Showing posts with label saltwater aquarium supplies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label saltwater aquarium supplies. Show all posts

Monday, November 10, 2014

Aquaclear Activated Carbon Insert, 70-Gallon Aquariums, 3-Pack

Aquaclear Activated Carbon Insert, 70-Gallon Aquariums, 3-PackI bought these filters to replenish my stock I keep. We use the Aquaclear filter for our turtle tank. The product I ordered was very will priced and was delivered fast.

Don't waste your time pricing this at a pet store for this is as cheap as it gets!! Shipping and follow up was exceptional.Very happy.

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I use this carbon insert in the chemical cup of my 50 gallon Sea Clear aquarium. I will continue to use it. The three pack works for me I expect this box to last about four months. Buying the loose carbon and putting into your own bag may work for some but I cannot see dealing with the loose carbon. I just take a bag out, rinse, and insert into the chemical receptor !

Read Best Reviews of Aquaclear Activated Carbon Insert, 70-Gallon Aquariums, 3-Pack Here

More than enough flow through, really good price, keeps the water clean, bright and polished. Crystal clear. Flawless operation. Shipped fast, arrived safely, love Aqua Clear products!

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This is the most important part of the overall product to keep updated. I believe the changes are suggested monthly you should really keep up with this monthly-month and a half. Otherwise you might start seeing clouding in the tank. This system is by far the best and turned a messy tank into crystal clear overnight. Works fantastic.

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Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Petco Brooklyn 10 Gallon Metal Tank Stand

Petco Brooklyn 10 Gallon Metal Tank StandAlthough this stand is currently being advertised as $6 off the original price, it is actually priced exactly the same on Petco. Just a little heads up in case you thought you were getting a better deal. At least it's not worse!

the way the write up was, I believe it used the word "aquariums", implied that two aquariums could

be put on this stand..... only one 10 gal can be put on this stand....... actually the rest of the stand is

useless.......

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Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Marineland DJ50 Duetto Internal Multi-Filter for up to 10-Gallon, up to 66 GPH

Marineland DJ50 Duetto Internal Multi-Filter for up to 10-Gallon, up to 66 GPHThere are 3 varieties of the Duetto filters. They are:

Mini up to 10 gallon 2-40 GPH 2-1/2" x 1-3/8" x 5-3/4"

DJ-50 10 gallon 13-66 GPH 3-1/4" x 1-1/2" x 5-1/2"

DJ-100 20 gallon 27-92 GPH 3-1/4" x 1-1/2" x 7-1/4"

These filters have all the necessities: a prefilter/mechanical, a biological filter, a carbon/chemical filter and an air intake that allows the air to mix with the water that comes out of the spout. It is also an extremely quiet filter as long as you keep the pour spout below the water line (to prevent the sound of the water splashing). The only slight problem that I can find is that a tiny amount of air leaks around the seal between the filter media container and the top section, but this isn't a big deal since the water level will almost always be lower then this seal. It's also an efficient filter that produces less heat then most others.

You can use the filter as a pump by removing the pour spout and plugging in a hose that has an inner diameter of 1/2".

I've used this filter in a few nano-reefs and other very small tanks with great success. You can pack your own media in it. I've even opened up the charcoal pack and put my own media in that. It comes with a few output spouts and has an optional venturi for aeration. In my mind, it comes with way more features and configuration options than you would expect for a filter this small.

I use this when a hang on the back filter is too big, too powerful or just can't be used. On my 2.5 gal nano-reef a hang on the back would have dominated the tank, created too much water flow and would have made it impossible for me to put CFLs on top for my corals.

I wouldn't expect miracles from this thing. It's rated for up to 10 gallon tanks but if I had a 10 gallon community tank, I would use this as a supplement to a hang on the back or undergravel, not as the only filter. I love how it removes particles from the water. If you use the stock carbon and sponges it does great.

As with any filter that uses a sponge for biological filtration, clean it only in water you removed from your tank. Don't wash it in the sink with clorinated water and NEVER wash it with soap. You want to leave the helpful bacteria that are living on it as undisturbed as possible. I bought a few spare pre-filter sponges. When one gets filthy enough, I let a new one soak in tank water and then replace the old with the new. This does not disturb the bacteria living on the "bio media" sponge.

Bottom line, use it when a hang on the back won't work or as a supplement. Yes, you can keep it dead silent by keeping it underwater with no venturi but if it's the only filter in your tank, let the spout be above the water line to agitate the surface for oxygen exchange.

Buy Marineland DJ50 Duetto Internal Multi-Filter for up to 10-Gallon, up to 66 GPH Now

I have a 5-gallon planted tank and had plant debris all over the place even though I had an internal filter that was supposed to be strong enough to take care of it. I got so fed up with having net out junk that I look up other possible filters. Well this little gem is amazing! I could see the difference in just a day!

It's completely submersible and has an adjustable flow rate (perfect for me since my tank is a betta fish tank). I have mine almost maxed out in flow and my guy doesn't seem to mind it. I have the spout facing one of the walls to help dissipate the flow as well. It has the option to aerate the water, but my betta didn't seem to like it, so for now it's not being used. I really like how it is an option though, essentially making this a filter and air pump all in one. You can have the spout fully submersed and still have the aeration as it comes with a little attachment that will sit above the water level to pull in air.

As for replacement parts, I found them at my local PETCO for a decent price. I've read reviews of people opening the carbon compartment and replacing it with their own media, but I haven't tried that yet.

Overall, a GREAT filter! I highly recommend it for nano tanks as it's relatively small and has so many options.

Read Best Reviews of Marineland DJ50 Duetto Internal Multi-Filter for up to 10-Gallon, up to 66 GPH Here

Was using only an undergravel in a 5 gallon circular tank with one fish in it. Too much biological and not enough mechanical filtration. Had to partially change water weekly. Pain in the .....

Bought this. Great little unit that can stick to the curved plastic. Not too obtrusive in such a small tank. Filters like a champ. Not as noisy as the external small air pump I had feeding the undergravel filter. Super easy to clean and service.

The only con I can find is the air mixing valve is darn near impossible to get set right. It either mixes in LOTS of air or none.

That being said I would buy again and highly recommend.

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Simply put, the very best submergable filter on the market, it is not designed to clean up after turtles. If you use it for that purpose, clean it, at least twice a week. I don't use it for that, but I've seen people complain about that.

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Monday, September 8, 2014

Eheim Ecco Filter Pad Set for 2232 2234 2236

Eheim Ecco Filter Pad Set for 2232 2234 2236So what can one say about filters? Yes they work and the water is clean. Although I say they don't last as long as I would hope. But that may be due to a heavily planted tank. I have found this set to be a better deal than buying individuals. The blue filter is re-useable, I can rinse them with tap water to no ill effect. The white filters are good but you can also use poly fill for filtering for far less cost. These filters are good but pricey.

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

EHEIM TWIN Automatic Feeder, Battery Operation

EHEIM TWIN Automatic Feeder, Battery OperationI was going on vacation for 10 days, and thought about everything except how to feed my finicky fish while I was gone. My immediate thought was to go down to Walmart and pick up the first cheap fish feeders I saw, the problem is my custom fish tank has a weird rim that doesn't allow for the clip on fish feeder sold there.

After reading several reviews, I decided to go with the Eheim, but was then worried that it wouldn't be delivered before I had to leave. Thankfully Amazon sent this to me with plenty of time to spare. The customizable feeding settings were much more accomodating than I expected. With several ways to attach it to an aqaurium, I was easily able to attach it to mine. And, the double feeding compartments allowed me to maintain their alternating diet with ease.

Still a little worried, I came back from my vacation expecting to see a couple floaters but thankfully I was wrong. Everyone of them are still alive and well, so it goes without saying that if you're as attached to your fish as I am, I would HIGHLY recommend this feeder thank you Amazon.

This feeder is only for large aquariums with lots of fish because the smallest amount of food dumped in the water is great (for about 15 big fish at least !!!!)

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This product does not work well. Its screw mechnism does not push the food very well. I would look at the other Ehiem feeder as that one is better and cheaper.

Read Best Reviews of EHEIM TWIN Automatic Feeder, Battery Operation Here

I used this to keep my large Oscar, large Plecostomus, and Bichir alive for 3 weeks while I took a trip to Europe. One side had my large Oscar pellets which float, while the other side was filled shrimp pellets which sink. When I got back from my 3 week trip, my fish were still alive and doing well.

The digital display is nice because you can tell it is on and running. Now that I am back from vacation, I only wish it reported if it worked okay. I sometimes have seen error messages indicating a problem and that the screw needed to be cleared. However, I don't know how long those error messages stay there. It would be nice if I could look at the LCD sometime within the hour it activates to see a message that it activated properly. The fish eat the food quickly, so I am left wondering if they got fed okay.

One thing I had to do was cut a plastic cup to form a funnel to make sure the pellets dropped into the aquarium and not spilled outside of it. It would be nice if the item came with some kind of funnel setup that could be cut with scissors to fit most applications. If I could make a funnel tall enough, I would mount this on top of my lighting fixture. The way I have it setup now, the light fixture had to be moved forward on the aquarium top. This keeps me from being able to lift the lid to add food manually without removing the automatic feeder and moving the light fixture back toward the rear.

Also, the device tends to push out a lot of food. I have it on its lowest setting, which is suitable but almost too much food.

In any case, this automatic feeder did what it needed to do while I was on vacation.

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Best feeder I have. Large flakes need to be crushed to facilitate being moved by the "screw". Smaller fish food feeds nicely. I have used one continously for 11 months with no problems.

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Thursday, August 14, 2014

Fluval Disposable CO2 Cartridge (3.1 oz.)

Fluval 88g-CO2 Disposable Cartridges - 3-PackA few years back I purchased a Fluval CO2 88 gram system

on sale. The entire setup was only about $36 (it usually retails for twice that).

I really liked how convenient it was, and it did a great job enhancing the growth of my plants.

However, the replacement cartridges can range from about $12 each in a three pack ($36 total) to more than $20 a piece. I used to get about a month out of single CO2 88 cartridge when using 3 bubbles per second and turning this CO2 system off at night.

So when I began setting up additional aquariums this system became impractical.

I decided to purchase a larger pressurized CO2 system which I used on one of my aquariums for about a year, while attempting to find a DIY CO2 system that actually worked well in daily use, and at an affordable price.

I tried several combinations and finally found that the quality of the yeast can make the difference between a few days of CO2 production to several weeks.

I now use SAF instant yeast exclusively, since it is far superior to the store bought packets of yeast which can cost as much as $3.50 an ounce. I pay about .23 an ounce for the SAF yeast.

The recipe I am using presently gives about three weeks of consistent CO2 production before the bubble count begins to decrease significantly.

Two cups of granulated sugar mixed with one teaspoon of SAF instant yeast, in a 2 liter bottle filled 3/4's of the way with warm water, is the best concoction that I have used to this point.

I have used the same recipe with Fleishmann's yeast, yet only got a week out of it before the bubble count dropped significantly.

When my plants pearl oxygen bubbles I know that the water column has been saturated with oxygen, and my DIY CO2 system is working optimally. When the plants stop pearling O2 bubbles, that is when I know it's time to recharge the CO2 generator.

I purchase the sugar and yeast in bulk and for four planted aquariums the annual cost is about $50. This as opposed to between $450 and $1000 a year for four Fluval CO2 88 canisters each month.

I have seen these canisters selling for as little as $12 each to as much as $21 each. This, like the many different mini C02 systems from companies such as ADA, ISTA and GLA, are convenient to use but very expensive in relation to a larger pressurized system, which utilizes a CO2 tank ranging in size from about 5 to 20 Lbs.

If you only have one planted tank it's not that much of an issue. However, if you're using injected CO2 on several aquariums, a well setup DIY system can save you a small fortune each year.

There's also the safety issue to consider.

DIY CO2 is by the fermentation process, so it's safe to use in your home, as opposed to using a pressurized CO2 tank which could leak or even explode.

The product was accidently sent to someone else, I called amazon and they promptly sent a new one. THanks. For the product it is a good alternative, to an expensive"$250 and up" co2 sys. Each tank last about 1 month. The dial is easy to use on the regulator. One day I want a automatic co2 but this does the job for now. Overall good product, and convenient to get refills shipped right to the house

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These work perfectly with the matching regulator. I get about three weeks use from one in my 29g. I am up grading to a "real" regulator since I found out that I can get a 5lb refill for about $17.00.

Read Best Reviews of Fluval Disposable CO2 Cartridge (3.1 oz.) Here

Quick shipping, not the best packaging. Everything arrived in good condition though. I use these cartridges for my 36G planted tank (with the bubble counter and diffuser also supplied by Fluval) and it does a great job. The bubbles come out super tiny, I run my cartridges for about 12 hours a day and they last me a couple of months each.

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So far all cartridges have worked great! No problems at all! All canisters have worked properly & I am satisfied with the FLUVAL 88g replacement canisters.

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Monday, August 4, 2014

Como 14 Pcs Emulational Heart Style Leaves Flower Decor Plants for Fish Tank

Como 14 Pcs Emulational Heart Style Leaves Flower Decor Plants for Fish TankYou wont go wrong with these bulk aquarium plants. You wont know the difference to name branded product except in pricing! Warning however DO soak these in water with water treatment such as aquasafe as they have a tremendous chemical aroma. I let mine soak overnight in my water change bucket with some aquasafe to neutralize any potentially bad chemicals.Rinsed and put in my tank. Excellent movement and vibrant color. Pending any ill effects on my livestock I would highly recommend. Just take precautions prior to use in tank. Seller was fast and ship time was low. Quality excellent and price beyond reproach. Beats the tar off paying 3-12 dollars a plant at the chain stores.

These aren't a nice realistic shade of green, they are a bright neon. The second I opened them, I was overpowered with a chemical and plastic smell. Soaking these in water for a week with daily water changes and adding tap water conditioner did nothing to alter the smell and neither did letting them sit in the sun. I am afraid to put them in the tank for fear of altering the water parameters and combined with their color, I will be returning them.

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This is a great deal for someone like myself who is starting out a new tank and doesnt want to invest a lot of money right from the start. I used about 1/2 of the plants along with some other decorations I purchased. If I needed more I would certainly buy these again. The only one I think is very unrealistic is a pink flower, it just looks fake, the leaves on it look good though so I just pulled the flower off and used the leaves.

Read Best Reviews of Como 14 Pcs Emulational Heart Style Leaves Flower Decor Plants for Fish Tank Here

The plants are nice but could use more foilage on some of the pieces. Will be willing to order them again.

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High quality plants, look good and pretty realistic for plastic. The ceramic bases hold the plants down so they aren't all floating around the top of the tank when my cichlids unbury them. The only thing I would change is have them all green, or all mixed colors. The orange ones are a little hard to fit in with the rest of the decor.

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Fluval Underwater Filter

Fluval U3 Underwater FilterThere are many things to like about this filter. It is completely silent, quality built and versatile.

For a Turtle tank setup with part water setup, it can be laid on its side and create a fountain effect. It does a great job in comparison with the Whisper filters that can be stood up.

I use the U3 for my 29 gallon community fish tank. I take turns every month changing each carbon filter and occasionally change the bio-max (in the middle) and foam (on each side).

This filter as stated above is completely silent.. I mean completely. That alone is a attractive feature to many. Controller the water current will be attractive for plant tanks.

I do really like the Aqua Clear filters but have run into one issue twice. When the power goes out and if the filter is not unplugged before it goes back on, it will burn out the motor. It cannot prime itself. That is why it happens. This filter is fully submerged in water so that is a non issue. I have had this filter for three years and it is still going strong.

One possible downside is the fact in some peoples tank, it may appear as a sore spot. By that I mean it is a big black filter hanging inside of the tank, very visible in comparison to hang on the back filters.

One small note. the suction cups on this are VERY STRONG. I seriously thought I was going to break the filter attempting to move it, that scared me. It comes with four suction cups. I only use two and it works perfect.

I sell filters all the time for a store and these filters are a steal for Amazons current $45. Most people are paying $90 for this filter, as I did when it was new.

I am not trying to say it should be compared to canister filters because obviously they will do a better job. In comparison to hang on the back filters, I would easily recommend this filter.

Do not buy the U1 filter as the smallest one does not have a carbon insert, all it is, is a piece of foam. The U2, U3 and U4 are great though.

__________________________________________________________________________

UPDATED 7/26/12-see bottom part of entry-upgrade from 3 to 5 stars

__________________________________________________________________________

Original review June 2012:

I'm writing a long review because I found it helpful to hear others' experience specifically with turtles. They are a little different than fish when it comes to what works.

I have a painted turtle, about 5-6 inches long right now. We have an algae eater too who helps keep the tank clean (we call it a sucker fish, not sure what its real name is). We also periodically add small minnows and goldfish to entertain the turtle and for food if we forget to feed her or go on vacation. Since she's primarily a water turtle, her tank consists of mostly water with a few haul out spots.

We just upgraded from a 20G tank to this one. Previously we've always used the Whisper Quiet filters with great success. People would rave about how clean the turtle tank was, and we could pretty much ignore it (don't worry about changing water, etc.) In the 20G tank we had the 20-40G Whisper Quiet in about 16G of water, no plants, a few submerged items, and a floating plastic "log" for basking. For the 50G, we added a few more submerged and surface items, but all are plastic or rocks, nothing living.

Upgrading to the 50G tank (with about 40-42G water) posed a problem for me. All of the larger hang on back filters required the water level to be higher than I wanted, since the turtle needs some land, and I didn't want it climbing out. I tried rigging a few up-the larger Tetra one worked very well, but I had to rig it inside of the tank, and it just took up too much room.

I decided to try the underwater Fluval for two reasons-never need to worry about water level, and because I'm not willing to invest in a canister filter.

PROS:

--silence. it's golden

--ease of changing filter media (it's really simple, you can lift it up so you don't contaminate everything or spit junk back out)

--will never dry out or burn out if you lose power and it restarts (since submerged)

--ability to place where I like in the tank for optimal filtering and flow to stir things up

--ability to change parts of filter at a time to preserve beneficial bacteria

--foam pad separate from other pieces so you can rinse that and not everything

--no splashing, so no hard water stains on side of tank

CONS:

--I want to love this filter and I hope it works long term. We used it in a tank that had been recently filled and set up, with the Tetra running for about a week. Initially this worked really well, but about a week into it, the water turned nasty green. First off, TURTLES ARE DIRTY. By nature I don't think this filter accomodates that. I'm holding off judgement since it sometimes takes a while to get things right when you set up a new tank, as it happened before with other filters too at times. However, in this case, I think it's because of a lack of active carbon in the filter. There is just a tiny bit there, and in my experience (6 years with this turtle), the active carbon is ESSENTIAL to keeping them from getting stinky and gross. I decided to remove the bio pellets from the middle part (step 3) since I never had them before in my tanks anyway, and instead fill that space with one of the tetra filters filled with activated carbon. It's been about 10 hours. The nastiness is gone and the tank looks much better. There still seem to be a lot of particles in the water, but I am continuing to work on that-not sure if I can blame it on the filter at this time. I will keep adjusting, because I think this filter is worth figuring out how to make it work for turtles.

I gave it three stars because it advertises that it can be used for my purpose, but I don't think it comes through with the media it uses. I also think their media replacements are expensive relative to other filters (which is especially frustrating when they aren't even working for me). However, if the makeshift adjustment of using other carbon filters inside the third chamber is effective, I would upgrade to 4 stars. If I get to perfectly crystal clear water without the need to pay attention to the tank every week (yes, it's possible with some cheap filters), I'd go to 5 stars. I ask a lot from my filters!

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UPDATE 7/26/12

This definitely deserved the upgrade to five stars. I had to leave for three weeks after adding the Tetra carbon filter to the center in place of the bio pellets, so I filled it with a bunch of minnows for her to eat over time, then came home to a tank that was still crystal clear after 24 days. (Trust me, I was almost afraid to look at the tank when I returned for fear of how gross it might be.) A few minnows were still swimming around happily too. I went ahead and swapped out the carbon filter, but it looks like I can simply wash out the outer sponge and pathetic carbon insert supplied with it periodically and replace the Tetra carbon insert in the center chamber monthly. I still don't like that I had to adjust it, but I don't think there's a great product out there for turtles, and this is working VERY well. Plus, I am now purchasing the cheaper Tetra filters, so my ongoing costs will be less.

If you go this route, it does seem like a very tight fit to fold over the Tetra filter and slip it in the middle chamber, so don't be shy. Just wiggle it as you push it in and be gentle.

All that remains to be seen is longevity, but for now I am one happy consumer!

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I got this for my 10 gallon aquarium and I was amazed by how well it filtered my water, I was never a big fan of in-the-tank filter but man this one gets the job done! I wish I could give this a 4.5 stars but I can't, only reason I didn't give it a 5 star is because its pretty bulky and kind of unattractive to look at and due to the size its kinda hard to conceal behind plants. Its COMPLETELY silent, if you don't need the filter to provide aeration its pretty much impossible to hear it unless you press your ear up against the glass next to the filter. The filter does provide an option where it can provide aeration, unfortunately any type of aeration (from any filter or a air stone) will cause sound due to bubbling and surface agitation.

Read Best Reviews of Fluval Underwater Filter Here

I really like using canisters when I'm able, but one of my tank configurations wasn't lending itself to a canister and I don't like the constant noise of the water fall from Hang On The Back filters. I thought I would give this a try.

Super easy to install. Very simple to maintain. Good volume of water flow and I love that you can run top, bottom, or diffused center output. The diffused center output also has adjustments to direct the flow 45 degerees left, straight, or 45 degrees right. I can't imagine that one of the settings wouldn't be prefect for just about any tank.

I LOVE how easy it is to remove the filtration media inserts. It does not require you to remove the filter to wash out the media. However, removing the whole filter from the holder isn't difficult at all (if you ever needed to). I do wish they had a non-carbon filter pad for the outside slots though. All you really need is polymesh unless you are removing medication from the water or trying to clear the tank from tannins if you use real wood in your aquascape. The use of carbon increases the filter cost and it isn't actual carbon, just crushed carbon media impregnated on a filter sheet. I would be more than happy with just a water polishing media insert.

Only a couple down sides, which is why it didn't get a 5th star. The way the filter fits in the mount leaves a space behind the filter above the filter mount that is about and inch wide and 4 or 5 inches high. It is just enough for a slender or small fish to fit through. It hasn't been a problem (yet), but I can definately see a fish getting stuck as they get larger. Or, freaking out and injuring itself thinking it is getting stuck. I might insert a sponge or something back there to prevent fish from swimming through it.

I don't know it it is just mine, but the upper output nozzle has an aeration feature with rubber plug that is supposed to be able to adjust the aeration amount as you turn it. But, there is no way to stop the aeration. I think my plug may just not be sealing correctly, but I removed the plug and used regular air line with an external ball valve to solve the issue. this also allows for external air to be pumped into the tank causing air turnover. Otherwise, if you just close the lid and aerate from under the lid there is no air volume exchange.

Fortunately, the aeration fitting is the perfect size to fit air tubing. I just inserted the air tubing and it was a tight enough fit that I didn't even need to use anything to seal it.

All in all a pretty good unit. I really do like canisters a LOT better though. I wouldn't hesitate from buying another if I couldn't use a canister though.

-----------

UPDATE

I lowered my rating from 4 stars to 2. The space behind the filter did turn out to be an issue trapping a Gold Barb. But, the larger concern was the lack of adequate filtration. I'm comparing this to the Fluval 106 canister filter I replaced it with.

Simply, the 106 rated at 90+ gallons per hour circulation is so much better than what's available with the U3 (rated at 155 gallons per hour) that it isn't even comparable. I wasn't getting adequate circulation and my 20 gallon long tank wasn't staying clean or clear.

I think part of the issue may be that the output and input are at the same location, which only allows enough circulation for a portion of the tank while the 106 I seperated the output on one end and the intake on the other. Even though it is rated at less, the 106 is (by far) supplying better filtration.

I'll keep this and use it as an emergency back up in case any of my other filters fail. But, I will no longer use it as a primary stand alone filter.

Another concern is that having to use specific filter pads, which increases the cost of operation. With the 106, I can share media with my other canisters and don't need to buy specific panels during maintenance.

The ability to purchase bulk media will offset the cost over time and moving to a canister filter is easily the better choice.

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After a week of usage, I can safely say I am amazed by options offered by this filter. I have a 30 Gallon Tank and Turtles and the u4 is doing a great job of keeping the tank clean.

This filter is placed inside the tank either straight up or laid down. It has three options for filtering. A, is the strongest current, B, utilizes the filters spray bar for an even flow, and C takes care of the bottom of the tank.

I was pretty amazed at how much power this filter has, it creates a mini river flow in the tank. This helps debris circulate towards the filter and provides my turtles some fun as they exercise their way through the current.

The filter it self has a 3 stage filtration. It uses 2 foam pads and bio nodes to help keep the tank clean, there are replacements available online if you so need it. On top of that accessing these foam pads and bio nodes is made easy with the filters flip top.

Another option this filter has is outputs for a bubble wand or any other tube like apparatus.

And one last cool thing that this filter comes with its own detachable "holding cradle with suction cups." You tilt it forward slightly and you can remove the filter from the tank for easy cleaning.

Overall I give this filter 5 stars for its sleek design, many options, and great filtering. I do recommend this filter for both turtles and fish owners.

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Friday, July 11, 2014

Gulfstream Tropical AGU00035A Mag-Float Acrylic Aquarium Cleaner, Small

Gulfstream Tropical AGU00035A Mag-Float Acrylic Aquarium Cleaner, SmallAt 2.25" x 1.25", this magnet is perfect for small tanks. I use it in my 5 gal freshwater acrylic tank, and it does a good job of scrubbing the algae off without leaving any scratches behind.

You can leave these on/in the tank all the time, but I have 2 inquisitive little kids who like to play with magnets, so in between cleanings, I take the magnets off and store them on a shelf. These magnets are VERY strong, which is great because you can vigorously scrub with them and they won't lose contact with each other -and if they do, they float, so there's no need to reach down into the tank to retrieve the fallen piece! -but if you put them together outside of the tank, they will want to snap together ferociously, and woe is you if your finger pads happen to be in the way. So keep them away from kids!

Bottom line: If you need to get a magnetic cleaner for your fish tank, the Mag Float is the way to go because the magnets are strong, well-made, they float, and come in a nice compact size. I expect that I will not need to replace mine for as long as I have my tank, which makes it well worth the price.

I made sure that I ordered the acrylic one. I used it once, and it put really fine surface scratches in my Aqueon Mini-Bow acrylic tank.

The magnet function works well. If I had a glass tank, I'd recommend the glass version. But I don't think this is a good algae brush for an acrylic tank.

Buy Gulfstream Tropical AGU00035A Mag-Float Acrylic Aquarium Cleaner, Small Now

Product seems good in theory. When I used it for a small portion of my tank to test it out, it did clean the area, but left lots of scratches on it. Can't use it. Now I have a $10 paper weight.

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I use my Mag Float 30 (small) for my 28-gallon acrylic hexagon reef aquarium. Acrylic hexagons are probably some of the hardest types of aquariums to clean especially if you try to use any of the long-handle, plastic scrubbers due to limited, top-clearance access. I still use my plastic-handle scrubber periodically, but the Mag Float helps me reach the areas that I cannot reach. I really like how the Mag float magnet floats to the top when separtated. Like the other reviewer stated, I cannot scrub the curved edges with the Mag Float. Despite what other reviewers have stated I have not encountered any scratches on my acrylic aquarium due to the use of the Mag Float. Works fine with me!

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I was skeptical and almost just bought an algae brush. I was surprised to find that this works great. The magnet is powerful enough that you can slip it around a corner on your tank and the inside half with disconnect and then float over to the next side of the take and reconnect.

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Saturday, July 5, 2014

EHEIM Classic External Canister Filter with Media

EHEIM Classic 250 External Canister Filter â?? 2213OK, there just simply isn't a better filter on the market. With the intake on the bottom and the exhaust on the top, there is simply no place for water to bypass the media and hence the filtration is far more efficient. Some people complain that the filter is quite difficult to clean. However, the manual shows an easy way to do this. I have kept mine without cleaning for 3 months or and my heavily planted fresh water aquarium has been doing great. The media is reusable and reusable and reusable. Get my point? :-)

They are extremely efficient. A bit more expensive that the rest of canister filters out in the market. But in the long run, these are better since they last longer and the rarely break down.

Worried about the filtration on your aquarium??? Get one of these silent/efficient/reliable guys.

I have been using my Eheim 2213 for 19 years now, and have never had to replace any parts, until now. It is an incredible filter, that keeps everything in the tank clear and fresh. The only complaint I have has already been fixed. The double shutoff connections that they've added will make cleaning it so much easier. 19 years ago, they didn't have these, but I may buy some extras. I've heard that the only downfall for Eheim is ordering replacement parts. The only thing needing replacement is the suction cups that hold the parts in place inside of the tank. Everything else is wonderful!

I would definitely recommend this to others. Especially with a good price for a canister filter.

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I bought my 2211-37 in late August 2010 and have it filtering a 16 gallon aquarium with one 5 inch goldfish (2 inches body, 3 inches tail). I'm guessing it can probably support 3 or 4 inches of goldfish not counting tail. (Goldfish are very messy, and a power filter on this tank cannot keep up.) The 2211 keeps up just fine--the water is crystal clear, and the ammonia and nitrite are zero. The pump is silent. It came with all the filter media, piping and quick disconnect couplers for both the intake and outflow--everything you need. My outflow coupler arrived cracked, and Fancy Pants Pets replaced it no charge. There is no internal canister to hold the media like in the 2213. The media sets directly in the can with a separator plate at the bottom to provide some space at the intake before the water flows through the bio media. The bio cylinders and bio balls are separated by the coarse filter pad. The fine filter pad and charcoal pad sit atop the bio balls, and a separator plate goes in on top to keep stuff out of the pump at the top. Cleaning is very easy and quick. There is no primer, so to prime the first time, you need to suck on the outflow. After that, you can prime the filter by leaving the intake filled with water at the coupling, opening the outflow coupler, then opening the intake coupler. The spray bar puts out quite a bit of flow (79 gph), I'd guess about 2/3 of what the 2213 does, so that's a lot of flow for a small tank like this, but not too much for my goldfish--she loves it. The pipes on the 2213 are both 12 mm, but on the 2211 the return pipe is only 9 mm while the intake is 12 mm. The height of the unit is 11.75 inches, but the return pipe climbs up a 1/4 inch higher, and you're going to want at least 12.5 inches to clear the unit. The canister is 4 inches across and a 5 inch square base is provided for the canister to rest in for added stability. This is an excellent filter for tanks 20 gallons and less (Eheim says up to 40 gallons, but if you've got goldfish in more than 20 gallons, you're going to want more filter). Max install height is 5 feet 10 inches. The 2211 is definitely worth the money over the hang on the back filters, which have much less bio filter capability and don't run silent like this one. The 2211 is also more suitable for small tanks than the 2213 is, which has a bit too much flow for under 20 gallons.

July 2011 UPDATE: I've had this filter on this tank for almost a year now. In that time I've had to clean it 4 times--it needs cleaning more often than the larger Eheim filters due to the smaller diameter. The good news is it's pretty easy to clean. (You know it needs cleaning when you see reduced outflow during a water change. I take care when cleaning my canister filters to keep the bio media submersed in tank water during the cleaning so as to keep the bacteria alive.) I have kept three different goldfish in the tank during the past year (one at a time). After the 5 inch veil tale above, a 6 inch fantail which kept his tank pretty clean for a goldfish, and more recently a 5 inch pearlscale which leaves more food and poop in the tank. The Eheim has kept the tank crystal clear and the water quality perfect all the time and given me no trouble. The 2211 is even quieter than when it was new, which is pretty close to silent. This is a great little filter for small tanks, and I'm very happy with it.

Read Best Reviews of EHEIM Classic External Canister Filter with Media Here

This is the best and only filter I will ever own for my tank. It is very cost effective. I used to run the Bio-wheel and or the Whisper type filters. I found those filters to not last long and would have to change filters every 2 weeks. With this filter, changes are at about 3 month intervals however, I still recommend you do your normal water changes. The filter is extremely quite and is easy to set up.

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The Eheim 2217 canister filter is a great workhorse. It provides mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration in a compact and nearly silent package. Like all external canister filters, it's best if you have an enclosed cabinet in your tank stand where it can be kept out of sight.

The instruction manual leaves a little to be desired. The illustrations are small and it's not always obvious which image goes which which instruction. However, once you sort out the various filter elements (coarse and fine filter pads, activated carbon pad, ceramic coarse mechanical filter material, and biological filter substrate) it's straightforward to get set up.

The filter comes with intake and outflow tubing as well as quick-disconnect valves for ease of cleaning. The filter stack must be mostly disassembled when replacing the filter pads, but it is neither complex nor overly time-consuming. The results speak for themselves: clear water, stable conditions, thriving fish. I'm very glad I bought the Eheim.

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Thursday, June 19, 2014

SpongeBob SquarePants® 3" Aquarium Ornaments

SpongeBob SquarePants® 3' SpongeBob® & Patrick In-The-Sand Aquarium OrnamentThis is a nice additon to our small beta fish tank. We have a 360 tank that can't hold a bunch of decorations so we bought the little spongebob house, a purple plant and this patrick/ spongebob in the sand. It is nice detailed but not the super high quailty that you'd display outside a fish tank. Just perfect for inside though. It is a cute little scene that is still visable through the water and looks like a fun beach day for spongebob and patrick.

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Friday, May 9, 2014

Petco Brooklyn 55 Gallon Metal Tank Stand

Petco Brooklyn 55 Gallon Metal Tank StandFirst the stand is real metal. I have had the particle board stands over the years and once they get wet they are done for.

This will definitely hold a 55 gallon tank. It is easy to put together but be aware that the finish scratches easily. If it is really powder coating as they claim, it is the thinnest coating I have ever seen. If a Burbur carpet could scratch the finish it is not powder coating. Most of the welded corners are ground down flush and only a few are not perfect. You really have to get close to see it.

And my big gripe? There was welding spatter in one of the bolt holes. This caused difficulty in getting the bolt in. I couldn't. A tap was needed to clear it out. The threads are 8mm 1.25 for the record. And yes it is made in China.

One last great feature I have never seen in a wooden stand is that the feet are adjustable. This is great! Just put a level on the stand and you can make it perfect! It does not matter if your floor is not perfectly level.

This is an incredibly great product. Assembly and set up was very easy and all the necessary tools (an Allen/hexagonal wrench) are supplied. Finish of the product pieces was perfect and, contrary to experience/claim of another reviewer, the finish was not subject to incidental damage. On top of its attractive modern design, this stand is incredibly strong and should easily be able to support 800 lbs. (Typical 55 gallon set up is about 600 lbs. not including the stand.) Feet are adjustable, so if your floor is not perfectly level, no problem! (This is a feature I have never seen in a competitive acquarium stand product.) And the price can't be beat!

What could be bad about this? Well maybe you don't like the metal construction or color, preferring something wooden. Or maybe you don't like the open design, wanting a cabinet where you can hide your equipment from site below the tank without using skirting material.

But when it comes to strength and functional utility, this actually may be the best 55 gallon acquarium stand that money can buy.

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This product was packed and shipped by Petco. There were places on the product where the paint had been rubbed off. Would suggest to Petco to place bubble wrap around pieces to avoid the paint from rubbing off. Easy to put together. The stand is very high and really shows off the aquarium. Over all very pleased with product

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Looks great I love the clean look and this is a strong table that goes great with the look in my home

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This stand holds my 55 gal. aquarium well enough. However, I'd be lying if I said I'm not the slightest bit disappointed. My stand came with some defects. Firstly, one of the bolt holes was stripped. None of the bolts would tighten up into that top hole, which supports the top piece. It was quite aggravating, enough that I even considered taking it back to my local Petco and getting my money back, but it didn't come to that. With a little tape placed around the bolt, I was able to screw it in so that it wasn't as loose, and I felt that was sufficient enough.

After I got it together and set my 55 gallon tank on it did the real problem surface. There is a huge gap in the center of the tank between the tank itself and the stand. I mean, I can see through this gap and to my wall on the other side! A tank that is expected to hold roughly 650 pounds of water needs every inch of its base fully supported by the stand, otherwise, the unevenness will put stress in odd places of the tank's base, causing leaks, possibly even cracks, or shattering the tank. To remedy this, I am going to buy a Styrofoam sheet from my local hardware store and place that under my tank to help properly support the base.

This stand is definitely not the highest of quality. But, I paid 75 bucks for something that successfully holds a 55 gal. aquarium full of water, but with a bit of help from Styrofoam. I can't really argue. All in all, I'm somewhat satisfied. It looks nice, and it has adjustable feet, which was a big plus for me, as my floors aren't quite level.

It's sturdy and it was a great buy either way. Just watch out for those bolts and the uneven surface.

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Thursday, April 3, 2014

Coralife Aqualight Dual Linear Strip T5 Aquarium Lighting Fixture

Coralife 05611 Aqualight Dual Linear Strip T5 Aquarium Lighting Fixture, 48-InchIt seems Coralife makes the only dual bulb enclosures for larger tanks that are reasonably affordable. The size is nice -a bit narrower than my single T8 lamp, and slightly lighter. The light output on these is much better than with the single T8 fixture. This works well with my 75Gallon aquarium... No issues, except that some of the T5 replacement bulbs (especially actinic) are not readily available from amazon, nor my local big-box pet stores. Please note that the description on amazon is incorrect, as there are no fans on Coralife dual lamp fixtures. This is just the saltwater version of the 05620 dual light fixture (actinic and 10K bulbs vs. 6.7K and floralife bulbs).

I found the Aqualight to be a perfect addition to my 55 gallon freshwater community tank. It's actinic blue bulb combined with it's 10,000k daylight bulb really show off my fishes beautiful colors, while also bringing my decorations to life. The dual 28 watt bulbs(this isn't a High Output fixture)provide plenty of power for my live plants to grow nicely as well. The cost of all this goodness is also as good as it gets for a dual light fixture, making this light a true bargain. Its size is also a good thing, allowing you to place two together(one in front of the other) on a 55 gallon tank, doubling the light output for less than others charge for a single dual lamp unit. You can also mix and match the T5 bulbs available to get the effect your looking for. From what I've seen, you can get actinic, 6,700k daylight, 10,000k mid day daylight, and a "color enhancing" bulb as well--a nice selection. All told, this is a well made, low cost solution for anyone wanting better quality light than their old single tube T8's fixtures can provide, for less cash than said fixture. Highly recommended!

P.S. Someone on here claimed that finding non H.O. T5 lamps was difficult. All you have to do is google it and plenty of fish stores pop up that sell them. A little research goes a long way :-)

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The biggest thing I want to point out is that the picture is very misleading. The picture shows individual switches for bulbs, for this particular fixture does not have, please be aware.

+ The price is amazing for this great fixture including two bulbs

+ Very slim and sleek, much smaller than the picture and about an inch tall and two inches wide

+ It comes with both bulbs!

+ Runs very cool

+ Name brand

+ Extensions are nice for an open top setup

Only has one switch for the entire fixture

Acrylic instead of glass lens, which falls out easily

Extensions fall out easily with nothing to hold them in, but are easily removed

I have not used this over coral yet, it is sitting atop a spare 20 gal that I should have set up soon, updates pending. This is an excellent light I would recommend for any shallow reef or FOWLR tank setup.

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I bought this light to add some suplemental lighting to my 75 gallon tank. Since it is a 48" long tank, it is difficult to find a light fixture at a decent price. This one was perfect. It is much smaller than the T8 tank that I had on my tank. I also think it is brighter than that one. I looked into buying new bulbs for the T8, but it was only slightly more to purchase this one than it was to replace the bulbs for my existing fixture. It it nice to have something smaller on the top of my tank.

I was a little worried after buying this fixture because of the price compared to some of the lights available on the market. I have been completely pleased with this light. I have been using it for over 6 months now and it has never given me so much as an issue. For the price, it doesn't cost that much more than buying two replacement bulbs and it came with both a white and actinic. If you are looking for a fixture to put on your tank at an affordable price, then this is the light that you need.

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As other reviewers said, this light fixture makes my 55g look like a show tank. The colors of my neon dwarf rainbows have NEVER looked so vibrant. The green [live] plants practically "pop" out at you. I am incredibly impressed. I also very much like its low profile. On the down side -also as other reviewers have said -until Amazon does a better job of packing this item, you're as likely as not to have it arrive broken. It arrived both times in a too-big box where it was allowed to rattle around during shipping. I returned the first [broken] one immediately and had the replacement in just a couple of days. Somehow, the second one didn't break. Nonetheless, be ready just in case to return a broken one.

Update: After almost exactly nine months, this light fixture has fizzled out. Not burned out bulbs. The transformer-thingy [sorry] is dead. While is wasn't horribly expensive, I expected to last a bit longer than this. It's on a timer and runs/ran 13 hours per day.

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Saturday, March 22, 2014

Aqueon AQE40203 T5 Dual Strip Lighting Hoods for Aquarium, 48-Inch

Aqueon AQE40203 T5 Dual Strip Lighting Hoods for Aquarium, 48-InchSlim design. Uses standard T5 bulbs, not the high output ones...great, less electricity. I didn't realize how dark my old single bulb fixture was until I plugged this in.

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Sunday, March 16, 2014

SunSun JVP-201 1585 gph Dual Aquarium Circulation Pump Wavemaker Powerhead

SunSun JVP-201 1585 gph Dual Aquarium Circulation Pump Wavemaker PowerheadJust got my 2 sunsun jvp-201 in ,,put them in tge tank just to check it out .don't have my wavemaker controller in so I just plugged them up ,let just say thay can move some water! very quite ,the only sound was the water im impressed have had way more expense pumps that did not work even close to this one.

This pump is awesome! Seller was right of backing it's name on this pump, I chose this pump over the JVP-202. Yes, 202 was a very powerful pump but the suction cups holding it kept on dislocating which obviously cannot hold the pump's power. This JVP-201 though came with a very nice suction holder which also is a very powerful pump that circulates all the water in my 75 gal tank. Make no mistakes in trying out other expensive brands and go with this pump as it really is the one you're looking for. SunSun JVP-201 1585 gph Dual Aquarium Circulation Pump Wavemaker Powerhead

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I will start off by saying that I am not hard to please and never really write a review if a product does half of what they will say it will do.... these pumps are cheap and that's what I expected (cheap pumps).

I have a wave controller that turns on pump on while turning the other pump off. These pumps left alone would probably be fine, but they vibrate like crazy when being turned on, I thought I could deal with this until I woke up the next morning and both pumps were shaking so bad it looked like an epileptic seizure. I proceeded to turn the pumps off and give them one more chance (because I loved the price_), but I must say "these pumps are slated for a quick return".

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Dont waste you money. Not only is the SUPER LOUD, will drive you crazy but the adapters that go on the end, that allow you to change the direction fall off. No matter how hard you push them on ( of course the simple thing would be to screw on ) they get shot across the tank.

You get what you pay for !!!!

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Thursday, February 20, 2014

Danner 02399 Floating Pond Thermometer

Danner 02399 Floating Pond ThermometerRemember when you had to keep turning a thermometer to finally see the temp? Well, on this one, start spinning. And when you can get the blue temp to show up...better hope you are on the Celsius side of the world, cause if you want to see Fahrenheit, you won't be able to see the first number. They have 5 pictures up and the only temps you can see are the numbers on the Celsius side...I should have been more observant of those pictures. I put a knife in to spin the tube, but I still could not see the whole Fahrenheit number.

The inside where the thermometer sits seems a little to sharp on the edges to put in my pond with my Koi fish. But the way they stare at me with those "feed me puppy dog eyes"....I just had to know when the pond gets above 50 FAHRENHEIT so I can start feeding them. After that I will throw this thing away.

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Saturday, February 1, 2014

Marina Slim Filter Carbon Plus Ceramic Cartridge - 3-Pack

Marina Slim Filter Carbon Plus Ceramic Cartridge - 3-PackThese filter cartridges work well. They have a good amount of Carbon in them and trap a bunch of dirt.

Don't replace them all at the same time. Even thought the sponge on the intake holds a large colony of beneficial bacteria, a lot resides in the filters as well. So give it a couple weeks between replacing each cartridge.

When I purchased this, it was $5 per pack (free standard shipping). It looks like it is now a Prime item, but the price has gone up to over $6 (still not extremely expensive considering they need to be changed about once every 2 weeks). The product itself works great, and fits the filter for the tank I purchased. So far no complaints.

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These filters are perfect for small fish tanks. If you use as instructed the water will not become murky. I change one every week, which always keeps a new one in there. Amazon has them for a better price than my local pet supply store. Highly recommend!

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My filter uses four filters...these are packaged with three filters. Since the company says to never change all filters at once, I purchased two packages to change two filters three times.

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The entire system is so amazingly easy! I highly recommend the filter works great, very quiet, very low current (and changeable) which is important for my Killies!! Awesome product, and so cheap!

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Friday, January 17, 2014

Nano Reef Coral Food - 0.35 oz. - 10 g

Nano Reef Coral Food - 0.35 oz. - 10 gThis stuff is ground into a finer powder than Coral Frenzy. This is neither a plus nor a minus -it's up to you to feed your coral species an appropriate food particle size.

When I feed my tank with this, my palythoa close up on it and brittlestars and things start waving their legs around to capture it -so I can only assume they like it. I've had this food for several months, unrefrigerated, and it doesn't stink so it seems to be shelf-stable. Don't get me wrong, you can definitely smell it even when brand new... it just doesn't reek.

I don't know how scientifically nutritous it is, but my tank is doing well after several months of using it, so that's good enough for me.

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Saturday, January 11, 2014

CoralVue Technology BH-1000 Octopus with External 1000 Pump for Aquarium Filter, 100-Gallon

CoralVue Technology BH-1000 Octopus with External 1000 Pump for Aquarium Filter, 100-GallonI just finished putting this skimmer together and placed it on my 37 gallon column aquarium. First of all the positives. This skimmer is very quiet for a hob protein skimmer. I have my aquarium right next to my couch, and it doesn't distract from watching television. Very little microbubbles are released back into my aquarium, which should get even better with time. Since my aquarium is newly setup with no organisms yet, there is nothing to skim. However, there is a storm of bubbles in the skimmer column, and I know that this will do its job well when the time comes. And finally the pump doesn't sit inside the tank, saving you space and preventing excess heat entering your aquarium. You also don't have to worry about wandering anemones or small fish getting sucked up by this powerful pump.

Now onto the negatives. If you are unfamiliar with how skimmers work, you might have trouble putting this together. Mainly the included directions are to blame, which are very little help to the user. Be sure that your o-rings are placed properly and the seals are screwed tight. Fill the skimmer with water before putting it in place and turning on, to check for leaks. The surface skimmer sits very low in the aquarium and if you like to fill your tank to the brim, the surface skimmer will not skim from the surface. Half an inch higher and it would be perfect.

Overall I'm very impressed with this skimmer, but there's a worry in the back of my mind that I'll come home to a wet floor.

This is my first skimmer (Efficiently speaking), It is a little bit difficult to adjust properly buy if you simply observe, there is no problem.

I installed it, started the engine and moved sand sediments on my Tank and immediately i saw how the organic matter was expelled by the bubbles.

The major problem was the assembly as it did not include a manual installation or use. ONLY It just comes with a sheet with the explosive party. It was very useful to watch videos on sites like assembly on youtube for this model or the BH2000.

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As soon as I bought this and put it together it started leaking from the connections. When I tightened it, the connector broke. Then the impeller packed it in. The seller was defensive and difficult. His response was "well nobody else seems to have these problems", and threatened to start adding on restocking charges if I left a bad review.

The distributor was nice enough, and they sent replacement parts but the unit still leaked. They eventually sent me a new pump, but that leaked too. 6 weeks later I finally cut my losses. It's now a boat anchor and it's on Craigslist AS IS. Went out and bought an AquaC Remora which was up and running in under an hour.

I bought this because it has good reviews. I apparently got a lemon, but in all honesty, there are just way too many pieces. Too many O rings, joints, connectors to break. This thing was cracking when I was assembling it. And I'm supposed to take it apart on a regular basis to clean it? Forget it. I wouldn't trust this not to leak all over my expensive wood flooring.

The only reason I gave it one star, was because for the 3 hours it did manage to work, it was skimming pretty good before it started leaking again.

Read Best Reviews of CoralVue Technology BH-1000 Octopus with External 1000 Pump for Aquarium Filter, 100-Gallon Here

We just purchased this skimmer from a local pet shop. Within ten minutes of getting it running it was pulling stuff out of my water column. I have had skimmers before and this one rocks. I had a 55 gallon, but had to sell that one. Everybody told us for a 30 gallon just do water changes. My nitrates are always a little high, even with weekly water changes. I am hoping this will improve my water quality. Happy shopping!

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I am using the BH-1000 skimmer on my 75 Gallon tank and it works great. I am also impressed at how well the "defoaming divice" works at preventing micro bubbles. It produces skim well and as far as performance and construction it's the best skimmer I have ever owned.

The only complaint I have is the intructions are lacking but thanks to the pluthera of You Tube videos on most Reef Octopus Skimmers this wasnt much of an issue.

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