Hydor Deco Big Ben Monument Collection Aquarium Ornament Kit with Ario 2 Color Mix Red, White, and

I wanted to get this for my aquarium as I was building a London theme and what is more representative of the capital? The instructions were poor and when trying to attach it to the base (with the light), one whole side snapped off. I cannot recommend it on this basis as it seems like a good idea poorly executed.

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Tetra Whisper Unassembled Bio-Bag Cartridges

Just a word of caution to buyers who are unsure of sizing. this filter measures 3.5" x 5". the product description listed is not accurate and is actually the packing size. Otherwise a great product.

I am always happy with my Amazon purchases and this one was no different. However one has to make sure that the right cartridge size is selected as the Whisper Bio-Bags have changed their sizes. The regular is now Large and the Junior is now the Medium. Double check your whisper size requirement as I now have 12 cartridges to find good use for...no biggie I'll always have use for Whisper cartridges at this price...oh by the way EXCELLENT PRICE!

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Everyone is going to "prepackaged" filter cartridges. I prefer the flexibility of putting whatever I want into the filters. I prefer 1/3 activated charcoal and 2/3 ammo chips. This keeps the tank clean and also keeps the ammonia down since I keep a heavy load of fish in my tank. I can't seem to find these filters in my pet store, so I get them online. I change my filters every two weeks, so when I run low, I order more and they are delivered before I need them. I highly recommend these filters.

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I have found making my own filters allows me to add more activated charcoal carbon filter media. The small package found in most filters does not (in my opinion) clean enough because they have only about a handful of filter media inside.

DO YOU WANT BETTER FILTERIZATION?:

I now use the unassembled filter bags -I add enough activated charcoal to FILL the filter from bottom to top of the filter sac then the water flows thru the charcoal and NOT around it. BE SURE TO rinse the filter with water to remove loose charcoal before re-installing in the filter frame.

HOW I MAINTENANCE THE TANK:

I maintenance the tank weekly or bi-weekly, first I remove the decorative accents from the tank so I can clean the rock by a gentle stirring motion,(being careful not to bump into the fish) then I loosen debris in rock with the tank water siphon vacuum tube removing 1/4 the water. I wipe the glass with clean paper towel if needed to remove salts or other debris that accumulates on the glass, I add some fresh water to top off the tank, add de-chlorination, test the water (using a water test kit) and change the filter after filtering with old filter for 45 mins 1 hr to remove the majority of debris loosen from gravel. That routine seems to keep the tank clean and the goldfish healthy.

BEFORE vs AFTER: I use to buy pre-made, and had fair results for cleaning but after I noticed the pre-made have very little charcoal in the filter sac, I decided to make my own and add more filter charcoal. Now that I have increased the amount of filter charcoal (they call it activated carbon) media, the tank water is MUCH cleaner at least 50% cleaner overall.

KEEPING A CLEAN TANK SEEMS TO HELP FISH WITH SWIM BLADDER DISEASE: Goldfish may gulp and burp air to alter the pressure in the swim bladder. I have one fancy goldfish that gets an air in the bladder (this bladder disease leads to problems where the fish has trouble with buoyancy in the water -this is more like a temporary condition that can be managed.) If the fish seems floats up to the top while swimming and seems to lay on side or back after floating to top (this may happen ccasionally because it gets air in the belly)I have read online keeping the tank clean helps prevent this often genetic buoyancy disorder

HELPFUL TIPS: I also try to add the food in the water downward stream to prevent top feeding which encourages air in the belly intake.

GREEN PEAS TRICK MAY HELP swim bladder buoyancy:

1) Defrost 1 to 2 frozen peas. The peas must be very soft.

2) Gently squeeze the peas to free them from their skins. Discard the skins.

3) Put the skinless peas in the fish tank. Allow the affected fish to eat at least 1 of the 2 peas. If the fish will not eat the peas, remove the peas and try again later.

Read more ABOUT FISH BLADDER BUOYANCY: This green pea method that seems to help the bladder syndrome rather quickly(for my fish this seems usually removes the floating symptom in a couple hours).

==>For more info google these words: "fish bladder disease green peas"

FINAL THOUGHT:

I found that often I can get a better deal (lower price) buying through AMAZON than the pet store I have checked the prices with several pet stores vs AMAZON, so if you plan ahead you can order the items and have them ready to use, when needed.

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I own a Tetra 100 gph internal filter for my Turtle tank. It takes the large filter cartridge. I replace them almost once a week. At first I tried Tetra's newer all in one type, where you don't have to add the charcoal and there is no filter frame to deal with. I had lot of trouble with this and sometimes it got clogged up too quickly because it would sag a little. Stay with Tetra's traditional style and save money by installing the filter onto the frame and add the charcoal. It's less convenient but things work out better. The 12 pack at Amazon is about a $1 each filter which is A LOT less than the single pack or any packages Tetra sells. So if you have a LARGE Tetra filter (internal or external), this "old school" filter package is better and a lot less money than all the others Tetra sells.

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Carib Sea Ecco-Complete Live Freshwater African Cichlid Gravel 20 lb

Product was exactly as described and arrived quickly. My fish a healthy and happy!

i love the rock but in the pic. it makes it look like its dark rock with some shells but when i got mine it was just all shells its very white. its still cool looking tho and it arrived very quickly.

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Well I received my package promptly witch made me happy but when I opened it two of the bags were torn open witch made for a messy time. I don't think I'm going to order from pet solutions again.

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The gravel is OK. If you want gravel that is on the darker side....DO NOT BUY THIS GRAVEL! The gravel I received was crushed and whole shell. There were no natural dark rocks to be found. When you look at the picture there are reds, blacks, grays, browns, and different shades of white shells. My 80 lbs of gravel was all white. I would have returned my purchase....but the postage to return would have been too expensive. Otherwise the gravel hasn't killed anything. All of my fish seem to be happy.

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Carib Sea was the early Christmas present for my 55 gal. and 40 gal. African Cichlid Tanks. Glad I bought it through Amazon as the advertised price was 30%+ less than any pet store locally. It adds up when I had to use 7 20 lb. bags total! The vendor that I purchased it through only charged me a FLAT FEE of $5.99 for shipping/handling. That is a steal, considering total shipping weight was 140 lbs!

Now about the product...Excellent choice as it came packaged in a live bacteria solution, making for cycling the tanks much easier and shorter. Hint if you ever have to change out substrate, it would be best to NOT rinse any of your rocks, plants, etc. They have essential live bacteria, which helps re-establish and re-cycle your tank. I was able to put all of my fish back in within a few days after set up, without any Nitrite/Ammonia spikes. I also recommend turning up your heater to 83-84 degrees F, which helps to speed up colonization of essential bacteria. It is actually safer to keep African Cichlids in this temp, as it also helps to prevent diseases. They are a hearty enough fish to adapt.

Not only does the new substrate aid in maintaining higher Ph (contains aragonite), necessary for African Cichlids, but it also looks a lot more natural, too. If I ever have to set up a new tank, or change out substrate, I will definitely repeat through Amazon and hope to get it through the same vendor, too. Big savings, great quality, and easy to use!

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Ultralife Reef Products, Red Slime Stain Remover, .71 Ounce

I had my nano cube up and running for about 6 weeks before I got hit with a red slime outbreak. Still not sure exactly what caused it as my water flow/quality was good and I wasn't overfeeding because all I had were some cleaner snails and hermit crabs in there, but regardless, when the outbreak hit i went to my local fish store to search for a cure. It's only been 12 hours since I applied the dose but almost all of the red slime has been killed so far. The guy at my fish store said it would take 24-48 hours to completely do the job. But, this same sized vial cost $17.99 at my local fish store, so I would highly recommend purchasing it at Amazon at this low price if you can.

I was skeptical about ordering this product. I've used the competitor's chemical with little success. The redslime algae would return with a vengeance! I was constantly fighting it. I read the reviews about RedSlime Remover and decided to give it a try! After the first treatment I could see good results, but was able to retreat after 48 hours. I did a second treatment and much to my surprise the red slime has vanished!!! AND no water changes necessary!!! Kept my carbon in the filter and the protein skimmer going! I highly recommend this product!!!

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I have been trying to manage red cyanobacteria in my 26 gal reef tank for months with no success. Even after a thorough cleaning and water change, I would have red slime on my live sand and live rock again within 24 hours. After adding this product the first time, I saw no immediate results. I cleaned the algae and added a second dose 48 hours later (per the instructions), and have not had any red slime since. My protein skimmer is on a timer and runs at night (due to the noise it makes in the living area of our home), but I never had to turn it off. There has been no negative impact to my water quality or the health of my fish. I am extremely pleased with this product.

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For some reason unknown to myself... Ultralife seems to have renamed their product to "Red Slime Stain Remover" from the previous name of "Red Slime Remover". I do believe it to be the exact same product. (I was about to send mine back thinking it was a different product)

The stuff does work. However, you must be cautious, because it will cause a bit of havoc in your tank. Your corals will not care for it. Expect some shrinkage. Be sure to supply the tank with some extra oxygen prior and during treatment.. via an air stone. Keep your skimmer going and check it often. It will likely go into overdrive and need to be dumped very often. (You also may need to dial it back) I typically try to do a big water change a couple days after treatment.

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I used this in my 65-gallon Red Sea Max saltwater tank. In this tank I've got 4 clowns, a puffer, diamond goby, green goby, rabbitfish, and Charlie blenny. My corals are mushrooms, polyps, and leather. I've also got a rose bubble-tip. Lots of live rock and sand.

I used this product after getting a lot of red slime on my rock. Use is very simple with the included measuring spoon, although it is a little difficult to get this dissolved in the water beforehand. After putting the mixture into the tank, it developed an interesting yellow color, but that disappeared before too long.

The packaging does say that you can leave carbon, etc in and on. It does warn that protein skimmers can be over-activated, and this is certainly true. Almost instantly, ours started to over-produce, so I recommend you either turn your skimmer off or turn it way down.

Very good results within 24 hours (we did reduce our photo-period as well. You may want to stir your sand bed if you have an issue inside of it. Very good results I'll be using this again. Absolutely no adverse impacts on livestock.

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Petco Small Greek Single Column Aquarium Ornament Ruins Collection

My fish requested this pillar specifically as it matched their current decor. They love it. It's a good size for our 10 gallon tank, and is heavy enough to hold down the bubble maker.

If my fish could type, they'd say the same.

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Fish Mate 3000GUV Gravity UV+Bio Pond Filter

Last year I had a terrible algae problem. So far this year, with the new Fish Mate 3000GUV Gravity UV + Bio Pond Filter and regular Algae Fix applications, my pond is staying very clean and clear.

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Tetra Usa ATS25994 Bio Foam Grid Replacement Kit with Whisper 30/40/60 Power Filter

After reading this as a kit one would assume there to be 2 of each (grid & foam) as seen in the photo. All that was sent is one of the item. Since the filter 30/40/60 requires 2 of them it would only make sense. So if you are looking to buy these you better buy two.

The filter is Original Tetra and operates just fine.

I lost my bio filters some time ago and was amazed that I could replace them without ordering the entire pump. As I have come to expect, my order arrived in 2days and it is exactly what I ordered.

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JW Pet Company ActivAir T-Rex Aquarium Ornament

We got this cute little bubbler after seeing the video review. He is such a cute feature in our 12-gallon fluval edge aquarium, and our two boys (5 and 3) love it. He bends (at his leg joints) up and down as the bubbles escape his jaws. His little arms also move with the current as he bobs. Between the traditional sunken pirate treasure chest bubbler and this dinosaur, I just couldn't resist the dinosaur. He's unique and fun. You will need to supply your own air pump and tubing. As other reviewers have pointed out, you will likely need a regulator (an adjustable valve) if you want to have some control over how frequently he bobs up and down. The platform is a bit hard to keep concealed by the aquarium pebbles, especially if the air flow is too strong causing him to shift as he blows bubbles. But if you've regulated the flow to create a slow bob up and down, there's no shifting. For our little tank, home to a few tetras, it's just the right amount of movement and activity, and the right size feature.

We were really stoked to get this adorable Trex, unfortunately it was a huge let down because after a couple of weeks the air was leaking out of his arms so the head did not fill and release. So we would cut the airflow then he would start working again. But after only a couple of hours he would drop and not refill. They need to seal the arms and have them move from an outside part, the holes that the arms are plugged into are what is leaking the air. It was also sort of a pain to have to buy an air pump for this guy, it does not come with one.

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I just wanted to let u know how funny this dino is I ca't stop laughing at it can't wait to have it in my tank. I never seen one like this before LOL

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Hagen CO2 Natural Plant System Bubble Counter with Suction Cup and Tubing

This bubble counter is included in the Hagen Plant Grow Natural System. It is probably one of the most efficient methods of dissolving CO2 into the aquarium water when not using a forced water method.

I think this unit is better than using an air stone, bubbling into an upside down cup and certainly better than just letting an air line bubble into the tank.

In my experience, you will still have CO2 loss because not all the bubbles will be dissolved before they run through the unit and bubble to the surface of the water. However, it is still fairly efficient and very easy to set up. All you do is attached the air line that is connected to your CO2 source to the plastic drip tip that is included and then the bubbles slowly pass through a maze of bubble paths, dig zagging their way until they reach the top of the unit. Like I said, there will still be bubbles that pass through the top and disperse to the surface of the water.

My preferred method to diffusing CO2 bubbles into the water is by forcing water to mix with the bubbles. This can easily be accomplished by using a Rio Power head connected to a small bottle that the CO2 line is also connected to. This should completely dissolve the CO2 bubbles. You can find an already made system online for around 35-50 bucks. Or you can make one yourself for around 15 bucks. I made my own and it works beautifully. You also get the added benefit of having extra water current flow (which most fish appreciate).

But for a simple, cheap and easy to set up solution for dissolving CO2 bubbles into the aquarium, this Hagen diffuser is a good way to go. Make sure when you set it up that you set the unit as low as it will go in the aquarium (the bottom touching the gravel) so that the CO2 bubbles have maximum time to travel before reaching the water surface (and after that wasted).

As far as just a bubble counter, this is probably the most fun unit to watch that you can buy. My kids love watching the bubbles zig zag through the unit until the bubbles reach the top (cheap entertainment).

I have used a glass/ceramic diffuser for two years with my yeast based co2 system. This worked well enough and plants have grown pretty well. However, these do get blocked and there is a danger of back pressure causing the bottles to explode. They can be cleaned but sometimes difficult to remove the hose once it becomes hardened without breaking the glass. I also tired of seeing all those tiny bubbles floating around the tank.

I don't know exactly how much co2 dissolved in terms of ppm, however, pH fell from 7.9/8.0 to 7.3/7.4 when I started injecting it 2 yrs ago, so seems pretty effective.

As the diffuser was due for replacement again I decided to try a ladder this time it's brilliant!

I agree that it looks pretty cool to watch, and yes, the bubbles did clump at first but after leaving it overnight it was working properly the following morning. I did fiddle with the angle for some time I think you just need to leave it alone and give it time to settle.

I no longer have loads of tiny bubbles and my pH has dropped further now to 7.0, so this is definitely getting more into the water than the ceramic diffuser did. I also found that the old diffuser tended to create much finer bubbles when the mixture started to tire and the flow rate subsided, meaning that more probably dissolved than did when the mixture was fresh.

The bubbles get much smaller as they travel up the ladder, and as they decrease in size they also slow down. This means they catch up with each other, merge, and pop out of the top about the same size as the bubbles which enter at the bottom. However, they enter at 1 per second at the bottom and pop out of the top about every 10 seconds. This suggest a 90% absorption rate (hope that makes sense!).

Some day these are hard to disguise. This model attaches flat to the side so isn't very wide from the front view at all it is not intrusive in my tank at all.

Of course, the system is now low pressure so the danger of explosion is eliminated.

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Don't be dismayed if at first it seems like the bubbles are getting built up in certain areas. This is part of the break-in process and it will fix itself. Once some bio-slime (mmmm, bio slime...) gets built up on it, the bubbles go up the ladder smoothly.

I'm using mine with a homemade CO2 system and I'm already seeing results. I would recommend "The Ladder" to anyone who is using a DIY method and doesn't have enough pressure to properly utilize a ceramic diffuser. Plus, you don't really need a separate bubble counter to monitor your CO2 output. You can see every bubble that comes out and tailor your CO2 production accordingly.

Summary: for the price, seems to work great. Low tech and effective.

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This is one of the best setups especially if you are running a DIY CO2 system (basically a bottle with sugar and yeast :)

IT is a bubble counter and a difuser all in one. You can watch the bubbles travel up the ladder and if you install a control valve you can adjust how many bubbles come out.

Be careful with installing control valves on diy CO2 as if you close it too much it can blow up and cause a huge mess. Please research these methods before just slapping a bottle together and putting it on your tank

Back to product it is great. If at first you don't succeed wait. :)

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Seems to be a very efficient co2 diffuser. Give it about a day for the natural slime to build up on it so the bubbles will slide easily. Good quality stuff, Very easy to set up!

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biOrb Large Volcano - 9 and 16 Gallon

I took off the green plants from the volcano because I wanted to add my own more colorful plants, you can easily re attach them, and it is not noticable that they were removed. As indicated in my title, I have the color changing LED unit and it looks so amazingly cool with this volcano! I will try and get a picture or 2 up of my tank.

First of all, my volcano with plants looks NOTHING like the pictured one!

Second, it was too tall for my 16 gallon container so my husband had to cut it off so we could put the light back in the tank. The water, which was newly cleaned, has been cloudy ever since -maybe from the volcano?

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This volcano is a 'must have' in my opinion for a BiUbe.

It is just tall enough to cover the bubble tube and really looks great!

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