Showing posts with label aquarium filters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label aquarium filters. Show all posts

Quiet One Lifegard Fountain Pump, 819-Gallon Per Hour

Quiet One Lifegard Fountain Pump, 819-Gallon Per HourWe purchased this pump as part of our new Aquaponics system. So far so good! It runs very quietly, which is a bonus since the system is close to a bedroom window!

Great return pump! Very quiet! i would definitely recommend this to all beginners and experts with saltwater and freshwater tanks. highly recommended!

Buy Quiet One Lifegard Fountain Pump, 819-Gallon Per Hour Now

Vibran-Sea Narrow Eel Grass Silk-Style Aquarium Plant, Extra-Large 18-19 tall, Plum

Vibran-Sea Narrow Eel Grass Silk-Style Aquarium Plant, Extra-Large 18-19 tall, PlumNot sturdy enough, it just lies down in the water. Pretty color though. Just wish it would float in the water like it looks in the picture.

After having it in my tank for over a half year, it still looks terrific. Looks like it will do well. It's much more attractive than my previous aquarium "plants" that were all plastic.

Buy Vibran-Sea Narrow Eel Grass Silk-Style Aquarium Plant, Extra-Large 18-19 tall, Plum Now

I have a very tall tank and measured about 18 inches to the top. Figured long skinny plant would be able to reach the top (since other reviews made it clear that the bulkier plants sink). Well, this one sinks too it's about half as tall as it was when dried. Still, the color is incredible and they look great, so I'm keeping them.

Read Best Reviews of Vibran-Sea Narrow Eel Grass Silk-Style Aquarium Plant, Extra-Large 18-19 tall, Plum Here

Penn Plax Curved Corner Glass Aquarium Kit, 10-Gallon

Penn Plax Curved Corner Glass Aquarium Kit, 10-GallonI bought this tank for the seamless front as it's very modern in appearance. I love the glass tank itself and the internal filter seems quiet and capable but there are a few things I'd like to point out. The led light included is far too weak for anything other than simulated moonlight so you'll need to upgrade to a clip-on that will fit a rimless tank. I had an extra Fluval mini power 13W compact which works much better. The final thing I should mention is the lid is only a thin piece of plastic attached to hinges.

Pros: Aesthetic appearance, powerful internal filter with optional aeration, and a protective mat.

Cons: Weak lighting and flimsy hood. Basically you're paying for a pretty tank and internal filter, unless you're raising nocturnal species.

I like the wrap around feature of the glass which will create a better visual effect. I thought the filter was a little small and have purchased a different filter that hangs on the side. The included filter should be ok for most people though. Our first shipped tank had a scratch in the glass but Penn Plax replaced the entire kit. So I would not be hesitant to recommend their products to anyone.

Buy Penn Plax Curved Corner Glass Aquarium Kit, 10-Gallon Now

The tank itself is sturdy and attractive! But the lid is kinda weak and flimsy! The light feature isn't the best made either! I will definitely be keeping the tank, but I will probably be replacing the lid with either thicker plexiglass or glass! And I will probably be buying better accessories too, but that's just part of the fun of setting an aquarium up!

Read Best Reviews of Penn Plax Curved Corner Glass Aquarium Kit, 10-Gallon Here

Como Green Spring Lawn Plastic Grass Rug Mat for Aquarium Fish Tank Decor

Como Green Spring Lawn Plastic Grass Rug Mat for Aquarium Fish Tank DecorI paid $5.55 with prime for this item. My first impression upon getting it was "uhm this is kind of small and feels cheap." Upon putting it under water it looks like real grass growing. My mother actually thought I had spent money and planted individual plants! The blades are soft enough to not cause injuries to fish. Only real downside is that it's a hassle to get gravel in between to weigh the lawn down. What I did was that I just poured gravel over it and brushed the gravel out of the centers of each plant.

I have a 45 gallon fish tank, some of my guppies gave birth and the frys got out of breeder tank and I couldn't get to them. I found this plastic grass mat thought it's a good hiding place for them. I really worked and I saw some frys hide in there but my cory got stuck and died... The material is too hard so if the fish got under it, they have a hard time to get out. so be careful if you have cory.

Buy Como Green Spring Lawn Plastic Grass Rug Mat for Aquarium Fish Tank Decor Now

It's square, so, it looks square. I cut it diagonally and with a curve (very easy to cut) and put it into the corners, and it looks great. It is a little hard to sink, gravel doesn't easily come through the squares. I think the easiest method is to dig out a hole, cover it in gravel, and them brush the gravel off until the grass shows through. Don't try to push it down into gravel because it won't work.

Read Best Reviews of Como Green Spring Lawn Plastic Grass Rug Mat for Aquarium Fish Tank Decor Here

The blades on the image area bit misleading. It looks tiny in my 55 gallon tank. I would only recommend getting this if you have a smaller 10-20 gallon tank and small gravel.

Want Como Green Spring Lawn Plastic Grass Rug Mat for Aquarium Fish Tank Decor Discount?

The plastic plant is just the right size and shape to become a natural looking piece in my aquarium. The base is loog and wide enough to get a solid footing in the gravel.

Acurel F250 Millimeter Water Clarifier, Aquarium, Treats 2, 650 Gallons

Acurel F250 Millimeter Water Clarifier, Aquarium, Treats 2, 650 GallonsI usually only review products when I'm blown away and this product prompted me to sit down and write this review. I established a 30 gallon freshwater aquarium and about two weeks after it was stocked with fish the water started to get quality. It was very annoying because the water was very clear previous to this. I knew that the aquarium was cycling and the cloudiness was natural but I didn't have the patience to wait it out. I came across the same video that a previous reviewer mentioned regarding the pet shop owner who was recommending Acurel and after reading customer reviews on Amazon and Petco's website with people who were raving about it, I decided to try it. I put the first dosage in last night and within 45 minutes you could see the results. It got much clearer but not as clear as it was before the cycle began. After some of the cloudiness returned today, I gave it a slightly larger dose and an hour later...that tank is CRYSTAL clear. I mean it looks like the fish are floating on air. The fact that this product does not affect water chemistry is amazing. I'm blown away by the results this product gets and I urge you to buy this right away if you are having water clarity problems in your fish tank. But DON'T forget to do your weekly 10-15% water changes to assist with the cycling process because this product does not lower ammonia or nitrate levels.

I have turtle tanks and turtles are FILTHY animals.....THERE IS NOTHING BETTER THAN THIS STUFF.....I could not have a clean tank without it. I put it in a cloudy dirty tank and within an hour.......crystal clear.....Give it a try and I can guarantee you will be a convert

Buy Acurel F250 Millimeter Water Clarifier, Aquarium, Treats 2, 650 Gallons Now

Greetings. I have maintained upwards of 320 aquariums in my commercial facility. Additionally, I do a fair amount of high-end tropical fish photography. Used as directed this product exceeds all expectations and makes the water look like it is not even there. It does not get any better than this and I have used this product for many, many years without losing a single fish. What more could you possibly ask for? Cheers. Frank

Read Best Reviews of Acurel F250 Millimeter Water Clarifier, Aquarium, Treats 2, 650 Gallons Here

I don't write product reviews. Ever. Until now. Acurel F Water Clarifier works. Used as directed, it has taken on the murky water of my 90 gallon tank (two 13" Oscars, and a couple of plecostomus bums (15" and 12") who apparently hate algae--but I digress). I've taken to closing the door to the room with the tank because I was embarrassed about the murky water. I've worked on this problem for months--lots of clarifiers offering promises without success. Water changes lasted a day or two--but not a permanent solution. In all of my decades of fish tank experience, I've never had this problem last as long as it did.

I used Acurel F AS DIRECTED and went to bed. The next morning the tank was so clear I was in disbelief. The door once again stays open. Acurel doesn't just kinda work. It really works.

Want Acurel F250 Millimeter Water Clarifier, Aquarium, Treats 2, 650 Gallons Discount?

I have had aquariums for over fifty years. I have rave reviews for this product, it works perfectly every time I use it, crystal clear water within two hours.

Save 52% Off

TOM Aquarium Overflow Box with Auto Start and Stop, Hosing incl.

TOM Aquarium Overflow Box with Auto Start and Stop, Hosing incl.I just got this. I did not know that this is not a stand alone unit. It is suppose to be attached to a sump unit that has a pump made to match this. So I have a refugium and a pump but was looking for an "awesome" overflow box. I was misinformed. I don't know if it was me or the way the product was discribed. I see how the "auto start and stop" would have worked if it was attached to the sump pump and tightened with a hose clamp but without the other unit (which cost like $250+), I don't have an overflow box with all the bells and whistles. Hope my information helps others like me. If you are a aquarium guru who knew better than me, than this is my mistake.

UpdateOkay. This unit sucks. Now that I took it apart to see how it works, I can clearly say it could have been made better. Save your money. This unit is made with weak plastic (yes, I considered that many aquatic products are made weak and costs a lot but this is weaker). For $100, it should be stronger, designed better and easy to take apart. I did not break mine but even the instruction book warns about breaking it while taking it apart to clean it. Then I realized two of the parts are very hard to remove. I gave this unit a good try and was disappointed.

Let me say this, if your tank isnt drilled and you want something that does the trick in both a compact and quiet way this is your overflow box. I had the Eshopps PF300 and couldnt deal with the noise, even when I used the modification tips. That thing made all sorts of noises and it was a real pain to get working. This thing is awesome, you simply plumb it (mine wasnt shipped with hoses but i had my own so didnt complain or request them), pour a little water in the resevoir and start your pump. Power goes out no problem, i tested it a bunch of times to be sure it would start back up. Compact no question in and out in the same box cant be beat. Adjustable outlet could be a little better but you are supposed to have powerheads in a reef or saltwater set up so this isnt even an issue worth complaining about. Very adjustable when it comes to water level, I can drop my tank almost 2 inches or I can raise it to the brim, each adjustment can be fine tuned easily. Each click up or down takes about 20-30 seconds to see the change in water level.

Buy TOM Aquarium Overflow Box with Auto Start and Stop, Hosing incl. Now

Ive been in the fish hobby for nearly 40 years. Ive have probably 5 or 6 different types of overflow boxes through the years and this one just works great. Very easy to set up and to use. And it's self priming! Been using for about 3 months now. If it holds up it will be a best buy!

Read Best Reviews of TOM Aquarium Overflow Box with Auto Start and Stop, Hosing incl. Here

Marineland (Aquaria) AMLPFK55B Biowheel Aquarium Kit with LED Light, 55-Gallon

Marineland AMLPFK55B Biowheel Aquarium Kit with LED Light, 55-Gallon*edit since i wrote this review originally, the product listing has been updated with a correct picture and a more thorough description of the product. i am leaving most of my original review intact, but have deleted the parts of it that are no longer relevant based upon the updates to the listing.*

i bought this tank kit from a local petsmart store in february 2012 for $200. got it home, unpacked it and set it up with really no problems at all.

all the hood, filter, and trim parts are plastic. the filter is the bio-wheel penguin 350, which holds a double filter and biowheel setup with adjustable intake. the filter is generally quieter than average for kit systems, and i am very pleased with it.

the led lighting comes from two led panels, one on either side of the split-hood. they are removable and come with detachable power cords. they are surprisingly bright, and provide a nice shimmer effect into the tank. however, they do not provide suitable light energy for a planted tank so don't expect to get good plant growth. there is also a night-light setting of a half-dozen blue led's per panel. the lights do not have a timer option, but instead a 3-way manual switch (white, off, blue) on each panel.

the tank also comes with a generic 200-watt heater and temperature sticker. the heater is not marked in degrees, but that's what the thermometer is for :) they seem to work ok, but i replaced the sticker thermometer with a more accurate floating style thermometer. there is also a startup pack that includes a small amount of tropical fish flakes, a net that's far too short to catch bottom-dwelling fish without getting wet up to the elbow, and a small amount of water conditioner. there are no decorations, gravel, air pumps, or other items included.

i am generally satisfied with my purchase. i let the tank cycle for a week before dropping in a couple danios and platies. if i notice any issues with components wearing out early or breaking too easily, i will come back and update this review.

***UPDATE***

the tank is still holding out very well. nothing has broken or fallen apart, except for the suction cups that were with the heating element. the clips deteriorated and fell apart within a couple months, but i bought some replacements and they've worked just fine. the filter is still churning away. the led's still work, but one panel has developed a flicker or short of some kind, that sometimes lasts for a few minutes before fully powering on. it only happens maybe once a week, when i switch it from night to day setting. if it eventually needs replaced, amazon sells the panels for $25-30 each at the following link: Marineland LED Aquarium Light, 11-Inch.

after 17 months of use, i can definitely say this marineland tank is a keeper.

Why are there no measurements for this 55 gallon tank????? Who would buy this unless they knew everything about this tank from other sources. Unless you post the measurements I see no need to look at this aquarium. Just imagine how many more tanks you may have sold but most people and I am guilty of this, don't go forward and move on because there are no measurements. Hopefully this helps, Mike

Buy Marineland (Aquaria) AMLPFK55B Biowheel Aquarium Kit with LED Light, 55-Gallon Now

Petco Variety Pack Plastic Aquarium Plants

Petco Variety Pack Plastic Aquarium PlantsI bought a variety pack at Petco, it's affordable and you get around 3 or 4 plastic plants depending. They are all of varying sizes and my Betta seems to like them. Although they are plastic, my Betta has not had any fins tearing or anything like that.

Note:

I've had these about a month now, and they are beginning to disintegrate and become stringy. My filter catches more of the stringy junk everyday. I'm probably going to have to replace them soon.

I don't know if this happens to all plastic plants. Just thought I'd share.

Beautiful in the tank! Has great color and looks amazing!

It is also slightly weighted which makes placement much easier.

Buy Petco Variety Pack Plastic Aquarium Plants Now

Plants look good for the price. although, I didn't get all what was pictured in the ad, some were missing,

Read Best Reviews of Petco Variety Pack Plastic Aquarium Plants Here

I purchased this as a filler for a new set up and was expecting a pack of 12 plants which would have been a great deal, instead got the middle row of lilly and leafy plants. They look great, good quality, but dont expect all of them.

Want Petco Variety Pack Plastic Aquarium Plants Discount?

BeamsWork 48"-52" Double Bright Power LED Aquarium Light Fixture 3300

BeamsWork 48'-52' Double Bright Power LED Aquarium Light Fixture 3300Take this review for what it is worth. I've only had the thing a few days. It's far more powerful than the Marineland Double Bright (obviously due to the extra LED). It shipped, with regular shipping, quicker than expected. It was well packaged and appeared to be brand spanking new coming out of the box. Everything works great so far. The box maintains the LEDs are replaceable (hoping not to need to find out for a while will update if breaks quickly). The heat is there, but not excessive. The light is fantastic, though like all LED it's focused mostly straight down and does leave a sliver in the front and back of my 75 a little dark. Obviously the price is good

Negatives: It's true the blue LED are on with the white (though I guess it's possible to switch them over to more whites since they're replaceable). You can't set a timer for the 'night light' because it's all on one switch/plug (I knew these when I ordered it and don't really care for my purposes but others might need more control).

Don't know: long term performance, warranty/customer service (though shipping was great so the seller isn't reckless or anything).

1 OF THE WHITE LED'S WENT OUT IN A COUPLE OF DAYS, BUT THE THING IS PRETTY BRIGHT. BUY BUYER BE AWARE, THIS IS NOT FOR REEF TANKS AT ALL, I HAVE A 55 GALLON, AND I HAD TO BUY A SET OF T5'S, WHICK IS WHAT I WAS TRYING TO AVOID BECAUSE OF ENEGY CONSUMPTION, SO I GOT THESE LED'S INSTEAD. BUT THEY WILL NEVER LIGHT UP LIKE T5'S. MAYBE FOR FRESH WATER OR FISH ONLY AQUARIUM ITS FINE, BUT NOT FOR AQUARIUMS WITH LIVE ROCK OR CORALS LIKE MINE. I HAD TO WASTE AN EXTRA 3OO BUCKS ON T5'S.

...ALSO BE AWARE THESE THINGS ALSO GET DULLER AS THEY GET OLDER, JUST A HEADS UP. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND FOR REEF TANKS. HOWEVER SELLER WAS GREAT, THATS WHY I GAVE 3 STARS.

Buy BeamsWork 48"-52" Double Bright Power LED Aquarium Light Fixture 3300 Now

Very bright, Only "wish" would be if I could turn the white light banks on independantly to raise the light level of the tank more gradually.

The blue light is very nice for evenings and mornings. I don't think i will leave the blue on overnight though.

Read Best Reviews of BeamsWork 48"-52" Double Bright Power LED Aquarium Light Fixture 3300 Here

The light was shipped on time and works like it should. Lights the tank up perfectly and the night light mode is cool. I hope it is reliable in years to come.

Want BeamsWork 48"-52" Double Bright Power LED Aquarium Light Fixture 3300 Discount?

Como 4 x Aquarium Tank Air Pump Plastic One Way Check Valves

Como 4 x Aquarium Tank Air Pump Plastic One Way Check ValvesWorks ok but took company over seas over a month to get them here. My pump could have blown up by then. Luckily it didnt. A warning about SLOOOWWW shipments should be posted on all items that take that long to recieve.

Zoo Med Betta Condo 1 Gallon Hexagon Blue

Zoo Med Betta Condo 1 Gallon Hexagon BlueI have 2 of these love them.They fit on my desk nicely.I'd say their nice for a baby betta or a small dragonscale but the bigger bettas need a bigger tank like the zoomed 2 gallon

Save 4% Off

Quiet Flow Filter

Aqueon 06079 QuietFlow 55/75 Power Filter, 400-GPHI've used this filter for the last 18 months purely for mechanical/chemical filtration. I use a fluval 204 canister filter that has all three trays filled with biomax ceramic media to take care of all the biological filtration so I can't speak to that aspect of the Aqueon filter's function. As anyone with a decent amount of fish keeping experience will tell you counting on a HOB filter (with inserts of the type the Aqueon filter uses) for biological filtration is not ideal since when you change or clean inserts you lose most of your beneficial bacteria colony.

However in regards to it's mechanical and chemical filtration performance: this filter has a really powerful pump that moves a huge amount of water and thus it does a fantastic job of pulling floating particles in when they get within 2-3 inches of the intake. On the downside this means the filter inserts (it uses 2 at a time) clog very quickly and the thin cotton material used on the official Aqueon cotton/carbon inserts doesn't hold up well to attempts at cleaning it; therefore these inserts must constantly be replaced.

Thus I found using those official Aqueon inserts gets pretty costly, even ordering them with free shipping on Amazon where they are half the price of a brick and mortar pet store. But as a previous reviewer mentioned using cut-to-fit filter media such as the cotton "Marineland PA0100 Filter Pad" and a seperate bag of carbon greatly reduces the cost of changing the filter media so frequently. I myself prefer to use the cut-to-fit "Deep Blue Professional DB Activated Carbon Pad 18x10" which is made of a tougher, thicker and more densely woven material with carbon bonded directly to it. This material imparts three major advantages in it's use as a filter insert: A) the carbon bonding means every bit of water flowing through the filter insert is getting cleaned chemically as well as mechanically, B)because it's more densely woven the material works as a water polisher by trapping fine as well as course particles, and C) the toughness of the material means that when the inserts get caked with crud you can give them a thorough cleaning and re-use them multiple times without them falling apart.

Since I've begun using these cut-to-fit carbon covered pads as the media inserts in the Aqueon 55/75 it does an amazing, and much more affordable, job of working in conjunction with the canister filter and a 24 watt UV sterilizer to keep the water absolutely crystal clear in my 55 gallon tank which is stocked with 28 full grown Mbuna African Cichlids.

Other things to note about the Aqueon 55/75:

1) The pump is silent but the water itself makes quite a bit of noise as it flows into and through the filtration area. Imagine having the sound of a small but fast flowing stream in your room. Some may find it soothing, while others will find it overly loud and annoying.

2) As was also mentioned in another review; because the pump creates such good suction at the intake the filter really does wind up pulling in food faster than the fish can eat it if it's floating around. I combat this by using fast sinking pellet food dropped well away from the intake.

I absolutely love this filter. Most filters are really noisy, and since I have a fish tank in my room, this wasn't an option. I ran into the quietflow for a 20 gallon and was amazed by its results. It's blissfully quiet and does an amazing job at filtering. The additional plastic piece that allows beneficial bacteria to grow fits well and does a great job. I was so pleased with the quietflow that I replaced all my fish tank filters with it and haven't been happier!

Buy Quiet Flow Filter Now

Flows lots of water quietly. Would recommend to anyone with 50 gal or more. easy to adjust the draw tube.

Read Best Reviews of Quiet Flow Filter Here

I have a 75 gal tank and originally bought a Marineland Penguin 350 to get started, which turned out to be REALLY noisy (impeller/motor). Ended up returning it as defective and getting this Aqueon power filter instead.

This Aqueon is much better! Motor/impeller are VERY silent, and the water return is also virtually silent (I have the water level up to the lip of the return). I forget what it's called but there is a blue splash piece on the return of this filter that breaks up the water flow just enough that it 1) eliminates the sound of the water returning to the tank and 2) slows the water current a little on the way out which is good if you have some smaller fish or top feeders hanging around.

The filters come with carbon in them, but there's still enough room behind the cartridges in the filter box to place additional media if you want. I've added a couple of small bags with extra carbon and they fit pretty easily.

This filter uses additional hard plastic grids to help bacteria grow. Different than the spinning Biowheel design on the Marineland, but honestly I can't help but think this Aqueon design is going to be much easier to maintain.

The filter comes with an extension tube that is adjustable. You simply slide it up or down. Easy to use.

The only reason I have it 4 stars instead of 5 is that there is some slight (but pleasant) water noise where the water comes INTO the filter. So, technically it's not 100% silent but I think for a filter that pumps 400 gal/hr this is about the best they get. Mine is new so we'll see how it holds up over time.

Want Quiet Flow Filter Discount?

Best filter I've ever purchased. My 55 gal. aquarium was really in need of major cleaning. This filter within one week totally cleaned the water crystal clear. Change the pads everyday for one week if your tank is really bad. After that, normal changes will keep it clean (once or twice a month). I am so glad I bought this item!

Save 56% Off