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

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Como Fish Tank Plastic Orange Yellow Plant Aquarium Decoration w Star Base

Como Fish Tank Plastic Orange Yellow Plant Aquarium Decoration w Star BaseMy son bought these orange plants so that he could decorate his little fish tank in fall colors. He thinks the fish like seasonal decorative changes. They are perfect for his needs. The tank does indeed look autumnal. They are as well made as any plastic fish tank plants. Now I have to find him some winter decor for the tank!

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Petco Brooklyn 10 Gallon Metal Tank Stand

Petco Brooklyn 10 Gallon Metal Tank StandAlthough this stand is currently being advertised as $6 off the original price, it is actually priced exactly the same on Petco. Just a little heads up in case you thought you were getting a better deal. At least it's not worse!

the way the write up was, I believe it used the word "aquariums", implied that two aquariums could

be put on this stand..... only one 10 gal can be put on this stand....... actually the rest of the stand is

useless.......

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Monday, October 13, 2014

Nylabone USA Rawhide Joint Health Glucosamine, 16-Count Pouch

Nylabone USA Rawhide Joint Health Glucosamine, 16-Count PouchMy dogs love these, especially the roast beef flavor. One of the dogs is allergic to chicken, so this is a very welcome treat!

These are definitely more of a treat than a chew. Since it had some rawhide, we weren't sure how long they would last, but the answer is not long. Our lab can demolish one in seconds. She really likes them though and they have been great to break in half and stick in a Kong.

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Monday, August 18, 2014

TOM Aquarium RP3 (Rapids Pro Filter with 700gph pump)

TOM Aquarium RP3I Have Used This Filter For Almost 2 Years On My 72 Gallon Reef Tank. Heavily Stocked. Works Awesome. I Would Choose This Filter Over ANY Others. Just Clean The Filter Pads About Every Month Or You Can Start To Notice A Slight Raise In Nitrates. Also The Other Review Said The Filter Was Loud ??? Yeah If Its Not Above The Min Water Line. When The Filter Water Gets Below The Min Water Line It Will Produce Some Micro Bubbles And Make Some Noise From The Pump. Never Gave Me any Problems, Starts Right Back Up After The Power Goes Out. Filters Are Very Simple To Clean. This Is The Way To Go !!!

I've had the RP3 filter running on my 80 gallon reef tank for over a week now and I will say that I'm thoroughly impressed with its performance. I read the negative review and will agree that its not as quiet as some of the filters on the market, but I don't think that its that bad. I placed my unit in the utility room behind my aquarium so all I hear is a faint humming sound and the sound of the water going into the overflow. I would rather have a little noise and a clean tank than the opposite. The protein skimmer really churns for its size. I like the adjustment mechanism in place where you are only adjusting the skimmer cup up and down without having to deal directly with an air intake.

Great product!

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I've had this unit for about 3 yrs now and I have been happy, self priming and the auto fill saves me from filling it every day. The protein skimmer pump just went out and even though its for a freshwater tank it comes in handy to remove color and too much dust or hard water problems. It is a bit noisy and would need to be off for a quiet movie but puts me to sleep at night. The pre-filter is also better than that it is flat and not the cylinder type which clogs fast.

Read Best Reviews of TOM Aquarium RP3 (Rapids Pro Filter with 700gph pump) Here

After much careful consideration and research I decided to go with TOMs RP3. This amazing device has kept my water crystal clear and healthy for my reef aquarium over the past month. In fact, I visually noticed a HUGE difference with this on my tank. After adding live sand to my tank it was SUPER cloudy I could not see one inch in front of me. After turning on my filter in one day the tank was amazingly clear, no need for special tank clearing additives!

I have fish, live rock, invertebrates such as shrimp, crustaceans (hermit crabs), and corals that are all thriving with the help of this filter. (Its been about a month and a half since initial setup)

The dimensions of this filter fit perfectly in my 55 gallon tank and stand, and It creates good flow and turbulence in my aquarium, perfect for corals.

I do admit, it was not the easiest filter to setup. The instructions were decent, but there were moments where I questioned what I was doing because there was not enough description.

Here are some of the issues I encountered during set-up, hopefully my suggestions can help you during your set-up and create a headache free installation.

1. The flexible tubing which attaches from the base of the unit (the sump) and to the hang on back filter on the aquarium were very difficult to attach ((Overflow Hose & Return Hose)). I had to snip a small piece vertically on the tubing so that I could fit the tight tubes in the plastic without breaking anything. Also make sure that the hoses are as straight as possible, or else it will cause a decrease in the flow from top to bottom (it works using gravity).

2. The metal circular hose clamps that are used to tighten around the flexible tubing need a screwdriver to be tightened to an adequate level. (this was never mentioned in the instructions)

3. My biggest problem with the setup was having the sump on the bottom's water level stay at the recommended water level without draining immediately. This caused the filter to pump out massive amounts of bubble and have little amounts of suction. I tried calling customer service but no one picked up causing me to leave a voicemail. I was eager to set this up so I had to figure something out. I decided to send an email to customer service and this is what I received as a response:

BEGIN EMAIL

Okay, let's get your filter running.

At the top of your aquarium there is plastic trim usually wood grain or black colored going around the full aquarium. When you look at this trim from inside your aquarium there is a little ledge (lip) protruding inward, this ledge supports the glass canopy when using one. Go ahead and add new water to your aquarium until it touches this plastic ledge. Now add new water to your filter sump bringing up to the recommended water level.

Plug in the sump pump electrical cord into the electrical receptacle to start your filter. Your filter will begin priming and the water flowing during the next 30 seconds. Your filter should be up and running at this time.

END EMAIL

The Senior Tech who helped me did a great job explaining what I had to do to get my filter up and running. I think the attention to detail really helped me out. Its really important that you fill up your aquarium to the maximum water level, almost to the point that it is overflowing. This was not really stressed I feel in the documentation. Also, something I recommend is since there are two different electrical cords, plug them into a power strip. Then when you turn the power strip on both pumps will start priming which quickly and effectively fills the tank. (or just plug both pumps into a power outlet at the same time)

The pumps lower the level of water in your main aquarium and balance it out in the bottom sump, so you need plenty of water in the main aquarium to stay at the recommended water level.

SO, if you have been having excessive issues with bubbles just add more water to your aquarium simple as that!

One last tip, there is a black plastic band that wraps around near the skimmer, make sure that is left where it is or else your tank will have a HUGE leak! I had this issue and luckily was able to catch it before it became a big problem.

So here are the PROS and CONS to the RP3.

Pros

-Great build and quality for the price

-Great customization options, you can customize the filter with your own carbon and filter media.

-not as noisy as people have stated, its got a slight hum which is not noticeable. Maybe the people experiencing issues set it up improperly? I recommend keeping it enclosed if noise is a big issue, (maybe even purchasing noise cancelling sheets if you want absolute serenity, but this is not necessary), and it even comes with a noise reducer in the HOB filter that keeps noise levels low.

-Keeps water crystal clear

-NO fish have died, corals are thriving, AND bacteria in the tank are doing great with live rock and this filter, no adverse effects

-incredibly easy maintenance, can keep the filter running and wash/change the filter media at the same time.

Cons

-lots of parts to assemble, can take a bit of time, confusing instructions

-customer service takes a while to respond and is virtually non-existant over the phone (try email instead)

-if one part breaks/fails could create big problems

-the skimmer is not the best, so far no waste has been produced but I will keep you updated as time goes on.

-no recent updates to the product line

-a little pricey, but you get what you pay for!

Overall, this filter is great because its an all in one package that is most likely easier to setup than creating your own sump! Just make sure to take your time during setup and keep checking on after initial installation to make sure it is running properly.

Leave comments if you have any questions!

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i just wanted to let purchasers of the RP3 Know, who are Having Some issues. after i Bought this Wonderful filter and setting it up this is what i Discovered.

#1. while i was trying to hook up hoses that are near impossible to hook up i simply used a hair Dryer to {Gently Heat up !!!! the hose ends so they go on Easy to both the overflow box and filter housing.

#2 set water in tank at about 3/4 inch from the inside lip of aquarium rim after you fill up the RP3 to the maximum fill line then set the level of the surface skimmer Gate on overflow box at about middle setting, and the( tank level} water height regulator Ring on the overflow box under noise reduce chamber ,about 5 or 6 clicks up.

#3 i used aquarium safe o-ring lube for both the access lid and the protein skimmer /pump module to keep the o-rings from hanging up. THIS IS A AWSOME FILTER!! never mind the negitive if you just take time to get to know this filter.

i have been in the aquarium Hobby for some 32 years and this is the first compact WET/DRY With Skimmer That I Really Like. I will Put on Updates as i discover Them. Hope This Helps..

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Saturday, July 19, 2014

Petco Mini Aquarium Kit, Color:Assorted

Petco Mini Aquarium Kit, Color:AssortedThis is great for a beta fish and if you have a small space. I love the colors it comes in. I will be buying another one for my other beta and it will be orange.

Cute enough, but nothing extraordinary. Plastic on plastic hard to feed fish (should only have 1 maybe two small ones in here) .

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Saturday, July 5, 2014

Marineland Advanced in Sump Protein Skimmer 100 Gallon - Marineland AMLMSPS100

Marineland Advanced in Sump Protein Skimmer 100 Gallon - Marineland AMLMSPS100First, the problems: 1) LONG break-in period. The manual says about a week, but its more like a month. 2) The top is hard to remove. The top of the skimmate cup is pretty tight and can be frustrating to get off. 3) The pump is pretty cheap. The first unit I received couldn't push enough water to get foam into the cup. The second unit I received works well, but the impeller is already cracked (less than 4 months).

Now the good: Even with the problems listed above, I really like this skimmer. It produces a good volume of thick skimmate, the form factor is fantastic, and the unit is really quiet. I expect that the pump design will get better as these issues are identified. I would buy this item again, and I do recommend it to friends. I do, however, recommend you go through a dealer you know and trust, just in case you do need to return the first one.

My experience with Marineland service wasn't very good, but a lot of people report good experiences. I suppose I just got the wrong person on the wrong day.

I have tried two other Protein Skimmers in my particular sump. This one fits great and is doing a much better job. I compare it to the Berlin Xl that I used to have for a 150 gallon tank. The Marineland skimmer is just the right fit for my Oceanic 95 Bowfront. I would suggest this product to anyone.

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It is no way you can adjust this protein skimmer to work properly or get dry foam per company recomendation, all I was able to get was wet foam or just water in the collection cup. Don't waste your money.

Read Best Reviews of Marineland Advanced in Sump Protein Skimmer 100 Gallon - Marineland AMLMSPS100 Here

It works but makes you work to take care of it. The skimmer waste cup has a nut type of connector that is nothing but trouble if you buy one make sure you have a strap wrench in your tool box as you are going to need it as it is a bear to get off. The lid on the top of the waste cup is just as difficult to remove it's a pressure fit that will ruin your manicure.

It's also a very sensitive skimmer and will overflow your carefully skimmed waste if you happen to look at it wrong.

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When you buy something like this and pay 160$ you hope that last at least 5 years minimun, in fact, I have one fluval filter and it has been working for 18 years without problems, this skimmer was working less than 2 years and thats all. The maintenance of its pump is practically impossible because is one piece and can't be separated and once this pump it broken you have to throw away the complete skimmer because there is no pump replacement.

It is too expensive for its real value. I wish I could get back my money and buy a different skimmer.

Be smart and don't buy it.

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EHEIM Classic External Canister Filter with Media

EHEIM Classic 250 External Canister Filter â?? 2213OK, there just simply isn't a better filter on the market. With the intake on the bottom and the exhaust on the top, there is simply no place for water to bypass the media and hence the filtration is far more efficient. Some people complain that the filter is quite difficult to clean. However, the manual shows an easy way to do this. I have kept mine without cleaning for 3 months or and my heavily planted fresh water aquarium has been doing great. The media is reusable and reusable and reusable. Get my point? :-)

They are extremely efficient. A bit more expensive that the rest of canister filters out in the market. But in the long run, these are better since they last longer and the rarely break down.

Worried about the filtration on your aquarium??? Get one of these silent/efficient/reliable guys.

I have been using my Eheim 2213 for 19 years now, and have never had to replace any parts, until now. It is an incredible filter, that keeps everything in the tank clear and fresh. The only complaint I have has already been fixed. The double shutoff connections that they've added will make cleaning it so much easier. 19 years ago, they didn't have these, but I may buy some extras. I've heard that the only downfall for Eheim is ordering replacement parts. The only thing needing replacement is the suction cups that hold the parts in place inside of the tank. Everything else is wonderful!

I would definitely recommend this to others. Especially with a good price for a canister filter.

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I bought my 2211-37 in late August 2010 and have it filtering a 16 gallon aquarium with one 5 inch goldfish (2 inches body, 3 inches tail). I'm guessing it can probably support 3 or 4 inches of goldfish not counting tail. (Goldfish are very messy, and a power filter on this tank cannot keep up.) The 2211 keeps up just fine--the water is crystal clear, and the ammonia and nitrite are zero. The pump is silent. It came with all the filter media, piping and quick disconnect couplers for both the intake and outflow--everything you need. My outflow coupler arrived cracked, and Fancy Pants Pets replaced it no charge. There is no internal canister to hold the media like in the 2213. The media sets directly in the can with a separator plate at the bottom to provide some space at the intake before the water flows through the bio media. The bio cylinders and bio balls are separated by the coarse filter pad. The fine filter pad and charcoal pad sit atop the bio balls, and a separator plate goes in on top to keep stuff out of the pump at the top. Cleaning is very easy and quick. There is no primer, so to prime the first time, you need to suck on the outflow. After that, you can prime the filter by leaving the intake filled with water at the coupling, opening the outflow coupler, then opening the intake coupler. The spray bar puts out quite a bit of flow (79 gph), I'd guess about 2/3 of what the 2213 does, so that's a lot of flow for a small tank like this, but not too much for my goldfish--she loves it. The pipes on the 2213 are both 12 mm, but on the 2211 the return pipe is only 9 mm while the intake is 12 mm. The height of the unit is 11.75 inches, but the return pipe climbs up a 1/4 inch higher, and you're going to want at least 12.5 inches to clear the unit. The canister is 4 inches across and a 5 inch square base is provided for the canister to rest in for added stability. This is an excellent filter for tanks 20 gallons and less (Eheim says up to 40 gallons, but if you've got goldfish in more than 20 gallons, you're going to want more filter). Max install height is 5 feet 10 inches. The 2211 is definitely worth the money over the hang on the back filters, which have much less bio filter capability and don't run silent like this one. The 2211 is also more suitable for small tanks than the 2213 is, which has a bit too much flow for under 20 gallons.

July 2011 UPDATE: I've had this filter on this tank for almost a year now. In that time I've had to clean it 4 times--it needs cleaning more often than the larger Eheim filters due to the smaller diameter. The good news is it's pretty easy to clean. (You know it needs cleaning when you see reduced outflow during a water change. I take care when cleaning my canister filters to keep the bio media submersed in tank water during the cleaning so as to keep the bacteria alive.) I have kept three different goldfish in the tank during the past year (one at a time). After the 5 inch veil tale above, a 6 inch fantail which kept his tank pretty clean for a goldfish, and more recently a 5 inch pearlscale which leaves more food and poop in the tank. The Eheim has kept the tank crystal clear and the water quality perfect all the time and given me no trouble. The 2211 is even quieter than when it was new, which is pretty close to silent. This is a great little filter for small tanks, and I'm very happy with it.

Read Best Reviews of EHEIM Classic External Canister Filter with Media Here

This is the best and only filter I will ever own for my tank. It is very cost effective. I used to run the Bio-wheel and or the Whisper type filters. I found those filters to not last long and would have to change filters every 2 weeks. With this filter, changes are at about 3 month intervals however, I still recommend you do your normal water changes. The filter is extremely quite and is easy to set up.

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The Eheim 2217 canister filter is a great workhorse. It provides mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration in a compact and nearly silent package. Like all external canister filters, it's best if you have an enclosed cabinet in your tank stand where it can be kept out of sight.

The instruction manual leaves a little to be desired. The illustrations are small and it's not always obvious which image goes which which instruction. However, once you sort out the various filter elements (coarse and fine filter pads, activated carbon pad, ceramic coarse mechanical filter material, and biological filter substrate) it's straightforward to get set up.

The filter comes with intake and outflow tubing as well as quick-disconnect valves for ease of cleaning. The filter stack must be mostly disassembled when replacing the filter pads, but it is neither complex nor overly time-consuming. The results speak for themselves: clear water, stable conditions, thriving fish. I'm very glad I bought the Eheim.

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Tuesday, June 10, 2014

Fish & Aquatic Supplies Mag - Drive 7 Water Pump (700Gph)

Fish & Aquatic Supplies Mag - Drive 7 Water PumpWorked perfect for my 72 gallon saltwater tank.

Used it for my refugium.very silent and powerful .perfect for a 72 gallon tank

Correct, the picture does not look exactly like the item (google Danner Supreme MagDrive 7 for actual photos and price comparison). Easily places in-sump for underwater delivery. For optimal flow, it is suggested to connect the outlet to a 1/2"-to-1" pvc adapter, making the return line 1" in diameter instead. This pump does make some vibration noise, which was easily minimized by taking aquarium grade clear silicone and simply making a 'web' of lines underneath for form a cushion of silicone to sit on.

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Have not owned long enough to review, but I will let buyers be aware; it is not what you see in the picture at all. (besides being a pump and having inlet/outlet)

Read Best Reviews of Fish & Aquatic Supplies Mag - Drive 7 Water Pump (700Gph) Here

Friday, May 16, 2014

Red Sea Fish Pharm ARE12010 Hydrometer with Digital Thermometer for Aquarium

Red Sea Fish Pharm ARE12010 Hydrometer with Digital Thermometer for AquariumI have no problem with this items, only one thing is the temperature cannot see crap. You need a flashlight or locate in bright spot to see it.

no complaints. The product is exactly as it was advertised. Also, it shipped quickly. Would recommend as a product that works perfectly at a great price.

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Friday, May 9, 2014

Kent Marine Nano Reef Parts A and B

Kent Marine 00858 Nano Reef Parts A and B, 16-Ounce BottlesI love this mix, although you have to remember to put the B complex in 5 minutes later. I love the results and haven't had happier corals. Complete complex for a beginners tank, loved the easy application and indications. Super easy for beginners.

I can't comment yet on the product effectiveness, but shipping leaves a bit to be desired. Each bottle has a foil seal under the cap, but one of them was completely separated and the cap was not very tight. Whether this was due to the manufacturer packing, Amazon's shipping, or warehouse handling is unknown. There was a small amount of leakage and the solution dried into a white crusty wet substance on the bottle...kinda like condensed salt creep you would find on a reef setup.

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I bought this product because some of the levels were off in my newly set up 16 gallon nano reef. After a few days of use, everything buffered itself to within acceptable levels. Been using it every day for several weeks. Coral has grown and expanded, looks very healthy. Even have 2 natually occuring frags already from frogspawn and Kenya Tree Coral.

Read Best Reviews of Kent Marine Nano Reef Parts A and B Here

I use this for both of my tanks.. a 28g and a 20g. I have never had an issue with it. I've read reviews that where negitive, and say to use higher priced brands.. I have sps, lps, nps, and softies in my tank and they all have good growth, my levels are always steady and within perfect range of where they are supposed to be. Why spend double on the other stuff when this works just as well?

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This 2 part supplement is just perfect. Better coral growth and coloration. Same with fish. Everything in the 29g reef tank "pop's". My parameters are consistently on target. Don't even need to dose daily after everything is in check. Has NO effect on protein skimmer as well. I feel very "safe" using Kent Marine Nano Reefs part A & B.

Friday, May 2, 2014

Hagen Nutrafin Max Goldfish Sinking Pellet, 18.69-Ounce

Hagen Nutrafin Max Goldfish Sinking Pellet, 18.69-Ounce:( My goldfish refuse to eat the 'peasant food'(Flakes) now. I have a fancy gold with chronic swim bladder problems, these pellets are perfect for her and she adores them!

Who knew that goldfish could be picky? My nothing-special, pet-store variety goldfish that live in my garden pond don't like this food at all. Also, pellets are fairly large, which might or might not have anything to do with this. This is not a comment on the seller, who was fine.

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When I received my order the fish food was not sealed and the cap had been opened. I call Amazon and they promptly replaced this product. I could not believe how fast they sent a replacement. I got it the next day. The product is great. My fish are eager to eat it. The pellets are the perfect size, not too big and not too small.

Read Best Reviews of Hagen Nutrafin Max Goldfish Sinking Pellet, 18.69-Ounce Here

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.

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First off my fish did not take to this food fast despite having been on a pellet diet for over a year. Eventually after about 3 or 4 days they reluctantly began to eat it. I made a concerted effort to watch my fish (a huge Comet that I bought as a feeder fish and just kept!,and 3 Large Black Moors) eat so that I wouldn't over feed them because after the first feeding and them not eating it my 40 gallon tank was so dirty! A few pellets left uneaten will cloud the water almost instantly. The pellets are orangeish which makes the water so dirty. I switched to this food because I'm a prime member and wanted the free shipping! but sadly I'm going to have to go back to the more expensive all around OSI pellets which my fish love.

I hate leaving bad reviews but man has this food has made my aquarium maintenance exponentially more time consuming and all around unpleasant!

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

Current Usa ACU01137 Nova Extreme 2-Lamp T5HO Saltwater Fixture, 30-Inch, Black

Current Usa ACU01137 Nova Extreme 2-Lamp T5HO Saltwater Fixture, 30-Inch, BlackThis is my first review ever, as this is the one and only bad time ive ever had with my 3 years of amazon prime. I received dead fixture + bulbs on arrival, after trying 3 pairs of bulbs, I decided I want to get a refund. I contacted Big al, and they said sure, provide the package and we will give a full refund as long as it is not working as I claimed, and its not missing any items. After a whole month of talking back n forth and finally getting the okay to refund, they tried to say that everything was working FINE and it was my fault. They said they plugged in the lights and it lit up light a christmas tree, and my sockets must of been bad. I instantly filed a claim, and btw, the customer service rep "jessica", enjoyed her time of giving me trouble, she made witty remarks such as "i dont know how you had such a hard time plugging in the lights". Worst customer service ive ever had, they tried to scam me, amazon saved me, i will never buy anything from big al and i warn any people that if they want to avoid dealing with broken products do NOT buy from this seller

CURRENT, the manufacturer was great. I told them I have dead bulbs and they sent me new ones no questions asked. Its BIG AL that tried to bend me over and take me for a ride. There is no way you can take my broken fixture and bulb and tell me they were not broken and it was my sockets fault. As soon as I told them I filed a claim they instantly stopped e-mailing me. Fair enough. Product itself from what I could see was very poorly designed, as in kind of cheap feeling and placing the docking mounts require you to unscrew the hardest screws in the world.

I think the product itself is a great price and great item, too bad i received a dead one. The price is great for the specs

I've had this light for a little over a year now and I have zero complaints. I have it on a timer, and every afternoon it turns on, every night it turns off. That's all I ask. Using the docking mounts, I don't have any issues with dark areas in my tank. From what I've seen, you can't beat it for the price.

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I didn't realize that this fixture has only 24 inch bulbs.. That was my fault.. It leaves large dark spots on the sides of the tank.. I would look into one that has bulbs that scale the entire length of the tank next time.. I had to purchase supplemental light fixtures to cover the dead spots and an LED moonlight strip.. At the cost to make this what I wanted I should have just got a higher priced light from a competitor.

For what it is it is decently built though. Just be aware before you make the purchase.

Read Best Reviews of Current Usa ACU01137 Nova Extreme 2-Lamp T5HO Saltwater Fixture, 30-Inch, Black Here

Thursday, January 2, 2014

R2 48 Inch Signature Series Aquarium Moonlight

R2 48 Inch Signature Series Aquarium MoonlightThe first time I ordered this light was from "That Fish Place". Great online store with very good prices, but the light was DOA. The power supply was hot, figured a defective PS, so I returned it. No problem with these folks either, send shipping label, just like Amazon. But they have to check it out, then send you another or refund you, about 2 weeks. So I ordered it here, I have Prime, got it yesterday, 2 days. This time I checked it before running the wires and setting it up. I have a timer, when the day light go out the moonlights go on, simply beautiful. Yes the wire plugs in the side of it, but I don't have a canopy either, sits behind my day lights, can't even see it. On thing, you don't get any instructions, owner's manual, warranty info, nothing, just a bag with some adhesives and screws, does have an on/off controller. But none the less, a great light, wonderful affect. I'm 60 yrs old and have had aquariums most of my life and pretty much know my stuff. So if you want to really enjoy your aquarium after the day lights go out, check these lights out.

Purchased 2 units total. Second was ordered after first one burnt out. Good when they work, although you can see each individual beam going into water which is kinda expected so be warned (it disperses light well enough once past the the first 6-8 inches of water depth). i also have it mounted directly above water on glass shelf so that may be the issue.

First unit only lasted a little over a year and several LED's had burned out in a few sections. Purchased replacement and second unit lasted 13 months and experienced exact same thing (a few sections completely burned out and others are flickering. 2 stars for being acceptable for a year. Quality/Durability is poor/unacceptable so be warned that it will be nice for about a year. Looking for other inexpensive alternatives.

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I agree with the other reviewer that it was a really stupid idea putting the power cord coming out the end of the light fixture. In order to fit under a canopy the wiring has to be jerry-rigged (aka a small hole in the side of the canopy to run the plug through. Very stupid design!

The light effect itself is very nice moonlight look, more purplish than moonlight but nice and subdued so as to not upset the fish. I love having it on for a couple hours in the evening!

Read Best Reviews of R2 48 Inch Signature Series Aquarium Moonlight Here

I liked the idea of adding this light to our existing lighting setup so we could have moonlights without having to purchase an entirely new fixture. Unfortunately, what is not shown in pictures or listed in the measurements is that they put the plug in for the power cord on the very end sticking directly out of the end so the total length is more than 48"! We have a canopy on our tank so we need an light fixture that is actually 48"! I have purchased 48" lighting for our other 3 aquariums and have never had any problems with ordering a 48" light that fits under a canopy! I am really not sure why they couldn't/wouldn't have placed the plug on the back of the light where it would actually make this a 48" light and you wouldn't have an ugly plug sticking directly out the end! I can't comment on how well this would have lit up our tank at night but I will avoid trying another one and just suck it up and purchase an all in one fixture!

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Don't buy this expecting to light the whole tank. I have a 75gal and it lights about 1/3 of the tank. There is no way to adjust the direction of the lights like there was on the $50 one i bought from PetCo; and on top of that it would NOT fit inside my hood without major modification: I had to remove the ends and attach the lights directly to the reflector and then re-run the power source to the side. If you are not comfortable with modifying a $60 light, then stay away. Otherwise, all that being said, this is a good 4' light for so cheap.

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Monday, December 16, 2013

Rio 12HF HyperFlow Water Pump - 750 GPH

Rio 12HF HyperFlow Water Pump - 750 GPHI 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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Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Glofish Plastic Plants Large Cosmic Blue, Corkscrew Val

Glofish Plastic Plants Large Cosmic Blue, Corkscrew ValExtermely nice color. If you're looking for a different way to color up your tank, this is it. It glows beautifully. A simple perk up your tank.

It's okay, pretty color a little small and flimsy but holds up nicely in the tank. Good with some yellows and purples.

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the plant is flimsy at first as exspected because its a fake plastic plant. it helps it move in the water when you put the water in it and get the filter going. the plant how ever doesnt glo like you would exspect. thats the only problem i have with the item.

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Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Installation Set Kit 2 for 400494 or 1/2 in. Tubing on the Outflow Side

Installation Set Kit 2 for 400494 or 1/2 in. Tubing on the Outflow SideAn ehiem fan for more than 35 years, I have found their build quality, reliability and customer care second to none. Most of my tanks are acrylic now with a built in black acrylic back. Black makes your corals and fish really pop and I use black stealth airline tubing and so on to keep the look minimal and consistant.

The green intake and spray bar that has been the mainstay of ehein filters for close to 50 years can be quite frankly an eye sore. They show algae easily and in my case detract from the design and look I aim for when aquascaping a new tank or simply re-designing an existing one.

It used to be only the G160 had a dark grey intake and spray bar I'm delighted to see ehiem is offerin black assemblies for most of their models. They virtually disapear in the tank and if this is your style or close to it, you're bound to love the look.

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Saturday, September 28, 2013

Zoo Med African Mopani Wood Jumbo

Zoo Med African Mopani Wood JumboI love the size of the jumbo because I use it in my 135 gallon aquarium as a center piece and my cichlids like to excavate tunnels beneath it.The piece I recieved is about 31" long by 8" at it's widest and 7" tall. I just orderd two more because the free shipping was almost as much as the wood itself because I live in Hawaii and if I found one as nice as this one here it would probably be about 80 bucks

This piece of wood is HUGE! It weighed 30lbs, was about 28 inches by 21 inches by 18 inches. Be forewarned...it is truly a Jumbo piece of wood. I had to cut mine into 3 pieces but it was fairly easy. It is beautiful in the aquarium(I only have one piece from the Jumbo and the medium piece I ordered along with this one in the aquarium but the other 2 pieces from the Jumbo piece are beautiful and I am using them as decorations around my aquarium stand). I have a 75 gallon aquarium and it does release tannin's no matter how long you soak it. I soaked it about 4 days and it has been in the aquarium for about 4 days. Add extra carbon and it helps greatly. The best thing is water changes!! The lighter pieces release less and lighter tannin's than the darker pieces. I will post some pictures in the coming days. I highly recommend this beautiful wood!!

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Currently sitting on the bottom of my fish tank(150 gal). The fish I have seem to like it. My catfish made a burrow underneath it in the sand. So it's doing its job.

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I ordered the Large along with this Jumbo sized Mopani. The Jumbo wasn't much larger than the Large but quite a bit heavier. Both very beautiful pieces of wood. Just remember to either boil the wood for a few hours or soaking in water for a few weeks if you are using it in a aquarium. It'll leach tannin's into the water making it darker. Boiling and soaking prior to tank use will still not stop it from leaching but at least it will shorten the time before it stops doing it.

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Ridiculously large, beautiful piece of wood. Discolored the water in my turtle's tank, but that was to be expected with any Mopani wood. Could not be happier.

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Sunday, July 28, 2013

Phresh Filter 6in x 16in 400CFM

Phresh Filter 6in x 16in 400CFMThis product seems to be built well and lives up to marketed expectations. Weigh this filter when its new and replace when it gets 20% heavier. I believe these are some of the best filters in the industry.

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Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Magic Globe Aquarium, 5-Gallon

Magic Globe Fountain Well Aquarium, 5-GallonI have never had an aquarium before and have no experience with fish (other than eating;). My wife and I thought we would try an aquarium because our 2 year old is always fascinated with the fish in aquariums. So this review is being written after 2 days of use, and I will update further with more detail. I am assuming that most people buying this tank are probably new to aquariums as I am.

If you just want to see my overall impression, skip to the last paragraph.

First, in an of itself it is a nice simple, non messy water feature for the house. Setup is pretty simple and easy, and it does look really nice with the water completely filling the globe. The running water is soundless, and the pump is very quiet, only slightly noticeable when the house is silent, so bedroom use is fine in that regard.

Second, Fish. According to the guy at petco, because the aquarium doesn't have a heater, he suggested only three varieties of fish. Unfortunately not are that colorful, but are nice enough I guess, we went with smaller fish so we could get more in the 5 Gallon capacity tank. So we now have four fish and a new plastic plant, as I wasn't to thrilled with the big pink flower that was included in the tank. I don't know if fish are frightened when moving into a new environment, but so far they have been hanging out at the bottom of the tank, hard to see. Magnification of the globe that is amazing and when they do swim up it is easy to see them from across the room.

Last, Concerns: May be groundless, but I will update as I go through discovery.

Feeding: Instructions say to feed only what they can eat in five minutes. how much is that? If finished before 5 minutes, does that mean I didn't feed them enough?

When one of the fish (knock on wood hasn't happened yet) dies, if not near the opening how hard will it be to get out?

Cleaning seems pretty straight forward but I haven't had to do it yet, so I don't know how good or bad that process will be.

Overall: I gave it 5 stars. As of right now (day 2) I love it (if that changes I will update). It was very easy to set up, It is a really nice water feature for inside the house. Fun aquarium.

Update: I am now two weeks in. So far so good, still enjoying it, I moved the plastic plant to center in middle of water return, and it changed the current in the tank, the fish are now swimming more often in center and top of tank, more visibly. Cleaning has been pretty easy using the included tools so far. Again everything is still new so I will update as more serious service is due (filter changes,etc).

I got this for my office for some goldfish we had. The first one came and we set it up no problem and it kept leaking and leaking. We thought we had done something wrong in the setup but we finally realized that it had a hairline crack in the base that was leaking. We sent it back and got the new one in less than 12 hours! Amazon is so fast! The second one is flawless and we love to look at it it is silent you cant hear a pump or a motor or the water, so it is nice for the office. The only reason we give it four stars is because how do you feed the fish? Getting the food in there is nearly impossible.

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Read a lot about this aquarium and finally got one for my son Kevin (5 years old). It came with an instructional DVD in English/Spanish so had no problem setting it up in about 45 minutes.

When Kevin saw his new tank he was so drilled he had all his cousins and friends to come over and shared the joy together. I have put the little rainbow toys instead of real fish into the tank and they look really nice in the dark with colorful LED lights.

I would say it is a beginner fish tank and not for serious fish hobbyist but its a fun item and is definitely will be on the top of my Christmas give away gift list this year.

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We have one set up for couple of months now and man let me tell you it really entertained everyone in our family watching the colorful LED light and little toy balls floating up and down and kids and friends really love it. When I say everyone that includes my cat Spotty! She would always sit curiously next to the fountain and watch it for hours and drinks water from it. Everyone in the family love it and I strongly recommend this very innovative and fun product.

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We were excited to set this tank up and and marvel at it's design. However, within a month of owning it the real problems started to emerge.

1. The filter provided by the company is TERRIBLE. Your water will be dirty within days. We had to go to a pet supply store and buy 'activated charcoal' to put inside the filter bag. Much better results, water is crystal clear.

2. As crazy as it seems, we had two Glofish tetras JUMP out of the strainer and dye on our carpet. When I contacted Aquatica customer service asking for a cap to place on the strainer, they rudely advised me that fish jumping out was highly unlikely and we should just place a 'cup coaster' over the opening.

Well, I'm out $12 for fish and now I have to jimmy-rig their product? Thanks a lot, customer service!

I would advise anyone seeking a small tank to stick with products that are tried and true. This one seems interesting but it's more trouble than it's worth.

Did I mention their customer service is terrible?

UPDATE** Another Glofish jumped out of the tank strainer! Make sure whatever you use to block the exit is heavy enough that a fish can't get through!

Now I am out almost $20 for dead fish :(

2nd UPDATE** ANOTHER Glofish jumped out today and died. I really hate this Magic Globe. I have lost 4 fish now!! DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT if you want your fish to stay inside the tank.

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