Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Finnex Deluxe Titanium Heating Tube, 800-Watt
Sunday, November 2, 2014
Flipper Cleaner Magnetic Scrubber
Although this is not ideal for me. i really think this is a superior design to anything else. If you have a 75 or smaller I would not hesitate to get this over anything else.
Buy Flipper Cleaner Magnetic Scrubber Now
I got this to replace my mag float and nano magnet cleaner. This thing gets the job done WAY better and faster. It looks a LOT better on the tank too when it's not in use.You will not regret this if you're debating it.
Read Best Reviews of Flipper Cleaner Magnetic Scrubber Here
My "Mag-Float" was missing some algae, so I got one of these expensive Flippers.The magnet is strong and the scraper would seem like overkill for such a small freshwater tank, but it gets the infrequent algae left behind by the scrubber.
Its a great advantage for my Fluval Edge 12 / 46 since the access process is particularly challenging for simple maintenance.The flipper cleaner works great to easily remove algae from the glass. The blade side is great to scrape off the hard algae that forms on the glass. I had previously owned a magfloat which worked okay but the flipper IMO is much better. It is easy to flip it around! Highly recommend to clean your aquarium glass.
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Marina Cool LED Light
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Seachem Focus 5gram
The vendor or Amazon has incorrectly used metadata to identify it as Metronidazole. The packaging Seachem uses for Focus and Metronidazole are the same. Do NOT purchase it unless you want FOCUS.this stuff is a polymer dust that you are supposed to mix with medications and food.
you then are supposed to add water and stir it up.
you put the results in a tank and it quickly sinks and makes a mess.
the seachem people said in the forums that what i just said is expected.
i'm not so sure my fish are eating this slurry i am putting in the tank.
i would rather use maracyn II and treat in a hospital tankThis is good for Protozoa infections as well as other creepy crawlers , mix with food and follow directions. You should purge the parasites within a short time..just be more careful next time....
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Aquatic Gardens Deluxe Plastic Aquarium With Lid, Large, Color:Blue
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Rio Plus 2100 Aqua Pump 692 GPH
Look carefully at the specs. You can get cheaper pumps that promise greater output, but this one only use 25watts to pump about 400 gallons per hour at a head of 4 feet. I challenge you to find better performance and efficiency in a pump. At the current utility rate this pump will save enough money to pay for itself in less than a year for me (I live in California).
The flexibility of this pump is also amazing. It can be configure for just about any water pump/power head format you need with the parts included in the package. My PondMaster pump for my pond filter just failed again after only 1year, and I found that I was able to configure the backup RIO2100 that I had kept for 4year to use with this filter (yeah, I bought 2 back then, thinking that I'll need to replace them every year).
I have maintained fish tanks and ponds for over 20years, and I've used a lot of pumps. I'm telling you this is the best pump I've came across. I use to really like the Fishmate pumps for their efficiency and performance in pond applications, but the RIO2100 will out last any of pump with top rate performance. I'm writing this review now because I just bought 2 more on Amazon to keep around the house. At the rate the other 2 RIO2100 pumps are going, I may not need these 2 new units for a long time.Twelve years ago, I bought one of these to replace another brand. The previous pump had not lasted long in a pond environment, and this model was recommended to me because of its efficiency and quality.
The water in my pond was not always the cleanest and sometimes the pump had to tolerate the extra stress from a filter that was clogged with algae. After 12 years of fairly constant use, 24 hours a day, I needed to replace it.
I am now on my second one, which I expect to last a long time. The build seems slightly improved, and the power cord is now more robust. The box came with a number of accessories that were not included in the past. That makes it more convenient to hook it up under a variety of conditions.
If this pump can withstand being fully submersed in a murky pond for over a decade, it's enough to satisfy me. But with the energy it saved me, I would have been ahead had I replaced it several times.
Buy Rio Plus 2100 Aqua Pump 692 GPH Now
We have had this product for over a year now and its still running great, which is quite amazing for us! Either we started doing something right that we weren't doing before this or this is just an awesome product for its price. I highly recommend it!just does not push enough water but runs well will see how long it will last can use it in other placesAt almost 5' of head, my Rio 2100 pumped four gallons of water in 55 seconds. So about 250 gph at 5' of head. I tried a mag 5 and a quiet one before the Rio. It is by far the quietest (fully submerged).Monday, February 17, 2014
Hydro-Sponge Filter I--HS910 - Aquarium Technology, Inc.
Hydro Sponge filters, first marketed in the 1990's, are a more recent application of the airlift. Hydro Sponge I is intended for aquariums up to 10 gallons. Made of dense, strong plastic with a weighted base which holds the sponge up away from the aquarium bottom, they dismantle easily for cleaning of the sponge. The pores within the sponge provides an enormous surface area for colonization by beneficial bacteria providing very thorough biological filtration. They can be powered by an air pump with or without an airstone (using an airstone will give finer bubbles and make less noise), or with an electric powerhead for those with larger tanks or who simply feel the need for more energetic water movement in the tank.
It is difficult to imagine such a simple device working well. Surprisingly, they are excellent, and can be used as the only filter in the tank for many applications. I've used them on tanks sized from 10 gallons up to 75 gallons, always with good results. The local fish store where I shop has an expensive trickle filter for their dozens of tanks, and every single freshwater tank also has a Hyrdo Sponge or similar sponge filter as well. Apparantly the sponge is doing something which the trickle filter doesn't?
Maintainence is as simple as the filter. When you perform your periodic aquarium water change, (20% every week) save some of the old water in a bucket. Separate the top and bottom parts of the filter and remove the sponge from the tank. Squeeze it out in the bucket. See all the stuff which the sponge removed from the water? Reinstall the sponge and refill your tank. Go have dinner with the money you saved not purchasing replacement filter cartridges.
In sum, a clever and elegantly simple device which works very well.This review is for the Hydro I specifically, but it applies to all of the Hydro Sponge Filters.
The Hydro I Sponge Filter is the best for smaller tanks (5 or 10 gallons), just as its counterparts (the Hydro II, III etc.) are great for their respective size tanks. Other types of sponge filters exist on the market, but the Hydro ones are the most efficient because you can put an airstone down the shaft of the filter to get the water going through the majority of the sponge's surface. In addition, the sponge sucks up a surprising amount of debris and waste so it is good for a certain amount of mechanical filtration as well. As other reviewers explained, about once a month you simply squeeze the sponge "clean" in the tank water sitting in your bucket during the water change in order to ensure that you don't kill the bacteria by using chlorinated tap water. The water generally becomes dark brown or black, and you get a sense that you have really cleaned the tank well. (For the more squeamish types, the sponge smells like healthy earth so it is completely inoffensive. You can then use this water to feed house plants some nutrients, if you want!)
Pros: I am a great proponent of the use of sponges because I have never had problems with water readings as a result of using biological filtration. Sponge filtration is much, much more than a backup for canister or hang on power filters that clean a large number of gallons per hour. Biological filtration keeps the tank clean using beneficial bacteria and aerates the tank at the same time. Using a gang valve, you can aerate a little or a lot, depending upon whether the type of specimen you are keeping likes currents or calmer water. The biological force of a sponge filter is such that you can start a new tank by lifting a cycled and seasoned sponge filter from one tank and putting it into another. If you take some seasoned gravel too, you can immediately add a tankful of fish without worrying about ammonia spikes etc. Most importantly, I love sponge filters because when you are medicating your tank and have to remove the carbon from your filters for the antibiotics or drugs to be effective the biological filters continue to keep the denizens of your tank alive during this potentially disastrous time in your tank's life (eliminating parasites or diseases can last for up to two weeks). These Hydro sponges are soft, so amphibians or sensitive fish do not get roughed up when they brush against the sponge. If you clean your sponges regularly (once a month minimum), you will only need to replace the sponge if it loses its shape and no longer fits around the plastic rod. If you neglect cleaning, I would imagine that the sponge might get so gummed up with debris that it would no longer be absorbent and you would need to replace the sponge at that point.
Cons: The only disadvantage is the way they look--sort of like tiny little nuclear power plants in your tank--so you strive to find ways to hide them behind rocks, decorations, or large aquatic plants (or be creative and incorporate them into the decor by, say, having a theme like "post apocalypse" or "industrial age"!) Granted, I have tended to use a larger sized sponge than is recommended by the manufacturer, as I do not think it is possible to overuse sponges since the beneficial bacteria reproduce according to the amount they are fed. However, even if you get the proper sized sponge for the tank, they are difficult to conceal.
Overall, given the pros and cons, I love my amphibians and fish more than the look of their tank, so I avidly use sponge filters to keep them alive and happy. I like Hydro the best because of the possibility of using an air stone and because I like the softness of the sponge.
Buy Hydro-Sponge Filter I--HS910 - Aquarium Technology, Inc. Now
I bought this sponge filter for my angelfish, who were suddenly spawning every week. The babies were not able to survive if I left the regular filter on. I ended up having to move them to a ten gallon tank, and thus the need for this filter.I have to say, I've never had a better filter. You attach an aerator line to the inside, and that's the only thing you need. The air bubbles oxygenate the water while they also work to draw water through the sponge. All the muck that usually accumulates pretty quickly in my tank was drawn in, and the sponge works to break it all down naturally, which is actually healthier for my fish and plants. And no babies were harmed by this little device. it's gentle, but effective.
And the best part is that you do not have to buy filters! Just rinse and squeeze the sponge under room-temp water for a moment and you're done. I'm definitely going to replace my old money-devouring filters in my 55 gallon tank with some like this. These are well worth buying, and actually pretty cheep considering it all. I advise anyone thinking of getting one of these to make the leap. You won't be sorry.
Read Best Reviews of Hydro-Sponge Filter I--HS910 - Aquarium Technology, Inc. Here
I bought this for my Axolotl tank as I needed a sponge filter so they couldn't get their little fingers or gills stuck in the filter uptake. I was very happy to find one at such a great price and with such great reviews so ordered it immediately. Upon arrival I discovered just how huge this monster is! I should have read the dimensions listed (though would have gotten it anyway) so I would not have been shocked by the size. A 4 1/2 in diameter takes up a huge amount of space in a 10 gallon tank (they are like what, 18 by 12?). Just a heads up for people looking at this product. Even with the huge size, this product seems to be working good and I have no complaints with it. I actually find the bubbling sound of the top quite soothing. :)Want Hydro-Sponge Filter I--HS910 - Aquarium Technology, Inc. Discount?
what can i say? a simple sponge filter perfect for a 10 gallon tank that houses anything small that a power filter might suck in. baby shrimp, fish fry, etc. low maintenance, low cost, low electricity use. great filter.Saturday, February 1, 2014
Coralife 05765 12X Turbo-Twist Pond Clarifier , 36-Watt
Buy Coralife 05765 12X Turbo-Twist Pond Clarifier , 36-Watt Now
THIS IS SETUP ON MY 135 GALLON TANK AND WORKS GREAT! REALLY KEEPS THE ALGAE DOWN! IT DOES NOT KILL IT ALL THOUGH!Read Best Reviews of Coralife 05765 12X Turbo-Twist Pond Clarifier , 36-Watt Here
I had hoped that with this clarifier my pond would stay crystal clear all season. It has not. I have a small pond and even with this product I am still getting algae. I still have to clean the algae out by hand every two or three weeks.Want Coralife 05765 12X Turbo-Twist Pond Clarifier , 36-Watt Discount?
I give this three stars, as so far it does not seem to be effective after ten days, but if it works better, I will add to this report.I have a 1200 gallon pond that is out in the full Arizona sun. For years I have struggled to control the huge green algae bloom by use of chlorine tabs, supershock and pH control. This will work for a while, but two or three times a year it will get away from me. Then I have drain the pond, clean it thoroughly, and refill it. This is difficult job and wastes lots of water.
When I first read about UV clarifiers, I was impressed, and did a lot of research to determine which one would be best, and what size bulb needed.
This one, with the "turbo flow" seemed to be the best, and I picked the 36 W one to be sure it would handle the size of my pond and the high flow rate of the pump. And the user reviews were good.
When it first came and I read all the instructions, it seemed easy enough to assemble. I liked the fact that the input and output hubs could be rotated into different positions. It seems to be easy enough to clean periodically by disconnecting the hose clamps and pulling out the end.
The first thing that is disturbing and seems ridiculous is that it states the clarifier should be be permitted to get wet. I pondered how it could be kept outdoors attached to the above-ground pump and not get wet when it rained. I called to see if this was true, and they said I'd have to build some sort of enclosure to protect it from the rain. That is next to impossible with my setup.
If the thing does not leak OUT with water pouring through it, now in the world would water get INTO it? Why would hey design a device that has to be outdoors that cannot withstand rain? I probably should have returned it and bought from another manufactured, but I was anxious to get it started before any green algae started to grow. I have covered it with a plastic bag and hope that will work.
Finally, it has been running 24/7 now for ten days, and it seems like green algae is already beginning to start. I am so concerned, that I went back to using some chlorine again. This is completely disappointing to pay this much for the unit, and additional to have a plumber install it, only to find that it is not going to work.
I am keeping my fingers crossed that it may eventually start doing what is is designed for. If it does, I'll give it four stars, but if not, it will get only one, and actually deserve zero. Time will tell.
Friday, January 24, 2014
AquaTop Nano Aquarium Digital Heater with LED D1HT 50W
Buy AquaTop Nano Aquarium Digital Heater with LED D1HT 50W Now
I bought this heater to replace a Fluval E series that was no longer holding a stable temperature. The temperature is much easier to set than the Fluval with only one button to press. The adjustment lever on the Fluval would stick making it hard to set. This is by far easier to adjust than any heater I've owned. The current temperature display is also easy to read from across the room. You can place the heater in any position because of the external sensor. The temperature fluctuates only within one degree F of the setting and I verified the current temperature display is accurate with a separate thermometer.The heater arrived with one of the suction cups slightly deformed so that it wouldn't stick to the glass. I contacted the manufacturer and they responded within a day. I received a set of replacement suction cups about a week later free of charge. I highly recommend this product based on the quality of the product and customer service. I've been keeping aquariums for years and I know through experience that a quality heater is important, a malfunction can easily crash your tank.
Read Best Reviews of AquaTop Nano Aquarium Digital Heater with LED D1HT 50W Here
We got this heater for our 10 gallon tank. We live in a warm climate where we don't always need to turn the heat on at night for ourselves, but do need to make sure that the fish tanks are still kept at the right temp. As I said this is being used in our 10 gallon tank. It's just short enough not to hit the bottom and I really like how the heater tells you the temp of the water. It's also really easy to operate and adjust the temp. if needed. It seems much better than our old heater. It was wicked easy to set up and has been in the tank for about a month now.Want AquaTop Nano Aquarium Digital Heater with LED D1HT 50W Discount?
I got this heater for 5 gallon aquarium for my betta fish... My fishie was frustrated, started flaring (by its nature its a fighting fish and has territory issues lol) by the red light of the heater. I found a way to overcome this.. I had to arrange the heater so that the reflection of the red light doesnt fall on the glass of aquarium. Now my fishie really loves this one! It keeps circling happily around the heater when I turn it on. The glass material of heater was easy to clean however the plastic part gets slimy and needed more cleaning... I wouldnt mind that as my fishie really loves it!Sunday, January 19, 2014
PondCare Summer Staple Pellet Fish Food, 10 Ounce
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Aquarium Products Pro Crystal Clear Instant Aquarium Water Clarifier (3/4 oz., Treats 400 Gallons)
I purchased 10 bottles which ended up costing about half of what it costs at the nation's largest retailer.
I have a 55 gallon turtle tank with a Fluval 406 filterHello,
I was using Seachem Neutral Regulator (NR) to bring my pH of 8.4 down to something closer to 7.0. I had added an incorrect amount of alkaline buffer to bring up a crashing 20 gallon freshwater aquarium and shot my pH up to 8.4. Doing water changes did very little to reduce the pH has my GH and KH were very high. Seachem NR precipitates calcium and magnesium to help soften the water and also buffers the pH. In doing so, the aquarium water will turn cloudy from all the calcium being precipitated out. I do not have a water polishing filter pad to remove the very fine particles of calcium. I purchased the AP Crystal Clear product in hopes that it would allow the particles of calcium to clump into larger particles that my filter could handle.
I am happy to report that after 12 hours my water as just about cleared up and I do not see much of the calcium particles in the water. My HOB pre-filter sponge has captured a good amount of the calcium after adding the AP Crystal Clear as well as the main foam filter.
The product worked well for me and I am happy with it.Of all the tank water clearers I have used, I have found this one works the best. However make sure you read the directions. You see it tells you to use one drop per gallon but, to use two drops per gallon if the water is very cloudy. I have found using more than one drop per gallon works better without any effects on my fish, crab, pleco, frogs or snails (although the snails do close up when the drops are near them.) All in all, I buy this every few weeks to use along side weekly cleanings for my 20 gallon tank.I've tried this product not only on my tank but on friends' tanks as well. All this does is...NOTHING. After using this product I see a red tint on my filters but hey! my water is still cloudy. Don't waste your time or money!
Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Tetra Whisper Air Pump
NO air pump, I repeat, NO AIR PUMP IS SILENT. If a manufacturer tries to sell you a silent air pump, you need to step back and assess if their project development team has taken remedial physics. Vibrations create sound, which means no silent vibrating air pump diaphragms. According to classical physics, it is physically impossible for that to happen. However, through sound damping and clever material choice, you can make it so that it's close to silent. You'll never actually get there, but you can make it quiet enough to not be heard over the usual white noise of the home.
This air pump is the quietest I've ever gotten my hands on. I live in a building with a constant low level of background noise, and I have to concentrate to pick the pump's quiet hum out. It's well constructed, the rubber feet do a lot in the way of damping sound, and if you have it in a bedroom, wrapping it with a towel makes it practically inaudible. Otherwise, it's a very well built and well functioning pump for its price. You will never find anything as good quality as this and for as low a price as this; I can guarantee it from weeks of searching online.Pump is whisper quiet. Comes with an inline check valve to adjust the level of output. Works great. Does not come with any hose, or with any tfitings, so these will need to be purchased seperately.
Buy Tetra Whisper Air Pump Now
I have this setup on a 20 gallon tall aquarium. It also goes to a standard 10 gallon via a 2-way gang valve. So in essence it would be like connecting two 'bubble' devices up (think air stone plus bubbling treasure chest decoration as an example). The gang valve allows me to compensate for the 10 gallon not being as deep as the 20 gallon. For those interested, it is running a sponge filter in both tanks.With this set up, it is barely able to keep headway and only produces a minimal amount of bubbles. This is okay for me, since I run fully planted tanks and only need minimal water flow for temp and nutrient distribution. If I was doing two devices in the 20 gallon alone though, I'm not sure it would be powerful enough.
How big of a pump do you need? It's all about depth and has nothing to do with volume ... which is how they are foolishly marketed. It should be clear that a pump will work much better on a 20 gallon long tank than it will on a 20 gallon tall tank due solely to the depth of the water even though they have the same volume.
My biggest complain with this air pump is it isn't quite. It's about the same level of noise that a cheap HOB filter makes while good HOB filters will be far quieter than this thing. It's a constant hum that you can get use to, but will always be there and add to the `background' noise of your house. The best I could compare it to is the kind of noise a refrigerator makes when it is on.This pump is better than several cheaper ones we've tried, though it does have a larger footprint. Rubber feet are excellent.I had my doubts about purchasing an air pump for my 16 gallon bow front aquarium. My filter is very quiet and I didn't want to add the additional noise of an air pump, but I wanted to add some circulation to my tank. I was pleasantly surprised with the Whisper air pump. It basically only added a low hum to my tank set up. Very happy. Works great.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Petco 200 Watt Submersible Aquarium Heater
Friday, August 23, 2013
Exotic Environments Kissing Goldfish Heart Aquarium Ornament
Buy Exotic Environments Kissing Goldfish Heart Aquarium Ornament Now
This was adorable however mine arrived broke. Could not put the air hose to make bubble because the area was cracked so it just sits as a decoration in my tank.Read Best Reviews of Exotic Environments Kissing Goldfish Heart Aquarium Ornament Here
I use this aquarium ornament for a Valentine ornament. It is sweet and small and I like the idea of it being multipurpose. I would recommend this product.Want Exotic Environments Kissing Goldfish Heart Aquarium Ornament Discount?
this does not work very well the hose does not fit on it to well so it doesn't work as a bubble maker
