and learn to properly care for your betta and he/she will make it known they are happy!

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This product was given to me for a wonderful Christmas present as I had always expressed my fondness of the flashy, individualistic swimmers on passing pet store shelves. I got a red and a blue, one a plakkat and the other a half moon. Without knowing really anything about them I thought, it's so great they can be put in such compact little enclosures. What resilient little guys. But I was adding to the already incredible lack of foresight that clouds the image of bettas we the populace, know of them.

As I became familiar with them, I began to have doubts about how healthy their condition was and began to research the species. I felt like the worst pet owner in the world honestly. The red died after floating sideways for a day or so and I felt helpless, stupid, and lost. I still have blue but unfortunately haven't been able to move him into anything bigger. He's doing... alright for now. Currently I'm purchasing a 10 gallon, a heater and some water conditioners and stress zyme as well as real plants and a filter to keep my remaining little guy happy.

If you aren't prepared to actually put effort into raising a betta like any other fish, please. Pass by the fancy cups on your way down the isle and I promise the whimsy will pass. It's not just a toy for your kids, or a neat trinket to put on your desk. It's a very unique species of fish with wonderful inquisitive personalities and greatly underestimated needs. And frankly they don't deserve this. I'm not saying they're hard to take care of but just have some common sense.

These are fish that need to be kept warm, need to reach the surface to breathe air, need cover like plants to hide in, need to eat proper betta food since they are carnivores, and most importantly of all NEED TO BE KEPT IN A TANK OF 2-5 GALLONS.

This is A HALF GALLON TANK. That's bad enough but the fact that it advertises enough space for two is an OUTRAGE. Like almost every other 'betta' tank at your pet stores today they grievously undermine betta care. In fact I wouldn't doubt that they make the tanks so small so that it ensures the fact you'll be buying a new one from them soon.

Bettas live in small but most often CONNECTED pools of water in rice patties in Thailand. It's a complete ecosystem not an ammonia lethal incredibly cramped bowl. That's why they enjoy heat, plant cover, air to breathe AND SPACE.

Having such a small container for them (I won't even continue giving this product the decency of titling it a tank) highly increases the toxicity levels of ammonia fish naturally produce in their waste and uneaten food.

Even as I type this I'm looking over at my little guy. His tail had become tattered by stress, he's resting on the tank bottom (which is normal for sleep but he's slightly sideways) and I just feel the same helplessness of negligence.

Just please don't perpetuate the lies surrounding bettas, do your research. Don't buy this.

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Tetra 26164 Whisper Bio-Bag Cartridge, Unassembled, Large, 12-Pack

Everyone is going to "prepackaged" filter cartridges. I prefer the flexibility of putting whatever I want into the filters. I prefer 1/3 activated charcoal and 2/3 ammo chips. This keeps the tank clean and also keeps the ammonia down since I keep a heavy load of fish in my tank. I can't seem to find these filters in my pet store, so I get them online. I change my filters every two weeks, so when I run low, I order more and they are delivered before I need them. I highly recommend these filters.

I own a Tetra 100 gph internal filter for my Turtle tank. It takes the large filter cartridge. I replace them almost once a week. At first I tried Tetra's newer all in one type, where you don't have to add the charcoal and there is no filter frame to deal with. I had lot of trouble with this and sometimes it got clogged up too quickly because it would sag a little. Stay with Tetra's traditional style and save money by installing the filter onto the frame and add the charcoal. It's less convenient but things work out better. The 12 pack at Amazon is about a $1 each filter which is A LOT less than the single pack or any packages Tetra sells. So if you have a LARGE Tetra filter (internal or external), this "old school" filter package is better and a lot less money than all the others Tetra sells.

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I have found making my own filters allows me to add more activated charcoal carbon filter media. The small package found in most filters does not (in my opinion) clean enough because they have only about a handful of filter media inside.

DO YOU WANT BETTER FILTERIZATION?:

I now use the unassembled filter bags -I add enough activated charcoal to FILL the filter from bottom to top of the filter sac then the water flows thru the charcoal and NOT around it. BE SURE TO rinse the filter with water to remove loose charcoal before re-installing in the filter frame.

HOW I MAINTENANCE THE TANK:

I maintenance the tank weekly or bi-weekly, first I remove the decorative accents from the tank so I can clean the rock by a gentle stirring motion,(being careful not to bump into the fish) then I loosen debris in rock with the tank water siphon vacuum tube removing 1/4 the water. I wipe the glass with clean paper towel if needed to remove salts or other debris that accumulates on the glass, I add some fresh water to top off the tank, add de-chlorination, test the water (using a water test kit) and change the filter after filtering with old filter for 45 mins 1 hr to remove the majority of debris loosen from gravel. That routine seems to keep the tank clean and the goldfish healthy.

BEFORE vs AFTER: I use to buy pre-made, and had fair results for cleaning but after I noticed the pre-made have very little charcoal in the filter sac, I decided to make my own and add more filter charcoal. Now that I have increased the amount of filter charcoal (they call it activated carbon) media, the tank water is MUCH cleaner at least 50% cleaner overall.

KEEPING A CLEAN TANK SEEMS TO HELP FISH WITH SWIM BLADDER DISEASE: Goldfish may gulp and burp air to alter the pressure in the swim bladder. I have one fancy goldfish that gets an air in the bladder (this bladder disease leads to problems where the fish has trouble with buoyancy in the water -this is more like a temporary condition that can be managed.) If the fish seems floats up to the top while swimming and seems to lay on side or back after floating to top (this may happen ccasionally because it gets air in the belly)I have read online keeping the tank clean helps prevent this often genetic buoyancy disorder

HELPFUL TIPS: I also try to add the food in the water downward stream to prevent top feeding which encourages air in the belly intake.

GREEN PEAS TRICK MAY HELP swim bladder buoyancy:

1) Defrost 1 to 2 frozen peas. The peas must be very soft.

2) Gently squeeze the peas to free them from their skins. Discard the skins.

3) Put the skinless peas in the fish tank. Allow the affected fish to eat at least 1 of the 2 peas. If the fish will not eat the peas, remove the peas and try again later.

Read more ABOUT FISH BLADDER BUOYANCY: This green pea method that seems to help the bladder syndrome rather quickly(for my fish this seems usually removes the floating symptom in a couple hours).

==>For more info google these words: "fish bladder disease green peas"

FINAL THOUGHT:

I found that often I can get a better deal (lower price) buying through AMAZON than the pet store I have checked the prices with several pet stores vs AMAZON, so if you plan ahead you can order the items and have them ready to use, when needed.

Read Best Reviews of Tetra 26164 Whisper Bio-Bag Cartridge, Unassembled, Large, 12-Pack Here

I've been using these filters for at least a year, and the unassembled filters are a bargain compared to the pre-assembled. The filters definitely catch a good amount of impurities, so much so I'm finding myself replacing them after a week, even after turning them around, which does buy you another couple of days. I use them in the larger dual Marineland Penguin Power Filter, so I go through quite a few of the Bio Bag filters. My only complaint is the relatively small amount of charcoal that comes with each filter bag. To supplement the charcoal, I add a bit (not a lot) of the Marineland PA0392 Diamond Blend Activated Carbon/Ammonia Neutralizing Crystals, 50-Ounce, 1417-Gram, found here:

http://www.amazon.com/Marineland-PA0392-Activated-Neutralizing-1417-Gram/dp/B0002566YM/ref=sr_1_28?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1345250796&sr=1-28&keywords=marineland+filter

I believe this blend compliments the charcoal, while at the same time using more of the space available in the pouches. Also, if you find the little plastic clips that seal the top of the bag starting to loosen up, I've substituted one of those little metal clips typically used to hold sheets of paper together that you pinch to open, like these:

http://www.amazon.com/ACCO-Binder-Medium-Capacity-A7072050/dp/B0035OQGA6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1345251846&sr=8-2&keywords=paper+clips

Anyway, I hope someone finds these suggestions useful.

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The biobag filter refills are seconds (factory mistakes) not good enough for the stores. these are thin single layer. Not the standard 3 layer like i've been useing for the past 17yrs. Store bought ones are much thicker. These like rot away and fall apart in 10-12 days in 2 different tanks. Don't buy. unless you plan on changeing often instead of every 3 weeks.

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Rio 12HF HyperFlow Water Pump - 750 GPH

I use it to run a blue bowl gold concentrator. It works swimmingly for a submersible pump. Well worth it.

This pump lasted me 5 months. It completely stopped working. All instructions in use and full water submersion were followed.

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I had a Rio 1800 pump in my aquarium and and another Rio 2100 that I got about five years ago that I use for water changes. The Rio 1800 in the aquarium died after being used for 10 years and I replaced it with the Rio 2100 I was using for water changes so I bought Rio 12HF in 2010 and that one failed after eight months where I was just using it once or twice a month to pump water into the aquarium during water changes. Got another Rio 12HF that also failed after six months. The FH series with the titanium shaft and ceramic bushing is suppose to be a better product but I can't recommend the Rio FH series pumps as they seem to have a very short lifetime.

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Cleaner Pump for biOrb & biUbe

Compared to other siphons, I like this one because of the pump. The material it is made of is not the most durable when compared to the other siphons. Since I only use it every other week, I don't think that durabilty will be an issue. I saw this item at some of the big chain stores for a much cheaper price.

I have a Baby biOrb that I use for a betta fish. I'm new to the whole aquarium thing and I really had a hard time changing the water. This pump makes life a lot easier. Although it's biOrb branded, I suppose it could be used for any aquarium. This product gets one star off because the package labeling could use some work. There's an attachment included with the pump that mystifies me. The labeling only uses pictures and not language, and does not mention the attachment or how to use it.

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Works as shown. Do people really need written directions? My goodness.

BTW only one place that the attachment will fit. A little examination will allow you to see that one end is threaded, the part that goes into the tank. Unscrew the fat end and screw in the attachment for deeper gravel.

Read Best Reviews of Cleaner Pump for biOrb & biUbe Here

Easy to use little manual pump for the BiOrb. Perfect size for the tank. Easy to keep clean.

Want Cleaner Pump for biOrb & biUbe Discount?

Three pumps of the bladder starts the process working but it doesn't quite filter the junk at the bottom of the tank as I had hoped. I need more practice I presume...

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Coralife Energy Savers ACL02033 Replacemt Pump 33004 Skimmr

This pump made my skimmer work just like new. I didn't want to experiment with a different brand pump, I just purchased OEM.

The pump works great. It has gotten my skimmer to work at fixing my tank right up from the previous pump that stopped working.

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Shipping was fast and on time. Once i received the product I set it up on my skimmer and the air intake restricted the pump flow so much it it would produce very few and very large bubbles. My advice is that if it is time for a new pump... invest in a new skimmer and don't try to get it working with this pump cause... it won't work.

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