Showing posts with label best fish tanks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label best fish tanks. Show all posts

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Marina Hygropphila Diformis, 12 Inches

Marina Hygropphila Diformis, 12 InchesThis plant it way too flimsy. If it is anywhere near the filter, the leaves/stems bend over and look ugly. There are much better plants out there.

Very lifelike silk plant and it looks nice in tank. Bigger than I imagined, and just right for a 30 gallon fish tank.

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I put this in a 10 gallon cylinder and it camouflages very well against the background. My fish love hiding in it.

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Monday, October 13, 2014

Midwest Tropical 675 Square Aquarium Coffee Table

Midwest Tropical 675 Square Aquarium Coffee TableThe only thing they really had to get right with this tank was having the black bottom piece affixed securely to the clear acrylic tank, and with that they failed miserably. The black acrylic piece at the bottom is about 3/8" wide and is affixed poorly by glue around the tank. Accidently bump into the table or attempt to move the table and the bottom will no longer be attached to the tank.

The acrylic tank is square but once filled with water the sides protrude outwards, losing its shape, making it look much less square than when there is no water in it. Having a glass tank would have solved this problem. Also the acrylic is very vulnerable to scratches. When removing the rocks to clean it you must be VERY careful. If you scratch the sides of the tank, it will look cloudy and visibility will be permanently decreased. Had it been glass, this wouldn't have been a problem.

Another thing, you must not use a heater otherwise the entire top will be foggy and you will not be able to see inside the tank. If you aerate the water or cause motion in the water, you will find condensation underneath the glass top and it will bubble up and start dripping into the tank again. If you use the included carbon filter you will also have a cord running across the room to the nearest outlet. A light fits discreetly underneath the tank and the rocks do a good job of dispersing the light quite evenly, however you've got another cord. There is about a 6" opening in the center of one of the black bottomed sides to easily slide in the light and remove it when necessary. The glass top is well made.

Overall it's a beautiful piece, but it doesn't work for everyone.

This product improved my life vastly. Before purchasing the Midwest Tropical 675 Square Aquarium Coffee Table, I had serious problems melding my twin love of coffee tables and fish. Like most men, I tried making a coffee table out of a taxidermied Mahi-Mahi, and like most men I failed.

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Monday, October 6, 2014

pH Meter SMS120 w/Alert

pH Meter SMS120 w/AlertI bought this pH meter about 3 years ago along with a Co2 pro system for my planted aquarium. I calibrate it very infrequently, and even given that, it does a terrific job of regulating my Co2 to keep my pH where I want it and the plants thriving.

Truthfully, all I ever bother to do is look at the display to see where the pH is, I make sure the Co2 canister isn't empty, and take a peek at the bubble counter. If you use a timer to turn off the solenoid when the aquarium lights go off you'll have a fully automated Co2 system for your plants and it's a dream! I'm disabled and very limited in what I can do. Anything that makes life easier, even if only a little, helps a lot so I automate everything. I've found that calibrating my probe two to four times a year with the General Hydroponics Ph 4.01 & Ph 7.0 Calibration Solution Kit (also on Amazon) works perfectly. I just put a little of each solution in a couple of fresh ziplocks. It'll take ages to run out of solution and my PH probe stays accurate.

Make sure to keep the instructions, even if you just put it in a little bag and tape it to the back of the meter. You'll want to have it handy each time you calibrate.

I can't say this about most of my aquarium equipment, but if my pH meter ever dies I'll get another exact same one right away.

Works great but looks nothing like the picture mine is beige in color and shaped differently but who cares the green is kinda ugly..

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i like the device, but it was upsetting not to have both testing solutions for calibration. it only comes with the ph 7 and is missing the ph 4 solution.

Read Best Reviews of pH Meter SMS120 w/Alert Here

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Coralife Energy Savers ACL58590 flouorescent, 6700k, Bulb 24-Inch/T5

Coralife Energy Savers ACL58590 flouorescent, 6700k, Bulb 24-Inch/T5did the job. it is bright, not used for plant growth, but provides a nice lighting for aquarium. used on a aqueon 25G tank with a lighting ballast that came with the aquarium

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Friday, September 5, 2014

Fluval Flora Aquatic Plant Kit, 7.9-gallon

Fluval Flora Aquatic Plant Kit, 7.9-gallonDangling the promise of being able cultivate beautiful aquarium plants with an all in one system, The Fluval Flora is designed to attract many buyers but fails to deliver on almost all of its key components.

The best thing about the fluval flora is the aquarium itself. Made with quality glass, the aquarium is attractive, comes with a pad and can be placed on most desktop environments easily and attractively. I would have prererred a pure cube shape, allowing for more depth in the aquascape design but overall the aquarium itself is fine.

Everything else is a false economy. The 13 watt lamp that comes with the system is in itself, fine. However a lamp providing less than less than 2 watts a gallon limits your choice of plants to a much greater degree than the included care guide suggests.

The mini pressurized CO2 system is also fine as a stand alone product but does a low wattage system like the Fluval Floral really need a CO2 system when the lighting component can only accomodate low light plants that photosynthesize at such a slow rate as to normally do better without CO2?

Hagen needs to upgrade the lighting or just elimanate the CO2 feature to make sense here. I suspect the market research shows that aquarists are eager to get into CO2, but are wary of pressurized systems that seem somewhat dangerous to the average user. Hagen capitalizes on this desire but doesn't deliver a lighting system of sufficient intensity to make the CO2 make sense.

The other issue I have is with the substrate. Stratum is a quality substrate but the system comes with a 4 lb bag and it should come with twice that amount.

To my mind the worst component of this entire box is the internal filter which has the dubious distinction of not only being a craptastic filter but adds insult to injury by taking up a considerable amount of real estate on the aquarium floor giving the effect of seven foot sectional couch in a studio apratment.

What Hagen could have done and could still do [-before judgement day is upon us ] is design a system friendly version of their incredible, peerless, stupendous, best of its kind AQUACLEAR filter specifically designed for this kit. Aquaclear already has the virtue of creating very little surface disturbance anyway, certainly not as much as that ridiculous "spray bar"

Anyway, I don't like the filter.

In short for this system to do what it promises, the aquarist would need to buy AT MINIMUM an additional lamp and an additional bag of substrate. Not to mention being willing to learn about balancing water parameters that are inherently much less stable with a high tech system. In other words high tech components, like intense lighting and CO2, not properly managed can throw an initially lovely aquarium into a dismal algae ridden mess quicker than you can say "Fluval Flora"

The tank itself is truly nice with rounded corners and clear glass. The aquarium kit is perfect for any desk or person who is looking for a planted aquarium. There are some debate as to whether this tank can sustain plants but the lighting system while can be improved, is still good enough for lower light plants. The substrate is alittle fine for my taste but is a good start for growing roots. The CO2 system is again something to be improved but still effective for this application. Im really impressed on how the aquarium kit is but it does have some flaws.

My aquarium arrived damaged on arrival. I believe Amazon or whoever ships this product needs to step up their game. Im not the only one who has received this tank and the glass is broken. The kit has alot of promise if it was shipped correctly.

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This is a great tank for people new to planted tanks or those who want something different.The light is perfect for growing med to low light plants.Filter works great its a little big for the tank but your plants will hide it.The substrate is good i mixed it with Floramax for more planting depth.Co2 system is also good .This is a good buy for a planted tank setup.

Read Best Reviews of Fluval Flora Aquatic Plant Kit, 7.9-gallon Here

I will be the first to admit that I was very uneasy with all the bad reviews this was getting on Amazon and off..but I've been 100% satisfied so far with everything except the Co2 unit included (as I've yet to try it out yet). If this works at all, it will be an added bonus in my opinion, as the rest of the kit is well worth the price I payed. The item arrived in perfect condition, not a scratch on the tank, not a piece of broken glass, nothing! Trust me, after reading the other reviews on here I was just holding my breath that everything arrived intact and would work. Well I'm happy to report that everything works just fine...filter works(albeit it a tad noisy at times but it could be just a matter of readjusting it), light works perfectly, and setup is a breeze. My only complaint is that in order to attach the cheesylooking, styrofoam background to the back of the tank, they apply some type of aquarium safe adhesive to the glass. This background piece comes loosely attached, but I just to remove it as I wanted the extra space. The aquarium adhesive is an annoyance to remove, but comes off relatively easily (I used an algae scraper blade, along with warm water and got it clean in no time). The plant stratum included works great too, it makes it super easy to plant stem plants especially. Not sure if the 4.4 ounces bag is really enough to make a deep substrate bed, so I would suggest purchasing one additional 4.4 ounce bag as I did afterward (I've only added half of the second bag). Also, at the suggestion of reviewers off of Amazon I purchased a second Fluval mini compact lamp. If you really are trying to stick to a budget though, I'm sure you could get by just fine with what's included in the kit, but I always tend to go the extra mile to ensure better success. A nice bonus is the cool pair of aquatic tongs they give you as I've already put them to use and they really do come in handy! Hope this review helps those of you who may be on the fence, and to serve as a positive counterbalance to the terrible reviews a couple of shall we say, unhappy Amazon customers? lol A final bottom line recap: excellent buy for the price, you will not be disappointed with this purchase if everything arrives in great condition as they did with my product. Only drawback is the background piece that comes loosely attached to the back of the tank (this can be easily addressed in accordance to one's own aesthetic preference, see above for more detail).

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Just as advertised, does a great job! Highly recommended! Fluval is a great company, and I would buy this product again! Thank you!

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Monday, August 25, 2014

Fish & Aquatic Supplies Spectrum Cichlid Formula Sinking 2270Gm

Fish & Aquatic Supplies Spectrum Cichlid Formula Sinking 2270GmI have been using this brand for many years and it has kept my fish healthy and vibrant. Their colors really pop with this food. I can't say enough great things about this food. If you keep Africans this is a must have!

Saturday, July 19, 2014

Python Squeeze Siphon Starter Aquarium Adapter

Python Squeeze Siphon Starter Aquarium AdapterSince the description is pretty lackluster I will re-describe the product:

First of all it is made for tubing that is either 1/2" or 1/4" These are the most common sizes for gravel suction hoses. It comes with 5 parts pre-assembled and a extra adapter for the 1/4" tubing. The rubber squeeze bulb is just that. There is the 1/2" adapter on one end. The other end is the the drain end which has 3 parts making a ball valve. Also this product is made in the U.S.A.

At first I didn't think the thing worked I squeezed several times and nothing. I read the instructions and it still didn't get it to work. Thinking that maybe it was clogged I opened it up (super easy to do, which is great if the pump every gets clogged with stuff you suck up)and realized how it worked.

In order for it to work you must have the draining end of the pump facing UP(They completely failed to mention this in the instructions). Once you've primed your suction tubing you can point the drain down into your bucket or wherever you're draining. The reason for this is the valve will be open if the drain end is facing down so when you squeeze the air pressure won't build up--air will just go out the drain end.

Anyway the product works great, which is great because although I love Snailbert (my snail) I am absolutely disgusted by him at the same. Now I don't ever come in contact with the water in his tank.

One downside is that I personally think it's a bit expensive, but maybe rubber is expensive or maybe it's because it's made in the the U.S.A.

This bulb doesn't really work the way I expected it to. I expected it to start the siphon so I didn't have to pump the tube up and down in the water. But it doesn't do that. It will only start the siphon if you get it partially primed by pumping the tube. Plus, it's not marked for inlet or outlet or the flow direction, so you have to mess around with it to see which is the suction end. On top of that, it just doesn't create much suction. It comes apart easily, which may also be part of the problem. It was kind of a lot of money for something that doesn't work very well.

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Much better than trying to siphon with your mouth or putting the hose in the tank most of the way. I actually modified mine to work with the little cleaning siphon hoses. I put a smaller pipe fitting in the suction side (coated with aquarium safe sealant) and let it dry over-night. The next day it worked GREAT with the smaller hose.

Read Best Reviews of Python Squeeze Siphon Starter Aquarium Adapter Here

I should have bought this item long time ago but must have forgot about it.

Good thing I remember and decide to buy it.

I attach a air line hose to this with a rigid tube and do my water changes with this baby...usually I use it for nano tanks and shrimp.

You have to turn the python upside down and give it a squeeze to build the pressure, then turn it right side up and your good! Water start flowing and now you can do you water changes. I fill up with tank with this the same way.

Nothing beats sucking up tank water!

Worth my money!

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Excellent!!! I love it!!!The quality very good and I need it for my job! I like this items very much!!!

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Teddy Tank Penguin Betta Fish Tank 8-Piece Premium Package

Teddy Tank Penguin Betta Fish Tank 8-Piece Premium PackageI would not put my betta fish in this! Betta fish need at least 2.5 gallons and need a sturdy tank on a sturdy surface. Not a stuffed animal that will be shaken and stress the fish to death.

I have the monkey tank in my room, and I absolutely love it! It gives my desk some character, and my betta has been happily living in it since January. :)

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Thursday, April 3, 2014

Aqua Pro 60W (20x3W) CREE LED Aquarium Reef Tank Coral Light White/Blue Aluminum

Aqua Pro 60W CREE LED Aquarium Reef Tank Coral Light White/Blue AluminumThese lights are sturdy, quality lights. I was very impressed with the brightness, water penetration, and color quality. I have two of these on my 75 gallon tank and they look great.

Grows hard coral with ease. I have 2 units on my 90g and couldn't be happier. Great coverage and depth penetration.

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Sunday, March 30, 2014

Cadet 25-Pack Pig Ears Dog Chews

Cadet 25-Pack Pig Ears Dog ChewsImmediate delivery, product is wll below store price. Will be buying on a regular basis.

My boys love these treats. They are not sticky and are very chewy. I love how easy it is to order in bulk on line and have it shipped right to my door. Now I have my dogs favorite treats always on hand.

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Cadet pigs ears are the best on the market...our dog loves them. These pigs ears are have less fat on them and are healthier than others we have tried. Would recommend them to any dog owner.

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The quality, size, and (from the way my dogs devour them) the taste are better than any other Pig Ears that I have ever bought. The price is good too!! I will always be buying these for my dogs from now on!

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I hesitated buying these because I couldn't find any info on the size of the ears. Took a gamble & was happy to find each "piece" is actually a full-sized pig's ear & you get 25 in the package.

I have two Yorkie Poos who love, love, LOVE pigs ears. My dogs are not small @ about 18 pounds each (I know--GIANT Poodle + Yorkie), but these are pretty calorie-rich treats, so I use a pair of sheet metal shears (kind of like these: Wiss M300 MultiMaster 3-Inch Cut Capacity 10-1/2-Inch Straight, Left, and Right Cut Long Handled Snip ) to cut each ear into 4 pieces (makes us 2 days' worth of treats).

Pigs ears do a SUPERB job of keeping teeth clean & these are equal to the quality I was buying locally. Prices do seem to fluctuate widely, depending, I suppose, on pork prices.

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Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Acurel LLC Ammonia Reducing Media Pad Aquarium and Pond Filter Accessory, 10-Inch by 18-Inch

Acurel LLC Ammonia Reducing Media Pad Aquarium and Pond Filter Accessory, 10-Inch by 18-InchI cannot blame this on the product only the description. It states for fresh and salt water aquariums but when I received it surprise surprise it was for fresh water only. I have a fresh water planted tank so I'm not completely out of luck, ill give it a go in there and see what happens, but once again I'm giving it one star because of the false description not because of the product itself which looks capable.

this false advertisement, they are not stating that it's for fresh water only. They are not to be trusted!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I expected it to be for slat water.

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I use to have such a headache dealing with the ammonia spikes in my tank, and this helps significantly! Best part is that you just need to throw it in your filter and not have to worry about it. Just change it with every tank change, or every month.

Read Best Reviews of Acurel LLC Ammonia Reducing Media Pad Aquarium and Pond Filter Accessory, 10-Inch by 18-Inch Here

I've been trimming Accurel Ammonia Reducing pads to fit my aquarium filter for a couple of months. Prior to this, I had a constant problem with creeping ammonia levels in the fish tank. I have a 5-1/2 gallon tank with two Cory catfish and four fancy guppies. Since I've added the Accurel to my filter, there hasn't been a problem with the water balance. The ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates remain at -0-. The pads themselves are very easy to handle. They cut easily, but are quite stiff which makes it very easy to insert them into the slots in my filter. I've tried to contact Accurel to find out how long these pads are effective, but I believe their customer service department is a myth. I've had no response, and there seems to be no way to have a direct chat. In the meantime, I change it out once a week just to be on the safe side. In spite of their customer support scoring a zero, their reasonably priced product is well worth 5 stars and I recommend it.

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Not only can you cut them to fit your filter, but these are some of the best constructed filters I've ever gotten!! They have been in my weirs a couple days and they still are ridged and sturdy. Most would have already become flimsy.

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Sunday, March 2, 2014

Aquarium Pharmaceuticals 10J Pimafix Antifungal Fish Remedy

API Pimafix Antifungal Fish Remedy, 16-OunceMelafix and Pimafix are two of the flagship products by fish care giant API(aquarium Pharmaceuticals Inc)A homeopathic antifungalPimafix works wonders in fresh, brackish and salt water aquariums. Unlike medications which are in essence chemicals Pimafix uses a soluble extract called "Pimenta Racemosa"

Pimenta Racemosa comes from West Indian Bay Trees and is extraordinarily effective in treating and curing a multitude of fungus related disease including:

* Fungus and cotton Fungus

* Mouth Fungus

* Body Fungus

* Red Streaked Fins

* Gill Fungus

The typical treatment for any of the above is a daily dose of 5 ml per 10 gallons of water for seven days. Usually you'll see significant improvement within 48 hours it's that fast and that effective. Pimafix can be used along with Melafix to ensure both bacterial and fungla infections are treated equally.

Pimafix can also be used when quarantining new fish and adding post quarantine fish into your community tanks.It's important to remember to remove activated charcoal during treatment.Both Pimafix and Melafix can foam slightly but will never cloud your water or change your water parameters.

It's a safe, gentle highly effective product that I've depended on for decades.After 40 years of keeping fish both Pimafix and Melafix are two products I highly recommend to anyone, novice to expert.

I gave this 4 stars because of the scent of it. It has a very strong mint/peppery smell that will linger in the water of your tank and hangs around in the air. I love that this bottle has a measuring cap on it that makes it handy to ensure I have measured out the correct dose. Other than the smell it is a great product! My only concern is that they recommend you treat the tank for 7 days without any active carbon and if you have high waste producing fish like goldfish that is not an option. I can usually go about 12 hours without active carbon before my fish start to show signs of ammonia distress. Since I cannot go an entire week minus active carbon I will only treat my main tank if I have several fish in need of it and salt did not help. Everyday I will pull out the active carbon for 5 hours then replace it and repeat until my fish are healed or for the max of 7 days. If I have a single fish that needs to be treated a hopsital tank is a must, or in my house hospital bucket (in case if I need to transport my fish). In the smaller hospital tank it is possible to go without active carbon if you do a water change everyday (20-30%).

This is great for fin rot or any wounds on fish, but I highly recommend adding salt to your tank(if it's a freshwater tank for goldfish, etc) first before adding any chemical med. to the tank. Salt works wonders on fish, just make sure you use aquairium salt and not TABLE SALT.

Also if your having fungus issues (cottony growth on the gills or around the face or on the fins) the fungus has to be coming from somewhere if you have an established tank. Clean all the hoses, gravel, decorations and filter, espically if it's a HOB (Hang-on-back of tank).Vinegar is a good, natural cleaner that will not hurt your fish if there is any residue after rising. Usually the cause of fungus is uneaten decaying food and decaying waste in the tank.

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I was skeptical about this product when I bought it, but figured it would be worth a try. I used this product in conjunction with Melafix when our Black Moors and Glofish were sick. (They were sick when we bought them and didn't realize) The Black Moors had fin rot and this cleared it right up. It also helped when we made the mistake of putting a Puffer Fish (For reference, Puffer Fish should be kept by themselves) in the tank with the Black Moors. The Puffer ate the tails and fins of our fish and this kept an infection from starting in the fish. I highly recommend it if your fish is suffering from one of the maladies that this treats. It treats fungus or cottony growth, mouth and body fungus, and reddening of fins and body. Our fish are happily swimming around today after being treated with this a month ago.

Read Best Reviews of Aquarium Pharmaceuticals 10J Pimafix Antifungal Fish Remedy Here

not much to say. it works, our Koi are healthy and doing just fine. We use this if/when we ever notice anything unusual on their bodies, like eyes, fins, tail etc. its not something we have to use often, but it does the job when we need it

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I've had two Dwarf Gouramis that had fungus (different occasions). I put them into my hospital tank and used Pimafix as per all the instructions. Both DGs died. Now, I cannot be sure why they died. Maybe the fish were too far gone already, both lived for about a day in the hospital tank. All I can say is that it hasn't helped any fish I've treated with so far. In the fish forums that I've visited, most of the opinions is that Pimafix does not help. Anyway, this is just my experience, you might have a different one.

Monday, February 17, 2014

Hydro-Sponge Filter I--HS910 - Aquarium Technology, Inc.

Hydro-Sponge Filter I--HS910 - Aquarium Technology, Inc.Most aquarium filters now use a motor to force water through some kind of filter pad which must be replaced at intervals. However, before there were reliably sealed electric motors, most home aquariums moved water using the "airlift" principle, in which a rising column of bubbles pulled water through the filtering material. This is an elegant and just about failsafe method. Debris in the tank cannot ever jam the external air pump which feeds the filter, and if electricity is interrupted, the filter cannot lose siphon, it simply starts bubbling again when power is restored to the air pump. Many fish love to play in the rising stream of bubbles.

Hydro Sponge filters, first marketed in the 1990's, are a more recent application of the airlift. Hydro Sponge I is intended for aquariums up to 10 gallons. Made of dense, strong plastic with a weighted base which holds the sponge up away from the aquarium bottom, they dismantle easily for cleaning of the sponge. The pores within the sponge provides an enormous surface area for colonization by beneficial bacteria providing very thorough biological filtration. They can be powered by an air pump with or without an airstone (using an airstone will give finer bubbles and make less noise), or with an electric powerhead for those with larger tanks or who simply feel the need for more energetic water movement in the tank.

It is difficult to imagine such a simple device working well. Surprisingly, they are excellent, and can be used as the only filter in the tank for many applications. I've used them on tanks sized from 10 gallons up to 75 gallons, always with good results. The local fish store where I shop has an expensive trickle filter for their dozens of tanks, and every single freshwater tank also has a Hyrdo Sponge or similar sponge filter as well. Apparantly the sponge is doing something which the trickle filter doesn't?

Maintainence is as simple as the filter. When you perform your periodic aquarium water change, (20% every week) save some of the old water in a bucket. Separate the top and bottom parts of the filter and remove the sponge from the tank. Squeeze it out in the bucket. See all the stuff which the sponge removed from the water? Reinstall the sponge and refill your tank. Go have dinner with the money you saved not purchasing replacement filter cartridges.

In sum, a clever and elegantly simple device which works very well.

This review is for the Hydro I specifically, but it applies to all of the Hydro Sponge Filters.

The Hydro I Sponge Filter is the best for smaller tanks (5 or 10 gallons), just as its counterparts (the Hydro II, III etc.) are great for their respective size tanks. Other types of sponge filters exist on the market, but the Hydro ones are the most efficient because you can put an airstone down the shaft of the filter to get the water going through the majority of the sponge's surface. In addition, the sponge sucks up a surprising amount of debris and waste so it is good for a certain amount of mechanical filtration as well. As other reviewers explained, about once a month you simply squeeze the sponge "clean" in the tank water sitting in your bucket during the water change in order to ensure that you don't kill the bacteria by using chlorinated tap water. The water generally becomes dark brown or black, and you get a sense that you have really cleaned the tank well. (For the more squeamish types, the sponge smells like healthy earth so it is completely inoffensive. You can then use this water to feed house plants some nutrients, if you want!)

Pros: I am a great proponent of the use of sponges because I have never had problems with water readings as a result of using biological filtration. Sponge filtration is much, much more than a backup for canister or hang on power filters that clean a large number of gallons per hour. Biological filtration keeps the tank clean using beneficial bacteria and aerates the tank at the same time. Using a gang valve, you can aerate a little or a lot, depending upon whether the type of specimen you are keeping likes currents or calmer water. The biological force of a sponge filter is such that you can start a new tank by lifting a cycled and seasoned sponge filter from one tank and putting it into another. If you take some seasoned gravel too, you can immediately add a tankful of fish without worrying about ammonia spikes etc. Most importantly, I love sponge filters because when you are medicating your tank and have to remove the carbon from your filters for the antibiotics or drugs to be effective the biological filters continue to keep the denizens of your tank alive during this potentially disastrous time in your tank's life (eliminating parasites or diseases can last for up to two weeks). These Hydro sponges are soft, so amphibians or sensitive fish do not get roughed up when they brush against the sponge. If you clean your sponges regularly (once a month minimum), you will only need to replace the sponge if it loses its shape and no longer fits around the plastic rod. If you neglect cleaning, I would imagine that the sponge might get so gummed up with debris that it would no longer be absorbent and you would need to replace the sponge at that point.

Cons: The only disadvantage is the way they look--sort of like tiny little nuclear power plants in your tank--so you strive to find ways to hide them behind rocks, decorations, or large aquatic plants (or be creative and incorporate them into the decor by, say, having a theme like "post apocalypse" or "industrial age"!) Granted, I have tended to use a larger sized sponge than is recommended by the manufacturer, as I do not think it is possible to overuse sponges since the beneficial bacteria reproduce according to the amount they are fed. However, even if you get the proper sized sponge for the tank, they are difficult to conceal.

Overall, given the pros and cons, I love my amphibians and fish more than the look of their tank, so I avidly use sponge filters to keep them alive and happy. I like Hydro the best because of the possibility of using an air stone and because I like the softness of the sponge.

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I bought this sponge filter for my angelfish, who were suddenly spawning every week. The babies were not able to survive if I left the regular filter on. I ended up having to move them to a ten gallon tank, and thus the need for this filter.

I have to say, I've never had a better filter. You attach an aerator line to the inside, and that's the only thing you need. The air bubbles oxygenate the water while they also work to draw water through the sponge. All the muck that usually accumulates pretty quickly in my tank was drawn in, and the sponge works to break it all down naturally, which is actually healthier for my fish and plants. And no babies were harmed by this little device. it's gentle, but effective.

And the best part is that you do not have to buy filters! Just rinse and squeeze the sponge under room-temp water for a moment and you're done. I'm definitely going to replace my old money-devouring filters in my 55 gallon tank with some like this. These are well worth buying, and actually pretty cheep considering it all. I advise anyone thinking of getting one of these to make the leap. You won't be sorry.

Read Best Reviews of Hydro-Sponge Filter I--HS910 - Aquarium Technology, Inc. Here

I bought this for my Axolotl tank as I needed a sponge filter so they couldn't get their little fingers or gills stuck in the filter uptake. I was very happy to find one at such a great price and with such great reviews so ordered it immediately. Upon arrival I discovered just how huge this monster is! I should have read the dimensions listed (though would have gotten it anyway) so I would not have been shocked by the size. A 4 1/2 in diameter takes up a huge amount of space in a 10 gallon tank (they are like what, 18 by 12?). Just a heads up for people looking at this product. Even with the huge size, this product seems to be working good and I have no complaints with it. I actually find the bubbling sound of the top quite soothing. :)

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what can i say? a simple sponge filter perfect for a 10 gallon tank that houses anything small that a power filter might suck in. baby shrimp, fish fry, etc. low maintenance, low cost, low electricity use. great filter.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Hagen Nutrafin Max Goldfish Sinking Pellet, 7.41-Ounce

Hagen Nutrafin Max Goldfish Sinking Pellet, 7.41-OunceThey love this stuff and it is healthy for them. I will buy more in the future to keep them happy.

My comet and fantail both dig this stuff. They go mental for it. I was worried about it clouding the tank, but that hasn't happened.

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Nothing wrong with yellow fish unless you want them to stay their non-yellow colors. I have 5 tanks and I used this food in 2 of them for the last 5 months or so. My beautiful brown, white, jet black and calico goldfish slowly turned SOLID YELLOW while eating this stuff! My red goldfish and any red or yellow on my koi turned orange. I stopped feeding this food 2 weeks ago and a few of my fish (not all of them) are very slowly regaining their colors. (The new calico goldfish I put in there has stayed a calico on Wardley Essentials Goldfish Premium Flakes 1.95 Ounce This is the food I originally had all my goldfish on to prevent swim bladder and make it sink, I feed this by putting some in a net and keeping it underwater for about 20 seconds.)

Apparently this Nutrafin food has yellow color enhancers. So unless you want ALL your goldfish to turn yellow or orange, do not feed! I use the same water to fill all my tanks, same water chemistry etc., and the only fish that turned colors like this were the ones on this food. So this is definitely the problem! I'm giving this product 2 stars because now I have 2 tanks FULL of yellow or orange fish: How exciting is that?

This food also keeps a bit of a cloud in the water, and I've experienced some stubborn black spot algae in the tanks I use this in. Not sure if this is the problem behind the black spot algae but it hasn't grown in my other tanks.

Overall, I just can't recommend this stuff.

* Despite what the picture shows, this is a "small" size sinking pellet. *

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Thursday, January 23, 2014

Aquarius AQ5424 Aquarium Fish Net with 5" x 4" Net & 24" Stainless Steel Handle

Aquarius AQ5424 Aquarium Fish Net with 5' x 4' Net & 24' Stainless Steel HandleI ordered this fishnet for use in a 55 gallon freshwater tank. I have other net's (one that came with the tank, one purchased separately) and this net is a much nicer product overall for a number of reasons:

* The net is made of very fine netting material which is the main reason I purchased it. This net was bought to be able to capture some of the smaller catfish in the tank if needed.

* The fine netting prevents the whiskers and fins from catching which could injure or kill the fish.

* The handle is very long at 2 feet and easily reaches in the tank without having to get my hands wet or disturbing the other fish.

* The handle is made of metal (not sure if aluminum, but looks like stainless steel) and is very durable, yet lightweight.

* The net is large enough to catch some of the larger cichlids and plecostomus

I have only used the net a few times (less than a dozen), but it exceeded my expectations for use, balance, weight and overall construction. Again, I purchased this net to use with the catfish, but it works equally well catching all other fish as well. I strongly recommend you consider this net over the larger netting of others as well as due to it's construction. This net was delivered to me, well packaged, within 3 days of purchasing it on Amazon (to an Atlanta address) which was equally unexpected.

My salt water aquarium is 20 inches deep so this net comes in handy. Not only for fish but for moving snails away when they get in the way of my coral. Good purchase for the price.

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Great size, hard to find any that are long enough for a tank that is 24 inches deep. Very soft/smooth net.

Read Best Reviews of Aquarius AQ5424 Aquarium Fish Net with 5" x 4" Net & 24" Stainless Steel Handle Here

This is a really good quality net. Sturdy thick metal handle that's long which is great for high tanks. The next is very soft and fine mesh. Best net I've owned.

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This is a bit large for what I wanted it for. But my own fault for not reading the description better. Works great though.

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Monday, January 6, 2014

Eheim Jager Submersible Aquarium Heater 250 watt

Eheim Jager Submersible Aquarium Heater 250 wattI was loyal to Visi-Therm Stealth heaters until their recall.

I'm switching my fishroom over to Eheim Jager, and they've been working great.

Also needed to upgrade to the 250 watt to get my 75G up to 80F for breeding purposes.

200W wouldn't go over 76F

One of two 3618 250W heaters (only in 50 gallon tanks) failed in one year (three year warranty). Manufacturer is in Germany, with no US contacts or repair address. Good luck!

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I researched many heaters and kept coming back to the Eheim. The price n Amazon was great and shipping was quick. Compared to my old heater this is a much beefier, better engineered version

Read Best Reviews of Eheim Jager Submersible Aquarium Heater 250 watt Here

I have a 75 gallon tank in my cooler basement during this minnesota winter and it seems to be keeping a pretty consistent temp. I have not had any issues so far.

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This heater is the best heater on the market. It heats up the water to the exact temperature in no time. After water changes when the new water is slightly cooler then the tank water, this heater gets the entire tank at the same temperature in a matter of minutes. Excellent heater.

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Sunday, December 8, 2013

Cobalt Aquatics Shrimp Pellets, 8-Pound

Cobalt Aquatics Shrimp Pellets, 8-PoundMy fish wouldn't eat it...just laid on bottom of my tank and I don't like cleaning the tank all the time!

This is different brand than I normally use. However my fish are doing good with it. I feed a similar amount and it does not cloud up the water.

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Have over 300 fish and they keep me busy. Found it is much cheaper to buy fish food of all kinds in bulk. Saves alot of money in the long run.

Read Best Reviews of Cobalt Aquatics Shrimp Pellets, 8-Pound Here

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Como 4 x Aquarium Tank Air Pump Plastic Non Return Check Valves Red Clear

Como 4 x Aquarium Tank Air Pump Plastic Non Return Check Valves Red ClearAnyone whose had a DIY CO2 system backflush all over their floor will understand the importance of installing a checkvalve into a DIY CO2 plastic airline.

There are many companies that manufacture these devices, so its best to see if you can find some user reviews online before you purchase one.

So far, these checkvalves are doing their job.

I will update this review in the future based on my longterm experiences with these devices.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Marineland (Aquaria) AMLPR3310 Aquarium Hood with Lamp Base Replacement Assembly for Eclipse Power

Marineland AMLPR3310 Aquarium Hood with Lamp Base Replacement Assembly for Eclipse Power Filter System Model 3This product was a replacement for my exsisting Eclipse 3 aquarium hood as the ballist had burned out in the original hood. I envisioned this product coming with all pieces... basically a complete replacement of the whole hood for $20 (the whole aquarium kit cost me $60 brand new). What I recieved for 33% of the cost of a whole new aquarium was the hood with no access door and no plastic light cover. Luckily I still had the old hood and was able to salvage these parts. If I had not, the door was an additonal $2.00 and the lamp cover was an additional $6.00. The qulaity of the product was good and the reseller (Big Al's) had a decent discount, so it was alot better than buying direct from Marineland. I just wanted to point out that this products details leads you to believe you are buying a complete hood, when in actuallity you are buying a mostly complete hood. To defend the reseller, Marineland does not note that additional parts may be necessary.

I am so glad I read other review prior to buying this lamp. I bought it because the original top would not light. The problem was not the bulb, probably the baffle (?) or whatever they call the part that makes the light start. So I ordered this and it's great EXCEPT you need to save a) top black cover part which hinges up and lets you get to the filter b) lightbulb none come with it c) lightbulb cover and screw. Also not included. Luckily I had the original still here at the house.

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Saturday, September 14, 2013

SeaClear Eclipse 2 Compatible Aquarium

SeaClear Eclipse 2 Compatible AquariumThis was for my husband, it is our third aquarium. We have one outside, and 2 inside. He decided it was time to upgrade some of his older aquariums. He loves the rounded edges, and it is really pretty with the fish, rocks, and plants inside!

A happy customer

The filter and hood component are wonderful...the light on the other hand.

To start, the light lost one of the tubes after 1 month of service, not from the tube burning out but due to the fixtures end caps being garbage, that coupled with the external ballast that reached temps of over 185 degrees F(as read with my laser therm)I thought this would be something Marineland would want to hear about...how wrong I was, after they sent me a defective replacement light they stopped replying to email and phone calls to rectify the situation. The second ballast actually melted the plug, and still no response from Marineland. Enter the BBB and low and behold a complete refund for the system. I have since replaced the light fixture with a led system and it fits nicely under the hood. The hood is a good looking and functional filter hood, it is a shame that they would not stand by their product.

Buyer Beware

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