Showing posts with label exotic saltwater fish. Show all posts
Showing posts with label exotic saltwater fish. Show all posts

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Smooth Rock Cave Ornament

Smooth Rock Cave OrnamentI love this ornament. It is the biggest round rock cave I've been able to find. I was looking for something that looked like Patrick's rock (from Spongebob) for my Bikini Bottom tank setup and this is PERFECT.

I would only warn other customers that the back isn't round, it's a little lumpier, though it's not shown in the photo. I had wanted to turn it around so that the entrance wasn't visible, but it didn't look like Patrick's rock anymore when I did that.

It's still a really nice, well-made decoration and my fish LOVE it.

If you are looking for a resemblance to Patrick's rock, this is not the one for you. It is oblong and looks nothing like the photo. I am very disappointed. But if you just want a rock for your aquarium...it is great at being that....

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Although it's not authentic "Patricks house" it completes the whole bikini bottom theme! our aquarium now looks like it's right out of Spongebob Squarepants!

Read Best Reviews of Smooth Rock Cave Ornament Here

My frogs were very skittish little guys, and this rock, after many failures with other ornaments, became their main home where I dropped their food for them.

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Monday, August 25, 2014

Oceanic 36011 BiocubeMini Ultraviolet Sterilizer, 5-Watt

Oceanic 36011 BiocubeMini Ultraviolet Sterilizer, 5-WattI've struggled for years to control the algae in my 14 gallon saltwater Oceanic Biocube. Keeping the tank light off, removing 1/2 the bioballs and replacing them with live rock rubble, installing a protein skimmer, and doing weekly water changes (25%) helped control the algae, but didn't entirely cure the problem. After much reading on various aquarist blogs and forums, in my quest for a solution, I purchased the Oceanic Mini Ultraviolette Sterilizer. I wasn't sure that 5 watts would be strong enough for my tank (9 watts is said to be better), but it proved to be just fine for my small tank. Once I got the hose cut to the correct length, the Sterilizer installed in only a few minutes with the use of tools. I've had the Sterilizer installed for nearly a month now, and the tank water is crystal clear. The fish seem much happier too, since they no longer need to live in the dark. I read that the UV bulb needs to be changed every 6 months to retain effectiveness, so I'll be sure to do that. If you struggle with algae in your tank this Sterilizer is a worth buying because it works as promised.

A friend had told me that ultraviolet sterilization was the only way to get crystal-clear aquarium water. He recommended a $50 Fluval sterilizer that I could only find online; I didn't want to wait so I bit the bullet and picked up this model at a local pet shop.

I grimaced a bit at the $89 price tag but I was desperate: My 30-gallon tank was so murky from a stubborn bacteria bloom that I couldn't even see the back of it.

The following day I noticed a BIG difference. Five mornings after installing this sterilizer, I had CRYSTAL-CLEAR water!

I couldn't be happier. Get this, plus a small submersible pump for around $15, and you're in business. You don't necessarily have to have a Bio-Cube; my sterilizer and pump are simply hanging by their cords in the back of my regular tank, behind some plants.

So glad I made this purchase!

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This is a great compact effective sterilizer for nano cubes up to 29 gallons. It's crafted specifically for Oceanic/Coralife Biocubes, but includes a universal adapter for other nano cubes. If you have a Biocube, this will hook up to existing pump. If you don't have Biocube, then you need to have a pump. Recommend Cobalt Aquatics MJ1200 which is original Maxijet still built in Italy. Works great and has kept my saltwater crystal clear. The biggest mistake that many people make is to run cheaper sterilizers on 24/7 basis. This will only result in burning out bulbs quickly, but you don't really need round the clock sterilization. I run mine for only 24hrs weekly and is effective. The more expensive high-end sterilizers ($200) have better build quality and can handle being run 24/7. Keep this mind when using any inexpensive sterilizers and you'll be alright. Keep an extra bulb on hand too.

Read Best Reviews of Oceanic 36011 BiocubeMini Ultraviolet Sterilizer, 5-Watt Here

I have had it in my aquarium now for a while. It works real good. Compact and easy to install.

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Ever since I purchased this I can tell there is a significant decrease in the amount of algae. It was easy to install in te limited space behind the bio-cube tank. Happy I purchased it. Now to find a replacement bulb!

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Friday, August 22, 2014

Marina Naturals Green Pickerel Silk Plant

Hagen Marina Naturals Green Pickerel Silk Plant, MediumThis is a green silk plant with some dark purple leaves. I think it is very realist and pretty. I got the medium size which is plenty tall. The colors are vibrant but not so bright as to look fake. I would love to someday have real plants, but until then this is the best choice.

I have a 25 gal freshwater tank which I decorated with 12 silk plantssmall, med and large sizes and arranged the plants around black lava rocks and added a blue background. The colors of the plants look nice with the rocks and the blue background. The plants fan out from either side of the rocks and sway in the water. As long as the plant is set well in the gravel, it will not tip over.

The colors of the plants make the colors of my fish stand out more. Plus the fish seem to feel more secure because they can hide among the plants, like they would in the wild. They search the leaves and under the plants for missed food. There are lots of little areas among the plants for the fish to explore and hide. My little guys seem relaxed and like having these silk plants in their aquarium.

I am happy with these plants. I like the way they add color and texture to my aquarium, and my fish like having a more comfortable home.

The plant has nice colors and fits well in a 5 or 10 gallon tank. It stands up well and I haven't noticed any staining from algae, unlike some other plants that I've purchased. The leaves are soft so they won't tear a betta's fins and broad so they can hide behind them or rest on them. I've bought other Hagen Marina Naturals plants and all of them are great quality!

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I bought two of these a few weeks ago for my ten-gallon aquarium, and I love them. They are the perfect height for the rectangular aquariums, and very pretty. The leaves look realistic because of the way they are dark on the inside/base of the leaf and gradually lighten, and the fact that they are silk prevents critters from being injured on them. I would recommend this product for any aquarium taller than about 6".

Read Best Reviews of Marina Naturals Green Pickerel Silk Plant Here

These are very nice little silk plants. They're soft and stand up well. They look much nicer than the cheap little plastic ones. :)

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Sunday, July 13, 2014

Petco River Rock Shallow Creek Aquarium Gravel, 5 lbs.

Petco River Rock Shallow Creek Aquarium Gravel, 5 lbs.So glad I found this! I was looking for gravel for my betta tank and did not want to use the typical smaller size gravel since I felt like it would be more of a hassle to remove from the tank to clean. For a while, it seemed like I had to decide between small gravel and huge river rocks---until I saw this at Petco. I am so happy with the size and the color perfectly matches the plants in my tank. Looks so much cleaner than the color of other gravels.

This is actually a mixture of different sizes with the largest being about 3/4" and the smallest being about 1/4".

I wasn't prepared for how large this "gravel" truly is. It is kind of attractive though for what it is.

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Sooo much nicer than small standard gravel..and easier to clean! I bought the 5lbsand put smaller gravel on the bottom, then layered the top with the larger river rocks.. My guppies ( probably don't care) love their new rocks! ( at least I pretend they have feelings toward these pretty rocks!)

Read Best Reviews of Petco River Rock Shallow Creek Aquarium Gravel, 5 lbs. Here

The gravel looks really good in the fish tank. The colors are nice and the rock polished. Good quality. I would recommend it with five stars. Even though I rinsed it to be sure of no impurities , the gravel was clean. Really good product.

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big enough not to get vaccuumed up easily whenn cleaning, anchors the plants well and looks awesome.

there are some chunks I thought were going to be a problem but for the goldfish in the tank the size works just right.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Como Purple 4" Diameter Soft Silicone Coral Ornament for Aquarium Fish Tank

Como Purple 4' Diameter Soft Silicone Coral Ornament for Aquarium Fish TankI use salt in my water. I guess you can call it a brackish tank, but my fish are always healthy and last for years!

After 1 week all the silicone coral I purchased started looking real bad with a milky coating. After removal from the tank I can see that they are actually rotting away. Don't buy these if you use salt!!

I read a couple of the negative reviews, but really liked the look of these ornaments, so I went ahead and ordered four of them in different sizes and colors for my new tank. Unfortunately, the other reviewers proved correct. Just about a month after adding them, the color started to lose vibrancy and all 4 began to appear covered in a film of gunk. My water was also becoming cloudy for no reason I could figure out (I rinse my filter pads bi-weekly and use carbon, and filter my 55 gallon tank with a sump and pump that does 750 gph and is designed for a larger tank, so filtration wasn't the problem with water quality). I removed all four, and noticed that when I tried to wash them, they had a really strong, nasty plasticy odor and I suspect they have been off-gassing into the water for some time. They also felt squishy like they had started to actually physically deteriorate. After pulling them, I put in a new charcoal filter pad and did a partial water change (only 5 gal) and added some Stresscoat for good measure. After just a few hours, the water which had been cloudy for days started to clear. Mystery solved. I'm just glad I pulled these before they resulted in permanant damage/fish loss. Avoid these if you want to keep healthy fish!

Buy Como Purple 4" Diameter Soft Silicone Coral Ornament for Aquarium Fish Tank Now

This was a great addition to my betta tank! It is soft enough that it does not snag or tear my betta's fins when he is hiding in it, and it is really easy to clean.

Read Best Reviews of Como Purple 4" Diameter Soft Silicone Coral Ornament for Aquarium Fish Tank Here

. . . but, after about a couple of weeks, the color fades. Then, it starts to break. I bought several at the same time. Quite a dissapointment.

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We bought at least a dozen of these over a few months time. We have a 55 gallon cichlid tank that we wanted a reef theme for. At first these were a great addition however they degraded so quickly. Once they get a little algae on them they will stain and god help you if you try to scrub them off. After two months in the tank they began to have a weird chemical smell, began to fade, and got sticky. This happened with all of them. They are great if you don't mind replacing them on a regular basis. If you want to keep them in the tank long term....keep looking....these won't last.

Friday, June 20, 2014

Tetra ReptoFilter In-tank Filter 10i, for Terrariums up to 20 Gallons

Tetra ReptoFilter In-tank Filter 10i, for Terrariums up to 20 GallonsPROS:

Filter is Quiet.

Inexpensive.

Pre-Filters are available.

You can use reusable filter bags, a cheaper alternative.

Supplies are available at any given pet store.

CONS:

Filter will clog up, especially if you feed your turtle in the tank.

Expect to clean tank and replace filters about once a week.

Pre-Filter come in packs of three for about $8/ea can add up.

Cleaning out reusable filter bags, expect to be handling a significant amount of turtle goo.

I had my red ear slider since it was hatchling, about a year. I was broke and didn't much about turtle maintenance but judging by the name, ReptoFilter, and the fact that I found it in the Aquatic Turtle section, I bought it. Something is better than nothing. Turtles are deceptively messy. In the beginning, I has happy with the filter because it seemed to do the job right. As a plus, the filter is super quiet and the only time it made a noise is about the time it needs to be changed anyway. Although pre-filters are available, I found it cost-effective to clean out and refill reusable filter bags. I even fed my turtle in a separate tub to reduce the debris. In the beginning, everything was great.

As the turtle grew, so did the mess. And I found the filter having a hard time keeping up with my turtle. I had to unclog it a few times. Although, We'd make it a point every week to clean it, it took a significant amount of our time and energy to routinely to that. Ultimately, despite my efforts to try to maintain the filter as best as I could, the filter died on me. So, I got my funds together and got a three stage canister filter. I'm thankful for buying this filter, it got me by. Although canister filters come off pricey, there are better in the long run because you'll only be cleaning it out months at time.

I purchased this for a pair of painted turtles to be housed in a 10 gallon tank and I am overly pleased. I find it to be a lot more powerful than anticipated, and it's extremely quiet. We have the tank in the same room where we sleep and it doesn't bother me one bit. I am a very sensitive sleeper also. The slightest of disturbances will awake me from the deepest of sleep. Regardless of where you keep the water level, it's as tranquil as ever.

This filter is so powerful that it usually sucks 1 inch chunks of cucumber right to it's grate. It does not harm any of our fish and it doesn't bother the turtles either. The refills are very affordable, and if you perform water changes regularly, this filter will do an exceptional job. I have no issues with the heavy duty suction cups, other than sometimes they suck to hard to the glass. I will usually have to give the cups a pinch to break the suction from the aquarium wall. Be careful, because if you pull the unit too hard the suction cups will pop right out of the holes in the back. They are easily placed right back into place, though.

I have owned fish tanks for over ten years and I find the Tetra Repto Filter (10 gallon) to be one of the most impressive I have seen. This unit is submersible, so you will need to get used to the natural process of algae forming on the cord, as well as the casing of the unit. The filter blends into the background and visitors hardly ever comment on the appearance. Like any other filter, you want to rinse out the (black) bio filter each time you do a (carbon) filter change. As long as you're not planning to use this for a much larger tank, I think you will be impressed too.

Buy Tetra ReptoFilter In-tank Filter 10i, for Terrariums up to 20 Gallons Now

I have a female red eared slider and have been looking for a relatively inexpensive filter to occupy her 10 gallon tank. This filter is the perfect size. The filter suctions onto the side of the tank for extra support and takes up very little room. It's very quiet and extremely efficient. Over all I am very pleased with my purchase and so is my turtle. She loves to hang out under the waterfall.

Read Best Reviews of Tetra ReptoFilter In-tank Filter 10i, for Terrariums up to 20 Gallons Here



I have the filter submersed in Hydroton GMHT10L Hydroponic Grow Rocks, 10 Liter Bag and it preforms very well.

I inserted some fake leaves in the lip of the filter that flows into a Exo Terra Water Dish, Extra Large

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This is a perfect fit for Lee's Herp Habitat (Large Size: 23 1/4" x 17 1/2" x 11 3/8"). It will fit in the back right or left hand corner with no space between the wall and island for your critters to accidently get stuck in. Suction cups in the back hold it snuggly in place. Filter itself is very quiet but the output will make some noise (it's meant for shallow water and you're going to get splashing). You can minimize this by stacking rocks up front to create a small water fall or 'planting' a small fake aquarium plant (bushy/leafy) beneath the output. Both options will also camaflouge the already non-obtrusive filter. I chose to do the later and it worked perfectly. Hardly a sound and our Fire Belly Toads love hanging out in the plant to sit under the flowing water.

Monday, May 12, 2014

Aqua Ultraviolet AAV30055 Transformer for Aquarium, 57-watt, Black

Aqua Ultraviolet AAV30055 Transformer for Aquarium, 57-watt, BlackReceived within stated delivery time. Properly packed and in good condition. Pond water clear within 3 days. Instructions should emphassize that the AC cable clamp needs to be loosened in order to properly position lamp within housing, then tightened again.

At around $100 a pop I am tired of replacing ballasts every year. No matter what I do, (even replaced the purple gasket around the crystal) water seeps into the ballast and shorts the ballast. It's a great business model for this company it seems.....since it sells replacement bulbs and ballasts every year. This year I enclosed the entire ballast in a 3 inch piece of PVC with end caps. I placed it above the water lever and made sure the inside power cables are not connected to the plastic ballast housing so that water does not seep into the black housing rather it will seep into the PVC housing I created. This product is engineered poorly for the customer but engineered perfectly for the manufacturer. If this continues I will simply scrap the product and look for something less frustrating.

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Monday, April 7, 2014

Jardin Fish Tank Pond Bubble Release Sintered Air Stone Disk

Jardin Fish Tank Pond Bubble Release Sintered Air Stone DiskHave you ever just went to the fish store and spent 4.99-9.99 on one of these air stones just to come home and try to install it to have the nipple come off? Well I have, at least 4 times. When I got the item it was a little difficult to get out of the plastic, maybe that is why It wasn't broken when I went to install. This is a good big disc, and I just love the results with my Tetra 77853 Whisper Air Pump, 40-Gallon and Standard 3/16" Flexible Airline Tubing for Aquariums, 25 feet. So very happy, and it wasn't a dud. In fact it really surpasses my expectations. Gratitude!

Good fizz I hope that it last. I am ordering another one for my pond. The pond needs all the fizz I can give it.

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Friday, March 14, 2014

Coralife (Energy Savers) ACL01655 Luft Pump

Coralife ACL01655 Luft PumpWhat I like about this pump:

Not too loud. I currently have the pump running some sponge filters in my bedroom tanks. My wife and I haven't had any difficulties sleeping.

Solid Construction:

I took my pump apart and had a look at what was inside. The design is simple and made with solid components that are built to last. The casing is of durable and thick plastic. The diaphragm will unavoidably wear out but instead of throwing away the whole pump like you would with cheaper units you can buy a replacement diaphragm (that includes 1 or 2 air filters). I've had my pump for about two years and am confident that it will last many many more years to come (provided that I replace the diaphragm and air filter as needed).

Adjustable rheostat:

The rheostat adjusts the output of air by controlling the amount of electricity that powers the pump as opposed to using an inline valve on the air hose. The use of a rheostat conserves electrictiy and avoids putting unnecessary strain on the diaphragm and the premature failure that would result.

Versatility:

With 7.0 PSI I've been able to make a variety of different set ups that otherwise would have required at least 3 lesser pumps. Having one pump instead of several reduces a clutter of hoses.

Overall I'm very happy with this pump. I wish it wasn't so expensive. But then again, when you look at the long term, it's not too expensive.

This was so noisy, that after making a video of it compared to the Tetra Wisper 60, and the Rena 400, I returned it. It also didn't move as much air as the other two pumps. Which pump (much to my surprise) was the quietest? The inexpensive Tetra Whisper 60.

I have a 70 gallon tank with a 43" Marine Land bubble stick burried at the very buttom under about 1-1/2" of gravel/rock.

You can watch all 3 of my noise comparison videos on youtube. They are listed by the name of the pump, or just look up my user name.

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its quiet but it doesnt put out crap for air etter off going to wallmart and buying two dollar one

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Had my first one of these for about 14 years! When it FINALLY quit, I bought the exact same one again. Thanks Coralife

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I've had many air pumps from whisper to tetra to well to make it short I'll never buy another, these have apparently been around for 30+ years and keep on pumping. This is the only pump I have ever had that does not restrict the air flow to decrease the amount of air output but instead has an electric regulator that makes this as quiet as you could possibly want at the sacrifice of some bubbles or tons of bubbles at the sacrifice of some hum.

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Sunday, January 12, 2014

Universal Rocks 52-A Aquarium Decoration Rock

Universal Rocks 52-A Aquarium Decoration Rockits a little smaller then i thought, but worked great for what i wanted to use it for, blends in great with the sand bottom in stead of the gravel.

Looks better in the picture. In the aquarium it looked fake until the algea started to grow on it. It definitaly isn't front of the aquarium decoration.

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This is just the right size for a 20 gallon set up that i have for my Multi Shell Dweller Cichlids. Blends right in with my sand and 3D background. Looks just like real rock, even has "grit" on it for an authentic texture.

Highly recommend this to anybody who wants to decorate their aquarium with something natural looking without having to actually search for just the right rocks.

Read Best Reviews of Universal Rocks 52-A Aquarium Decoration Rock Here

Thursday, January 9, 2014

Two Little Fishies ATLNM1 Nanomag Window Clean Device

Two Little Fishies ATLNM1 Nanomag Window Clean DeviceWill clean glass ok, but will take several passes, making it somewhat time consuming even for a nano tank. Works ok for my 5 gallon nano cube, but would not recommend for larger aquariums; it would take forever to clean a 10+ gallon. In the past I've used the twister magnets (large size for a 75 gal), and it cleaned much more efficiently, but that may be due to its larger surface area. Small size does let you get in behind driftwood, etc. If this product were more fairly priced, I'd probably rate it higher.

I bought this tiny magnet cleaner to clean the glass in my 2 gallon saltwater pico reef tank. It works great for getting into tight spaces between the live rock and the glass; in some places only about 1/4". It's nothing fancy, but it gets the job done. The magnets in it are very powerful, so it does a good job of scrubbing. The cleaning surface of scrubber looks like the hook side of Velcro. If you really want your glass to sparkle, you can put a small bit of filter material between the cleaner and the glass and get it spotless. I suspect it will last for a reasonable amount of time if you don't abuse it. I'm buying two more for my freshwater nano tanks. If you have a very small tank, this is one of the few small magnet cleaners that can get into really tight spaces. I like it.

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having only one powerful magnet, the cleaner works very well, and does the job that you would buy it for. I am using mine in a 3 gallon tank. The reason i purchased this was to take off the water line,scrub algae, and not look so big in my tank as it only protrudes 1/4 inch into the display tank.

PROS:

small (easy to maneuver around decorations and filters etc... much less of an eyesore compared to magfloat brand)

powerful magnet (even works with the thick glass in my 75 gallon tank)

CONS:

small cleaning surface (since the cleaning component is made of soft foam square, the only surface area that is in contact with the glass is the circle of the magnet. I believe that this part of the design actually aids in moving the cleaning device around corners, however you cannot really get down deep into those 90 degree corners of your aquarium.)

the cleaning component sinks (this is the case because the magnet is so large that the buoyancy of the foam that it is set in cannot compensate for its weight. However the magnet is so powerful that if you manage to release the cleaning component into the tank within 3.5 inches of the glass, the device will form the union again and you will be able to continue cleaning, however be cautious, be sure to check that you did not pick up any grains of sand before you start to scrub away because that will scratch the inside of your aquarium)

Bottom line: If you have a nano sized tank, and you want to purchase a magnetic aquarium cleaner, I would recommend this product.

Read Best Reviews of Two Little Fishies ATLNM1 Nanomag Window Clean Device Here

I got this for my 1.5 gallon pico reef. It works as advertised, even through thick 1/4" acrylic it will scrub algae right off. It's got a few downsides, though.

The first is cheap construction. It's made of cheap glued foam -the felt pad (on the outside half) and the velcro (on the inside half) and the logos separate and fall apart over the course of a few months. This process is hastened if you ever let the inside and outside halves stick to each other -you have to pry them apart which really strains the glue. Always store and handle the halves separately to prolong life.

Never store the cleaner under water (like on the corner of your tank). Once the glue layers failed on mine, the magnet inside started rusting and spewing a brown slime into my tank. Always store this item dry!

The next is the scratches. Maybe my tank has soft acrylic but if I shine a flashlight on it, I can see a haze of zillions of tiny scratches. If your tank is acrylic, I strongly recommend you get a piece of felt or fabric and stick it to the velcro pad of the inside half.

Finally, the corners. The inside pad only cleans where the round magnet is behind it, the square corners have no scrubbing power.

Still, it's great on tiny tanks for getting into the tight spaces where rocks and things are near the tank walls, so I went ahead and bought another one after my first one self-destructed. I just wish it were a little more durable -I'd happily pay double the price to get one that doesn't fall apart.

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It does what it says (cleans algae) but I thought it would be solid. Be prepared for foam.

The inside foam mag has one thing going for it, its skinny so it can fit in really tight places (unlike a mag float). The downside it doesn't float if it releases from the main magnet.

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Monday, December 23, 2013

Jardin Fishing Tank 2 Way Air Pump Manifold Taps Lever Valve

Jardin Fishing Tank 2 Way Air Pump Manifold Taps Lever ValveI am driving 2 sponge filters from one air pump. This was supposed to split the line and look nicer than the plastic manifold I was using. With only one valve open the air flowed fine. With both open, I didn't get any flow through the manifold. I went back to the plastic manifold. I tried it on multiple pumps and no dice. Don't waste your time with this.

These are perfect gang valves to use for any aquarium set up. They're metal which is a huge plus for me versus the usual plastic. Plastic ages and gets brittle, which means breaks far more easily than when new. Metal doesn't suffer from that problem, but can rust. I doubt these are stainless steel, but rather zinc plated or similar. However, put a check valve in line and they should never come in contact with tank water, only the humidity in the air.

As you can see from the picture above there is a black rubber plug on one end, this lets you hook up additional gang values if needed.

Why use these? They let you control how much air is going to any one thing. I'm using this on a 20g tall and a standard 10g tank to run a sponge filter in each. Due to the difference in depth of these two tanks, I have to limit the air going to the 10g so that both tanks get enough to operate.

Having a single air pump with multiple tanks is desireable to keep noise down. Start putting multiple air pumps in and you'll get a racket more than one already is.

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I searched all the pet stores for an air valve that wasn't cheap plastic. After buying a couple of plastic ones that NEVER worked right I found this on Amazon. I was pleasantly surprised when it I opened the package! Heavy metal, precision controls, precise air flow...and the price was unreal! Local stores should take a hint and stock some quality like this!!

Read Best Reviews of Jardin Fishing Tank 2 Way Air Pump Manifold Taps Lever Valve Here

This product is well made, functions as described, fits or otherwise conforms to it's intended purpose, there were NO negative issues at all.

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Thursday, November 28, 2013

Lee's Net Breeder

Lee's Net BreederThis net allows for great water flow and allows the baby fish to be in the same water as the adults safely. Mine came with some little plastic plants for the babies to hide in. Place the female in here to give birth, then take her out when she's done so she won't eat them. After about 8 weeks, they will be large enough to go into the big tank. A big problem with raising baby fish is over feeding. this net allows extra food to fall out into the main tank and the adults will eat it.

I'm currently using it to isolate an aggressive fish. It works. The construction is very basic -2 plastic rectangles connected by 4 plastic sticks, with a net stretched over it. The construction doesn't appear durable and I expect something to fail after several rounds of assembly/disassembly.

The "hooks" to attach the net to the tank are flexible metal plates that you bend around the edge of the tank. It's ugly, not sturdy, can easily break, and don't appear replaceable. They don't hold the net evenly in place -the front edge hangs 1/2" lower than the back. I had to lower the water level in the tank to ensure that the front of the net is above the water line.

Overall, it's fine for occasional use and the price is right. But I'd get something better for prolonged use, especially if it's going into a display tank.

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It does the job better than expected. It appeared small at first, but after use, the mother fish I put in it seems calm and comfortable. As other reviews state, it allows for good water flow, and connects to the tank easily. I ordered 2 more today.

Read Best Reviews of Lee's Net Breeder Here

I read all the reviews and thought this was the best breeder for my molly. Most of these breeders seem to get lackluster reviews, so I thought I would take a chance on this one.

It's cheap. For what I need, it's serviceable, but barely. I put it together easily enough until I got to the netting. It's too small. So the net only goes up to almost touch the top. The pictures on the box have it coming over the top four corners and therefore staying secure. It's just poorly made.

Also the hooks don't really work for my tank. I have a 55 gallon, the standard kind. But the hooks aren't nearly long enough to hook over the top and have the net submerged. They aren't even long enough to actually hook over the frame on the the top. And then of course I wouldn't be able to close the lid all the way.

So, I took a piece of styrofoam and created a float to hook the hooks on. I had to use a second piece on the front to compensate for the net not going all the way to the top. This effort was less than it would have taken to send it back, since everyone is complaining about all of them.

Then I found out that mollies are pregnant for somewhere around a month (I thought she was really fat, but she's not anywhere near ready) so I let her out, and took the breeder out of the tank. When she is ready, I'm going to try replacing the netting with nylon stocking. Hopefully that will work.

If you really need something and you are willing to get cheap and shoddy workmanship for a small amount of money, then go ahead. But if you want quality that will last, and work properly, this is not the breeder for you.

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I have not yet used it; however, the construction is very sturdy, The mesh is nice and tiny and it appears to be an decent size. I believe it will work very well and keep the new babies very safe.

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Tuesday, September 3, 2013

PondCare Wide Range PH Test Kit

PondCare Wide Range PH Test KitThat's one chemistry that makes you a better living. Liquid tests are always more precise than strips and, when it comes to pH, probes. However, I always found it a hassle to have to run two pH tests with standard API master kit, as they have separate reagents for low and high pH. This one gives great color scale from 5.0 to 9.0, only 5 drops, and has a very reasonable price. I haven't used my pH probe in months now.

Comes with a bottle of chemical,a capped glass test-tube and a wide range pH color card.

Pour 5 ml of water sample into the marked test-tube, add five drops of chemical, cap and mix, then compare it to the color chart.

The card has scales/colors of 5.0(orange/red), 6.0, 6.5, 7.0, 7.5, 8.0, 9.0(blue) easy to tell the pH difference unless you are colorblind.

I have added the acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate to water samples and observed the color changes, so I know this thing work. Also, I have tested it with water samples with known pH, the accuracy is pretty good.

The only downside is it doesn't come with an expiration date.

For an amateur aquarist like me, this is the startup kit.

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Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Hagen Exo Terra Plastic Terrarium Plant

Hagen Exo Terra Plastic Terrarium Plant, Small, CrotonThe leaves were a lot smaller than I had anticipated but being that i got the Large, it was a lot of plant. The only problem with it was the suction cup. it didnt want to stick at first and it was really annoying but (it may sound gross) after applying some saliva its actually kind of difficult to remove. my cornsnake absolutely loves it

Thursday, August 8, 2013

biOrb Black Aquarium Kit with Light

biOrb Black Aquarium Kit with LightIf you are looking for a fun, easy aquarium, look no further. The biOrb is for you. It comes with everything you need. Just add the ceramic media, decorations, water & chemicals, (let the tank cycle for a week or two) and add fish. It's that simple.

Don't want a lot of hassle with tank maintainance? You found the right piece of equipment. The biOrb, unlike most other aquariums, only needs a quick "vacuum" with a siphon pump once approximately every three weeks. The filter needs changing approximately every six weeks. Other tanks in the same range need cleaning once or twice a week and the filter needs to be changed every four weeks.

You not only save time, but money. With today's economy who doesn't want to save money? The biOrb, also, has one plug. The light and airpump both plug into the biOrb 12 volt Transformer. How's that for convenience?

It's not only easy to set up, hassle free and convienient, but it's beautiful. Watch this YouTube video and you will see what I mean. It was my inspiration.

I had a 5 gallon hexagon tank, but it was too much maintainance and being disabled made it tough for me to take care of it. After reading about the biOrb, how easy it is to set up and infrequent water changes are needed, I went to YouTube to watch some videos. When I saw how nice they look I immediately order one. I, sincerely, have no regrets.

Order yours today!

Monday, August 5, 2013

Aquarium Fish Tank Silicone Sea Anemone Artificial Coral Ornament RT172L white

Aquarium Fish Tank Silicone Sea Anemone Artificial Coral Ornament RT172L whiteNice product for my aquarium!..........little big but is ok!..if you want this product I recommend the fish look very nice when they are close.

this definitely added some interesting effects to my bookshelf aquarium. My beta loves playing in it and it looks great with the slight movement from the filter

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I bought this item to host my sad clown fish after his mate died. He did not like it one bit. It also was not very convincing. it is extremely uniform and symetrical, and has no mouth, making it look like a Koosh ball from my childhood rather than a live animal. After about three days in my marine tank, it turned brown. My water all tests withing safe parameters, and I have compact fluorescent lights. After i removed the thing, i put it under my sink to dry. It became sticky, and started sticking to itself. A total waste of money. I can not suggest this ornament for use in a marine tank.

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I did not want to struggle trying to keep a live one well alive so I bought a few of these and they have been great, they look real nice under my blue lights at night and the fish love swimming in and around them with no issues, easy to clean just take them out and rinse in sink. Great price and great addition to my simulated window to the sea.

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Moves allot specially if you put it right where the water falls from you're filte.... It does have a smell but as long as you rinse it you're good... It didn't harm my fishes at all... infact they like swimming through it.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Aquavista Betta Fish Clock Aquarium, Burgundy

Aquavista Betta Fish Clock Aquarium, BurgundyI've had this clock now for quite a few months. It worked right away out of the box, and despite what it looks like in the picture, it has much MUCH more room than a lot of the "betta aquariums" in the pet stores. I've had fish all my life, and have had varying success with betta fish at different times. The fish I bought for this was a more expensive one and to be honest I thought about buying a cheaper one first, just in case. But this fish is the happiest, most active fish I've had. He seems to love all the action he watches in our house (I have three kids) and he follows the minute hand around sometimes too. He makes lots of bubbles at the top (a sign they are happily nest building, right betta experts?) and no fish poo does not float around in the water... the water has stayed remarkably clean we haven't even had algae issue and again despite the picture you don't actually have to fill it all the way to the top, so there is plenty of air. There is also a hole at the top to drop the food through, as well as a bigger hatch that you can open just to feed and clean, or leave open if you're really worried about fresh air/carbon dioxide buildup. We have two other betta fish in a split container I bought at a pet store and frankly they don't seem half as happy or healthy. Neither does the poor little guy at my daughter's preschool. Maybe I'll buy three more Fish Clocks so they're all happier. Also, every single person that has come to our home is tripped out when they realize there is a fish in our clock, all the kids love it, and no one has run screaming to PETA yet. I'm buying one for my mother for her birthday today as well.

I love the look of this clock. Unfortunately, it doesn't keep time; losing about 10 minutes a day. It also has a slow leak. I'd return it except I have a fish in it.

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I purchased this item as a gift for my daughter. She loves animals and works with them. She was very happy to get it as it is an unusual item and fits her personality. She also said she needed a clock. It's attractive and has large numbers. The fish seems to enjoy it too. The perfect gift for the unusual person.

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So far so good! If only I could get my daughter to clean it! Looks great in her room she enjoys her clock.

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I am going to do something unusual and write a review for a product I did not purchase. Why? Because I would never purchase something this cruel. This kind of fish needs a plant in the tank to add oxygen to the water. It needs much more of a healthy environment than just being a fish in water. This is not a proper habitat for any fish. Thank you for your patience, but I had to say something. Please consider another alternative. Even a cheap glass vase with a proper plant and some stones in the bottom is better than this. Cheap plastic leaches chemicals into water.

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Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Hagen Living Sea Hydrometer-Thermometer C and F, Large, 12-Inch

Hagen Living Sea Hydrometer-Thermometer C and F, Large, 12-InchPro's:

This hydrometer is more accurate than it's smaller counterparts.

Con's:

The extra size and weight make it a little more likely to break, I have purchased and broken this hydrometer before. These break easily in the center when picked up from one end instead of the middle. The tip also can shatter if it is dropped into the water and hits the bottom or a hard surface.

My impression after owning several glass hydrometers of various sizes:

For aquarium use just buy the smaller hydrometers such as: Living Sea Hydrometer, Celsius & Fahrenheit, Small, 8 Inches, they work just as well when precise accuracy isn't necessary and they tend to last longer.

Even though this shows up under the search terms 'brewing hydrometer' it is a SALINE hydrometer. It will NOT measure specific gravity of wort for home brewing.

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