Showing posts with label fresh or saltwater aquarium. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fresh or saltwater aquarium. Show all posts

Monday, October 27, 2014

Fluval Clearmax Phosphate Remover Filters, 3.5 Ounces - 3-Pack

Fluval Clearmax Phosphate Remover Filters, 3.5 Ounces - 3-PackI have used this product a few times. It is now sold and packaged in a blue box as Fluval Clearmax by Hagen.

When it was Green-X / Phos-X, the media bags were long and thin. With the new packaging they fit the canister filters much better as they are now shaped square.

The product seems to work well enough for me for my marine tank. I have to condition tap for my water changes.

It is difficult to say whether or not there is a real reduction in nitrate. My param seems to remain steady at the low end with regular water changes, but who knows what it would be if I wasn't using it at all?

I acquired fish with closed operculum gills. I wrote to Hagen to ask about the iron content to see if it would be okay for my fish because of the type of gills they have, to which they responded it contains ferric oxide; not okay to use for fish of that type.

I am having to switch to a brand that will not harm my species of fish.(Regular ChemiPure or PhosBan using ferric oxide hydroxide).

While I used this product, I had no complaints. The price was very good compared to other adsorbents and algae remained under control.

I use Fluval Clearmax to condition tap water before water changes. I fill a 5 gallon tank running a small filter using Clearmax with tap water and run it 24 hours minimum. The chlorine off-gasses and the Clearmax reduces the phosphates. It is necessary to change the Clearmax after every fifth refill (25 gallons treated). Then I use the preconditioned water for water changes in my 40 gallon tank. Before adding the Clearmax to this routine I would get dreadful blooms of brown algae. When I first started adding the treated water there was a brief ammonia spike from the algae die-off, but it soon stabilized as my tank was well cycled, with good nitrite and nitrate readings prior to introducing the treated water. I have (gianormous) goldfish, tough as nails, so I cannot speak to it's effect on more delicate species.

I do think using it to treat the water before adding it to the tank, rather than putting it in the live tank filter, may reduce it's impact on the fish, as there is a small amount of black precipitate in the conditioning tank which I do not move to the live tank. I assume the precipitate is primarily iron.

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Remove this product during disease treatments. Even various water treatments can cause the ferric oxide to leech out, poisoning your fish. I lost 14 fish after using this during a treatment of parasite medication (only one fish presented with problems prior to treatment). I stopped using it for several weeks. I returned it to filter and noticed the same problems starting to happen again while using a product that is supposed to boost immunity. Something in that product was causing the ferric oxide to leech out as well. Fortunately, I recognized what was happening, removed the Clear Max and did several water changes. I was able to save most of my fish.

I recommend using a product that does not contain ferric oxide to control phosphates if you are unsure how it will react with other products you use. This product does provide crystal clear water but fish health is much more important. I was using it for a 20 gallon freshwater aquarium.

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I did not buy this from amazon, and it comes in a new box at the LFS called Clearmax. I found this out the hard way, but this stuff is lethal to certain types of fish and I was using a little less than 50% of the recommended amount. Now it does trap phosphates, nitrites and nitrates as it states on the box. Water tests are coming up practically zero for each range but at the cost of many fish. Arowanas are especially sensitive to this stuff. Please be careful when using. I will never use this stuff again. I bought it thinking it would help remove some phosphates from a freshwater tank with an algae bloom issue when all i really needed was a UV clarifier/sterilizer. I had no issues with the fish before using this stuff other than some algae bloom. I do weekly water changes and all the water tests were good.

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Sunday, October 26, 2014

Cobalt Aquatics Neo-Therm 50-Watt with Plastic LED

Cobalt Aquatics Neo-Therm 50-Watt with Plastic LEDI purchased the 50 watt Cobalt Aquatics Neo Therm heater for a 7.5 gallon acrylic cube aquarium. I like the styling of the Neo Therm and it appears to be very well constructed.

Setting the heater up is very easy to do, and its high tech look blends in nicely in my aquarium.

As for digital heaters, I also own a few Fluval E series heaters which are well made and do an excellent job of heating my aquariums.

However, the Fluval E series has suffered from quality control issues (I had an E 300 fail at 10 months while another is still working after nearly two years).

Because of its digital microprocessor, the E series also has difficulty operating properly when not in a steady flow of water.

This must be considered to be a design flaw, since this heater should be capable of operating when mounted either vertically or horizontally.

Yet, when this author placed my Fluval E series heaters vertically they would not function properly.

However, when I placed them horizontally and directly in the flow of my filter's output tube, they've performed perfectly.

As for this design flaw, in a number of instances E series owners have posted on fishkeeper message boards, in regard to how they were forced to return their heaters because they could not get them to function properly.

As previously stated, I found a similar problem with my E series heaters which was remedied once the heaters were placed horizontally, and in the flow of a filter's output tube.

It is the complex microprocessor circuitry in the Fluval E series heaters that can prevent the heaters from functioning properly when they are placed vertically instead of horizontally.

The microprocessor in the E series simply determines that there is not enough water flow around the heater, and prevents the heater coil from turning on.

This has left many an E series owner completely exasperated.

Thus far, this has not been the case with my Neo Therm, which is working flawlessly and in the vertical position.

It is also interesting to note that in its instruction manual, Cobalt says not to place the Neo Therm horizontally (or upside down).

The other concern in regard to the Neo Therm involves the use of epoxy in which to seal the heater.

In fact, another purchaser of a Neo Therm heater who also left commentary, mentions the design flaw of the Marineland Stealthpro heaters which were also sealed with epoxy.

The problem with the Marineland heaters involved the chassis of the heater bursting when the heater would be removed from an aquarium, if it had not been unplugged first.

This author experienced this first hand when I forgot to unplug my Marineland Stealthpro 150, and the chassis of the heater split and began spewing smoke. However, I must also state that the Marineland 150 had worked flawlessly

for nearly a year before this incident occured.

However, I have heard of other Marineland owners who've stated that the chassis of the their heaters actually split while the heaters were still emersed in water.

So there is a serious design flaw with the Stealthpro series of heaters, which is why they were recalled by Marineland.

As a general rule, it is always a good idea to unplug a heater from an electrical outlet before you remove it from your aquarium.

However, sometimes a fishkeeper can forget to do so, which is why it is so crucial for the automatic shut off safety feature in an aquarium heater to function properly.

Hopefully, this will not be a problem with the Cobalt Aquatics Neo Therm.

Based on my early observations, the Neo Therm appears to be a very well constructed and cleverly designed aquarium heater which has the type of high-tech sleek aesthetic that looks great in a rimless aquarium.

If this unit can avoid the pitfalls of the Fluval E series and Marineland Stealthpro series, it should develop a loyal following.

Moreover, if the fishkeeping hobby ever needed an improved product, it is in regard to aquarium heaters, which for the most part leave much to be desired.

Hopefully, Cobalt has answered this need with its Neo Therm series. The company at present offers four versions of this heater ranging from 25 watts to 100 watts, which is good for smaller aquaria.

However, they have stated that they are developing more powerful versions of the Neo Therm for larger aquariums.

These heaters are not inexpensive, however, if they turn out to be reliable and can last for more than a year or two, Neo Therm will have a winner on its hands.

I will update this review after I have used the Neo Therm for a while to see if my early impressions still remain.

so far (2 months of use) this has been tough, reliable and accurate in the temperature that it heats to. no real complaints, but am reserving the 5th star until more time has passed

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This heater is thin, but wider than most round heaters. The heater is small enough that I don't have to worry about any small fish getting stuck behind.

The material is made of "unbreakable" plastic. While this sounds great, we all know what happened to the recalled Marineland Stealth heaters made of similar black plastic. I'll keep my fingers crossed on this one.

Unlike the typical round tube heaters with two suction cups at top and bottom, this heater has a single slide holder with two cups to keep it in place. The heater simply glides in and out of the holder with almost no resistance to make maintenance easier.

As for the controls, there is a single button on top that rotates the temperature setting one way, in a round-robin fashion. The settings jump by 2 degrees, so you'll have to settle for 74 or 76 if what you really wanted was 75. The temperature keeps steady.

The only downside is that this heater lacks a second set of holder for the bottom of the heater. In my case, I mount the heater sideways at the bottom near the filter intake or outflow to maximize the efficiency with circulation. Some might need this with more aggressive fish population where the heater can be knocked down if hit on the bottom of the heater.

I would also recommend looking at the Fluval E 50-Watt Electronic Heater and HMA 50: Finnex 50 Watt w/ Electronic Controller Aquarium Titanium Heater (5-10 Gallons). They have both been around longer and proven to work at lower price as of date.

Read Best Reviews of Cobalt Aquatics Neo-Therm 50-Watt with Plastic LED Here

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Lazer Brite Reflective Dog Collar, 18-26-Inches, Skull and Cross Bones

Lazer Brite Reflective Dog Collar, 18-26-Inches, Skull and Cross BonesPhotos don't do the reflective qualities of this collar justice. It glows blindingly bright at night. I can spot my dog at 30 yards away with just the porch light. I was so happy with the dog collar, I bought a small matching collar for the cat. I would have giving it four stars if it had been available in a Martingale (limited slip) collar which I prefer for my tricky Catahoula.

Good buy. Very bright reflective material and easy to snap buckle. Great safety collar. Purchased the leash, too. And.... Manufactured: USA.

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I am very happy with collar it is a great product it came within the stated time it's very reflective and a very cool skull pattern they're sturdy and good quality.

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Alright so I originally had placed this order for my dog because our cat has the same collar and well we wanted them to match. I placed the order on October 28, 2012 it was stated to have been shipped on 11/01/2012. Which is fine the only thing I was really irritated about was that I wasn't provided a tracking number after placing the order especially when it said the estimated delivery time was from 11/02-11/20. So I had to contact the seller in order to get a tracking number after about 6 days had passed and I still hadn't received my package. It did finally arrive on 11/13. Aside from this we really do love the collar. Our dog is a black and white lab mix and the collar makes it very easy to see her at night. We can take comfort that if the animals do somehow get out with these collars they would be easy to spot.

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My dog has a 17" neck, so I ordered the 18-26" collar since they say you are supposed to add 2" to the measurement. It's really too big, even when tightened almost all the way. Thankfully she is not a puller but if she were, she would be able to back out of this thing easily.

I also wish there were another D-ring to hang her tags upon.

That being said, it's a nice sturdy collar, with a durable quick-release latch, and it is definitely reflective (as in you'd better remove it to take a picture of your dog!).

I can't say much about it from a dog's point of view, but mine seems to be quite attached to it since she gets all shy and mopey when we take it off of her!

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Saturday, October 11, 2014

Blue Ribbon Pet Products ABL204 Air Stone Carded Air Pump for Aquarium, 4-Inch

Blue Ribbon Pet Products ABL204 Air Stone Carded Air Pump for Aquarium, 4-Inchit came fast. i plugged it in to my air pump and it bubbles like it should. good price good item.

Stone works just fine and aerates well. Cost was a little higher than I would have liked but was ordering a bunch of things so I threw it in. Cheaper at Walmart but no big deal.

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Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Real Laterite 64 oz.

Real Laterite 64 oz.Laterite is not widely used anymore as a substrate in aquariums, but I have found it very useful for substrate maintenance. I use a red-flourite layer in the substrate that puts less debris and fine dust in water. But I am not one to change out the whole substrate every couple of years. So the more clay like laterite is useful for replenishing the lost nutrients in the flourite layer by balling up the laterite and pressing it into the substrate.

All in all, this product is well boxed and packaged so its easy to store it until its needed.

Friday, August 22, 2014

Replacement Impeller for Koralia Nano and Koralia 1

Replacement Impeller for Koralia Nano and Koralia 1Perfect replacement. The item was the one that the manufacturer suggested and this is one of the few places to get it. It works perfectly in my 13 gallon aquarium. Love my fish. Aerates and provides current.

The propeller works as expected, however the fan blades were slightly larger than the original. This caused a small plastic tab inside the housing to rub and lock up the fan. Removing the internal plastic tab fixed the issue.

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Monday, August 18, 2014

Como Aquarium Tank Air Stone Red Plastic Cabomba Plant Decoration

Como Aquarium Tank Air Stone Red Plastic Cabomba Plant Decorationitem once hooked to air pump does not stay put; have to weigh it down; branches broke before I could take it completely out of the packaging; once in use; gives a nice effect but with work and careful handling

Thursday, July 10, 2014

65 Watt 5200K FULL SPECTRUM PLANT BULB ....

65 Watt 5200K FULL SPECTRUM PLANT BULB ....but packed in a box that said 10000k/arctic boxs that they didn't come in so kinda strange. Seem to be working fine as of know will post again in 6 months

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Friday, May 30, 2014

Fluval FX5 Top Cover O-Ring

Fluval FX5 Top Cover O-RingIt was an original part and correct piece. Customer service was great and would recommend in the future to friends

My fluval Fx5 for my turtle was leaking out the top and replacing this seal completely fixed the leak. Easy replacement except needed screwdriver to get old o-ring out.

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Saturday, May 24, 2014

Exotic Environments Sunken Pirate Shipwreck Aquarium Ornament, 8-Inch by 4-1/2-Inch by 8-Inch

Exotic Environments Sunken Pirate Shipwreck Aquarium Ornament, 8-Inch by 4-1/2-Inch by 8-InchLove it! It looks great inside my tank and the fish love to hide out inside. Not a bad price either.

Not only is this sunken ship an awesome ornament, but it can also double as a cave for your fish. My blue crayfish has made this ship his home! He loves it. Overall, a great item.

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I got this for my 29 gal tank and my fish love it. I usually dont have decorations that they like, but my kribensis cichlid claimed it. Its good for fish that need a "territory." Seems to be good quality and it has a lot of detail.

Read Best Reviews of Exotic Environments Sunken Pirate Shipwreck Aquarium Ornament, 8-Inch by 4-1/2-Inch by 8-Inch Here

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Fluorescent Deluxe Strip Light, 48" Oak

Fluorescent Deluxe Strip Light, 48' OakNo snags, the company name is listed as "All Glass" but the light was Aqueon, would have liked that in the description somewhere. A bonus that wasn't in the description is that it came with an Aquion full spectrum 32wat bulb. All and all a big thumbs up!!!

This fit perfectly onto our 20+ year old tank. We had to replace our old light and this worked great.

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Sunday, January 26, 2014

Power-Glo Fluorescent Aquarium Bulb

Power-Glo Fluorescent Aquarium Bulb, 15-Watt, 18-InchMy aquarium came with a flourescent bulb that was a 'soft white/yellow color'. I didn't like it at all. This new bulb has made a world of diference to the aquarium! The water looks clean and blue and the colors of the fish seem so much brighter and reflective under the new bulb. I definitely recommend this bulb.

I was in love with this light the moment I turned it on. It seems like its not as bright as a daylight bulb but because of the nature of the light the fish and tank in general actually seemed better illuminated. My yellow Labidochromis still look nice but not glaring like they did with the daylight bulb. The blues of the Yellow-tailed Acei are especially enhanced and the Zebra Obliquidens are stunning.

Definitely measures up to the hype. An excellent bulb for African cichlids.

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I love the way this light makes my fish colors "pop". I like these much better than the standard daylight ones I had before.

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This bulb provides just enough blue to make the colors on the fish POP! We love it and are happy with the purchase.

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We use this for a 10 gallon tank. The light it casts is slightly blue, at least as compared to our previous bulb. No complaints.

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

All Glass Aquarium AAG21530 Fluorescent Deluxe Hood, 30-Inch

All Glass Aquarium AAG21530 Fluorescent Deluxe Hood, 30-InchThis is a very nice aquarium hood, with flourescent lighting, and it comes with a tube, ready to go!Just plug it in.

Overall very pleased with delivery it was right on schedule. The product is light weight and could break easily if used roughly. I did find the "cut outs" in the back to be a bit of a challenge to "break" for the filter etc. My main concern is that it does not fit up over the aquarium so therefore there is a big possibility that, if not careful, you could end up with the whole thing in the tank!!! A bit dangerous with the lighting and all.

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This light and hood is as described and functions well, however the included light bulb is not as bright as some of the others that I have had. Also the included instructions were not for the proper item, but that is not that important. I did have a difficult time cutting out the holes for the filter and heater to fit in the back, maybe there was a trick to it, but like I said I did not have the instructions. Otherwise so far so good.

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Sunday, December 29, 2013

Lee's The Ultimate Gravel Vac 50' Kit

Lee's The Ultimate Gravel Vac 50' KitThis hose is complete JUNK, a terrible successor to the Python. The Nozzle never worked. I had to use a Python replacement (I found online). The connecter valves broke (leaking, and the switch completely snapped off) after 3 uses, I ordered a replacement valve and that doesn't work either! Water leaking all over. Not to mention, the hose is just more narrow enough to make drawing water a HUGE challenge. I have used the Python for years, and was told this was the exact same thing: IT ISN'T and I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO to change the water in my TEN aquariums from now on. DO NOT BUY THIS IT DOESN'T WORK. By the way: I have talked to OTHER CUSTOMERS in our local fish store and THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME EXPERIENCE. Also: THE STAFF AT THE FISH STORE ALSO ADMITS the valves and even the NOZZLE doesn't work RIGHT OUT OF THE BAG. WATER SPRAYING EVERYWHERE and they tried to sell me that white thread tape to tape the plastic cheap joints...COME ON. I HATE IT. Water ALL OVER MY HOUSE.

Fantastic for vacuuming the aquarium rocks. Hooks right up to our basin faucet in the basement. Take 5-10 minutes to vacuum our 36 gallon tank. Clean, simple, straightforward.

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It works but there really isn't enough power to suck much up, i had to take parts off to make it work.

Read Best Reviews of Lee's The Ultimate Gravel Vac 50' Kit Here

Works as stated. Plastic is not the strongest but shouldn't break that easy. Only problem for me is that the siphon is only as fast as the faucet. Basically if the faucet is not on all the way the siphon will not be as strong. So of you pay for water that's a lot of money down the drain. No pun intended.

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Sunday, December 22, 2013

Power-Glo Fluorescent Bulb T5

Power-Glo Fluorescent Bulb T5, 24-Watt, 24-InchI have a dual-socket fixture in my aquarium. Using this along with a daylight spectrum gives a nice balance. Daylight balance alone is rather dull in my opinion.

It produces a very unique color. Purplish white. I'm not sure if it's good for growing plants, but it sure is a nice complement to my 6700K bulbs. Do not regret purchase. Will buy again. I bought it with my Hagen GLO lights which are fantastic. Maybe they aren't the most esthetic light fixture, but the reflectors are top notch!

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This is NOT as advertised. I was looking forward to receiving this item and installing 2 of them into my new 125 gallon tank. It says it is a 36" bulb, and it is actually a 34"!!! I will be returning this item as quickly as possible.

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Saturday, October 19, 2013

Aquarium Dukshin DP-07EA Battery Operated Water Change Pump for fish tank Cleaning (10L/min)

Aquarium Dukshin DP-07EA Battery Operated Water Change Pump for fish tank CleaningProduct as described

F a s t s h i p p i n g

T h a n k y o u ! . .

I had to say it is a very useful water pump for all people have aquariums. It is enough to say that changing water for your aquarium became very easy with this pump.

The first one I bought had leakage in the tube but when I submitted a complaint they sent me a new one. I am quite happy with it.

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The battery powered water changing pump, really hard to search for. They used to sell this kind of stuff in pet stores. Now you can barely find it on line. Its great, works well. Its a bit expensive and it shipped from Hong Kong. Which took two weeks. I want to get another one just because I have a 75 gal fish tank so it takes longer to empty. Keep in.mind when you her toward the last inch of water you'll have to use a bucket to get the last of it. Gravity is your enemy there.

Read Best Reviews of Aquarium Dukshin DP-07EA Battery Operated Water Change Pump for fish tank Cleaning (10L/min) Here

Sunday, October 6, 2013

biOrb 12 Volt Intelligent Light

biOrb 12 Volt Intelligent LightI have the 16 gallon biOrb and wanted to get this light to pamper my fish. I looked around online and these sell for around $125 on most sites (excluding tax and/or shipping)!

The light itself is much thinner than the included light and has a number or programmable options...I sometimes use it as a simple reminder to go to bed myself when I see the lights dim =)

We purchased a biOrb at the start of the year, and simply enjoy the heck out of it. One of the minor issues I had on was the standard light that comes with kit had to be manually turned off and on each morning and night. We also didn't like to leave the light on when we left the house, as it got quite hot, the new LED light takes away the need to do all of this. The fish appear to be quite happy and the different LED's throughout the cycle seem to work well. (no negative impact on the fish).

Although a tad expensive I would recommend this as an upgrade to your biOrb in a heartbeat.

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The unit is very slim and is a much better light than the standard bulky halogen which takes up space inside the tank. Surprisingly very bright and clear!

The sunrise/sunset feature is a little silly though. Biorb claims that it's like a natural sunrise/sunset for the fish but it's not really that gradual of a process. In the morning it goes from one blue moonlight bulb to all three of the white daylight LEDs lighting up at once, although they are slightly dimmed when they light up. I doubt fish will really think that it's a real sunrise.

I was also expecting that there would be some lighting color to this unit--natural yellows and oranges for sunrises/sunsets and gradual gradients throughout the day to stimulate the true natural sun cycle. But I guess that is a little too much to ask for in a fish tank light.

Read Best Reviews of biOrb 12 Volt Intelligent Light Here

I ordered this light as my existing one stopped working. Its definitely a step up from the "Standard" light as it is much brighter. It actually leaves "Glitter Lines" on the floor, its that bright. It might even make a good "Reef light" due to this fact but I am uncertain if the light spectrum is strong enough for some corals. You are able to program the unit so that you can "custom" the amount of daylight with nite / moon light. The transformer is not included. I only gave it 4 stars as I thought it was overpriced.

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As someone mentioned earlier, this will fit into the opening for the 4 gal. (Baby) BiOrb it just won't fit the top lid ring. The light is really a lot better than the standard bulb and while it's expensive, I feel it was worth it. I'm using this on the Baby BiOrb and the tank looks fine without the top ring; but I'm going to take the other reviewer's suggestion and use a Dremel tool and widen the hole to make it fit into the plastic ring shouldn't be a big deal. If you have a Baby BiOrb, I'd recommend getting the light.

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Wednesday, September 25, 2013

TOM Aquarium RP3 Plus (Rapids Pro Filter with Auto Fill System, 700gph pump)

TOM Aquarium RP3 PlusWhat was truly great about this product is the fact that it it was close to $100 cheaper than anywhere else listed when I searched prices.

I have just set up a saltwater reef again for the first time in over 10 years. So much has changed since the first time. The set up instructions leave a bit to be desired. The system is rather picky getting the adjustments just right; but once you do, the system works great! I ended up calling the company and talking with technical support for 1/2 an hour asking questions and getting answers to those questions; I was having issues with water movement and keeping the filter at the level of fill that they recommend even with the auto fill system. The filter seemed to be bringing an excess amount of bubbles back in to my tank. They recommended increasing the height of the auto fill tank up 2 inches more than the filter and also they truly mean it when they say the hoses should be as straight and as close as is possible. Each bend in the hose cuts down on the efficiency of the 700 GPH pump. I truly don't know if I would have been nearly as satisfied with the system if I hadn't called them for support with my issues.

This works sooo well! I have a 55gal reef tank and this suits it perfectly. I've used a couple canister filters (marineland magnum with dual bio-wheels and penn-plax cascade 700). To clean and change out filter media, you have turn off the filter and completely take it apart. With the TOM Aquarium RP3 Plus, you can keep everything running if you want and just change the filter pads right on top. It comes with everything you need for a typical wet/dry filter (bio-balls, ceramic cylinders, activated carbon pillow, prefilter pads as well as an activated carbon prefilter pad) as well as a built-in protein skimmer! There is no need for drilling your tank for an overflow. This does it for you! It uses a siphon to draw water from the tank and if the power goes out, the siphon is lost so it is next to impossible for your filter to overflow and spill out all over you floor! If your thinking "What happens when the power comes back on?" Well this amazing siphoning overflow box starts the siphon all by itself by drawing air from the siphon chamber as the pump runs. So you guessed it, water never overflows from the filter or your tank.

Another great idea this wet/dry filter has is a water top off system. It holds about 3.5gal and when constantly matches the water level in the filter. If water in the filter gets low, so does the water in the reservoir. When that happens, you will hear a gurgle sound as water empties little by little until it reaches the right level again. I usually have to fill the reservoir every 1-2 months depending on the temperature of the room.

Get this! It will save time on filter maintenance giving you more time to just relax and just watch your tank as it is meant to used!

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As soon as I started to open the box I knew I had made the right choice. The packaging was outstanding. Pretty much everything was triple boxed. I got the directions and have read a few reviews elsewhere that they were lacking. I found the directions to be more than thorough. They were idiot proof if you ask me. Even had pictures with arrows pointing to the correct thing that they were speaking about. Went together without a hitch and had it running an hour after getting the box from Fed Ex. The filter comes with plenty of media if you choose to use what they supply. The nice thing is that you can customize what you want to put in the trays and you do not have to turn it off to do so. So far the filter is working great. I can not comment on the skimmer yet because I am only on day 2 and it can take awhile for skimate to begin collecting. I have had skimmers before and I don't see how this will fail.

What I was most impressed about is the customer service from Koller Creaft (makers of TOM Aquarium). I had a few questions after set up and found their number on the web. I left a message for the aquarium guy and he had called me back within a half hour. He was very willing to answer my questions and I did not feel rushed or anything. I was really surprised the time he spent to make sure I was completely satisfied. Two thumbs up!

My questions were:

1) How to make the water level in the sump go up using the auto fill.

Answer-Raise the auto fill with 2x4 or bricks higher than the sump. Higher it is, higher the water level will be (gravity duh!)

2) How to make it less noisy. I have it in a stand that is hollow underneath and is on hardwood floors.

Answer-Place foam sheet under unit to help absorb the vibrations. Remember to move the auto fill up too if you choose to do this. Gravity will drain the water from the sump into the auto fill if the sump is higher.

3) How to reduce micro bubbles from out flow.

Answer-Make sure the hoses are as straight as possible like the instructions says. The less slack the better.

If I had to give this unit one negative it would be the hoses. They are ribbed flexible tubes and when the water from the overflow is trickling down the overflow hose, it is quite noisy. Sounds like a rain shower in the room where the tank is. Like any overflow unit there will be a trickle sound anyway so this is not a deal breaker. I plan on getting foam pipe insulation like the stuff that is put on pipes that have a chance of freezing. It should make a big difference.

Overall I like the functionally and the fact I can customize it to my needs to properly filter my 75 gallon reef tank. Highly recommend this unit.

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Well, long story short. Decided to grab one from Warehouse deals ( Amazon returns, etc. ) for over $100 less. They said, Like new in package? well upon it's arrival, it was cracked on the top by the skimmer cup. Upon looking, I decided to try it and works fine. Though a cosmetic crack in the housing, which I can glue. So far doing great and at 1/4 the cost of a brand new one ! And like everyone else, I had to adjust the skimmer cup so it would emit the correct amount of air from the cup.

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It works great.. it has everything I needed, it is a bit noisy.. I love the auto fill tank and the auto water level..

Saturday, September 14, 2013

Bio-Wheel Assembly for Eclipse 1 Hood and System 12

Bio-Wheel Assembly for Eclipse 1 Hood and System 12You either need this or you don't. Mine got lost in a move, so I needed it. Not much else to say other than it was delivered quickly.

Great product. Only needed replacing because it was damaged in cleaning--otherwise works for years.

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I was very happy with not only the product but with the timing in which it arrived. Thanks!

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Wednesday, August 14, 2013

VIP Products Mighty Dolly Dolphin Ocean Dog Toy, Gray

VIP Products Mighty Dolly Dolphin Ocean Dog Toy, GrayBought this for my 10 month old lab. It only lasted a few days (not continuous play as it didn't go in his crate with him, and he does have several other toys). Wasn't impressed as I was expecting this would last a lot longer due to it's durability rating and cost. Definitely not worth the money.

Would not recommend, my dog isn't even that strong and found a way to destroy this toy. Lasted maybe 2 weeks, was not a good value.

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My dog is a serious chewer, and this one lasted for three months, even leaving it in the crate with him. He gnawed off two of the fins a while ago, but today he went got the tail off, and all the stuffing started to come out. I took the stuffing out, and now he is shredding the outer layer.

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I got this toy almost a month ago for my 35lb border collie/pitbull who typically decimates any stuffed toy within days. She loves this thing and plays with it all the time and so far just the fins have been chewed up but the body is still intact. I'm super happy I bought this thing and will be getting her more Mighty dog toys in the future.

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My 3 old english sheepdogs have had this toy for over 2 months, and except for it being forever dirty (it is grey and white, after all), it looks like new! These dogs have a reputation for being hard on stuffed toys. They have a particular skill at playing tug of war with them. They've destroyed supposedly tough toys in less time than it will take you to read this review. This "mighty" dog toy is GREAT!

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