Monday, September 29, 2014

SpongeBob SquarePants® Aquarium Kit, 3 Gallon Tank

SpongeBob SquarePants® Aquarium Kit, 3 Gallon TankI bought this for as a Christmas present for my son. I think it is adorable and like the size. We had to buy a heater and a light for it so for the price, it could've at least came with a light. Also the top has slits in it so the tank gets dirty fast.

Because that's basically what you are paying for here. The small plastic tank with cover is a basic "critter keeper" that you can get at most stores for around $10. Then they throw in a vinyl background and two SpongeBob decorations. Go to any discount store and you can do better.

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I will be returning this item. I am very disappointed. It did not come with gravel and I thought it would have a pump. Very generic.

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Eshopps Float Valve

Eshopps Float ValveFirst let me say, I like the thing. I use it as an auto-top-off solution, and it's literally one of the only float valves correctly sized for a sump tank. . I'm glad I bought it and saved $$ over an expensive ATO like the Osmolator. However, a couple of drawbacks:

Construction isn't the best. It's a bit "wobbly" when mounted. The insert where the hose goes in is less-than-reliable. The hose doesn't fit in watertight very well, it takes a lot of maneuvering to get the drips to stop. I've also had it pop out, and nearly flood my sump before I caught it. There's also no way to turn it off for water changes, etc.

Out of the box, I wouldn't necessarily see this as "set it and forget it." I ended up permanently sealing the inlet with glue and silicone, and put a ball valve on the hose a few inches from the intake. That way not only is there a nice tight seal on the inlet, but I can stop the flow during a water change etc.

I'd recommend it to people, but only if they realize that you have to take some steps to ensure it's reliable functionality.

I recieved the product in a timely manor. I did have to alter one thing on the product. the hole that allowed the water to seep through was small (microscopic). So, I opened it up more for my preference. Love the product. It come out of the box assembled all I had to do was tie in my water line that fed it.

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I liked the product, It does what I need it to do, but be careful you don't always get what you see. The picture and advertisement were not what came in the box. The picture showed a 90 degreee fitting and it came with a straight fitting. I called and Sandy was nice enough to send me the proper fitting I needed. She also sent me a neopreme washer because it came with a broken one. Be very carefull the clear plastic ring that holds the float is very brittle and after tighting mine and trying to to turn the float a little it snapped right off.

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i cant believe i was manually adding water to my tank. I couldnt be gone from home more than 2 days. I have a 30 gal square rimless tank with a MH lighting. My tank evaporates almost 2 gallons/day. I plumbed under my house directly from RO unit and it is maintenance free. This is hands down the best investment i have made for my reef tank. Do yourself the favor and buy this and dont try to diy. This unit looks really good in my sump. I tried several diy ato's and this one looks VERY good in the sump.

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This product is sturdy and works. Makes auto top off systems easy and manageable with this one valve and gravity!!

Marina 15 Watt Clear Showcase Bulb, 2-Pack

Marina 15 Watt Clear Showcase Bulb, 2-PackThese lights work well and are just bright enough for my small 12 gallon aquarium. They put off a little heat, but it is the perfect amount for my fish.

Its hard to find these in a two pack. They are much cheaper this way. Most aquariums have two bulb sockets, so they should all be sold in two packs.

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The package arrived promptly and the light bulbs did not break in the mail. The are not as bright as the bulb I am replacing.

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These 2 light bulbs only lasted 5 to 6 weeks in our aquarium.

The vibration during shipping may have shortened the anticipated life of them.

I recently noticed that my local pet store had these bulbs for $2 ea sold individually which is +/40% less than I paid here.

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turned it on and it seemed yellow, not white/clear as i had thought it would be. however, cost is low and it worked.

Coralife 05486 50/50 Straight Pin Compact Fluorescent Lamp, 65-Watt

Coralife 05486 50/50 Straight Pin Compact Fluorescent Lamp, 65-WattWhen you first plug this bulb in and turn on the fixture, it will make the colors in your tank "pop," from fish to corals. Sadly, that doesn't last long, and within a couple of months it's not much better than any standard fluorescent bulb. (I really noticed the difference when I replaced one of the two bulbs on my fixture, and saw the radical difference in light intensity and hue between the new and old.)

I think for my next fixture, I'll be looking at LEDs...

Tubes give off sufficient light and duration. Only slightly cheaper than purchasing at aquarium store. In any case, these tubes are way over priced and I'd looks to see if there is not a better and cheaper technology!

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Though it's the right replacement for my lighting set up, it keeps on flickering when turned on. I returned it and still waiting for my refund.

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Crystal Clear Aquatics AAD00248 Pondseal Liquid Pond Liner, 1-Quart

Crystal Clear Aquatics AAD00248 Pondseal Liquid Pond Liner, 1-QuartI bought this to seal a waterfall that I had rebuilt. It was applied over concrete and had I used pond sealing foam to fill in some of the cracks. It goes on dark brown, but dries black.

I tried foam and bristle brushes and it definitely goes on easier with a standard paintbrush; especially if it's going on a rough surface.

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Red Sea Reef Energy A&B

Red Sea Reef Energy A&BFrom the picture and the lack of any discription, I thought I was getting two full size bottles of each product, great deal right? Wrong, I actually received two miniature bottles. You are better offer ordering them separately, you will save money in the long run.

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Multipet's Nuts for Knots Rope Bone Dog Toy with Squeaker, 12-Inch

Multipet's Nuts for Knots Rope Bone Dog Toy with Squeaker, 12-InchI always look for industructable toys for my Dogs. They are Husky/Lab mixes and can chew up even the most durable of toys. But these toys my dogs killed in as little as 5 minutes. I don't think I will be buying these for my dogs again!