Spin Stream

I really like this product. I think it does do a good job moving water. However, as another person stated on here, it is somewhat noisy.

Product works great on my 8 gallon nano, but I wouldn't put it on anything larger. Also, what they don't tell you is that it is loud. My tank was silent until I installed this, now it sounds like I have a grand father clock ticking away in my room.

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Moves the water around very well in my Bio cube 29. I think it does restrict the outflow just a bit. But the pump I have in there is a bit much for my little cube so it doesn't matter to me.

It does make just a little bit of a mechanical sound. Kind of like gears meshing together. But you can't hear it unless you are within a few inches of the tank and the fans are off.

I've had no problems with the Spin Stream jamming. But I clean it once a month in a bit of vinegar to make sure there isn't any calcium buildup.

Works a treat!

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Kent Marine ZooPlex

Settles out quick so after you shake it U have to put it in quick!! My fish like catching the larger bits too.

My zoos seem to like this stuff so I have no complaints. Ill update when I get different types of corals and see how they react until then 5 stars

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I got a good product. I got an awesome price. Shipping was super quick.What more could you ask for?Would love if everyone was this good

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Great price for the big bottle. Great product. My corals and my fish love it. I would definitely recommend this product to other people.

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Product is okay but it's not particularly dense in plankton. I'm not expecting a thick slurry of plankton but even so, the amount of plankton you get is pretty low compared to water amount.

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Ecological Labs AEL20120 Microbe Lift Barley Straw Extract Pond Conditioners for Aquarium, 1-Gallon

This product is not only very easy to use, (and you can use it year round), But it also works EXCELLENTLY!!

Works quickly to eliminate problems with String Algae.

Maybe it is the 18,000 gallon pond, but I put plenty of this stuff into the pond over several weeks and I was plenty much pouring money down the drain there was zero change in the algae.

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We use it for our River Otter exhibit to keep things under control and safe for animals. Used it for many years just do make sure you add it consistently. As many people are aware and others not so sure, it does not KILL the algae, it just makes the water not desirable for algae, so add it on a consistent basis, if you wait for alge to take over it is already too late. So keep things in check by always adding the correct dosage on time to keep algae almost non existant

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This works so well in my pond. I have to use a lot over the course of the summer, and this is by far the best value out there.

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KONG Cozie Ali the Alligator Medium Dog Toy, Green

my terrier kills squeakers in minutes and this one still squeaks -he likes it and plays with it often. seems tougher than many toys at similar cost...will buy another if this one continues to hold up.

I bought this toy for my 35 lb corgi/ black lab mix, because it had a 5 star rating. I did not last 1 day. I am just glad that it was not very expensive.

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My dog typically can do some damage to her toys...5 weeks later and it is still intact. Pretty good toy for our tough chewer.

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Didn't hold up to my dogs teeth but he is a chewer and very tough on toys. Lasted about a week but he still has the rag he carries around without stuffing squeaker.

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I bought this gator for my 30 pound jaws of steel 2 year old dog and he loves it! I bought it back in July and it still squeeks and so far has held up well to the ravages of his teeth. Shaking pulling throwing chewing and everything else it has only gotten a few holes. I just sew them up and give it back. It his favorite and goes everywhere with him. I also bought the elephant it is holding up well too.

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Two Little Fishies ATLRC4 Revive Coral Cleaner, 16.8-Ounce

I've been using this reef dip for a few months now, and I always use it before introducing new softies or sps into my tank. It's not nearly as rough on my corals as an iodine based coral dip, and it's effective at killing any little nasties that I've picked up from local fish stores. I wouldn't ever add anything to my tank that I haven't dipped in this stuff.

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Jardin Aquarium Plastic Artificial Plants Fish Tank Décor, 10-Piece, Orange

These are nice for a bit of color in a tank. Small and sit on gravel with out having to be pushed in.

I like cheap plants because I throw out plants when they get covered in algae instead of trying to clean them. It is nice to find cheap in in price but not cheap looking plants. I plan to order these again.

Pen

I've scoured plenty of stores in search of unique/fun flora for my daughters Bikini Bottom themed fishtank. I'm glad I went with these. First, the colors are awesome. Second, these are a good size and are weighted well. Finally, the price on this item made it a great value compared to what pet stores charge for artificial tank decor. We love it!!!

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it looks nice in my tank also provides a bunch of places for my fish to hide out and blend in.

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I bought these for my aquarium but they didn't stay long. They made the tank look really cheap and the colors seem odd. Don't waste the money.

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Adds color to the aquarium. Could be larger and have a heavier bass but, You get what you pay for.

TOM Mini Air Pump - 5gal to 10gal tank

with a bubble wand and it works great. The clear plastic covers on the bottoms legs are a nice addition. I think it does help in absorbing some of the noise, but for me it's still not quiet enough, and that's only because this tank is in my bedroom. At night, when it's quiet, it can be annoying, but during the day, I barely notice the sound.

UPDATE: 1/21/13

I changed my rating from 4 to 5, because it turns out that the noise was due to the fact that the airtube was too long. After shortening it so that it was just long enough, the air pump has been virtually silent. I am planning on getting another one for my other tank.

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Aqueon Evolve 2 LED Aquarium Kit, 2 gallons

I own the 2 gallon model of this aquarium which comes (as of this review) in 2, 4 and 8 gallon models. I can only speak towards the 2 gallon version, though it seems reasonable to expect that all three equally share the same pros and cons.

Overall this is a nice tank. Complete with power filter, LED lighting with daylight and moonlight modes and lids (one for the back filter section and one for the overall front aquarium section).

THE LED LIGHT

Is pretty nice. The daylight mode is very bright, impressively so. It shows every ripple of water producing that often sought after dancing affect. Even the moonlight mode is bright enough to produce this affect, yet not so bright as to be mistaken for anything but moonlighting.

THE FILTER

I personally do not like cartridge filtration that I must replace often. Instead I put a small bag of "bio-max" (the AquaClear 20 version) in the filter section with two sponges (also AquaClear 20 version) for the filtration. It does come with a nano sized version of the standard Aqueon filter cartridge, which works really well, I just prefer the former setup. The filter area also has plenty of room for a nano aquarium heater to be put out of sight! Big plus, IMHO, as heaters tend to be an eye-sore, especially in such a small tank as this one (2 gallons).

The pump on mine was not attached to the output nozzle new from the box. The easiest way to get the pump up and out to attach everything correctly will be by pulling on the power cord. Please note that the bottom of the pump has suction cups, and when you put it back down in, it will stick. Sometimes when pulling it back out the suction cups will come off. A very small fish net will easily fish them out, and they are easy to snap back on the pump itself. The pump has a good bit of power for such a small tank as this (2 gallons), but I discovered that the pump is adjustable! There is a circular slider on the side of the pump which will cut the flow down greatly, perfect for a Betta. I've got mine set to the most minimum output.

THE AQUARIUM

Is nicely done, elegant and light-weight. The aquarium is acrylic so one must use all the same cautions and maintenance as any other acrylic aquarium.

THE LIDS

Now this is where I wonder what they were thinking. The lids just don't seem to fit right. They DO fit, and work, but they just aren't right. They are a little too wide and don't seem to be deep enough. I'll try and upload pictures. Nevertheless, they are not cheap feeling. I don't think I'm being picky here, they just need minor adjustments to be perfect. This is not a deal breaker though, and I think most people won't even use the main front lid, but the back only.

I hope that this review is helpful, and I would highly recommend this tank.

===========================

UPDATE

After having this tank for a while now, I did decide, since my original review above, to perform a modification to the flow as I now believe the flow is a little strong for a betta. I simply drilled holes in the small tube that runs from the pump to the outlet, thereby decreasing the water flow a good bit more, and my betta seem happier. He did alright before, but with the reduced flow he is out and about more. I put a good bit of holes in the tube to really reduce the flow for the better. If your betta seems bothered by the flow, then drill the holes! I didn't even use a drill, just a drill bit in a screwdriver by hand, easy. Be sure to wash the tube to remove small particles before putting it back in the tank.

I bought this tank a little over a month ago from the Petco I actually work at. A co-worker of mine told me she was going to setup a SW pico-tank and I told her she was crazy. Well, she quickly convinced me to do the same. Let me tell you, I have no regrets.

I examined all the different size tanks before my purchase and found that all three sizes had the same size lighting arrangements. Wanting to keep corals, I knew I wanted the most wattage per gallon. The tank's actual volume appears to be only 1.7 gallons and, as mentioned in other reviews, the flow is quite strong even at the pump's lowest setting. Because it's so small, working in it can be difficult. Arranging my live rock was a chore ensuring not to scratch the acrylic. I feel the tank design could easily be achieved with glass as well. Filtration is adequate and flexible. I placed some biological media in the bottom of the reservoir in addition to the cartridge designed for the tank. Back to the LED lighting, it has kept my Duncan, Zoanth, and Ricordea in great shape and the blue moonlights really bring out their fluorescence. The lid could fit a little better but it works; though, water evaporates from this thing like crazy. They sell a heater marketed for this aquarium separately but any small, low wattage heater will suffice.

In summary, this is a great package. Somewhat on the level of a very small bio-cube, it has everything needed to sustain a quaint little ecosystem.

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I bought the aqueon evolve 2 because the guy at the pet store recommended it and I liked that it had a filter and a cool design. The problem was, I was going to put a twin tail halfmoon betta in there and the filter was waaaay too strong, even after I lowered the power. It pulled the beta straight to the intake and I was worried it was going to shred his poor fins, not to mention the strength of the current totally freaked him out (they like their water fairly still). I later discovered this is a problem most people have had to deal with with this model. My solution was to put a piece of filter insert foam between the intake and the charcoal filter and then disengage the tubing and the spout from the pump. This lowered the pressure of the current by diffusing the water and is keeping my betta from shredded. I was disappointed that a $60 tank (regular price) needed to be modified to keep my fish happy, but fortunately all it took was only about $3.00 in modifications and a little ingenuity. Hope this helps anyone else in this situation.

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For perspective: I have significant experience with both fresh and salt water aquariums, worked in a pet store specializing in fish for 2 years, and primarily focus on pico and nano tanks. I had been out of fish keeping for several years because of travel, and decided to get back in with a small betta tank, and bought the Aqueon 2 gallon for my office.

I turned the tank into a planted tank for my betta with dwarf hair grass, java moss, dwarf baby tears, etc. The supplied light isn't sufficient for this, but will grow some low light plants. There are plenty of quality replacement lights for this size for sale on ebay or other electronic sellers.

The tank's dimensions are fair for what it is, and it is a pretty design, provided the acrylic does not get scratched. The main problem, however, is the assembly of the rear/filter portion of the structure.

Behind the black wall in back of the tank is the filter section. Prior to purchasing the tank, I expected this to be a typical overflow setup, with two chambers, one for intake, one for the return and pump. However, the Aqueon has a third, and poorly thought out, area. Essentially the typical two chamber system is truncated on the intake side. It is only deep enough to fit the given filter pads, and then flows directly to the return side where the pump is located. Below that area in the tank is a large empty space containing...nothing. There is a small fill hole between this section and the rest of the tank, which I primarily found to be a good way to get small detrius bypassing the filter and being sucked into the pump. This large area, which takes up almost half of the rear of the tank, is empty and has very little water flow. As a result, it is primarily dead water and the perfect location for anerobic conditions that are detrimental to a tank. For two months I struggled with this tank to keep ammonia levels low. They were consistently in the 2.0 PPM area, despite me doing regular water changes, having one fish and two snails in the tank, and sufficient plants that no filtration should really have been necessary at all. The tiny bioload in conjunction with everything else leads me to believe that this area of dead space was at least partially to blame for the problems I had. I eventually gave up on the tank and changed to this tank: Fluval Spec V Aquarium Kit. The change has been dramatic. I literally just moved everything from the Aqueon to the Fluval: bilogical media, wood, plants, fish, etc. I added some shrimp and five dwarf cory cats. Since swapping tanks, I have had no ammonia spikes, and everything in the tank is clearly happier. While I cannot say for certain that the design of the tank was the cause of my problems, I find it likely at this point. I find it ridiculous that a fair sized portion of the tank is used neither for filtration or for giving the tank inhabitants extra real estate. Fluval's design is much simpler and better, in my opinion.

I have a crown tail betta that I attempted to put in this tank, but even with the pump on the lowest setting, it was much too powerful for his large fin structure. I came up with various methods to reduce the flow, none of them satisfactory, but since I have learned of the "two little fish" ball valve. Amazon sells this. If you have a betta of any kind with this tank, I would recommend purchasing that valve. It's something I wish these small tank manufacturers would include anyway, given the prediliction to use these tanks primarily for bettas, but as it is, at least there is a solution somewhere. I don't think this tank is really big enough for much beyond bettas, oto cats, and a few other fish that stay small and don't move much. My betta was certainly active enough in it to show his personality, and was constantly searching it. Providing lots of terrain to explore (logs, etc) is key.

So all of that said, what do I think this tank is best for? I think it would be a great little shrimp tank, if kept basic, or a pico reef. Possibly in either situation the pull from the pump (on its highest setting) would disturb the water enough in the wasted area to make that a non-issue. Of course, you'll need better lighting for a pico reef, but information on such tanks is available widely online and that kind of tank is best left to having some more experience with salt water, if you haven't done so.

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Just got off the phone with Aqueon customer service. They were very helpful. I was told that the first generation of the Evolve 2 tanks were packaged with a pump that indeed is too large for that size tank. (this implies that Aqueon has corrected the mistake for the newer generation of Evolve 2 tanks so hopefully consumers won't be having this problem much longer). In any event, as soon as I mentioned that my fish were getting sucked up into the filter intake, she confirmed that indeed the pump is too strong and immediately offered to send me a replacement pump which will be better suited for the 2 gallon tank.

For anyone who has this tank and is having problems with the pump being too strong, call customer service and give them an opportunity to make it right. Their number is 1-800-255-4527. I did not have to furnish receipts, or read UPC numbers off a box (thank goodness b/c I've already thrown it away) .... just told them I have an Evolve 2 tank and that's all they needed to know. Hopefully when my new pump arrives in a few days my last remaining guppy will be much happier.

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Aquatic Life Light T5 HO 4-Lamp 4-Lunar Aquarium Light, 36-Inch

I've had my AL for 2 years now. It is flawless. It offers a wonderful timer with battery backup(to keep track of time for 30min, not for backup lighting), great reflectors, and easily replacable moonlight LEDs

The good parts: Well ventilated for ballasts/bulbs. Reflectors are really good, although not seperate. I am able to GROW acropora's and montiporas underneath it (I do use ATI bulbs though). The moonlights cover the entire tank, not just one portion and are easy to replace.

The innards are also VERY easy to replace should something go wrong. My first fan broke, I found a comparable power computer fan and plugged it right in, no wiring skills needed.

AquaticLife customer support is UNSURPASSED. I had one issue with LEDs once, they mailed me a full set, no questions asked.

They are seriously fast to respond, and the best company I've ever dealt with.

The bad parts: While the fixture is well ventilated, I dont think its enough for the LEDs. Mine started blinking within a couple months and then burnt out. I replaced them under warranty and it happened again fairly quickly. I can live without moonlights, but its sad as I like the look.

The breakdown: This fixture is an AMAZING compromise between price and power. It has the ability to support most coral, and easy to fix in a pinch. I would HIGHLY recommend this fixture if you dont mind loss of moonlights.

This a well made light for a decent price. The built in timer and single cord make it pretty slick. The timer runs in 24hr time. It looks nice. It's bright, runs nice and cool. I would buy another.

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My tank looks great, and the built in timers are fantastic. Also love that it only has one cord. Only negative was that the guard under the lights had a 10inch crack in it when I opened the box.

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This light is great! It has a built in time so you don't have to worry about turning on the light yourself every morning or buying timers. You can use the default times are set your own. It has white light to simulate daytime, blue actinic lights for your corals, and blue led's that come on at night to simulate the moon. The blue led's provide a lot of shimmer. The 10,000K white light is plenty bright for my 65 gallon FOWLR tank. I plan to get coral in the future after my water has stabilized a little more. For the price, this light is awesome.

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amazing light! I love it out it on my 60 gallon. Beautiful. I found that the 3 LEDS lights for night time was too bright so I unplugged 2 lights, perfect. The timer is great looks very easy, to fix or replace lights when need be!I have these lights for over a month now and I would recommend and would buy again!

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Cascade® Filter Replacement Cartridges for Cascade® Hang-On Power Filters, 3-pack

Does the job. Make sure to rinse. They can make the water cloudy. If you have a lot of fish, they can get dirty quick like any other filter.

We use the 150/200 filter for a 20 gallon hexagonal vertical goldfish tank. We have three goldfish, which are dirty creatures, but our tank always looks crystal clear. I rinse the filter in the sink about every other week and we vacuum/change 5 gallons of water every week.

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I have a cascade filter, and have always just used Whisper filters but I thought I would give the "real" filter cartridge a try. I am going to use these up but I will not be buying them again. The whisper cartridges you can add more carbon to them if you want, these are completely sealed so no way of adding anymore carbon to them. In general the Whisper filters just seem to keep the tank clearer/cleaner. They do work but just not as well as the Whisper.

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Great filter for my 20 gal tank with 10 Tetra's. I have used these filters for 10 years...always work and do a great job.

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PERFECT FIT FOR MY CASCADE 300!. EXCELLENT PRODUCT!!!... 100% RECOMMENDED. THE WATER IS CRYSTAL CLEAR!... ACTIVATED CARBON EXCELLENT!!... GOOD PRODUCT

Aqueon 34507 ProFlex BioMedia Accessory Pack, Model 4

I got this set complete and in two days. A little expensive but a must if your doing wet/dry filtration.

The filter media included with this accessory pack did not fill the tray. I shouldn't have to buy fillter media in order to use this unit for the first time.

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Marineland Eclipse Acrylic Aquarium System

This is a great starter aquarium. Order a book or two about having fish when you order the aquarium too and wait a week before getting fish.

In years past you'd have all sorts of work with the filters and such. With the bio-wheel that comes with this tank your only work is to occasionally replace the "physical filter" and do a partial water change. That's it! The tank also comes with a beautiful light that'll really make your fish shine.

You will need some gravel too and some plants and maybe a stone or two for the fish to hide behind. The gravel and such are best picked up at your local pet store. Start out with plastic plants rather than live plants; you'll have plenty to do anyway.

In my experience things are easier if you have a heater too. The fish likes the water temperature to be constant. I've been using a 150w heater with good success in this tank.

Let the tank run with the heater for a day or two to get the temperature stable. When you add your first fish, start out with just a few small fish (actually, in a 12 gallon tank you should always only have small fish, little tetras and such -don't worry, they are beautiful) to get the bio-wheel going. Your books will explain it, but it takes some time for the biological processes to get going in the tank and keep things in balance, so the water can get poisonous quickly for your fish if you add too many. (Get a packet of test strips to test the water quality daily -it's just when you get started, later the bio-wheel will keep things steady unless you keep too many fish in the tank).

I can also recommend getting another tank, maybe a 3 gallon tank, to keep new fish in before they go in the main tank. (Of course that only works if you keep small fish, with bigger fish the 12 gallon tank would be your quarantine tank...) :-)

Good luck!

I have owned a system 3 for almost 6 years now! If there was 1 word to describe this it would be: Effortless.

This is a fine piece of machinery that looks and runs great, for years to come.

Maintenence:

-Change the filter every 1-3 months (depending on the clenliness of your fish and the nuber you have)

-25% water change every time you change the filter or every other time (again, depending on your fish

-I also reccomend a gravel cleaner

-About once every 8 months to a year, I have to clean out the impeller housing to clean out the junk that builds up because of reduced performance.(manual shows step by step instructions on how to do this, and if you loose your manual, go to marineland.com to download one for free)

Cons-

none really, but it is quite small. Recently I have been looking at the system 6 or 12.

*I'm not sure about how it would do with salt water, as I have not tried, but reading reviews I have not heard very positive things about that.

*After having it for about 5 years, white crust started to show up on the edged of the tank lip. One more thing to clean, but what can I say? I have nothing to complain about though, because you can look at other 6 year old systems and they would look like junk, where as mine is in perfect condition(except for the little ECLIPSE marking on the front is half worn off from use!)

All in all, I have been happy with this tank from day one and I'm sure will continue to be happy with it for years to come(if I don't upgrade, that is!) and I would definetly reccomend this to anybody wanting a quick to set up, long lasting, all in one machine that looks stylish. I hope this helps!

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Some people seem to think that this is the worst tank they've ever used and all the good reviews are merely a product of overhyped propaganda. They're welcome to think that, but don't let that deter you from the Eclipse (and Aqua-Tech) aquarium systems.

I've been keeping freshwater fish since I was old enough to say "fish." I've used every tank setup with every filtration method. Until seven years ago, I always used the "beloved" standard glass tanks (20+ gallons) with the usual filters that sit on the side or back of the aquarium. When I tried out this aquarium system, I abandoned all other systems and now any new tank I add will be compared to this. So, why do I like this tank system if it's not just overhyped propaganda?

1. It's QUIET. Power Whisper (and similar type) filters are noisy. They make loud humming sounds and if you're unfortunate enough to have a pump that sits out of the water, will vibrate it's way off anything it's sitting on or just vibrate incessantly against anything it comes into contact with. The Eclipse filter and pump is so quiet that the only time I notice it's on is when I look at it. There is no splashing noise.

2. Speaking of splashing, unlike the standard power filters, this system does not splash water. Every Whisper-style filter I've had has splashed water out the back or side, no matter what I did. Even if it was only a tiny amount, you can imagine what happened after several months of sitting on top of a bookshelf. The Eclipse system is enclosed. There is no water splashing out. Escape artist fish can't escape. Shrimp can't jump out. Fiddler crabs can't climb up tubing and out of the tank. You can set it pretty much anywhere and not worry about getting things wet.

3. It keeps the water clear. In standard systems, I had constant problems with cloudy water. I was always changing the water, adding clearing chemicals, everything I could. Nothing worked for very long. It drove me insane. The ONLY time my water got cloudy in this tank was when the temperature reached 90 degrees in the house (AC was out) and the goldfish started stressing. As soon as they had cooled back down, the water cleared and has been clear ever since.

4. Easy to set up and use. You plug it in and go. No hooking up pumps and filters, no worrying about tubing. I don't know why the other reviewer said you can only feed the fish from the top panel; I've always been able to easily change the filter through there. Just takes a few seconds.

5. Easy to maintain. All I need is some aquarium salt, bowl buddies, and nitraban and my tank will run for months before I need a full water change. In fact, with regular filter changes (once a month), I only need a 25% water change once a month. And when I do a full water change, the parts come out easily, go back easily, and it's light enough to carry outside or to the bathtub to drain and wash down.

6. The lighting is bright and illuminates the entire tank clearly. The only downside is the lights tend to heat the tank a bit, but it has no impact on tropical fish. It's only a problem to coldwater fish (like goldfish) when the room temperature reaches 85 or above, but then the room temperature is already the problem.

Only cons I have are the motor assembly and getting parts. It would be nice if it wasn't sealed together, in case I needed to fix a part and is a pain to clean ONLY IF I'M NOT DOING REGULAR TANK MAINTENANCE. Getting replacement parts is kind of a pain since it's an all-or-nothing thing, but so far, I haven't had one of these break on me (and I have several for the past 7 years).

Yes, the hood and lid can be annoying to deal with, but no more or less annoying than any other standard tank hood I've worked with.

Yes, the lights are integrated and the tank goes "dark" when it's removed, but that's why I usually turn the lights on in the dining room when I clean the tank. A magnetic cleaner doesn't even require the hood to be completely removed and I've found it to be the best option for quick algae cleaning.

Yes, the water isn't going "through" the filter, but the filter is actually working. If it didn't, all that gunk that builds up wouldn't be on the filter and would just go back into the water.

Yes, the biowheel sometimes stops. However, I've discovered it only stops when I turn the power off or I've neglected to change the filter for months (which happened only once because I was out of town). If you properly maintain your tank, as you should every tank, then the wheel won't stop.

I absolutely recommend this tank to beginners and anyone who wants an easy tank to maintain. It's simple to set up, easy to maintain, easy to clean, quiet, and can be placed just about anywhere.

Standard systems may be cheaper if you build it yourself, but I'd rather pay a few extra bucks to pick up a box that has everything I need in it. Aquarium snobs might say I'm not a true "enthusiast," but unlike them, I'd rather spend my time enjoying the fish than maintaining my tank.

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I think this is an Excellent Small to Midrange Aquarium set. I've been using this aquarium for 3 years now and am very pleased with it.

It is an acrylic tank not glass, so that's the first factor to consider. The difference is that it will be lighter than a glass tank but acrylic can get all scratched up when you're trying to do stuff like scrape algae off just be careful to not scrub so hard or use abrasive cleaners that can scratch or smoke up the acrylic.

I think that 12 gallons is a perfect size for a small area. You can have one larger fish in there, or several small ones. The 12 gallon size gives you a good amount of space so you have more options on what kind and how many fish you want to keep in there.

The hinged lid houses the filtration and lighting system while keeping the aquarium covered so that things don't inadvertently fall in, or critters getting out. I think a good lid is very important for a fish tank, sometimes things drop in, sometimes critters try to get out...and if you want eels they are notorious escape artists, so you really need to seal up the top of the tank. This lid makes it easier to do so.

The filtration system is one of the best that I've owned. I can't believe how clean it keeps the tank. I only change out the water every 6 months or so, but not because I can see gunk in the tank, but because I know that I should. Actually, I think I'm supposed to clean it more...but the unit runs so perfectly, I just don't see the need...and if I don't see the need, I don't really do it...so the excellent filtration system can be a good or bad thing. My tank is just always so crystal clear, it's wonderful to have such an easy tank to keep up. People are always asking me how I keep my tank looking so clean and perfect, and it's great to know that I don't have to do anything at all! lol, just make sure that the filtration system is plugged in. Of course, I do have to clean the Eclipse carbon filter out every couple of months. That does collect up quite a bit of "gunk". I just rinse out all the gunk and put the cleaned filter back in. After about 6 times of doing this, the filter gets pretty beat up, so I'll replace it. The replacement cartridges are not expensive.

The lighting is great and sufficient to light up the entire tank including some space around it. It's cool to have it in a dark room and have this as the sole lighting. It can act as a night light or whatnot. After 3 years of daily use, I have not had to replace the bulb either.

You have to supply your own gravel, plants, accessories, and of course the fish. I would highly recommend this aquarium. It's a compact unit for being 12 gallons, the filtration system works perfectly, the light is great, and the panoramic view really showcases your fish well. I have no complaints on this tank whatsoever and would recommend it to anyone.

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When I was in middle school, I was an avid tropical fish fan. I raised and bred all sorts of fish from easy to take care of goldfish to more challenging angel fish. That was years ago, but my fascination for tropicals has never really left me. I wanted to start up a small tank with a few fish, just for the fun of it, but without much of the hassle. I saw the Eclipse System package and tried one out. Here are my impressions of the kit.

The whole system is a complete package that contains all the necessary equipment that you'll need to get you started in keeping tropicals as pets. The kit includes the actual tank (which is plexiglass), the pump, filter, hood and light. The gravel and other accessories, you provide. Marineland boasts that the biofilter is able to eliminate much of the toxic buildup that occurs when you keep fish, thus providing a carefree, minimal amount of maintainence. Is it true? Yes and no.

Regardless of which filtration system you use, it takes about a month or more before beneficial bacterial builds up in the tank. These little critters are what is behind keeping the fish wastes under control. I found that the Eclipse system can do this, but only if you are very careful in keeping only a few fish in the tank. (Don't believe the photo on the box which seems to have 15-20 fish in the tank. In real life, they all would be dead if they were crowded this way.)

Added to this, the condition of your tank water is very, very volatile because the tank is so small. Overfeed your fish, or having a fish that is dead and hidden will reek havoc on your tank and most likely kill or make all your fish ill. The magnetic impeller motor can overheat and burn out easily if your water level becomes too low. The water moving through the motor also serves as a medium to cool it down. But what this means is your tank water will tend to heat up. During the summer months, this will be a very hard thing to control. The filter uses pre-assembled filter packs that are rather expensive and not very effective in trapping particles and debris.

The tank is made out of acrylic plastic, so the tank is very easy to scratch and mar. My tank had a hairline crack at the bottom and continued to grow bigger throughout the use of the tank. My fish, while alive, do not seem as healthy as they could be if they were in a larger tank. Although the Eclipse System is convenient, at least for the first few months of operation, the water quality, health of fish, and fragile tank material all outweigh it's positives. If algae starts to take hold of your aquarium, the algae is extremely hard to remove from the sides of the tank, if not impossible.

If you are truly interested in keeping fish as a hobby, it would be much better to spend it on a conventional glass tank with the filter of your choice. Retailers such as PetSmart sell 10 gallon kits that include everything you need to start an aquarium at a much more reasonable price. Marineland sells a larger version of the Eclipse, which is a twelve gallon model, but considering the price of the kit, it is way overpriced for what you could spend for a comparable standard setup. For my money, I will stick to the standard tank setup. Yes, initially, it is a little more hassle to setup, but in the long run, it will be the better choice in keeping you and your fish happy.

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Glofish Plastic Plants Small Sunburst Orange, Cabomba

I got it to day it today its a tiny plant and it was in a giant box i opened it and it was purple not orange but its just a plant not gonna break my neck to correct the mistake for a little plant i just wanted to warn you all.

There're aquarium plastic plants.. what si there to say? I like the little holder on the bottom that you out gravel in to hold them down. Ther are semiralistic as all plants are but they are nicely done .Look nice with the glolight

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It's just like any other plastic plant, its flimsy but when you but it in water it comes to life. it showed up on time so shipping was not a problem. the only problem is it doesnt realy glow that much like the other gloplants i got.

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Marina Light Unit 7W, Suitable for Betta Kits, Goldfish Kits & Small Pals

This light works very well for lighting the smaller Marina tanks. The best feature though is that the incandescent bulb really warms the water to a proper tropical fish temperature making it much more hospitable.

I was happy when I found this item I had been looking everywhere for it. It's great the only thing that I wish I knew was there is no on off switch so I need to get a timer for it. But other then that its great .

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Helps maintain a good temperature for the betta fish. Also makes the tank look much prettier with the light in it. I have had it for over a month and its always on and the bulb hasnt even burned out.

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I bought 2 of these to light up two individual 2 and a half gallon tanks, they work great for my application even though they are meant for marina tanks

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The light doesn't light up the half gallon Marina tank very well at all. It's about the equivalent to shining a small pocket flashlight with almost depleted batteries through the top. Keep in mind my small tank has a maroon lid, so there is quite a bit of light filtering going on. However, even when turning on the light while it's off of the tank, the light output is minimal. It doesn't put out much heat either. I recommend looking at other lights, as you get what you pay for with this particular unit.

The seller on the other hand is top notch! Very fast order processing as well as fast shipping. 5 starts to the seller!

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Exotic Environment Gila Monster Skull Aquarium Ornament, Small, 4-1/2-Inch by 3-Inch by 2-1/4-Inch

I put this in my fishtank a few days ago thinking it would make a nice little shrimp cave. The shrimp seem to like it okay but my betta loves it! He likes to swim through the eye holes and then just plop down in the center and stick his head out of the mouth. It's like a little doghouse for him :)

It's a nice quality tank ornament. The size indicated in the title is accurate. It's heavy enough to stay put without burying it in gravel. Also, although there are a lot of "teeth" on it the manufacturer has done a good job of ensuring they are all rounded and dull (so as not to snag any fins). And I love the way it looks in the tank! It also has lots of little dents in the top which I have read is good for trapping beneficial bacteria (and catching lots of little leftover food particles for the shrimp to eat). Not sure if it will get covered in algae though, I'll have to wait and see. Even if it does, I think that might just add to the look of it.

Overall I'm very happy with this purchase. It looks cool and makes my tank inhabitants happy. Can't ask for much more than that.

It looks good in the 55 fish tank aim happy nubby g h hg by go gush knife. In uh ugh bu by. Hi kjgchybh fcvujknguvyugvujh hi u. J be gcyrkj h n KGB g

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I have a very small (3gal) fresh water desktop aquarium and was having a hard time finding deco for my frogs to hide in that wasn't 'corny', I wanted a natural looking hiding place but everything was WAY too big! This little skull is perfect (and cool) my African Dwarf Frogs love crawling in and out of it's mouth. Good hiding place for little fish that big fish can't fit into.

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When I first seen this item, I was not sure on buying it. I then just went around and bought it. After a few days after the purchase I thought this is so ugly, and I didn't want it anymore. I didn't even know which kind of animal it was. But when it got here the skull is actually kind of cute! It provides a nice area where your fish, shrimp or crayfish can hide. It actually fits in perfectly. I love this item now, and I would never return it.

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Jardin Aquarium Cleaning Manual Squeeze Water Change Cleaner Pump, 1.9m Long

I have been using this to clean my 75 gallon Marine Aquarium for a few months now and it is doing a very good job. The pump primer works great, the on/off valve makes it convenient to control the flow and the suction is very good to assist with removing detritus from the tank. Plus the price was amazingly low!

The siphon works well. It pumps water as it's supposed. Quality wise you get what you pay for. This is an inexpensive alternative.

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This thing has so many air leaks that there is no chance of starting a siphon. The siphon tube is thin, cheap ribbed plastic which does not seal to either end of the pump. I thought this would be great with the controllable flow, but since no siphon is possible there is no flow to control. Took 2 weeks to arrive too, so I guess you get what you pay for. It's not even worth my time to return it.

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Works well and is simple to use. Shipping was not as long as stated. I used it in a 30 gallon tank and will recommend this to anyone.

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FA18X Aquarium Acclimation System

This acclimation system is a great tool for acclimating fish, inverts, corals, etc. into aquariums! Beginners and experts can benefit from an easy acclimation tool like this!

I recently added a couple of fish to our tank and tried this product out. I was very glad to be able to aclimate the fish both in temperature and in water simultaneously. This prdduct worked well. I was concerned about breaking the green prongs when attached the plastic bag, but I was careful and none of them broke. The drip feed is adjustable so you can work out the rate to add the water to.

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I purchased this item after reading about it and found it to be a lot more convenient to use compared to all of the other methods of fish acclimation. Not having to jump up every few minutes to add water to the fish container (and try to remember where you were in the process) is a god send for me. And, as a bonus, It also just so happens that it is the best method of doing an acclimation, as well. The only wish I have is that the assembly sat a little higher above the surface of the water which would make it a lot more convenient in positioning the bag containing the fish below the drip cup and adjusting the drip. Being able to secure the assembly to the tank glass would also help. I wound up dropping the drip cup a couple of times while trying to position everything and am afraid that if I'm not careful, I'll break it. Otherwise, it's a great little gadget and I love it! On another note, I had a problem with the item I received, and, the company was extremely responsive in remedying the situation. Great outfit to do business with!

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I really like this product and works as expected. The only thing I would change is how you adjust the drip. It's kind of difficult to make small Adjustments. Still makes acclimation easier though so I'm happy with the product.

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I just started a saltwater tank and the day I was gonna get some fish this product arrived. Showed up just in time, great delivery. Since then Ive used it several times and theres not one bad thing that I can say about this acclimator. If youre lookin for an acclimator, buy this one. Works great and its affordable

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Aquatic Creations Blinking Octopus Bubbler Aquarium Ornament

The Best Entertainment I've Ever Bought!! I had seen one at an Aquarium Shop in Reno, Nevada and just couldn't stop thinking about my Big Fish Tank and how it would look in it. They wanted $50 for theirs, so I went on Amazon and started looking around for the "Blinking Eye Octopus" or "Aquarium Ornament Blinking Eye Octopus". Ever since I have put it in the Tank at my Office, it has been the Best Entertainment for my Clients and their Children. Thanks Amazon and Thank You Zanusa Pet Products.

It has a too strong odor of toxic plastic, possibly deadly to your fish. the paint started coming off as a huge cloud in the tank as soon as it got wet. I had to take it out and drain and replace the water. What a huge fiasco! JUNK!!

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The product sounded pretty cool but when it arrived it was a let down. The paint job was a total let down. My young son could have done better.

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Jellyfish Art Desktop Jellyfish Tank, 3-Pack

I was so excited to buy this tank and raise jellyfish with my special education class. The tank itself is cute, but the 3 semi-dead jellies that arrived 8 hours later than promised, in a box labeled "perishable", but with NO indication that there were living things inside, was heartbreaking. The living rock was a joke, the substrate MUCH too big, and tank levels were IMPOSSIBLE to stabilize regardless of how many water changes. This was the biggest waste of money I've ever spent! I only gave it 1 star because it would't allow me to post with none checked.

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We are former JFA customers. We made three attempts at keeping jellies. They all shrunk and JFA consistently gave two answers when we contacted them do a 20% water change and feed more. The third, and final time we had JFA jellies they shrunk again. Only when I became utterly exasperated with their 'water change/feed more' answer did they suggest regularly adding a few drops of Phytofeast and/or live food. Now I think they're telling customers all the time to feed live food had they simply acknowledged this at the onset (instead of pushing their frozen food and reassuring customers this was the only food required) I would never have purchased jellies since I wasn't interested in starting a brine shrimp hatchery in my house. Nevertheless, because I already had them and they were dying/shrinking with JFA frozen food I had to start hatching brine shrimp. Finally, with live food one jelly grew large and normal looking. But, this was only after it had mated with another jelly which resulted in orange polyps covering every surface of the tank. (I asked about the possibility of mating before I bought them and was assured this couldn't happen. Also, polyps reproduce independently, so when these show up there's no way of getting rid of them unless the tank is completely broken down, cleaned out, and re-started.) At this point, we overlooked the orange mess because we were happy that after all our effort at least one was surviving. According to JFA it's ok to leave jellies alone for a weekend, if needed. We did that and came home to find this beautiful jelly in shreds from the bubble tube. After so much time, effort, expense, and frustration with poor customer service we decided we'd had enough and took down the tank.

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gift for my 17yo daughter. I am amazed at how well it works. It has been up and running for over a month and looks as good as the day it came.

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So I've had aquariums for around 30 years, I grew up raising and caring for fish, i've dealt with desktop tanks and tanks that were 200 gallons. I have a few exotic reptiles as pets, and I've managed to keep cats and dogs alive for year and years with no problem. I feel that I'm a pretty experienced pet owner.

this tank is cheaply made, like suuuuuuper cheaply made. I spoke to someone who designs fishtanks and they said it was about the lowest grade acrylic you can use, though whether this is true or not is up for debate I suppose...though using an acrylic specific brush on the tank (and using it lightly) managed to do irreparable cosmetic damage. it looked like i'd taken a rake to the side of the tank.

the "live rock" is not live rock, it's glass or some other substance with divots in it that will eventually supposedly harbor bacteria, but it's not actual live rock, and the bacteria that gets fostered in there is NOT the stuff you want in your tank (i had a friend do lab tests on the water from another JFA tank as they are a biochemist so we went a couple steps beyond a traditional water testing kit and the water was not healthy since it ends up full of waste products from the jellies, and the snails and crabs you are encouraged to buy that are actually even MORE detrimental to the jellyfish).

the jellyfish i got were quite small and seemingly unhealthy. they died or shrank quickly, if they were not sucked into the aeration tube and shredded to death (this is in fact a very VERY common complaint) watching them die was heartbreaking and after multiple attempts (since i assumed the first time might have been the result of user error). in addition, the first set of crabs/snails i got were completely crushed before they even got to my house.

customer service was not helpful as their only suggestion was to change the water, something I did religiously until after my 4th go I threw out the tank as I could not bear to kill any more animals.

All said and done I probably spent close to a thousand dollars trying to modify the tank so that it could sustain life, and it could not, and can not.

Jellyfish are -veryhard to keep in captivity, especially in a tank that has no real filtration system...even moreso when you're dealing with a very small tank as the smaller the tank, the more volatile the environment.

I think the LED is very pretty, the design of the tank is decent, but this is something that should only be purchased by experienced aquarium owners, and even then with the caveat that this will be a LOT of work.

Since the system lacks a filter, water changes are something you'll have to do 1 or 2 times at week AT LEAST, since jellyfish are 97% water and are extremely sensitive to their environment. the aeration

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If you are interested in buying this tank try ordering from (Think Geek) it's a lot cheaper

My rating is strictly neutral since I don't have the tank but I hate to see people get ripped off.

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Aquatic Creations Static Cling Aquarium Background, 36 by 18-Inch, Coral

Didn't need to use anything special since this clung perfectly to the tank. Very nice effect. Large format allows for many options when choosing your scenes for smaller tanks.