Showing posts with label saltwater fish species. Show all posts
Showing posts with label saltwater fish species. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Lixit Corporation DLX0686 No Drip Dog Top-Fill Water Bottle, 44-Ounce

Lixit Corporation DLX0686 No Drip Dog Top-Fill Water Bottle, 44-OunceJust received it this evening, followed set up directions and it started leaking before I could even finish filling it up. I emailed the Lixit company customer service department and actually received a response back almost immediately AND the customer service rep was actually on vacation...now THAT is service!!! She suggested to dismantal the tube parts and reassemble and it works perfectly now. Because this company uses USA Adults with Disabilities to assemble this product, there is a chance that some are assembled incorrectly (not machine assembled)...I love that they employ these U.S. individuals...so it is worth it to have the fix myself in a matter of a few minutes to support companies like this!

The bottle itself seems to work well--no drips unless something is pushing the stopper ball around. I got it because my dog is a very sloppy water drinker and doesn't seem to swallow his last gulps--just drools it all over the floor. Raising the bowl helped some, I thought this bottle might eliminate the problem. But it's more like a tease of water for him than a drink. If I push the stopper ball in and hold it there with my finger, than it becomes more than a trickle of water--but the dog can't do that and drink at the same time. So, for him, it's just a tease--he keeps licking the ball and getting tiny drops of water, but I think he'd have to be there for 20 minutes to get a real drink! Maybe if he learned when he was younger? Anyway, in case someone else is looking at this bottle as a solution for the same problem, thought I'd let you know that the bottle itself works--but it didn't work out for us!

Update--my sister (who is more experienced with dogs than I am) opined that the dog could very well be getting more water than it seemed. She said dogs don't get very much by lapping water up, either. It apparently just seems like they do. Anyway--she convinced me to give the bottle another chance, and to note how much the dog actually consumed by paying attention to how much water was missing, not how much dripped at any time from the spout. So I tried again. The dog laid down and seemed to be quite happy licking the spout, so I left her there. In two minutes, he'd punctured both the side and the top of the bottle. So, I learned this bottle is not for big chewers. Now I'm looking for a glass bottle. Sigh......

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This "No Drip" bottle is FALSE ADVERTISING, either that or I got a bad bottle. I must say, if it had worked...I would have no problem giving this product 5 stars because it is so versatile in the fact it can attach to the outside or inside of the cage with out any tools to assemble. The snap in feature allows you to place the water bottle anywhere in the cage and you can pivot the bottle to whichever angle you choose. The flip top cap only makes it that much more convenient rather than taking it off a metal stand or unscrewing the ball point cap to refill. However, all these great features are USELESS when the bottle will not stop dripping! I just received the bottle and immediately put it up, I thought I would give it a little time to seal off the water from coming out though it's not suppose to have a problem because it does not operate like the other vacuum ball point dispensers. Well one drenched towel and whole bottle of water later....still dripping. I'm being patient here, so I gave it a run again. Filling the bottle up and placing a glass cup to catch the water drips. A few hours have gone by and the dripping is still happening. I don't suppose this is normal.

Update: I have been contacted by the seller, they apologized and had notified me they would send a new bottle...never received a replacement.

Read Best Reviews of Lixit Corporation DLX0686 No Drip Dog Top-Fill Water Bottle, 44-Ounce Here

I have never had a bottle that lived up to it's claims. This bottle meets and exceeds them. No more worries about a bottle leaking. Works perfectly every time you fill it. And because it doesn't work on vacuum, it never needs to be cleaned. Dirty water never gets pulled back up into the tube. Lixit is awesome for coming up with this.

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Well, I do have to agree with the other reviewers claiming this thing leaks. The first time I added water, there was a steady drip. I was actually very close to returning it, when i decided to mess around with it a little. What I found was, you have to be VERY careful when tightening the water dispensing end. It turns out I over tightened it initially. I backed the end off a bit and all of the sudden...PERFECTION. Doesn't leak a drop now. I knocked a star off because this obviously should have been stated in the directions on the packaging. My Lab pup picked up on how it works almost immediately. All in all, im satisfied with my purchase.

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Sunday, September 28, 2014

Aqueon 06227 Siphon Vacuum Aquarium Gravel Cleaner Extender

Aqueon 06227 Siphon Vacuum Aquarium Gravel Cleaner ExtenderFirst of all I thought this vacuum was going to be great because of the telescoping feature, well, when you try to stick the end in the gravel, the telescoped part just goes right back into the tube, and when you do manage to get it in the gravel, it just sucks up an entire tube-ful of it and then doesn't pick up anything else, and the gravel won't come out. I had to stop the siphon, and get the gravel out, then restart it again, and immediately the tube filled up with gravel again.

Howdy folks:

I do not recommend this product. it picks gravel up and they get stuck in the end. constantly having to pick rocks out of siphon. will work good for changing water though.

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Friday, September 26, 2014

Air-Pod Aquarium up to 30 Gallons Air Pump

Air-Pod Aquarium up to 30 Gallons Air PumpI bought this airpump to use with my 10gallon quarantine/hospital tank and can honestly say it's super quiet. So quiet in fact that I can only hear the pump when my ear is about 3-5 inches from the unit. The unit is also extremely powerful. I have it connected to a Airtech Gang Valve 4 outlets running 2 separate lines. One connected to a 1" airstone and the second connected to a 12" bubble bar and with the gang valve fully open it's a hurricane inside the aquarium. Of course by adjusting the gang valve I can get the exact flow I want. Nice design, quiet and powerful. What more can you ask for in an aquarium airpump (NADA)? I would definitely recommend this pump to anyone wanting silent and powerful operation.

I bought this air pump that is labeled for use with up to 30 gallon tanks. I have a 10 gallon and this pump does not have enough air pressure to run a 5" bubble stone! It is quiet--maybe because it is doing so little!!!

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Thursday, September 18, 2014

Green Killing Machine Internal 24 Watts UV Sterilizer with Power Head

Green Killing Machine Internal 24 Watts UV Sterilizer with Power HeadI have a 50 Gal Tank, with a variety of community fish appx 20 fish total, i have 2 snails, and a pleco. the tank is filtered by Fluval 305.

When i first set the tank up it was great, water couldnt be clearer. over time, it would accumulate floating algae (ALOT),so much algae that you could not see any of the fish, or any of the ornaments, and i would be doing anywhere from 20% to 50% water changes every week or every other week because it would get so bad, and sometimes the water changes would have very little to no effect on slowing down the algae growth. i DID NOT want to try chemicals because i find alot of people say that it just stresses out the fish, and i didnt want to try chemical treatment also because i didnt like the idea of having it in the water. so i started doing some research on how to make the situation better. i saw alot of diffrent styles of UV sterilizers (more expensive in MOST cases) and the fact that you need to buy/or already have a power head for them was not helping the situation financially. i came across AA's product and read a dozen reviews or so, where 9 out of 10 were positive.

i really love the fact that it is self contained, has it's own pump, filter, and UV light.. the instructions lack quality images and is a bit cumbersome to follow at first, but when you sit down and actually just look at the image of the unit on the box, you can figure out how to put it together yourself. the reason i bought the (24W) unit is because i felt that i had maybe a worse case than usual algae problem because there is sunlight from 2 windows hitting the tank (by the way, i tried cutting the light out of the tank, did not work)

Setup took literally 10 min, from out of the box to running in the tank, and was NO HASSLE at all. the first 24 hrs or so, i didn't really see a difference. then at 48 hrs i started to see like a milky but clearer situation in the tank, at the end of the third day, things were looking good but not perfect yet, finally on ONLY the 4th day, i can see not only the fish and ornaments, but straight through to the back of the tank!. i feel that this product works Extremely Efficiently and is a must have for anyone with algae/bacteria problems. the money i used to buy this product was very well spent, and i don't think there is a better unit within the price range to beat this. i can expect that in the next few days or so the water WILL BE clearer than tap water (ive read in reviews that its actually clearer than bottled water), i am very much looking forward to this.

i would give this product 10 stars out of 5 , that is how much i love it. it works great, IS QUIET (cant hear it AT ALL), and is very easy to set up. Would recommend to Everyone with an aquarium

With no UV sterilizer installed I have insane algae issues with my turtle tank. Think Shamrock Shake. A full water change and this Green Killing Machine installed and there's no sign of algae developing 2 weeks in. It's in a 75 gallon tank. I like that it lives inside the tank, so there's no potential for leaking. The setup they have to power the UV lamp and the included powerhead from one AC adapter is pretty spiffy. I replaced a leaking 15W Pentair Lifeguard with this, and it's 24W vs the Pentair's 15W, for half the cost.

It's toy-like product name and low price had me a little dubious of its quality, but so far its living up to it's title.

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Keeping fish for the past 40 years and experimeting with U.V Sterilizers for the past seven my read on them is that tanks fitted with the right sized unit is a definite plus. What had put me off about UV systems was the need for pumps, tubing , plumbing and the overall hassle of installing them .

This unit includes the pump requires no hoses or tubing to run and nothing extra to buy you can literally take this out of the box, attach inside your tank or sump, plug it in and that's that.

Regarding the selling of UV in general there is far to much emphasis on green algae. Removing algae is little more than a side benefit. What UV does extremely well is remove disease causing pathogens and harmful bacteria from the water. Especially important in well stocked tanks. What U. V sterilizers do is pull in water which flows past an encased in clear quartz tube and is exposed to UV light, which kills up to 99% of harmful pathogens. So more important than GPH or anything else for that matter is the exposure time with which water passes by the UV bulb.

I think marketing this as a "Green Killing Machine" is probably a smart idea and would get the attention of hobbyists who otherwise could give a hoot about the other benefits of UV. However if your algae is due to things like too much full spectrum light, over feeding or poor water water parameters this is just a bandaid that will only at it's best disguise the real and significant problems facing your aquarium.

What is more, this unit a incedibly cumbersome three seperate components and a myraid of wires both inside and outside the tank make this a potentially dangerous product for fish as well as humans. Much like the spiral design of the Coral Life systems, the zig zag interior of this system employs this same kind of theory in design to add as much exposure time to the UV and in my book that trumps GPG ratings which are usually false to begin with. However, this isn't to say GPH isn't important of course it is and this is also the key area of this design that's lacking.

The MFG doesn't list the GPH because it's so terribly low. Using a Hach instrumentation flow meter which works on sound waves and runs about 3 grand this pump has a flow rate of 11.2 GHP which is unacceptable for any size tank even though the unit contains a whopping 24 watt UV lamp. In addition remember UV can't penetrate glass without being diluted hence, quartz fashioned into a true lens is used as housing. Because the unit is effective although extremly slow my best guess is fused glass is used. Fused glass is a combination of quartz and glass and is a fraction of the cost of pure quartz. To replace the cover of the included 24 watt bulb with pure quartz at a rock bottom price would cost you $65-$75

The enormous tangle of wires and having the control box outside on the wall or back of the tank is an accident waiting to happen not to mention, the suction cups used on the outside are weak and the unit falls off frequently. They call this "child proofing" -and it's nonsense. Any child is going to be more inclined to pull something off the tank that's just sitting there than figure out a way to get their hands into the aquarium.

Take a pass on this particular unit until they at least address it's many flaws.

** Never use a UV Sterilizer in a new or still cycling aquarium, these are for established aquariums only Plus you don't need to run UV 24/7 twelve hours a day or less is fine for most applications. It's a good idea to plug the unit into a dedicated power strip or use with a timer since these don't have an on/off switch**

** You can increase the efficiency of any UV Steelier, your filter and the overall health of your tank by adding a small water circulator. If you don't need a power head these are ideal. The keep the current in your tank even and eliminate cold and hot spots. The temperature will be uniform. The current keeps particulate matter waterborne making it easier for things like filters and UV systems to do a better job. Brown algae and green algae spores are poor swimmers, the current helps keep them from attaching to tank walls and sides and off any ornaments, dried corals, rocks and so on.

I recommend the ones by Aqueon they're silent, do a great job, install right out of the box and are a fraction of the cost of most others.

Read Best Reviews of Green Killing Machine Internal 24 Watts UV Sterilizer with Power Head Here

My 120 gallon tank gets a good bit of natural light. I set it up in October and about 2 months later the water went from clear to slime green in a couple days. I couldn't see an inch into the tank. I did some research, but decided with the natural light that it would probably come back, so I got the green killing machine and hoped for the best. My water cleared up about a day after putting it in the tank and has stayed clear!

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Sure it clears the water. Help get rid of things like ich? Doubt it natural supplements like garlic have been the trick for me. Another reviewer mentioned the cables, yeah they are a little messy. The suction cups on the powerbox stink, they hold for about 3 hours on clean glass. The suction cups on the unit itself do not hold at all. I have this in my refugium and its not mounted because it wont stay mounted... Clean the sponge/prefilter often. It does clear up green water /excessive algae but i didnt have a problem with that anyway. A friend had turned me on to this as he had problem algae and this did great work in a matter of days. Water changes and good husbandry would do the same though... I wouldnt buy this again but i wouldnt discourage you from buying it since it is available at the major pet store chains and replacement parts/units are available and its cheap.

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Saturday, September 6, 2014

Fish Mate Pump Service Kit for 600 Pump

Fish Mate Pump Service Kit for 600 PumpThis Service Kit contains everything you need to rebuild and replace the worn out parts it needs to restore it's function. All parts were in the kit and they all fit exactly as thet were designed for. This kit restored the pump to a level of performance that had been forgotten as to how well it performed. It is well worth the cost to rebuild the pump as compared to replacement. Highly recommended.

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Thursday, August 28, 2014

Loving Pets Dolce Dish Dog Bowl, Medium, 1 Quart, Murano

Loving Pets Dolce Dish Dog Bowl, Medium, 1 Quart, MuranoThis bowl is not very heavy like the last stainless steel bowl that I had. That's a good thing! My dog is only 22 lbs. No reason to have a bowl that weighs half her weight when there is a rubber removable band around the bottom to prevent movement. The paw prints are a dark brown which looks better than if they would be the typical black color. Seems like sturdy plastic and looks really nice.

WE USE THIS BOWL FOR THE PUPPYZX WATER DISH SO THEREZ NO MUSTAKIN WAT GOEZ IN IT OR WHOSE DISH IS WHOSE

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It was bigger than I thought but looks great with the rest of my dog stuff really keeps the water cold

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Great design, easy to wash and doesn't slide on a kitchen floor because of the rubber on the bottom. Bought two, one for water and another for food. For medium size dogs.

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I know it's tough to judge a dog bowl, but these are really great. Lightweight but sturdy, and the rubberized bottom is perfect for keeping them in place. Both of our dogs love them.

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Thursday, August 14, 2014

Jungle BB730W Bowl Buddies Water up to 2-Gallon, 8-Tablet

Jungle BB730W Bowl Buddies Water up to 2-Gallon, 8-TabletWhen I found out PetSmart used these, I had to have them! When I started using them, my bettas more more healthy than ever! My blue male betta made a bubble nest in his tank, THANKS SO MUCH!

My Beta fish loves Bowl Buddies! As soon as I drop one in, he swims over the fizzing action as though he is in a jacuzzi! It is obvious that he really enjoys it! I have used the fizz tabs for years now and my fish is healthy and happy.

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I ran out of the normal water conditioner I used, I so I went to my local Petco and found Bowl Buddies. I decided to give the product a try and took it home, followed all of the directions exactly as they were written, and placed my fish back into his bowl. I've had my betta, Achilles, for almost two years and he was always completely healthy. He was dead 24 hours later. I think it is safe to assume why I will not be purchasing Bowl Buddies anytime soon.

Read Best Reviews of Jungle BB730W Bowl Buddies Water up to 2-Gallon, 8-Tablet Here

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Zilla Day White Light Incandescent Spot Bulb

Zilla 09925 Day White Light Incandescent Spot Bulb, 75-WattMine burnt out after about 6 weeks. I will try it again. I have my lights on timers. If it burns out again, I can get my money back. I got it at the pet store.

Great price, packaging, and product. I would recommend them as it is a 75% savings over pet store prices. I will be shopping here again.

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I have gone through about 5 of these bulbs since march, the black lights from zilla are pretty good but the white lights just burn out after 2-6weeks.

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It fit our needs for all of two weeks. I have never had a light burn out so quickly. I do not recommend this light at all I would give it zero stars if that was an option. A complete waste of money.

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Purchased this thinking good buy, WRONG it burned out after about 2 weeks. Waste of money...DO NOT PURCHASE, buy at your own risk

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Thursday, July 3, 2014

Aquatop Zen Nano Glass Aquarium Fish Tank ZN-3G Black 2.6 Gallons

Aquatop Zen Nano Glass Aquarium Fish Tank ZN-3G Black 2.6 GallonsStunning little tank, with quality glass body & glass lid. Filter is literally noiseless and comes with bio-media. filter compartments can be filled with other material as needed. LED light produces a nice slightly cool blue-ish tone. Light will need to be upgraded if you intend to keep live plants or corals, which you'd expect to do at this price point.

Overall, you cant beat the quality and look of this tank especially when comparing to other brands similar sized tanks.

I didn't buy the tank from amazon, but I really like this tank that I feel I should write something here (since no review is available yet).

My betta fish originally lived in an one-gallon plastic hexagon tank TOM Mini Hex 1gal Aquarium Kit with UGF, Air Pump without using the air pump. I change water twice a week, but he was still sick. He had rotted and split fin (got worse everyday), body was pale and eyes were dull. I went to an aquarium store, the owner gave me some Thailand herb for the fish, and told me that the fish needs to have warm water (like 78-80F)... However, even the smallest tank heater requires at least 2 gallon of water. That's why I decided to buy this tank. This tank comes with built-in filtration system, bio-balls, ceramic rings, glass lid and LED lighting. The set up is pretty simple. The only thing is that the water flow is a bit too strong for betta fish. I use a piece of plastic sheet, fold it and slide into where the water comes out to redirect the water flow, my betta is very happy and energetic now. Glass tank looks much better than plastic one. I put some plants too, and the water seems very clean all the time (compare to my old setup). You may consider adding filter foam to remove the dust and debris or also adding a nitrate remover pad to eliminate brown algae.

This heater works very well with this tank: Hydor THEO Submersible Aquarium Heater 25W UL

I also bought this: Marina Floating Thermometer with Suction Cup

BTW, the Thailand herb really works for betta, but I don't see anyone selling it online. If you google "Thailand enhancing herb for Betta plakats fighting fish", you may see what it is..

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Sunday, June 29, 2014

Snoozer- Luxury Sofa Pet Bed - Large / Memory Foam

Snoozer Memory Foam Luxury Pet Sofa, Large, HerringboneI bought the bed for my Standard Poodle because she is showing some signs of age and stiffness. I put her new bed in the spot her old bed was and her old bed in a location near the new one just to see if she really liked the bed. She laid in the new bed as soon as it got out of the box. In the first week, she laid in her old one a couple of times, but now she sleeps, sits, chews her bone in the new bed every time she needs a spot to lay down. With her old bed, which was one of those cheaper beds with sides and about two inches thick, she hardly would use the bed except to look out the window. I usually found her in my bed if she really wanted to sleep. With the new bed, she even sleeps in the bed at night when I go to bed (she used to always sleep in the bedroom or on the bed at bedtime). She loves her new bed. On top of that, she is limping less. Well worth the money, in my opinion. Her old bed was a cheap bed that you can find in any pet store (cost about $40 for a large one). At our old house, she never used the old bed until we moved, and I believe the only reason she used it then was because it was the most comfortable spot to sit and look out the window. Like I said, she uses the new bed even at night which tells me she prefers it over my bed! Since the purchase of the bed, I have found her in my bed one time and that was a day after purchase. She is eight years old and still very active, but I decided to go ahead and buy this bed because she started limping more on her left front. She has always had occasional problems with the foot and usually overcame the problem on her own, but recently the problem has not gone away without the use of joint tablets. Even with the tablets she still limped a little bit especially in the morning so I purchased the Snoozer Memory Foam Luxury Pet Sofa. She now moves freely. Yes I still have to give her joint tablets but the bed has made all the difference for her and her comfort level. Snoozer Memory Foam Luxury Pet Sofa, Large, Buckskin

My 10 year old lab is starting to show signs of arthritis and recently had a leg injury ACL tear. I got him this bed and he LOVES it!! Our whole family laughs at how much time he spends in this bed instead of laying around the house. It is very clear he is so much more comfortable. He would only lay down in his old beds sometimes. We love seeing how happy he is with his new bed. (we also started the condroiton/glucosimine chewables and it's clear between the bed and joint meds our dog is much happier.

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they got my address wrong and i never saw it. bad experience and they did not follow up! would have loved it for my old girl!

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The bed was exactly what we wanted and matched the description. My children even want to use it as a chair!

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Have a German Shepherd with Mega Esophagus. I got this sofa for her so she can lay down and keep her head elevated on the bolstered sides..

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Thursday, June 5, 2014

Ethical Skinneeez Exotic Birds Cat Toy, Assorted

Ethical Skinneeez Exotic Birds Cat Toy, AssortedMy little girls love these, it's my second order!! They are easy to bite and carry around in their mouths, and they look so cute throwing them up in the air!! Get these...really!

My male cat (1 year old) LOVES this toy. He has two other Skinneeez birds, a duck and a chicken, as well as a rabbit and a skunk and he is crazy about all of them. They are very lightweight because the bodies don't have stuffing in them, so they are perfect for carrying around. I don't know if it's the braided legs, the catnip inside, or the general style of these toys, but my cat is crazy for them. He plays with them constantly and they've held up very well to his abuse. I will definitely buy more of these. I only wish that I could specifically order the ostrich for him because he already has the flamingo!

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My kitten and cat don't really care for these cat toys, even with sprayed with catnip oil. I think they're super-cute though.

Read Best Reviews of Ethical Skinneeez Exotic Birds Cat Toy, Assorted Here

Monday, May 26, 2014

Aquatic Life Light T5 HO 2-Lamp Link Marine Aquarium Light, 48-Inch

Aquatic Life Light T5 HO 2-Lamp Link Marine Aquarium Light, 48-InchI have been using 2 of these over my 55 gallon reef tank for more than a year now and I can grow anything! The reflectors are great and really focus the light down into the tank. The included bulbs are crap so make sure to replace them with quality ones (ATI, Geissman, etc.) I'm growing SPS corals 18" below the surface with these fixtures.

Decided to add the 2 bulb to my 75 gallon setup. I bought the Aquatic Life Light T5 HO 4-Lamp 4-Lunar Aquarium Light, 48-Inch with Timer for $334.54 and it's a Rock Star of lights. Decided to add the 2 bulb to that awesome 4 bulb fixture thinking I would get the same quality. For the record I also bought their 200GPD RO system which is also incredible.

So I think to myself this 4 bulb unit is an awesome light I should add the 2 bulb to augment it. Looks the same must be the same quality cool.

It's NOT. This 2 bulb fixture is ridiculously cheaply constructed in comparison. You have to take the thing apart to install the feet and the shield. So to clean the shield you have to remove the side cover (4 screws). However, that's not really a problem since the SHIELD won't STAY IN THE FIXTURE. They used such thin aluminum in this light that it is flexible like thin cardboard. There are no midbraces to the center of the light cover and it flexes outwards due to the thinness of the metal and the shield falls out and hangs into the tank.

Legs are cheap, difficult to install also require the removal of the side cover, and the unit is so lightweight that one false move and it's off the tank or horrors in the tank...

the 10k bulb is is very yellow weird almost like a FW plant light.

Aquatic Life should pull this off the market and redesign it into something higher quality and keep the price the same.

However I would recommend this item http://www.amazon.com/Aquatic-Life-4-Lunar-Aquarium-48-Inch/dp/B0030VD4OU/ref=pd_sim_sbs_petsupplies_6

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This isn't a knock on the product, but please be wary when you purchase these kind of light fixtures online two of the last three I've ordered have arrived with at least one shattered bulb, and anything fragile shipped via UPS usually turns into bad news for me. This isn't universal to buying online, when I buy bulbs at my local fish store the first one I inspect is often in pieces, but at least locally you can get a good one before leaving the store.

Despite arriving with a broken bulb, it was packaged better than some of the non-HO T5 units I've had shipped to me. The bulbs were wrapped in plastic, which made it easy to clean up (I didn't have to go fishing to make sure I'd gotten every piece of glass out of there), and the bulbs had a few small pieces of styrofoam wrapped around them for support (better than nothing).

The plastic lens cover as they call it has plastic you have to peel off of it on both sides to protect it, but after doing so I immediately noticed mine was dirty and a bit scratched up anyway. It's also a hair too long, when I re-attach the end cap you have to remove to slide the cover in, it keeps trying to pop out of the fixture.

The power cord is also too short, in my opinion. It's 2 meters (just over 6.5 feet), but fish tanks combined with their stands can be pretty tall, and this unit on my tank sits at over five feet up and I honestly don't like keeping surge protectors that close to my tanks. Obviously this can be solved with an extension cord.

The product also did not come with a manual or any instructions at all how to put it together. You can find one pretty easily at Aquatic Life's website, and this may have just been an oversight, but was definitely a little inconvenient.

Other than that, it's a basic T5 HO unit no timer (have my own anyway) or moonlights. But the thing that's honestly attractive about it is its price.

Read Best Reviews of Aquatic Life Light T5 HO 2-Lamp Link Marine Aquarium Light, 48-Inch Here

I bought this product in April and it's early September. I noticed last week one of the bulbs was not working. Bought the same AquaticLife Bulbs and it still didn't work. We tried them in another fixture and WOW!!! They worked. The light went out in just 6 months. AquaticLife said they have a 12 month warranty. I got ahold of them and this warranty was I pay the shipping there and back plus parts. This came up to what the light was brand new. In conclusion this is a bad choice. You get what you pay for and my livestock and me paid the price. A product that does not last 6 months is not safe for a costly reef setup and it could cause a huge loss of money as it did me. All I can do is tell you what happened to me and wouldn't wish this on anyone.

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Thursday, April 10, 2014

R2 Target Feeder for Fish

R2 Target Feeder for FishThe Target Feeder is great! I think more Aquarium Stores should have this in inventory. It allows me to feed some of my more shy fish easily without overfeeding the tank. I would recommend this to everyone.

Monday, April 7, 2014

Jardin Fish Tank Pond Bubble Release Sintered Air Stone Disk

Jardin Fish Tank Pond Bubble Release Sintered Air Stone DiskHave you ever just went to the fish store and spent 4.99-9.99 on one of these air stones just to come home and try to install it to have the nipple come off? Well I have, at least 4 times. When I got the item it was a little difficult to get out of the plastic, maybe that is why It wasn't broken when I went to install. This is a good big disc, and I just love the results with my Tetra 77853 Whisper Air Pump, 40-Gallon and Standard 3/16" Flexible Airline Tubing for Aquariums, 25 feet. So very happy, and it wasn't a dud. In fact it really surpasses my expectations. Gratitude!

Good fizz I hope that it last. I am ordering another one for my pond. The pond needs all the fizz I can give it.

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Friday, March 28, 2014

Finnex Temperature Controller Digital Heater

Finnex Temperature Controller Digital HeaterAfter years of submersible heaters with internal thermostats fail on me (multiple brands), I decided to spend the extra money to go with a heater controller and a titanium heater. Bottom line, it is worth the money to have a separate controller. I have tried the Jalli and the Finnex Digital contorllers and would recommend both. The advantage of the Finnex HC-810M is that it not only maintains the temperature to your set point but also displays the actual temperature and allows you to set high and low temperature alarm points. My first thought on the alarm points was that it made sense for the low point in case your heater failed but thought that a high alarm really didn't make much sense because the controller shouldn't allow the heater to heat up to that point unless the controller wasn't working. I later found out that the high alarm was helpful because I had a pump that started to heat the water up to the high limit. The heater wasn't on because the controller was working perfectly and the controller told me that there was a problem. Another thing to note, if you have had the same problems I've had with the regular submersible heaters, you don't have to throw away the heaters that are stuck on. You can use the heater controller with any heater as long as it doesn't exceed the rated wattage. If it has a thermostat of its own and you prefer to use the controller, just set the heater to the max temp. The only thing I would like for an improvement would be to have memory for the setpoints since you have to reset everything if you ever have a power outage or unplug it.

UPDATE: Apparently they did add memory for setpoints now.

Summary:

More reliable that a regular submersible heater w/internal thermostat

Has a built in digital themometer

High and low temperature alarms

Works with any heater that doesn't exceed the rated wattage

This product works very well. The set up instructions seemed very unclear to me. I finally managed to set the temperature I wanted but could not get the hi and lo settings figured out. The one glaring problem with this controller is the temp probe is about 3 ft too short. Why they skimped on this I don't know. I have another heater with remote controller and the sensor probe wire is 3 to 4 ft long. Then you can remote mount the controller away from the tank. The Finnex controller is so short you have to put the probe near the top of your tank and then the controller barely makes it to the bottom tank line. This is on a small 50 gal tank too. Ridiculous in my opinion.

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It keeps my tank temp very stable and I don't worry about over heating! Would definitely recommend and/or buy again.

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easy to use getting started was hard the diricetion helps but my son had alittle time understanding i had tohelp hun set it up

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Bought this product back in june it lasted me 2 weeks in my sump until i noticed this strange feeling when i was changing water. i soon found out that feeling was getting some electrical pulses. at first i was confused as to why i was getting it. the probe should be water proof. after unplugging things one by one and still getting that hair raising feeling. finally controller cut off and unplugged no more electrical shock. initially i figured hey i got a bad product no big deal.( well it was a big deal getting electricuted lol) id just write the company. to this day they have ignored my 2 emails and i still have a brokent heat controller. just had to deal with 2 temperature controlled heaters. i wouldnt take the gamble if i were you

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Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Aqueon AQE17102 Evolve Desk Top Aquariums Tank, 8-Gallon

Aqueon AQE17102 Evolve Desk Top Aquariums Tank, 8-GallonHello Everyone,

I purchased the Evolve 8 a few weeks ago because the design is much more aesthetically pleasing compared to most of the nano-tanks out there. I really like how the sump and filter pad is hidden behind the tank. However, I did notice that the sump is INCREDIBLY LOUD!!! However, I found a very easy fix for this that I wanted to share with everyone. If you are incredibly OCD like me and don't like the loud buzzing this tank makes, follow the instructions below to eliminate the pump sound.

Step 1

Go to Lowes and buy the pond pump filter below (I picked it up for under $12.00):

Smart Pond Water Garden Replacement FilterStep 2

Pull the sump out of your tank and remove the suction cups on the bottom

Step 3

Take the black foam piece out of the Garden Replacement filter and wrap it all around the sump. (You can use the blue piece instead, but the black one will let more water into the sump)

Step 4

Place the now foam covered sump back into its compartment in the Evolve tank. The sump may start making some noises at first, when it starts to prime itself, but after a few seconds the buzzing should go away and you'll be left with a dramatically more tolerable low level humming noise (about the same as you'd experience on a normal canister or cascade filter).

Step 5

Enjoy your beautiful AND QUIET Aqueon Evolve nano tank!!!!

I'm sure this technique will work on all of the Aqueon models. You can always trim off some of the black foam to get it to fit into the smaller compartments in the Aqueon Evolve 4 and 2. The Garden Replacement Filter is HUGE compared to the sump so don't worry if you make a mistake. You'll have a lot of material to work with. Hope this helps!

I've just set up my Aqueon Evolve 8 on my desk in my office, and I am thrilled with it so far. It is somewhat less than 8 gallons, but there is ample room for 6-7 small fish. I have read several complaints about the pump being noisy, but mine makes almost no sound at all just a low hum that is easily ignored in an office environment. I love that all the "ugly" parts, like the filter and pump, are hidden in the black compartment so it looks really nice on my desk. There was also ample room to add a heater so I can keep tropical fish. My only complaint is that the lid doesn't sit very securely on the top of the tank; it is easy to knock in if you are messing with it much, but that is only a minor problem. I definitely recommend the Aqueon Evolve 8 to anyone looking for a small and attractive aquarium.

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1. as many have stated, 8 gallons it is not, calculations put it at 5 usable. Inside tank dimensions are: W 11 3/8, D 8 3/4, H 11 5/8

2. as many have stated, but to the contrary, mine (the stock pump) is NOT loud, it is quite quiet. The bubbler is 10 times louder. The only thing I can think of is if people are positioning the pump touching a wall, then the vibrations may get amplified. Mine is in the center on the bottom.

3. * does not include heater or bubbler. BTW, the pump, heater, and bubbler fit in that sump area quite nicely (ie snug, but doable)

4. It's a good looking little unit. Once I'm moved into my new place I will be purchasing another for a small saltwater tank :)

**Edit: so after 6 months or so the pump did end up getting LOUD, real loud, tiny machine gun loud. Replaced it with Ehiem 300. The output diameter is bigger, but it was an easy fix, the stock hose size fits snug into the hose that comes off the new pump (hose bought at hardware store). I was worried about to much flow (currently housing a beta) so I drilled a small hole in the side of the hose to relieve some pressure, which just feeds back into the sump area. Still a great tank, working on creating space for another one.

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I just put it together and it seems like a nice aquarium kit. It includes the light, air pump, and filter. No heater is included, but the instructions advise buying the Aqueon miniheater which has suction cups and can be put in the back box, along with the submersible pump, which also has suction cups.

I'm unsure if the filter will be adequate, since it's just powered by the air pump flowing water through the filter cartridge. I'll add to this review if there's a problem.

The instructions for assembling the filter apparatus were inadequate, but it wasn't difficult to figure out.

The kit also included a small fish food sample and some water conditioner.

***

August 14, 2012. The light seems to have dimmed somewhat over time.

Also, I bought the recommended Aqueon miniheater, but I think it's better for a 10 gallon tank. It kept raising the temperature to 84 degrees F, which is a bit higher than the recommended temperature range for tropical freshwater fish.

Another problem is that the tank warped a bit after water was in it for a while. The lid no longer snap fits on it.

***

October 26. Part of the LED light went dark and part started flickering. Had to switch the light.

***

November 12. The company replaced the lamp for me at no cost, including shipping.

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I chose this tank since I prefer acrylic tanks over glass. Easier to maintain!

The good:

The size

The design is nice

Despite terrible instructions, the tank was relatively easy to set up

Lots of room to put a heater (in the back slot by the pump)

Everything is going well so far

The bad:

The pump is crazy noisy. Lucky to those who didn't get one that is...

The force of the pump is WAY to much. I watched a video that suggested drilling holes in the line to the pump to slow down the blast that was bullying my poor betta around. It worked very well!

The instruction didn't tell you were to put stuff, what comes in the box... nothing. It gave me more tips on a successful tank then the one I was trying to set up.

Last, but surely not lest, the lid... it slides off and goes in the water way to often.

I still give this tank four stars. It is nice and works well, there is just a few bothersome points for me personally. I felt annoyed that every time I tried to adjust the pump I lost another suction cup, which could be the leading reason why it is so noisy. I can't get my hand down the back all the way to the bottom to get them out.

I would recommend this tank to someone who is not going to get as frustrated by the "small stuff" as I did :)

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Sunday, December 1, 2013

Tetra Pond Sludge Reducer Block, 4PK, 1 Block Treats 250 Gallons

Tetra Pond Sludge Reducer Block, 4PK, 1 Block Treats 250 GallonsI built a turtle pond-red ear sliders, Alot of fun

Works to keep the sludge down

Tetra products are usually real good and easy to use.

Clears my water of turtle poop.

Recomend highly.

This stuff really works. It cleaned my pond and kept it very clear.

I am very satisfied with this product.

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its been in the pond but I still get more and more algae and I have to use algaecide for that. there is lots of sludge still on the bottom. so I dont know what this is supposed to be doing for the pond.

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I really like Tetra Pond Block it saves a lot of work cleaning the pond it keeps the water pretty clear for a lot longer than a lot of other treatments and all you have to do is drop it in and make sure the amount is correct for the size of your pond.

I am sold

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I have bought this item in the past from the store. Its cheaper here. It does help with sludge,, but you have to keep cleaning your filter until all the sludge disappears.

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Monday, November 18, 2013

API Bottom Feeder Shrimp Pellet

API Bottom Feeder Shrimp Pellet, 7.9-OunceWorks great for bottomfeeders like cory catfish and even my ettras grab em and eat them. Great product overall fully recommend.

This food is great.

The fish i give it to really like it(catfish, loaches, killifish and rainbow) and the container is really big for 4 ounces. Will last months, even if you use it daily.

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Saturday, October 26, 2013

Hydrofarm Air Pump 2 Outlets 3W 7.8L/min

Hydrofarm Air Pump 2 Outlets 3W 7.8L/minI've had this pump operating for several months, seems to work well, not too noisy and puts out a good amount of air. If the air hoses are difficult to install I just lick the nipples and they go on much more easily.

Can't complain one bit about this little guy. Good price adjustable air speed. Cord is a little short but made due.

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Works great but hard to get cord on the nipple . It's pretty quiet and you can adjust the rate of air flow easily. I used this for growing plants not an aquarium, but I assume it works well for either.

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The fish in my in my outdoor pond were looking sluggish. I tested the ph,acid and chlorine levels and everything checked out ok. I figured maybe my water feature was not moving the water fast enough to keep it aerated so I decided to add this pump. My pond is 10x8 and about 2 to 3 feet deep. I was surprised that this little pump was able to move so much air.

Minutes after adding it to my pond the fish came alive and started swimming around. The pump puts out a lot of air, even in 3 feet of water the bubbles make it all the way to the top. The pump does not come with any tubing or instructions (at least in my box) and it does not have an on and off switch. There is just a knob to control how much air you want it to pump. It uses 1/4" diameter air tubing. I used Jardin Aquarium Fish Tank Ponds Ceramic Air Stone Diffusers, 40mm Diameter with this pump.

Compared to your typical aquarium pump, this pump is quiet. It has been running constantly since I bought it and I have not experienced any issues. The pump is not waterproof so if you plan to use it outdoors is has to be protected from the elements. Also make sure there is adequate air flow around the unit or else the motor may burn out.

Update 4/21/2013: The pump has been running non stop for almost a year now without any issues.

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it does what it says, it's quiet, and has a reliable mechanism....I've been using six of these 24-7 for a year now...no failures.

there is a small disc-shaped inlet filter on the bottom, with a foam insert that is easily cleaned and maintained. just take them out once in awhile, rinse them and dry them, and that will keep accumulated dust from lowering it's performance.

All in all, they have been worth every penny.

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Monday, September 30, 2013

Brand New Marineland Max-Jet 1200 Item #7280

Brand New Marineland Max-Jet 1200 Item #7280(2008 HOLIDAY TEAM)The Maxi-Jet is the Mercedes of aquarium power-heads. At nearly 300 gallons per hour you know you have plenty of air circulation and water movement. I placed one at each end of the tank to get a circular movement in the top of my aquarium. This gives a nice fast current for the active fish and slightly moves the water at the bottom. They are easy to clean and pack plenty of bubbles into your aquarium for optimum aeration.

This powerhead is built like a tank. I've been using it for a while now and it works just as good as the day I bought it.

It is very powerful, doesn't make much noise, and my fish love it! (especially rubberlip plecos)

I'm currently using it to drive my homemade water polisher. Here's how to create one yourself using this powerhead:

1. Take a small container such as a plastic yogurt container (keep the lid!), rubbermaid container, etc.. and cut a hole in the top lid so that the end of the powerhead intake will fit inside snugly.

2.Fill the container with polyester batting (can be found in the fabric section of stores). A huge bag costs $3 or less and will last forever!

3. Close the lid and stick the end of the powerhead intake through.

4. Turn it on and you are good to go! It makes your water crystal clear, and it continues to create lots of turbulence. Serves as a dual purpose now! Just change out the polyester batting after it gets really dirty.

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Best little damn pump ive ever used, 295g a hour and fits in the palm of your hand, Its been on for the last 2 months in a salt water tank and ive never had a problem....

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I haven't had them long and I make aquarium set ups for customers and friends I used to use Penguin

or Aquaclear and they were good. Maxi-Jet is under estimated because no one talks about how awesome

they are. The prices are 40% less then almost every other powerhead, and push more water per hr at

that price so it a good trade, cant comment on how long they last only been using them now for 3

months but I nor my friends have had problems. Just member to use an extra filter on the intake or

clean the impeller every 2 months at min. and yeah awesome product not scam in quality just note

wait for Amazon to "fullfill" there stock and you get cheap or free shipping to save even more money

I rated its a 4 because I don't know the life of them yet and the power of them is rated a 295gph but

at 1ft head, I use them for returns in my sump with 5ft travel and they still run at 245gph and I still

use Ehiem pumps (expensive but the one I got has ran strong for 5yr without any cleaning because I have a

prefilter in the intake so it never gets clogged) so I say EHIEM OR MAXI-Jet are the best pumps so

if you need a good filtration system run two of these and you wont be sorry.

Also f.y.i an okay filtration system should cycle you water 5-7x the aquarium's size, 10gal 50gph

but best ratio I run and water look n smell good you want to drink if you had to is 15-20x, 10gal

at 200gph, you cant go wrong with an extremely high gph filtration system just be safe it dont

leak bc in a slipt second your water will be in the floor and your turtle will be saying WTH!!

Also word for advice use 100ml of carbon per month per 30gal of water being filter, I use Marine-

Land products best filter media money can buy(at cheap prices too)!! Sorry this was long but someone

might find it helpful, so hopefully someone does!! Happy aquarium hobby to all you aquatic persons!!

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Moves a whole lot of water and should not be considered for small tanks under 55gal. as splashing may result. A good power head for larger under-gravel filters or foam block bacteriological filtering. Parts are readily available, impeller etc.. One caveat, it appears it is too easy to break off the tabs that secure the impeller assembly rendering the entire device trash.

Update after 9 months of use............

The tabs securing the impeller assembly to the head have begun to spread causing the jet direction to change while in use, very frustrating. One one occasion the unit came apart in the tank. I am already looking to find a more durable replacement after just 9 months of use.

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