Showing posts with label fish tank decor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fish tank decor. Show all posts

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Fluval U1 Underwater Filter Foam Pad

Fluval U1 Underwater Filter Foam Padthis filter stopped working after the first week i installed it! Wish i could return it but i already thru the original box out and will not get credit for it so be aware!

I have this in a 10 gallon (i think) round tank with 3 fish in it and it does well. I have owned the filter for 2 months and during the first month I may have fed the fish too often because I used 3 filters within the month. I use it with the Fluval U1 Underwater Filter After figuring out a feeding schedule I only had to use 2 filters.

Installation:

Plug and Play for the most part.

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Thursday, November 6, 2014

Aquatic Creations Tyrannosaurus Rex Dinosaurs Bubbler Aquarium Ornament

Aquatic Creations Tyrannosaurus Rex Dinosaurs Bubbler Aquarium OrnamentI LOVED my t-rex for the first 3 years I had it. I had even repainted it after the paint had worn down.

Then suddenly my fish started dying. I replaced the few that died but all of those died as well! I thought it was the water quality so I did a 75% water change with distilled water and tried again with 2 more fish. Those died too. I thought that maybe the paint had started to leach some how into the water so I took the T-Rex out to re-seal the paint. I discovered that the pin holding on the head had metal in it and it had been rusting!

I did a 50% water change after taking him out and got a few new fish and everyone is happy and still alive.

Its a great decoration for a year or 2 but it needs to be taken out after a while.

This product is very cool. I was disappointed at first because the bubbles were so powerful, they were moving the dinosaur body. It would flip the head head or the bubbles would come out of the back of his neck. After some adjusting and "locking" it down with some stones and a log, it has been flawless. It is definitely a talking point of everyone who enters the room and the fish loves it. The big bubbles must feel good because the goldfish is constantly in its flow.

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Wednesday, November 5, 2014

Tetra 19550 6-Pack Whisper Aquarium Filter Cartridge, Small

Tetra 19550 6-Pack Whisper Aquarium Filter Cartridge, SmallItem arrived well packaged, on time and as described in the item description. Good quality and can easily recommend to others.

I use these filters with a petsmart Glotank for my glowfish. The filter that came with the kit uses these filters. They've never given me any issues, so that's that!

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I have a Beta in a 1.5 gallon tank and he appears to be happy with his new Tetra whispter filters.

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I bought a small tank which contained a whisper filter these size small filters work well and don't cloud the water. My only complaint is, if you have any larger debris that is sucked into the filter it falls out as you pull the cartridge out of the filter.

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THE SHIPPING WAS MUCH QUICKER THAN EXPECTED, VERY NICE! ALSO THE SELLER WAS REALLY

GOOD AT REPLYING TO MY EMAILS WITH SOME QUESTIONS I HAD. BUT ALL IN ALL

MY PRODUCT CAME BEFORE IT WAS EXPECTED TO COME & I AM VERY PLEASED WITH THE

OUT COME! I WILL SAY THAT THESE TYPES OF FILTERS DUE HAVE A LOT OF BLACK DUST ESPECIALLY

WHEN SHIPPED. SO BE SURE TO RINSE THEM IN VERY HOT WATER BEFORE PUTTING THEM

IN YOUR FISH TANK FILTERS!! GREAT EXPERIENCE WILL BE BUYING AGAIN VERY SOON!

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Fluval Motor Seal Ring for External Filter

Fluval Motor Seal Ring for External FilterI needed a new O ring, and this did the trick for a quarter what the LFS wants for it. Bravo!

Pro tip when you need to get saltwater gunk out of your filter, take the O ring off of the filter before you soak it (the filter box) in vinegar the acid destroys the rubber of the O ring!

I couldn't stop my filter from leaking no doubt cause it was 8+ years old and had the original seal. I was also having problems that before it started not sealing, it would leak upon power start up after an electrical outage. Good thing I keep a plastic container underneath it cause it filled it up and almost overflowed. Now with the new seal, it doesn't leak anymore.

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This was the part needed to stop my canister from leaking. Love that literally every part can be replaced on my Fluval filter.

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I ordered this for a fluval 205. I have no idea how old the unit is because I got it with a used aquarium that I bought. The fluval canister leaked like crazy. I ordered the seal with a slim hope that it would work. To my suprise it doesn't leak at all now and runs like new. I'm very impressed. If your fluval is leaking order this.

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drip, drip, drip....Fixed it! I guess after three years it was going to leak. Changed the o-ring and... no leak!

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Friday, October 17, 2014

110V 150W Watt Anti-Explosion Submersible Aquarium Fish Tank Water Heater

110V 150W Watt Anti-Explosion Submersible Aquarium Fish Tank Water HeaterThis heater works really well. I used it in a small tank, five gallons, and have had no problems with it whatsoever. It is convenient because it maintains the temperature itself, I don't have to worry about adjusting it all the time. Just plug it in and put it in. Shipping was quick and it was packaged well.

Save your money. I had it submerged in a 20 gallon tank and it lasted 3 days.

The glass body shattered

I would rate it a 5 if I could

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My tank keeps going from super hot to super cold, save your money this thing is no good. It is only in a 10 gallon. The thing recently died when water leaked into it. It will not be missed since it would stay constant at one temperature then suddenly rise or drop, and you never know when it is actually working. Also the instructions are in horrible English, a kindergartner would realize it has terrible English. Other than a brief description, it has no directions, and it also tells you to refer to a chart which is not included, so you guess a random number and hope it is a good temperature. I also tried converting the numbers like they were in Celsius, they are not.

The company contacted me and refunded me I think that they are a good company with good customer service. I am a CSR myself. The company may have other better products, but I do not recommend this product. You might have a better experience with this product, but I can assure you, you will have a good experience with their CSR's.

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Was really impressed at the wattage for the price. However, within a day of putting this in the tank, it leaked water. Worst of all, when i reached in the tank to check the temp, there was voltage going through the water. Luckily, no animals were injured. But definetly NOT worth it.

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once i got this i had a hard time trying to figure out how it worked. i soon dropped it on the floor and it broke very easily. its hard to figure out

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Jungle TB630W Tank Buddies Fungus Clear, 8-Tablet

Jungle TB630W Tank Buddies Fungus Clear, 8-TabletWe got our first fish -a betta-a couple of weeks ago. When we bought him, there was a tiny black spot on the tip of his tail and, naively, thought it was just part of his natural coloring. Unfortunately, the tiny black spot started spreading. It was fin rot. I read on the internet that frequent water changes were the best treatment, so we changed his water daily but the black kept spreading and his other fins started to look funny, too. After about a week of daily water changes, we purchased this product.

1 tablet is good for 10 gallons. Our tank is only 5 gallons so I broke the tab in half. It broke easily into two equal pieces without any crumbling. I put half into the tank and it fizzed and turned the water a greenish-blue color. The next day, all the black on our betta's tail was completely gone! Three days later, his fins are still not as good as new, but they show obvious signs of healing. He is acting more energetic, eating more, and just doing better all around. I am really amazed at how quickly and how well this product worked and I wish we had used it right away instead of letting him suffer through a week of ineffective water changes.

The box does contain the generic warning that some ingredients have been found to cause cancer in the state of California. I used gloves when breaking the tablet and will be very careful with future water changes.

Today is the third day after use and the water still has a greenish tint. His aquarium has silk plants in various colors and none of them seem to have been dyed. Even though there is an obvious tint, the water is still clear so it doesn't really look dirty or gross.

Overall, I'm extremely pleased with this product and would definitely recommend it to anyone dealing with fin rot.

Our lab uses these tablets to treat a variety of fish illnesses (dropsy, fungus, etc.). They work! This stuff will stain sand if you just drop the tablet into the tank, so I'd suggest dissolving it in a bucket or beaker before adding it to the treatment tank.

Fish in question: Brachyhypopomus gauderio (scaleless, similar to black ghost and other knife fish)

Tankmates: Only others of same species

Substrate: Sand, stained by tablets

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I'm not sure that this product is still being produced, which is a total shame. I have had two goldfish come down with dropsy at two separate times, and each time I used this medication to CURE THEM. Yes, they are STILL ALIVE even after they both had extremely bloated, pine-coned bodies. I really thought they would not make it, but with the help of this medication (as well as some other special attention), they both were able to pull through. I recently purchased four of these packages each contain 8 tabs (1 tab per 10 gallons) in case they go out of stock. I highly recommend this product.

Keep in mind that it does turn the water a cool (or sickly, depending on who you ask) blue/green color, so its best to take out any decor you may have.

Also, check out this guide on how to cure dropsy from goldfish..

Read Best Reviews of Jungle TB630W Tank Buddies Fungus Clear, 8-Tablet Here

I'd bought Jungle Tank Buddies: Fungus Clear, a couple of months ago "just in case". These things are difficult to find in PetSmart and PetCo, so I decided to buy it from Amazon and stock it.

Just Wednesday, I saw that my large Red Cap Oranda was getting red streaks in his veil finds and he had fin rot. He also had red spots on his body. One of the baby Lionchus had died and had contaminated the water. He was hidden behind one of the large sponge filters. My other goldies in the same 110 gallon fish tank were fine.

I changed 30% of the water and, since this is a big tank and they require that you mix the tablets in a separate bucket before adding to the tank when used in larger tanks, I poured the pre-mixed solution and very blue water in.

The first day, "Spartacus", the red cap oranda, went from floating at the top {head first} to swimming around and even eating a little. The second day was the worst. I thought I'd lost him. He was really sick and was upside at the bottom of the tank, and he didn't eat. The third day, he was on the mend. He was at least upright but still at the bottom of the tank although he did take some food.

Throughout these days, I had noticed that the red streaks were disappearing and today, the fourth day, I'll be doing a 30% water change and Spartacus is A-OKAY! Fungus Clear from Jungle Tank Buddies has saved my fish from almost certain death. I recommend everyone who has goldies to keep these tablets in stock. They will save your fish.

*** UPDATE 04/25/2013 *** ~ Spartacus is 100% back! He's eating and swimming and back to his old self begging for food whenever I pass the tank. No more streaks. Fins are on the mend. And he's happily swimming along. I did have to use a second doze just to be sure. Now I have put a carbon filter in my Rena XP3 filter to remove the medicine together with weekly water changes. These tablets really work and today I'm going to purchase more for "just in case". Thank you Jungle Tank Buddies!

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Bought this product to clear up a minor case of fungus on my big goldfish. The small patch cleared up quite readily. Be warned, the product will change the color of the water. We thought the change looked rather cool. Wonder what the fish thought?

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Monday, July 21, 2014

9085 12" x 48" Fish Tank Background River Bed/Lake

9085 12' x 48' Fish Tank Background River Bed/LakeArrived rolled up, much larger than needed. Cut it to size without difficulty. It's bright yet not as bright when you put it behind the glass. Does the job, looks good, used scotch tape to secure the edges.

i love the design it looks great! but its not tall enough guess i should have measured my tank i need ot get another one plain blue to finish covering the top half ... but looks great i like it

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This background looks great but make sure you measure your take before buying. I thought it would fit my standard 55 gallon but it was way to short. Wont make that mistake again!

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Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Exotic Environments Skull Mountain Aquarium Ornament

Exotic Environments Skull Mountain Aquarium Ornament, Medium, 9-Inch by 6-Inch by 6-InchI was iffy to buy but its a large piece, got the tall skull one, price was nice compared to PetCo's aquarium decor. Its very detailed not just one color, so its picture is true. I have it in my turtle tank and with it sitting in gravel even he don't knock it over and my turtle runs in to stuff hourly. Good Price, fast delivery not broken on delivery!! I only speak for the tall version the other didn't appeal to me so no comments on how they look!

The listing is distorted and incorrect. The photo makes it look taller than wide. Also the 9x6x6 deminsions aren't true. It's six inches tall, five inches deep and eight inches wide. Well they were truthful about one of the three. It's an attractive enough piece but. . .

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Just what I wanted. I needed this scary item for the section in my aquarium that is creepy and dungeon-like.

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This is a great piece of tank decor. This item looks awesome and and is very functional in the tank, a rare find! My African Cichlids spend hours inside and swimming in and out of it because it has so many openings. I wish it were a bit bigger but that is not a problem with the item.

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This is a great piece for most aquariums. My fish hide in it and swim through it all the time. I bought it because one of my 55 gallon aquariums is decorated with ruins of castles and skulls so this fits in perfectly. A must have for any gothic aquarium.

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Deep Blue WWII Sunken Submarine 24 Inch

Deep Blue WWII Sunken Submarine 24 InchThis submarine looks sweet sitting at the bottom of my aquarium. The fish seam to love hiding inside it. The only thing I though was weird is that it showed up in a box big enough to fit 10 more inside it.

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Tuesday, April 22, 2014

Multipet Look Who's Talkin Loofa Plush Dog Toy

Multipet Look Who's Talkin Loofa Dog Plush Dog ToyGot this as a gift, and while we were turned the dog chewed through the face part in under a minute, removed the sound box, broke it open and got to the batteries. We had no idea it had such potentially dangerous small batteries inside. Found only 2 of the 3 that were there and we fear that the dog swallowed one. We will spend the night hoping and praying that the dog passes it safely if she got to it, and that if it rolled somewhere in the living room we find it before our baby does. Horrible evening, full of calls to doctors and poison control. Back to simple squeaky toys.

Our puppy loves this toy and the others in the same line. She has chewed on it for more than 2 weeks without having it tear at the seams or the cloth. She loves that it squeaks and moos, and it's just long and flexible enough to flop properly (for her) when she shakes it in her mouth.

I only gave it three stars because the cow speaker died after just a day of use, while the duck and pig ones have continued for a long time. I think our puppy was harder on the cow one because of the tufts of hair at the top.

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The dogs love it. Carries it around everywhere. Sturdy and stands up well to washings. Sound is not very loud which is a plus.

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He was happy with his new toy and the sounds keep him curious when he hears that monkey sounds and tries to destroy it

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Oh how my husky loves to bite your head and make you ribbet. Until that day when she but down too hard and broke the noise maker. RIP Frogger.

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!

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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.

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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.

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Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Aqueon Colormax LED Aquarium Lamp, Size 30

Aqueon Colormax LED Aquarium Lamp, Size 30I bought this to warm up the color tone in my modular light hood that has two daylight bulbs in it. The colormax doesn't have enough red to do this. I would have to go two colormax and one daylight i think. The red light reflections mixed with the white ones on the wall look pretty cool though. ;)

This went on a 29 gallon planted tank.

We set up our 120g tank with 2 of the 30" fixtures both with 2 white and 1 red bulb. Great set up. Lots of light.

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We bought the Aqueon LED Aquarium hood and were instantly impressed with the quality of the light. However, it was a very blue or white light. The warmth of our previous hood just wasn't there. I ordered one Colormax bulb with the hope that the red mixed with the other would be the perfect coloring. As desired, it looks great. There is just enough red to warm up the aquarium.

I have noticed that we get more algae growth on this aquarium cover than we did with the previous hood, however. I didn't notice it before adding the Colormax bulb so I'm thinking it may be due to the red LEDs.

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I do not see a difference adding this light bulb to the existing day light bulb that was already in the hood. Maybe I have the wrong type of fish and will see it in other fish when I add them.

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Great lights have a white and color lights in the fixture really makes the aquarium pop. Love the led lights. I would reccomend this lights toeveryone.

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Saturday, February 15, 2014

Nutrafin Bio-Clear Biological Water Clarifier, 4.1 Ounces

Nutrafin Bio-Clear Biological Water Clarifier, 4.1 OuncesAs a relatively new aquariist, I made the mistake of doing a massive gravel vacuum, literally changing both of my filters, and doing a 50% water change at the same time. This, of course, led to a nitrate spike and, in turn, a massive bacteria bloom. My aquarium is in my office, so it's important that my aquarium look as clean and attractive as possible.

Essentially, I had been making the mistake of overfeeding my fish for a pretty long time. Typically, before using any product like this (which, let's be honest, you dont need to use unless there's some underlying cause you need to address first), you should make sure that you've already addressed the cause of the nitrate spike that you're suffering from. Then, to speed the process of getting things cleared, and only then, is it appropriate to use a product like this. For the sake of your fish.

This Nutrafin stuff is fantastic. I saw slight improvement after one day of using a tiny amount of this product. And after two days, my water is clearer than it has ever been. I use this in conjunction with the basic, mechanical-only Fluval U1 underwater filter and a Whisper 10i (which i probably don't really need) in my 10-gallon. In the Whisper, I use a bag of Seachem Purigen. I also have a bottle of Seachem Clarity, which I bought just in case I needed it, but will now probably send back because the Nutrafin Bio Clear worked as advertised. Give it a shot, just make sure that you know (and have addressed) the causes of your murky water before using a clarifier to cosmetically enhance your aquarium.

This product is truly one of a kind. I have used other types of water clarifier over the years but nothing compares to this. My water is always clean and clear but its only sometimes perfect. Half an hour after adding this I can see a big improvement, but the biggest difference is if you give it a day to work it's magic. It uses enzymes to digest certain nutrients and clear the water of that white bacterial cloud. This probably wont help if you have an algae bloom and its perfectly safe. If your using this on an aquarium that is new or overstocked you need to fix those issues first.

Also it is important to note that this is not a flocculation agent like 99% of other clarifiers. This removes white haze that is caused by bacteria. If your aquarium is dirty this will not help.

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this product is waste of money , it does not work at all. the cloudiness and foggyness stays there. dont buy it

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clears my 55 gallon aquarium in a couple of days after I accidently dumped a load of fish food in there. Of course i had to vacuum the gravel and change the filters.

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this is a good product it does what it should to do, but for some reason after a couple of weeks I have to throw away because it dosen't looks good .

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Monday, January 20, 2014

Fluval U4 Underwater Filter Foam Pad

Fluval U4 Underwater Filter Foam PadI use the U4 along with Fluval's hangon tank filter in a 55g for water turtles. They together keep the tank ok and cheaper right now than the FX I want. But this is short term solution and they filters are at opposite ends of tank to push together dirty water.

SO while this works, I wouldn't recommend others do it if they can afford the FX series for water turtles. This is best for fish, and haven't had any problems with my feeder fish getting into this filter.

*Change out only one side(there are 2) at a time to keep the good biological bacteria.

Replacement for old foam pads that lasted a couple years. I have had the fluvall filter in my turtle tank for several years and this is the first replacement of this item, would highly recommend.

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I use this item on my 40 gl turtle tank.works great. Turtles are messier than fish and this helps keep water clear.

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I have a turtle, three goldfish and two plecos and Fluval has maintained our 75 gallon tank wonderfully. Definatly recommend.

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We have 4 turtles in two 55 gallon tanks. Turtles of course make bigger messes than fish. But with just cleaning the foam pad every week, the water is still crystal clear!

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Aquatop PF25-UV Hang-On Filter with UV Sterilization

Aquatop PF25-UV Hang-On Filter with UV SterilizationThis review is for; Aquatop PF25-UV Hang-On Filter with UV Sterilization

I only had this filter running in my 28-gallon tall hex tank for just over a month & have been very pleased with it so far. My acrylic tall, aquarium only has a 7" opening for back-hanging filters, so at 6.5" wide this filter was a prefect fit. Note that it is very important that the lip of your aquarium must be 3/4" OR LESS. Any lip thicker than 3/4" & this filter WILL NOT fit. Fortunately the lip of my tank is exactly 5/8". My tank is for Marine fish as I have damsels, cleaner shrimp, live corals & some other live invertebrates.

The filter also comes with a small bag of ceramic rings (usefull for biological purposes) in addition to the standard disposable cartridge with activated carbon. The filter does have a surface skimmmer that does skim the surface of the water, but unlike traditional protein skimmers there is no collection cup to clean. The flow rate is adjustable by a simple turn of the knob on the top part of the filter near the intake tubes. The unit pump is very quiet. My aquarium is in my living room, so I could hardly hear it when I'm watching television. The only noise I hear is the water from the filter going back to the tank.

The UV sterilizer works on a separate switch and can operate independently from the filter's main pump. I run my filter 24-7, but I turn my UV sterilizer off or on occasionally. When it is on you see just a a slight glow on the bottom of the filter which helps me to remind me that it is on. To replace the bulb, you just unscrew the bottom assembly that houses the bulb.

Overall, I like the quality & value of this filter so far, but time will tell to see how it holds up. If you buy this filter & install it please insure that all of the plastic parts are not cracked and that they all snap together firmly. I made a slight mistake on the intake tube near the top part of the filter in which two pieces were not firmly snapped togther & I had some water run down the side of my tank! Yikes, but it was easily fixed. Overall, you can't beat the price/value for an outside filter, surface skimmer & UV sterilzer all in one unit. Recommended!

If you own a planted aquarium that has a basic lighting system, and you use a minimum amount of fertilizer, your filter is probably good enough to keep your water clear.

However, if you use a hi-tech lighting system such as T-5, or metal halide, injected CO2, and planted and liquid fertilizers, then you are going to have a nearly impossible time keeping your water clean.

The problem with these hi-tech systems is that they generate so many nutrients in the water table of an aquarium, that bacteria and algae not only thrive in such situation, they can actually grow exponentionally when exposed to them.

This will leave you with either very cloudy water from all of the new bacteria as they replicate, or green water from algae as it replicates. One of the other tends to dominate an aquarium with a hi-tech lighting system.

For example, when using a GLO T5 lighting system, pressurized CO2, and liquid and planted fertilizer. this author has had many algae blooms in my aquariums.

The only way that I could clear the water was with the use of a Vortex D1 diatom filter.

And even then, within a day the water turned green again.

So I decided to purchase an AquaTop IL-10UV inline ultraviolet sterilizer to see if it could get rid of the algae blooms.

The IL-10UV ($40) worked so well for one of my planted tanks, that I decided to purchase an AquaTop PF-UV25 for my Aqueon 20 long planted aquarium. I have only owned the PF-UV25 for about two weeks, however, it managed to clean the green water in this aquarium within a matter of 24 hours.

I also like the fact that the PF-UV25 has a separate mains plug for the uv sterilizer bulb, since this allows me to extend the life of this bulb by using it less frequently.

The PF-UV25's power supply is a well made unit with some heft to it, that includes an on-off switch. And this makes it very convenient to use.

The unit's intake tube also includes both a surface skimmer as well as a check valve. I like the inclusion of the check valve, since hob filters tend to drain their water back into the aquarium during a power outage, which might damage a hot uv bulb. I say this since the water is used to keep the bulb cool. So even if the bulb is turned off, it may still be hot enough to crack if the water surrounding its housing is rapidly drained from the PF-UV25's filter housing during a blackout.

Even though the PF-UV25 offers just mechanical and chemical filtration, it is a must for a planted aquarium where hi-tech lighting and injected CO2 are used.

Moreover, if the PF-UV25 stands up as well as my Aquaclear hob filters, this line of filters will be copied by many other manufacturers of hob and canister filters, since they do a superior job of filtering an aquarium.

Some critics of inexpensive uv sterilizers have claimed that the poor quality of the uv bulbs included with these units cannot kill off bacteria.

However, I have seen the PF-UV25 clear an aquarium so full of bacteria that the water was very cloudy, overnight. So these uv sterilizers do work in spite of being inexpensive.

They also clear up green water and prevent it from coming back as long as they are used several times a week ( or kept on 24/7).

I use canister filters for biological filtration. In my 20 gallon long heavily planted aquarium, I use an Eheim 2213 for biological and mechanical filtration, and the AquaTop PF-UV25 for mechanical filtration and uv sterilization. The combination works quite well, and my fish have never looked healthier, or more energetic than they have since I added uv sterilization to my aquariums.

Hats off to AquaTop for making affordable uv systems for aquaria that have made keeping planted aquariums with hi-tech lighting systems very easy to maintain!

And I enthusiastically recommend the AquaTop PF-UV25, given its ability to kill algae and bacteria, while keeping my aquarium's water crystal clear all at an affordable price.

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I ordered this product and received it in a timely manner, however the UV bulb was broken. The package had no cushion at all. I called the company and they promptly sent me a new one. This time the outer casing was cracked! I didn't want to wait again, so I took the first one apart, used the casing on it, and now have a working filter.

It's too bad that they don't take the time to properly package this item, as it works wonderfully, once you can get one that isn't damaged!

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when i took it out of the box there was carbon pellets all over the place and I found a piece of glass that can't possibly have broken during shipping, it had to have been broken prior. I have to say it looks used as well. Returning and won't order again.

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My 10 gal tank was filled with deep green water, no matter what i tried, it would not get clear. Within 2 weeks of installing this, it was clear as could be and I have had no issues since. Thanks for a great product.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Safety Siphon - Safe Multi-Purpose Self Priming Pump

Safety Siphon - Safe Multi-Purpose Self Priming PumpThis video review was made by my husband.

He purchased this on Amazon and is very easy to use and fast.

He made this video review because there is too many people who say they cant get it to work, and its just too simple!

This, at its most basic, is a foot valve at the end of a hose. How it works:

1. The foot valve prevents liquid in the hose from flowing out that end.

2. Each time you push the end with the valve down into liquid, more liquid enters the hose but cannot flow back out.

3. When enough liquid has entered the hose and the top of the liquid in the hose is below the valve (the end in the liquid) gravity takes over and your liquid will flow into the an empty container which is at a lower level than the full container.

The proper technique then is not to "shake" the end in the liquid but to push it down into the liquid so that each time it goes into the liquid, more enters the hose.

The foot valve does not form a perfect seal when you pull the end out of the liquid, so a little will flow back out. The key then is to push it down and pull it out fairly rapidly.

Used correctly, this is a brilliant product which I have used frequently over the past 2 years and which my mechanic had previously recommended to me. And it is even cheaper now than when I bought it. The instructions suck though.

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I haven't used this yet in a "real" situation (i.e. siphoning gas from a neighbor's car). But I did try siphoning water from my sink to my bathtub.

As others have noted, it was tricky to get this siphon to work especially in shallow liquid. But after a little practice, suddenly it worked pretty well.

I found it worked best when I moved the hose really straight in an up/down motion as opposed to just shaking it hopefully.

I think the good thing about this siphon is its overall simplicity. It's basically a hose, making it pretty durable and also easy to clean.

The downside is that the ball bearing inside doesn't create a great seal. Hence if you stop shaking the hose, the fluid will flow back into the source tank pretty quickly.

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I was looking for more information before purchasing this product, but never found the description I needed. In case someone else wants it, the tubing is 6 feet long which seems to be enough for what I will want. It also says it can be attached to a garden hose with a 1/2" adapter. The tubing has an inside diameter of about 1/2", and the packaging claims it will siphon up to 3 1/2 gallons a minute. It says it can siphon gas, diesel and kerosene as well as water or oil and should be cleaned thoroughly before storage. Even after cleaning, I would get separate siphons before using the same one for different uses.

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I hesitated to buy this, my experience with gimmick items tends to be negative.

This safety siphon really gets the job done. I do a lot of 4Wheeling and often have to use 2 5 gallon Jerry Cans of extra fuel in my outings. The new models with the Carb approved spout are extremely slow to pour out the gas, and they also tend to spill when you angle it to empty out the fuel. Plus it was painful to have to carry these things as they slowly poured out. I really needed a solution, and not one that involved changing neoprene gaskets every few weeks.

Enter safety siphon. I saw the videos of it working, but still was hesitant, but I figured anything is better than having to do this gassing up by hand. So, I took the plunge, when I got it, I practiced emptying out my bathroom sink with it into my bathtub. Had somewhat of a hard time getting it to work. After playing with it, I realized what I was doing wrong. Because it was shallow, it was harder to begin with, but I was stopping too early before I hear a continuous "clicking" sound from the ball inside the priming pump moving up and down on its own. Second, I had the hose too high to allow the flow to reach to the downward part of the hose so that when gravity pulled it down, it would start the vacuuming process.

So, I repositioned the hose to have a more downward decline to it, and I started shaking it up again. I immediately see the water starting to flow through the hose, it got some air in there, but I keep shaking it, and then I started to hear rapid clicking from the inside ball once the water in the hose had reached the downward slope, and it started flowing out of there pretty fast.

The neat thing is, it is a vacuum at that point, and you can suck out all the liquid with it all the way until it is empty and you hear what sounds like someone finishing up the last bit of a soft drink with a straw.

Later I got to test it on my jerry cans, boy was it a lot easier to dump out the fuel on these. It took me less than 2 minutes to empty each 5 gallon can. I am very happy with this product, no spills, no having to lift the heavy cans and hold them there for the roughly 5 minutes it would take to empty one out. I highly recommend it, and don't get frustrated during the learning process. I almost did!

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Saturday, September 28, 2013

Aquatic Fundamentals 29/37 Gallon Upright Aquarium Stand

Aquatic Fundamentals 29/37 Gallon Upright Aquarium StandNearly three years ago I purchased an Aquatic Fundamentals

29/37 aquarium stand for my Aqueon 37 gallon aquarium.

This stand will also accomodate a 20 long aquarium which has the same footprint as the 29 and 37 gallon aquariums.

This stand will also support smaller aquariums which have up to or less than a 12" depth and 30" length, and which weigh less that 400 lbs.

This stand has held up well over the past three years, supporting the weight of my Aqueon 37 along with about 30 lbs of sand. Since the sand displaces the weight of an equivalent number of gallons of water, the total weight of this tank including its frame is just North of a 400 lbs.

The AQ has done its job of holding this aquarium up for the past three years, even through a mild earthquake that we had here in the Northeastern part of the United States in August of 2011.

I have since broken the 37 gallon down and will be replacing it with a Mr. Aqua 17.4 gallon acrylic rimless aquarium to house a school of Rasbora Harlequins and some dwarf hairgrass and microsword plantings which will now be sitting atop the AQ 29/37.

My only criticism of the AQ 29/37 is that when the powder coating gets wet, the water can oftentimes seep underneath the powdercoat, which results in its bubbling.

While Aquatic Fundamentals warns not to get the stand wet, it is nearly impossible not to do so from time to time.

Moreover, it is unrealistic for a manufacturer of aquarium products not to recognize that a product which is used around water is going to get wet from time to time; regardless of how careful the user of the product is.

And while I have found no structurally weakened areas of my AQ 29/37 as a result of this, Aquatic Fundamentals should address this concern, given that it mars what is an otherwise fine product which is sold at a competitive price.

As for price, for those who purchase an AQ 29/37 online, I have also noticed the substantial price increase in the AQ 29/37 since I purchased mine in 2010. With shipping, the price now approaches $180, when I paid about $106 for mine including shipping. That is quite an increase in price over a period of slightly less than 3 years; the higher shipping costs making up most of the increase.

In summary, I find that this is a well made piece of aquatic furniture with excellent structural rigidity. Now if Aquatic Fundamentals can only use a fully waterproof coating, this product would be representative of the truly ideal aquarium stand.

To be honest I didn't expect much for $99, I was pleasantly surprised when I received the box. Assembly was easy and parts all fit like a glove. The stand is actually nice enough to place adjacent to the entrance of our front door. I definitely would buy again.

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This is a heavy piece of furniture that is strong and stable. I have my 20 gallon aquarium on it (it's made to hold up to 30 gallons or so) and it looks fantastic! The quality is rock solid and although it does not have a shelf inside, it does have a door (the middle panel opens) and storage space inside. You can even use those Command 3M hooks on there to hang fishnets or your gravel cleaner. Worth every penny I paid for it!

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Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Fritz Aquatics AFA80223 Fritzzyme 7-Freshwater Nitrifying Bacteria for Aquarium, 1-Gallon

Fritz Aquatics AFA80223 Fritzzyme 7-Freshwater Nitrifying Bacteria for Aquarium, 1-GallonI really enjoy using this product. It does help to keep the bacteria going strong in my aquariums. Of course, that is very important for having and keeping a healthy fish tank. I wholeheartedly recommend Fritzzyme 7.

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Monday, September 16, 2013

Como Grass Detail Purple Blue Plastic Tree Plants Aquarium Ornament w Base

Como Grass Detail Purple Blue Plastic Tree Plants Aquarium Ornament w BaseIn person this is UGLY! Trunk is baby poop orange. better then some. not impressed at all. will no be putting this in my tank.

The color is great (just as pictured), but some of the leafy parts started breaking off when taken out of the box...

This wasn't too much of a problem since there were plenty of leafy parts left.

Also the grass looks really weird with the white base out of the box, but it looks a lot better in the tank when covered with sand/gravel and the grass is sticking out.

The excess glue was easy enough to remove.

Just be careful when handling this product, b/c the glue comes apart pretty easily.

We'll see how long this lasts.

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Sunday, July 7, 2013

Acurel LLC Extreme Activated Carbon Pellets, 45-Ounce

Acurel LLC Extreme Activated Carbon Pellets, 45-OunceI have a fountain for my cats and also a forever filter that only needs the carbon replaced. I have had mixed results with the carbon that is sold in most stores. I've also wondered just how effectively it really filtered. While I've only had the pelletized carbon less than a week, I have actually seen a huge difference in the filtration. It does require a rinsing to remove all the dust, like ordinary activated carbon, but it does seems to trap more impurities from the water.

Also, since it is in pellet form and all the pellets are the same size, the actual flow through the filter/carbon is more predictable and constant.

Now all my flow issues are with the pre-filter to the pump and the actual pump itself.

This really clears up my 12 gallon fluval tank , way better than the original Hagen carbon, I fill use this in a mesh bag I bought from Amazon. which i refill. Very good product will buy again.

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I use this carbon in Tetra's Bio-Bags which increases the carbon amount to really help the filter process. These are the best carbon pellets I have used. This is a must buy.

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