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

Sunday, November 9, 2014

CUR AQUACHEF AUTO FISH FEEDER

CUR AQUACHEF AUTO FISH FEEDERThis feeder works well with chips, but not so well with flake food. The first time I attempted to use it, I used flake food which ended up collecting a lot of moisture, basically turning the food to just a muddy mess.

Using the feeder with chips, a bit more solid than the flakes, it works flawlessly. The chips don't collect moisture like the flakes do, and the fish couldn't be happier.

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Como Fish Tank Manmade Cyan Blue Green Floral Plants Decoration w Oval Base

Como Fish Tank Manmade Cyan Blue Green Floral Plants Decoration w Oval BaseI am impressed with Como products. Their bases are heavy and the overall product is well made. Colors are bright and product is really easy to clean.

very pretty in my 55 gallon fish tank think i may get a couple more love the color and look

Buy Como Fish Tank Manmade Cyan Blue Green Floral Plants Decoration w Oval Base Now

the price is great but it seems to be made of cheap material and had excess ends on numerous spots that i cut off. also the way it was packaged it came in kind of outta shape.

Read Best Reviews of Como Fish Tank Manmade Cyan Blue Green Floral Plants Decoration w Oval Base Here

Very neat decor for fish tank. Worth the money. With the green arm things moved but they still look neat.

Want Como Fish Tank Manmade Cyan Blue Green Floral Plants Decoration w Oval Base Discount?

I bought this plant for my new cichlid tank and the fish love it.....the brilliant blue is awesome....and it looks exactly like the photo.

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Purely UV-C Replacement Bulbs 2G11 Base

Purely UV-C Replacement Bulbs 2G11 BaseThis type of filter is the best way to keep a fish pond clean and healthyPurely UV-C Replacement Bulbs 2G11 Base.

This product replaced the orginal bulb. My yard pond had alge and the water clarity was alwful. After two days could not tell much so took the bulb out and reconnected it after one day the water was clear, figure that the connection was not tight enough the firts time around. So far am please, the first bulb the orginal lasted about a year. I think what I have read about the bulbs thats about the normal life span.

Buy Purely UV-C Replacement Bulbs 2G11 Base Now

Purely UV-C Replacement Bulbs 2G11 Base is used with UV Clarifier Sunterra Brand. For the purpose of controlling algae in the Koi Pond,product works great. For some reason, product can't be shipped overseas to US Territory of Guam in the Pacific. Had to send to US mainland address then a family member had to ship to Guam via US Postal.

Read Best Reviews of Purely UV-C Replacement Bulbs 2G11 Base Here

Monday, April 14, 2014

Hagen Marina Betta Waste Remover for Aquarium

Hagen Marina Betta Waste Remover for AquariumIt's a baster. A really large one. Gets the job done, but I think my betta gets terrified whenever it sucks up anything.

This product works really really well. I may look small in this picture but it's long about the size of a ruler and it's a really great cleaning tool for my betta tanks since it's only a half galloon and i don't want to change the water everytime i see my betta poops.

It's very very easy to use!

Buy Hagen Marina Betta Waste Remover for Aquarium Now

I have one of these to.I boughtit at Super Fresh for $1.99.It's just a turkey baster which i have been using to clean my betta's 1.5 gallong tank since day one.

Read Best Reviews of Hagen Marina Betta Waste Remover for Aquarium Here

I was looking for a vacuum for an aquarium and came across this item. This is designed for small bowls. It's nothing special, but it does the job. It takes out the waste and food if the fishes did not eat it and it's also good for water change for a small bowl. I would definitely recommend this item.

Want Hagen Marina Betta Waste Remover for Aquarium Discount?

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Dainichi Ultima Krill Sinking, Small, 1.1 LB

Dainichi Ultima Krill Sinking, Small, 1.1 LBThe first thing you'll notice is the growing speed of your fishes

Then the Colours will blow you away

Then you'll think, damn!..... so many time wasted!

Then you'll say, Dainichi... we love you!!!

Finally, you will swim naked with your fishes.

Literally.

The fish love it. I have Kitumba Gibberossa, Orange Mwela Compressiceps, Ocellifer catfish and a few lemon yellow Mbuna and all gobble it up.

Buy Dainichi Ultima Krill Sinking, Small, 1.1 LB Now

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Hydor MINI HEATER Aquarium Heater 7.5 Watts for Tanks 2-5 gal

Hydor MINI HEATER Aquarium Heater 7.5 Watts for Tanks 2-5 galI bought these for my 2.5gallon killifish tanks. These heaters take up very little space in the small tanks, since they are flat.

But be aware that these heaters don't have temperature controls, so the water temperature will change when the room temperature changes. My tank temperature ranged from 92F to 70F with the heater plugged in from May to December. I had to unplug the heaters on very hot days. It seems that these heater will raise the water temperature in a 2.5gallon thank by 8 to10F over the room temperature.

Finally, all 6 mini heaters that I own have been reliable for 8 months now, and all are consistent in how much they heat the same volume of water.

I purchased this heater for our beta who lives in a 1 gallon jar; note the heater is spec'd for 2 to 5 gallon containers. During the winter we keep our house at 60 degrees and this heater keeps the jar at a consistent 72.

Buy Hydor MINI HEATER Aquarium Heater 7.5 Watts for Tanks 2-5 gal Now

This heater works well, not bad for small tanks (5 gallons or less). I purchased this for my 1 gallon tank, and it heated the water up to the low 80s. The heater works submerged or placed under the tank. I keep my apartment on the cool side, so this heater did the trick. A word of warning, though--if you have a 1-gallon tank, make sure you have a thermometer in it, because if you keep your home temperature in the high 60s and into the 70s, chances are the heater will then heat the water too warmly, into the mid to upper 80s, at which point you'll have to unplug the heater and monitor the temp as needed. Still, not bad for the price.

Read Best Reviews of Hydor MINI HEATER Aquarium Heater 7.5 Watts for Tanks 2-5 gal Here

My betta fish's water was mostly in the 60-degree range, below a betta's ideal temperature (70-80F). As a result, the betta was very inactive. I bought this heater for a one-gallon bowl, and it increased the water temperature about 10 degrees. Now the betta is very active.

Even though the specs say it's designed for a 2-5 gallon tank, I'd still recommend it for a 1-gallon bowl. Just keep an eye on the ambient temperature because this heater does not have an automatic shutoff.

Want Hydor MINI HEATER Aquarium Heater 7.5 Watts for Tanks 2-5 gal Discount?

I purchased the Hydor Mini 7.5W Heater for my .9 gallon tank with my betta. Note that the heater is spec'd for a 2-5 gallon tank. Before he had to deal with 70 degree temperatures, which is not ideal and borderline too cold. Since putting the heater under the gravel in the tank, the tank is now constantly between 75-80 degrees, which is the normal temperature for a betta. I highly recommend this product to keep your betta longer and keep him more comfortably.

Sunday, March 30, 2014

Purely Products PUVLF350 20-Watt UV-C Germicidal Ultraviolet Replacement Bulb

Purely Products PUVLF350 20-Watt UV-C Germicidal Ultraviolet Replacement BulbThis product was recommended since i purchased the Pondmaster 2920 20 watt UV pond water light clarifier. Unfortunately I took for granted that this was actually the correct replacement part since all documentation seemed to match and it was "recommended". It was about 1/4" too long, and when trying to screw the housing cap back on it shattered the bulb. Glass fragments got stuck in the necks of the unit itself and I was unable to get them out. So I had to wind up getting an entire new unit. Lesson learned measure twice. Also never recieved any response to a previous product rating with the supplier.

Purely Products PUVLF350 20-Watt UV-C Germicidal Ultraviolet Replacement Bulb

I buy this bulb annually for a Koi pond anti-algae application. It has always worked perfectly. This year the bulb arrived by Fed Ex. The box had a deep crush mark on one end and when I opened it, the bulb was broken. I advised the manufacture via the Amazon process and they replaced the bulb promptly.

Buy Purely Products PUVLF350 20-Watt UV-C Germicidal Ultraviolet Replacement Bulb Now

Friday, February 21, 2014

Fluval Edge Aquarium with LED Light, White

Fluval Edge 6-Gallon Aquarium with 21-LED Light, BlackThere are plenty of detailed reviews on the original Fluval Edge. This one, with the 21 LED lighting is the newer model, so when I decided to make my purchase I went with this one, even though it's several dollars more. Personally, from all the comments regarding the lighting issues on the previous model I wouldn't hesitate spending the extra money and opt for this newer model. In reading the other reviews, there isn't much that I can add that hasn't already been said. However, these are the things that I think are major pros and cons:

Biggest Pros: The lighting expands throughout the tank from edge to edge, not just in the center. Better design if you're keeping live plants. Plus, the lights don't get warm at all.

The blue night-lighting is a very nice feature. I use this setting about an hour before I go to bed and it's really relaxing to watch the fish swim in the blue light.

The tank itself is the coolest design I've ever seen. It is extremely impressive to view, and gives the feel of everything being almost weightless. Very soothing.

Biggest Cons:

As everyone has stated before, the opening is small, but I can reach my hand inside from corner to corner without any trouble. Something to think about, though: I bought the bamboo wall accessory and it made the opening even smaller, as it sits right below it. I ended up removing mine and stuck with live plant and rock decorations. It looks just as nice that way, and I have more room to get into the aquarium when needed.

If you want to do any cleaning or need to stick your hand into the aquarium for ANY reason, you MUST remove some of the water first. Otherwise it will spill out of the opening and all over the place.

Bottom line: if you are looking for a tank that is visually stunning to look at and want something completely unusual, you won't be disappointed IF you can live with the few quirks this tank has. If you like rearranging your tank or need to get in and out of it quickly, you may find this more annoying than its worth. I've kept tanks on and off for over 15 years and for me, the beauty of it outweighs what some people would call a nuisance.

I wanted to test the Fluval Edge 46lt/12gl for a few months before jumping in to write about it. When I first received the tank and upon inspection, I found that the column did not have the two clips that attach to the glass tank. Hagen was nice to send me a replacement column but still it was a hassle to disassemble the lighting unit in order to change the correct part.

The first thing that anyone buying this tank must understand is that they are trading usability and functionality for aesthetics. I found myself challenged to make up for the inconvenience of having a small 5"x7" opening where all interaction with the outside world must "fit in". These are the areas that I found the most challenging and dysfunctional about this tank:

FILTRATION:

The form is such that the tank is exactly the same length and width as the smaller 23lt/6gl Fluval Edge only that it is twice it's height. Still this version of the Fluval Edge uses the same HOB Filter as it's smaller counterpart. If the effectiveness of the filter in the 6gl version was good, now it is half as good. I was able to corroborate this fact when I started to develop algae problems in my tank. When I invited a marine biologist/experienced aquarist friend to see my aquarium, the first observation he made was how stagnant and poorly oxygenated the water was towards the bottom half of the tank. As we all know, this lack of aeration and movement is a major cause of poor water quality and algae development. The solutions I found were to replace the HOB filter with an external unit and to add a micro pump like the Koralia 240 Hydor Koralia Nano 240 Aquarium Circulation Pump, 240 gph which worked well. I also tried a Jardin filter sponge with good results Jardin Fish Aquarium Mini Cylinder Soft Sponge Water Filter, Black. Perhaps if the tank would have been longer or wider as opposed to only taller, the opening could have been larger enabling the option of a larger, more powerful HOB filter.

LIGHTS:

Even with the LED improvement, the lighting unit that comes with the tank is only good enough for non-planted tanks or low-light plants such as anubias or ferns. Any other plants requiring medium or high lighting would likely suffer. Problems associated with the low lighting are exacerbated by the poor placement of the lighting unit which is confined to the 5"x7" opening towards the middle back of the tank. Any plants in the aquarium would fare better only if placed directly below this 5"x 7" area. Another limiting factor is that the lighting unit needs to be turned off and raised up in order to access the tank for maintenance. Unless the tank is located next to a bright window (an unlikely scenario) you will basically find yourself performing maintenance in the dark. The addition of an external lighting unit is almost a necessity, even more so in a planted tank. I found a unit called the Padlite by Truelumen TrueLumen Padlite TrueLumen Aquatic LED Strips which worked quite well but it was not cheap.

MAINTENANCE

A major hassle in all respects. For a planted aquarium, trimming plants is almost a nightmare. You are limited by the angles and require large curved scissors. Also all the cuttings accumulate on the top glass and it is quite difficult to clean them up completely. I found that using a sponge soaked in aquarium water helped. A floater magnet cleaner Mag Float Floating Magnet Aquarium Cleaner is a good idea in order to eliminate bubbles and move the accumulated debris/cuttings off the top glass. However I do not recommend this product to clean the glass as the inside magnet/bristles are very rough and will invite any particles floating in the water that will scratch your glass. Catching fish is quite challenging. I have large rocks so imagine trying to catch a pygmy cory through the 5"x7" opening with a fluval edge net?! I resolved, basically, that any fish or invertebrates that go inside the tank stay in the tank forever.

That said, I agree with almost all reviewers here that the tank looks amazing and the fact that all electrical cords and tubing can be hidden inside the back column is a blessing. At least we get a little something in exchange for all the pain.

Buy Fluval Edge Aquarium with LED Light, White Now

I've owned Fluval products for years including some large aquariums like the Osaka, and I have to admit I'm a fan. I received the Fluval edge about a week ago and I immediately set it up for my 5 black phantom tetras. At times, I felt like I was setting up a ship in a bottle; it can be a little tight getting your arm in the opening, but overall it wasn't a frustrating venture. No problems with the power filter; I enjoy the easy to access flow adjuster. I decided to add a fluval water polishing pad to the top of the filter media compartment for a little extra shine. I'm just now noticing the nitrite levels starting to rise; so, that's a good sign. I was a bit concerned with the oxygen level issue considering that the actual surface area is only about 5"x 7"; I placed a bubble wand on the tank floor right below the opening. The bubble wand added a nice effect to the tank as well as a visual screen for the power filter intake tube and the heater on the back wall. So far, I have not noticed any fish "panting for air" or any surface breathing. You have to really level the tank if you want to avoid large amounts of air pockets on the top; I have small bubbles form on the top which I'm positive are from my bubble wand, but nothing that can't be remedied by a little manipulation by my small magnet cleaner. I really enjoy the LED lighting; it illuminates the entire tank so well. I also enjoy the moonlight setting. The one water change I did was not that bad, I had to get a gravel vacuum that was much smaller than the one I use just to be able to get the distant corners, but overall not a difficult thing. Overall, I'm enjoying my purchase, and I'm pretty sure my tetra are also.

Read Best Reviews of Fluval Edge Aquarium with LED Light, White Here

Amazon sent 3 of them to me and each one arrived damaged. Ouch... Factory box is poorly designed and simply can't offer enough protection. I had to purchase the tank at my local store. Of course Amazon issued me a credit no question asked. So good luck getting yours without a damage. Hope you will.

When you receive your tank, don't get too excited and spontaneously unpack it. Inspect it first! You can easily look inside and check the glass without removing it from the box. Now, if you unpack it first and find any damage later, good luck putting it all back together. Took me long time and it was very irritating.

The tank itself is great. I already own original 6 gallon Fluval Edge and had been hoping for a larger model for a long time.

New tank offers double the capacity (12 gallons) and new improved light. Instead of two halogen bulbs that would last just few weeks, now you get a nice setup of white LEDs with a night mode. Night mode is actually great. Three, dark blue LEDs offer pleasant, ambient light that is non aggressive. You can leave it on for the night.

Assembling is super easy and takes no time. You should be done in just few minutes. I just don't understand how some people find it confusing and challenging.

Light switch is from hell. Hard to access (you must remove the top cover). Once you get there, switching it ON/OFF/NightMode is a pure exercise in patience. Don't give up, it will eventually work. Oh, there is one trap...the light assembly is attached to the power supply via somehow hidden connector inside the rear post where the filter and power cables are located. Double check the connection.

Because of the design of the tank plan ahead of time where you want your plants and decorations. Once the tank is full, you will need to remove some water to put your arm in and make changes.

The tank looks great! It is elegant and classy. I love the clean, simple lines. I used it to replace my 16 gallons conventional tank with an ugly traditional hood. My only regret I waited for too long to switch.

The price is great. You get the glass, light, hood, filter with the media and even water treatment chemicals. All put together it is a nice deal. So if you decide getting one Enjoy!

Want Fluval Edge Aquarium with LED Light, White Discount?

I wanted a aquarium, so searched around online and saw this on YouTube ..Bought the book 'Aquariums for Dummies' and ordered my 12 gallon Fluval Edge in black from Petco and all my other supplies from Dr. Foster and Smith. Used 'EcoComplete Black Substrate' and 'Caribsea Sunset Gold Substrate Sand' but really one bag is more than plenty! I live in a rural area so bought live plants from liveaquaria and they were excellant,healthy,lush and in winter too! Aquarium came by FED Ex Freight. Got my tank on Monday and plants Tues. and Substrates,plus Fluval Edge Accessories> heater, algae magnet,digital thermometer on Wed. and did set up Wed. It took 4 hours to fill (using a large measuring cup) and do planting. It's a deep tank and tricky to stick arm in but not a big deal My substrate is 4''deep(not sure if this is too deep) but looks nice with the color and texture contrast. Used a wood dowel to push in some of my plants. Added a large fake piece of driftwood with java ferns tied on it. The filter was awesome and super quite, it cleared a very murky water in less than 3 hours. I will let it cycle without fish for a couple of weeks ,then decide on fish.. Overall is a lovely tank,easy to set up, super quite,goes well with my decor and if I had more room would buy a second one! Also I did add a small 5x4 piece of shelf foam to rest aquarium on base, doubt it was needed but don't want it to slide on the smooth plastic base. Will also add a timer to the lights.

Save 23% Off

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Aquarium Systems Maxi Jet 600 Powerhead

Aquarium Systems Maxi Jet 600 Powerhead
  • Perfect for freshwater or marine.

I've been using maxi-jet pumps for years in various applications, and this one acted like pretty much every other one I've used: It usually starts on its own when plugged in, but sometimes the volute needs to be turned slightly to get the impeller to start turning. When it's running it's cool and quiet, unless there's too much restriction on the output, which causes the impeller to chatter.

In short, it acts like a maxi-jet!

This review might sound negative, but it really isn't. This is my go-to pump when I need a small, cheap, reasonably reliable pump to move water from one place to another. They mix saltwater, transfer it from the mixing barrel to the tanks, feed media reactors, etc.

Buy Aquarium Systems Maxi Jet 600 Powerhead Now

bought for use with my underground filter,nice power without knocking fish around. very quiet running. a very reasonable price too.

Read Best Reviews of Aquarium Systems Maxi Jet 600 Powerhead Here

These powerheads have been around forever, and for good reason. They are reliable and quiet. I use them to power undergravel filters.

Want Aquarium Systems Maxi Jet 600 Powerhead Discount?

These are my fall back pumps, as I've used them for over 20 years with marine (saltwater) aquariums. I've used them in sumps, corals, plants, fish (always with a strainer attached) and with maintenance, they have lasted on average 2 years each. Will continue to buy them.

One of my marine enthusiasts also had me try Rio pumps (when they came out years ago). They had sufficient output for sumps, but they also had electrical issues. Not a good thing in saltwater, since it is a good conductor of electricity, let alone for my corals and more delicate shrimp and fish :(

I removed all Rios and went back to these pumps. The sump pump I have is a larger different model, but love the Maxi Jets.

Save 36% Off

This is a powerful pump. I also have the 1200. The 600 has PLENTY of power. I use the 600 on the inside aquarium and the 1200 to power the outdoor pond/water feature. It is quiet.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Fluval Edge Aquarium Set, 6-Gallon

Fluval Edge Aquarium Set, Burnt Orange, 6-GallonI've had my Fluval Edge tank for almost 10 months now. I've owned a 29 gal and 10 gal tank before so I've had decent experience with freshwater tanks (not saltwater). I recently moved and wanted to get a small fish tank (4 gal at most) to add to my room, but my boyfriend talked me into getting the Fluval Edge because I could actually have a decent aquarium. We both liked the modern look of the tank too. I have 2 real wood logs, 2 live plants, 3 glolite tetras, 3 full-grown ghost shrimp (about 3" in length), 2 small suckerfish (they're almost smaller than the ghost shrimp), and about 2" in gravel bottom.

Now that it's been almost 10 months, I still love my tank and think every penny I spent on it was worth it. There are some funny quirks that serious aquarist would rather skip, but none of the quirks have deterred me from my love of the tank.

Pros:

-I love the modern look. I like how my cords and pump are all hidden and out of view. I hate buying those fake aquarium backings to hide everything.

-I like the 360 view. I like being able to look into my tank from the top and clearly see through to the bottom. It helps to keep track of my fish too.

-I like how it's a sturdy glass. Hagen didn't cheap on the glass construction. When you pick it up (it's a little heavy), you know you have a quality glass tank.

-Halogen lights give off a nice heat that actually helps heat the tank. I live in a place that has an average yearly temperature of about 67. So the extra heat from the lights help keep my tank warm.

-Halogen lights make my fish/plants look fine. I've had no "bleaching" issues with the lights. The fish retain their color just fine and I know what they look like when they are bleached (my fish were PALE when I moved).

-Filtration system works like a charm. I can stir up the bottom organic material to get it pretty turbid, but the pump/filters can clear it up in about 15 minutes. I change my filters regularly as is suggested, but you could probably go longer as long as you rinsed them every once in a while.

-I've had no problems with the tank that warrant any complaints. The minor quirks is as bad as it's gotten for me.

Cons/Quirks:

-The Fluval Edge heater (bought separately) only heats the water to about 2 degrees above the ambient temperature. This would be fine if I lived somewhere warm, but I live along the central coast of California and we're lucky if the weather gets hotter than 70 degrees. So sometimes my water gets down to 72 degrees even with the heater on or won't trigger quickly enough because the ambient temperature is within range. Get a different heater.

-The pump seems to be a little strong for my fish. My fish and shrimp swim fine in the tank, but since there's a small opening for food placement, tetras have to catch the food quickly or it gets pushed to the bottom before they can get to it. Not a big issue because the shrimp eat the excess food, I watch my fish to make sure they're eating enough, and I put flakes in at the corner furthest away from the inflow of water to keep the food on the surface longer, but it's still a little annoying. My fish do like to swim underneath the inflow of water and "play" in it, though. Anyway, delicate fish might not be ideal with the pump.

-Halogen lights don't disperse enough light to allow for flowering plants. Not a big issue again because I just replaced my more delicate plant (thinner leaves and flowered) with a plant with broader leaves and the plants are doing great. They're getting really big and my shrimp and suckerfish love the "levels" they can hide on.

-Lights do grow a green algae that can get pretty tough if left sitting long enough. If you've got a good suckerfish, shouldn't be a problem. Mine are pretty whimpy and did well the first few weeks I got them and now are kind of lazy.

-Hard to clean. Not a big issue again, but I bought a magnetic algae cleaner (non-Hagen brand), hand scrubber, and scrubber with handle. The scrubber with the handle works great, but can only be used for the back of the tank. Because of the opening, the handle gets in the way of allowing you to get the top, front of the tank. So the magnetic algae cleaner (really quite great) gets to the areas I can't or I just use the scrubber without the handle. I actually recommend the magnetic algae cleaners. The one I have makes life really easy.

-Had to buy the Fluval Edge fish net. Do NOT buy a NORMAL fish net with this tank! It will be worthless, stress your fish out, and make you want to do something bad to your tank, fish, or net. My boyfriend and I spent easily 1.5 hours trying to catch my fish/shrimp when I was moving and it was a huge frustration. The only way we got the shrimp finally (even with only a quarter of water left) was we put a plastic bag into the tank and herded the shrimp and fish into it. The Fluval Edge fish net, though, is a triangle shape and allows you to get into the corner of the tank with the opening. It's not perfect, but makes life a WHOLE lot easier. Definitely worth the buy to lower your fish and your stress level.

-Small concern about the glass tank hanging over the base. I live in California where there are earthquakes. It'd have to be an earthquake of the century for it to shake the tank off the base (it's kind of "hooked on" by the lid/pump to the base) thanks to how heavy it is with the water and glass tank, but it does kind of run through my head. It has survived perfectly fine through a few high 3's and a low 4, though.

As I said, the cons aren't really cons, but more quirks. You have to be willing to put up with the small quirks, but it hasn't affected anything for me.

A few comments on other reviews:

-I agree that if you had dual breathing fish this tank wouldn't be the best for you.

-My halogen lights have had no problems whatsoever. I haven't had to replace them or clean them. They look a little dirty, but nothing bad enough that requires me to clean them. They do heat up the metal grating at the top of the lid, but not enough to burn me, melt the cover, or allow for rusting to occur (I suspect the rusting occurred because it was a saltwater tank and less because of the lights). It's kind of a nice warmth you can rest your hand on and it's fine. Plus, as I said earlier, the heat helps heat my tank. The sockets of the lights have been fine too.

-The halogen lights wouldn't be ideal for jumping fish. I wouldn't be surprised if the fish got hurt if they jumped at a light.

-The button at the top and the cover, for me, have also been fine. The button turns and you can remove the cover if you want, but I leave mine on for added protection. No issues there.

-Bottom intake water pipe-thing is pretty open for anyone who wants to breed fish/shrimp and/or have smaller fish. I'd buy the extra thing to put over it to make sure your fish don't get sucked up into the filter. For me, I don't need it, but it would be needed for smaller fish (as in anything baby size).

Anyway, when it's all said and done...if you want a nice looking tank and don't mind putting in heartier fish/shrimp/plants into your tank, this tank will work just fine for you. The quirks I've had with it are manageable and don't require that much extra work, money, or time. If you don't want to mess with the fuss and the look doesn't grab you, don't buy it. If you like the look as I do and don't mind the quirks, I'd say go for it. I'd recommend the tank to anyone based off of my current review. The quirks aren't bad enough for me to not recommend it and the pros outweigh the quirks. I only give it a 4/5 because of the quirks. It's not perfect so shouldn't deserve a perfect rating.

======== UPDATE ==========

12/16/10 It has been almost 11 months to the day I bought my Fluval Edge and ONE of the halogen lights finally died on me. Easy replacement (pull out the old one, put in the new one). I'm wondering when the 2nd one will die now.

I also mentioned in my review not to buy a normal fish net. I'm going to suggest to buy both. Buy a small regular rectangle net and buy the Fluval Edge net. At minimum, just do the Fluval Edge net and forget the regular one. I find, for whatever reason, I use the regular fish net for day-to-day things (smoothing gravel, moving things, catching the easy fish, etc) and will use the Fluval Edge one more for removing air bubbles and catching my hard-to-catch fish and shrimp.

One thing I did not mention earlier is a trick to remove air bubbles if your tank isn't level: Use your Fluval Edge net and simply shove it near the air bubbles at the top and "move" or "pull" the air bubbles out to the opening. Takes a few back-and-forth motions, but gets them out EVERY time with no other fuss. My tank is always 100% full without air bubbles. It always impresses people when they see the tank is 100% full too.

------

08/10/11 I wanted to do another update now that it's been over 1.5 years of having the tank. It's been through 3 moves (pretty much the same fish, except I now have 3 neon tetras, lost a glolite tetra (from age, it was always my biggest one from the start), and 2 of my shrimp died (presumably from age too)) and I just wanted to warn people who decide to move their tanks. My first two moves I pretty much packed the tank (base, cover, and glass tank) as it would be set-up in a box and stuffed it so it doesn't shift. It was fine after both moves. This last and most recent move, I was a little less careful because the box I had would only fit the tank and nothing else and I was in a rush. Well...Everything did okay except the cover. I kind of threw all the random aquarium stuff into a box and put it into the moving van and I think the cover might have gotten a little warped. It no longer fits as well as it used to. It's not a huge deal, but I have to gently "shove" it down now instead of it kind of sliding (more-or-less) down. So, if you move, make sure you pack everything (especially the top) in a manner so they don't get warped or damaged.

I also wanted to update about lights. I still use the Fluval halogen lights, but I think I got a bad batch of lights once because I had to replace them within a month of each other. So, technically, in 1.5 years, I'm on my 3rd set of lights for both sockets. The ones in right now have been there for about 6-7 months so I'm assuming I got a bad batch of Halogen lights for the 2nd round.

Aesthetics are important. I dislike traditional aquariums and wanted a product that concealed the pump, heater, cords, etc. I chose the Edge over the BioOrb because it's made from real glass, doesn't obligate me to use cheesy synthetic plants, and is well designed. I love the appearance of the product, but there are a few functional flaws you need to be aware of if you decide to purchase. First, its two halogen lights are insufficient. They effectively light up the center of the aquarium, but the edges go dark. This limits the ability to use aquatic plants that traditionally don't require CO2. The Edge does not come with a heater, however, the power cord can easily be run through the same conduit that conceals the pump. Do not purchase African Frogs as there is no air at the top (which is also one of it's better qualities). The box also says the aquarium is ideal for goldfish, but nothing could be further from the truth. Goldfish require large aquariums and produce a considerable amount of waste. They also grow quite quickly. It's difficult to clean the Edge, so go the low maintenance route. I added a heater, a few low-light aquatic plants, and some neons. No issues. The pump is more than adequate for the size of the aquarium. In fact, you may need to adjust the power to 50% as it's a little strong for fish. I highly recommend this product if you don't a mind a little maintenance and a limited ability to grow plants.

Buy Fluval Edge Aquarium Set, 6-Gallon Now

Fluval (Hagen)has an almost winner here. When set up it looks stunning, the plants grow right out the top of the tank even with no CO2 and with the standard lighting, but! just try to maintain this tank and you will shortly begin looking for another tank. The provided access port is so small it is near impossible to clean the substrate, or work with plants. Catching a determined fast shrimp will have you looking for glass cutters! I hope that when Hagen creates a successor to this tank they find a way to allow useble access.

Read Best Reviews of Fluval Edge Aquarium Set, 6-Gallon Here

You have to know something about tanks and fish.

One review here I completely disagree with. If you can do fish stuff then you can do this tank. Most people are too lazy though I think. This tank doesn't *make* fish dull or colourless looking, the stress levels and poor food do that. This tank can be the MOST beautiful tank out there...

Planted with white sand substrate is incredible... with neons, gold tetras and a few smaller tetra types of fish...

Just get a different tank if that's what you want.

The aqua-clear filters are the best kind of filter you can get. I've been crazy heavily into fish for more than 15 years...

Want Fluval Edge Aquarium Set, 6-Gallon Discount?

I have owned several 10 gal aquariums, and always love them for a little while and then get tired of the maintenance. I wanted something easy to take care of, and cool looking. I got both with this.

Looks: Without argument, this is the coolest looking aquarium I have ever seen (outside of celebrity homes). It has clean lines, no nasty residue showing all over it, and small enough to put almost anywhere. The only mechanics showing will be the tube in the back of the tank that can be covers by the Fluval bamboo wall. The top of the aquarium is glass touching water so you can look in it from all angles. The top covers the filter and surface of the water, so it looks like it is just a cube of water. The filter hangs on the back of the tank, concealed in a cover with the power cord coming out of the bottom so you don't see any of this.

The design is amazing, and don't be concerned about the fish health as long as you put fish in it that don't need a lot of room, or wont outgrow it. I will talk about that below.

Getting it started: They give you very detailed instructions on how to start your fluval edge. I also watched a YouTube video of a professional setting it up to make sure I wasn't going to kill my first batch of fish. The filter system is pretty easy to set up and once it is running, it is VERY QUIET. I can't hear mine unless I lean close and listen. The most important thing to me was making it look great. Because the opening is so small, you can't fit big decorations in it. I went with a small stone Chinese lantern, the Fluval Bamboo wall, a small fake bamboo plant, and 3 small real plants. (If you are new to real plants I recommend them, and will talk about them as well.) I also bought a bag of river rocks (about 4 smooth, round, palm-sized rocks) and placed them around the bottom. This turned out great looking and not too much going on in the small aquarium.

You will need to let your aquarium cycle with bacteria that is provided for a couple of days (at least). This makes the aquarium less perfectly clean, which will shock your fish. I gave mine only about 4 days because I was putting in a Betta fish and they are a very hardy fish that are used to a clean bowl every few weeks. My Betta (Frank, as I so affectionately call him) loved it. He didn't have any problem adjusting to the new environment (he was in a 1 & 1/2 gal bowl) and figured out where the air surface was quickly. (Betta's and frogs have lungs, and need to go to the surface to breath.) I used normal aquarium rocks as the bottom instead of sand, as that was recommended. I have had my aquarium for about 6 months, and it still looks great. The plants are thriving, the fish and frogs are doing great, and I change the filter only as often as needed. This is a well oiled machine.

Plants: I had never done plants before and assumed they would not make it as most of my house plants don't. I am not a plant person, by far. I went to the pet store, asked for plants that wouldn't overtake my aquarium, and bought 3 little plants I was told didn't need a ton of light. (The light in the top of the Fluval Edge is perfect, but not overly bright.) I put them in as I set up the aquarium. 2 went in the little boxes on the Fluval bamboo wall, with some aquarium rocks holding them in, and one went in the back behind my stone lantern. I put them in when the water was just barely over them, and then filled it up gently, not to displace them. I had to re-plant them once, cause they came out of the rocks, but once they take root they don't budge. I had a couple of stem losses, but over time they are doing awesome. So easy, no work. If you can't keep them alive, they sell plant nutrients that you add to the water that wont hurt your fish. Try the plants, they look so much better than fake, and help keep the tank clean.

Fish: I knew I wanted to put Frank, my male Betta, in the tank, but didn't know what else. I let Frank chill in there alone for a couple of weeks, let him get the tank fishy enough that it was at good levels for other fish. I read so many blogs about how the Fluval Edge was not safe for fish, and that you should only put in one fish, or three fish, or only certain fish. I understand their concerns, but I am not that picky. I believe you should be smart, and pay attention to the tank and it's occupants. If you notice a problem, act fast and ask your local pet store about any problems. I worried my Betta would bully the other fish. So, I read African Dwarf Frogs would be good tank mates for them. I bought 2 and put them in. (Make sure they are African Dwarf Frogs and not African Clawed Frogs. Some pets stores confuse the two, and sell one as the other. African Clawed Frogs are more aggressive, so look up the difference to make sure you buy the right one.) I made sure they could find the surface, and they did after swimming to the top glass and sliding along it until the found the air. Frank thought they should know he owned the place and started swimming up to them and trying to nip. After they swam away, and just moved whenever he came around, Frank got bored with it and they now will hang next to each other without any problems. I also bought a small Chinese algae eater (very pretty fish, kind of an orange-pink color) and made sure he had algae disks in case there wasn't enough algae build up. He is really funny, and likes to swim at my cats as they watch and get them riled up. He often will try to clean Frank, which he does not appreciate and they will due a little 20 second chase. I believe you don't have to worry too much about what fish you put in as long as you: check how big they get, how aggressive they are, and that they don't need special treatment (like salt or high heat).

Ongoing Care of the Fluval Edge: I have had no trouble keeping the water level high (as the water does evaporate and need a refill about every 2 weeks) and continue to keep track of my plants, water clarity, and tank occupants. Unfortunately, one of my frogs died, so I replaced him with 2 more. I have a total of 1 Betta, 1 small algae eater, and 3 frogs. I noticed one day, about months after buying my Fluval edge, that Frank had a light spot on his head, and it looked cloudy. His fins also looked clumpy and ragged. So I googled it and found out he had a fungus infection. I hurried to the pet store and bought a new filter and treatment tablets (all pretty cheap) and started as the box directed. Since most tablet treatments are for 10 gal tanks, I called the help number on the box and they said to cut it in half for the 6 gal Fluval. I changed out about a gallon of water for fresh water, removed the carbon out of the filter, and put in half a tablet. I noticed Frank's head started clearing up and him being active after a couple of days. I am now looking into ways to prevent this from happening.

Overall, this is a great aquarium for someone that wants the look without the hassle of an aquarium. It is stylish and fun, but not hard to set up or maintain. As with all pets, you need to just keep an eye out for warning signs and ask your local pet store any questions you have. I don't think you need to put a lot of fish in this small of a tank, but if you want more than I have just keep an eye on them. They may cause your tank to need cleaning more often. Also, I would get a small magnetic cleaner scrubby thing, simply to push any bubbles that build up at the top of the tank to the surface area, so nothing obscures your view.

Well, I hope this review really helps. I had to look up so much and read so many conflicting articles that I decided to just try it for myself. I hope this helps you make the decision on if this aquarium is right for you. Thanks for reading, and God bless!

Save 6% Off

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Hydor H2Show Lost Civilization - Right Forest Decoration 13.8"x6"x2.8"

Hydor H2Show Lost Civilization - Right Forest Decoration 13.8'x6'x2.8'This decor looks nice in my tank, complementing the ancient ruins style I've tried to create in there. The wall does a nice job of hiding the front view of the intake tube for my filter. But I just wish the wall was a bit taller so it could better fit the height of my 29-gallon tank.

This is a fun corner decoration, nicely detailed, for fish tank or vivarium. my only teeny tiny gripes are 1) there should be a suction cup on the back to secure it to the back wall of the tank. Every so often I find it leaning forward because a critter has pushed it off the glass. But those are cheap enough. And 2)It kind of irritates that the same style isn't offered for both sides-I don't want to mix my ancient temples...it's such a minor thing really but I prefer balance. This right handed one resembles an ancient Asian temple where as the left handed one resembles a Mayan temple.

Buy Hydor H2Show Lost Civilization - Right Forest Decoration 13.8"x6"x2.8" Now

This is a great addition to any aquarium. The quality is great and the size is exactly what we needed (something a little more substantial for our 50-gallon tank).

Read Best Reviews of Hydor H2Show Lost Civilization - Right Forest Decoration 13.8"x6"x2.8" Here

This is EXACTLY what I wanted for the jungle ruins theme in my fish tank! I only have two very small complaints. 1) it's not as tall as I would like for my 29 gallon, but that was easily fixed by creating a sort of hill with my sand, and 2) like another reviewer stated, it needs suction cups or something in the back. It tips forward pretty easily, even after trying to "anchor" it down with sand. Besides those two things, it's amazing and I'm very happy I spent the money on it.

Want Hydor H2Show Lost Civilization - Right Forest Decoration 13.8"x6"x2.8" Discount?

Friday, November 22, 2013

Marina Naturals Green Dracena Silk Plant

Hagen Marina Naturals Green Dracena Silk Plant, Extra LargeI have several of these in 2 fish tanks.

So far they are holding up well.

Good weighted base.

Well worth the money.

I gave it 3 stars because it does not look entirely real. In fact I decided to leave them out of my aquarium. They look better than most fake plant decor but don't mistaken this as something that looks indistinguishable from the real thing. It's good but not fool proof.

Buy Marina Naturals Green Dracena Silk Plant Now

Looks great in the tank. Easy on the fins too as its not hard plastic. For women reason the fish don't move it around as much as plastic plants. Whatever the reason I like it.

Read Best Reviews of Marina Naturals Green Dracena Silk Plant Here

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Marineland Aquaria Bio Wheel Bearings

Marineland Aquaria Bio Wheel BearingsIf you every cleaned your bio wheels and they dont spin so well. That cause you let these little puppies fall off in tank or down drian... must have!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, October 28, 2013

Petco Reversible Swirl/Solid Terrarium Carpet for Reptiles

Petco Reversible Swirl/Solid Terrarium Carpet for ReptilesLove the pattern on this reptile carpet. Love the way it looks in my terrarium, BUT wish I hadn't wasted money buying it. It is way too small. You might think 'so what?' if it leaves a 1/4 inch to a half inch of bare glass on the floor. Problem is if you use live feed those worms and crickets use that area to get under the carpet and hide...so no food for the Bearded Dragon and a nasty mess to clean when you pull the carpet out to clean his tank. AVOID this product! Hope I can find it somewhere where they will cut it to the correct size. Price at Petco is CHEAPER than Amazon!!! Purchased for $11.99 @ Petco Love the pattern but it is WAY TOO SMALL for tank. Measures 29.5 x 11.5 inches.

Save 15% Off

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Marina Betta Kit Decorative Gravel, Black

Marina Betta Kit Decorative Gravel, BlackThe picture may allude to the idea that these are quite large bags. I didn't notice the description stated 8.5 ounces so I was a little surprised how small the bag was, but that's at no fault of the seller. The rocks look great in the tank; the only very slight annoyance was how long it took to clean them before placing them in the tank. It took a good 15 minutes to wash and rinse (repeat about 10 times) before the water was clear enough for my satisfaction. Overall, I will purchase more when needed.

My fish got so tired of all the plain old rocks in his tank. They're "too basic" he said, "they look like all the other aquarium rocks" he lamented. I didn't know what to do. He became more and more despondent as the days and weeks went on. I gave him a book on Fung Shui to see if it would cheer him up. I figured he could find some way to reach inner-peace with his aquarium if only he could explore his deeper fish desires. Finally one day he declared the solution to all his problems was known to him.

It would be in creating a new home space consisting of only black and white elements. That way, he explained, everything happening outside his tank... the television, the people walking by, the birds flying by the living room window would be explosions of rich colorful life not marred by the fake rocks currently in his tank. Life for him would be one rich palette happening all around him. Dubious about whether or not this would really work or if it would become one more thing my fish became bored with in the weeks or months ahead I pulled out my credit card and ordered him these rocks. "You'll see" he told me, "this is the start of a brand new life... for the both of us!".

Just two days later the new rocks arrived and I placed them in his tank. Ever since then he has taken to writing poetry, practicing his back flips and I never hear a single complaint. Every once in awhile, with a smug look on his face, he'll talk about how all the other fish in the neighborhood are jealous of his remodel. Had I known these black rocks were the solution to all of our problems I would have purchased them months ago.

Buy Marina Betta Kit Decorative Gravel, Black Now

I read other peoples' reviews, looked up how much the weight is, and still its a really small bag of rocks. Its like the size of three burger patties stacked on top of one another. I have a 10 gal with a little under 20 lbs of substrate and this just peppers the surface. Looks cool but still less than i thought. It is a bag of rocks though.

Read Best Reviews of Marina Betta Kit Decorative Gravel, Black Here

Its better to buy this in a brick and mortar store. The "gravel" are barely just above grains of sand. Makes cleaning the take a pain because I have to worry about losing them each time.

Want Marina Betta Kit Decorative Gravel, Black Discount?

You can get a bag, of the same gravel, from walmart, that is 5 times the size, for the same price. It's a TINY bag of gravel. This product is for the smallest fishbowls, and/or making your own colored gravel assortments. I mixed mine in with the big bag of gravel that I got from walmart and it looks alright. I have a 5 gallon tank, and the gravel from walmart was just nearly enough to cover the bottom, but not enough to hold down the plants. This helped a little, but I'm sorely disappointed in myself for spending money on this.

Friday, September 27, 2013

Como Silicone Artificial Aquarium Decoration Coral Ornament Magenta

Como Silicone Artificial Aquarium Decoration Coral Ornament MagentaI LIKE THIS BUT, MY FISH DON'T. THEY SEEM TO PULL PIECES OFF OF IT AND DRAG IT AROUND THE BOTTOM OF THE TANK,THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A LITTLE BIGGER BUT OVERALL I'M SATISFIED.

Sunday, July 28, 2013

Zoo Med Ocean Sun 10, 000K 420 Daylight Bulb T8 17 Watts, 24-Inch

Zoo Med Ocean Sun 10, 000K 420 Daylight Bulb T8 17 Watts, 24-InchNot fantastic, no real wow factor. Casts a blue tint on the whole aquarium. This may sound fine, but my backround is blue. I'd rather a pure white light. I am an enthusiast but not an expert. I have a 40 gallon flat back hex with a Lionfish, damsels, hawkfish, and some other misc. hardy fish. I think it's a good deal for the money, but there's obviously better out there.

Save 37% Off

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Hagen Marina Mermaid Goldfish Kit

Hagen Marina Mermaid Goldfish KitWe bought this tank for my daughter's third birthday. All was fine, until the fish started getting caught in the mermaid decoration. We've lost 2 fish now (and have taken the decoration out of the tank), because they died getting caught in there. It's a nice tank, filter works great, it's a good size for a child, but beware the death trap! We've since put other decorations into the tank that do not pose an entanglement risk.

I love this fish tank! I wasn't sure about the quality because we found it on sale (at a pet store) but it's amazing. I haven't had any problems with the filter, it works great, I did have to put it in the lowest setting, otherwise it's too strong for our poor Rosie (betta fish). I'm planning on laminating the background image so it's not ruined if it gets wet (it goes on the outside of the tank). I bought a light separately, along with a couple of purple and green plants, castle and treasure chest. You don't really need any of the "extras" but I saw the pink castle and chest at the store and had to have them. The plants were just to add a bit of color but I love how it turned out, I can't stop looking at it. And I think Rosie likes it too :)

Buy Hagen Marina Mermaid Goldfish Kit Now