Review: Current USA Single Ramp Timer

 

 Features:

• Program On & Off Times
• 15 Minute Ramp To Full Intensity
• 15 Minute Gentle Dim To Darkness
• Simulate Sunrise & Sunset
• Manual On & Off
• Low Voltage 12 - 24VDC 
• Compatible With Most LED Lights Which Are 12-24VDC That Use A Standard 2.5mm x 5mm DC Plug

The Good:

• Works With Most LED's
• Sleek Design Taps Right Into Power Line
• Manual Override For On & Off
• Can Control Two Lights Simultaneously

The Bad:

• More Expensive Than A Mechanical Timer
• Not Fully Compatible With Current USA Satellite Freshwater LED Plus

 

Experience:

 

I bought this a few months after buying my Current USA Satellite Freshwater LED Plus. I needed something to keep my fish on a regular light cycle because I work third shift during the week and sleep normally the rest. My fish seemed to get really agitated from 'getting up' at 5:00 AM one day and 11:00 AM the next. I looked at several mechanical timers, but liked how this one plugged directly into the line.

I've been fully satisfied with this timer. It turns on and off exactly when it is needed. Its only downfall is that only on & off  function work with my Current USA Satellite Freshwater LED Plus. I'm not too sad though because I like to keep a constant full spectrum light on for my plants anyway. It is about five  times the cost of a mechanical timer, but worth not dealing with a bulky box. I payed $25.16 when I bought it on Amazon. My favorite feature is the on or off override, where all you have to do is press the Hour + button to turn the light in a constant on or off mode. I have my light set on an earlier cycle so sometimes I miss my last feeding. Just make sure to press Mode when done or you will give your fish a 24 hour light torture. I'll definitely be buying another one for my other tank in the future.

 

Should You Buy It?

 

Buy it if you want to simply your light cycle or can't keep up with your cycle.

 

Buy On Amazon

Review: Marineland PA0100 Filter Pad, 312-Square-Inch, Bonded

 

 Features:

• 312 Square Inches
• Cut To Fit

The Good:

• Long Lasting
• Cheaper Than Filter Cartridges
• One Package Will Fill Two Large HOB Filters 
• Catches The Majority of Debris

The Bad:

• Fish Will Get Caught In It If They Swim Into Your Filter

 

Experience:

 

This should be a staple of everyone's filter media.  It is really cheap and seems to last forever. My last pack of it only cost me $4.28 on Amazon. I still have some of original stuff I bought over a year and a half ago. One pack is enough to fill two HOB filters. There seems to be plenty of room for bacteria to grow and it is really good at catching debris from going back into the tank. Cleaning is a breeze. Just squeeze it in a bucket of old tank water. I would suggest rinsing every time you do a water change, but every other time would be fine. Just make sure you DON'T wash it in tap water because you will kill all your good bacteria! I'll definitely be buying this again when it actually needs replaced.

Should You Buy It?

 

Definitely give it a shot if your filter media is in need of replacement or even if you are setting up for the first time.

Buy At Amazon

Attack of the Plecostomus Babies!

I bought my first Bristlenose Plecostomus about a month or two after starting my 55g tank. It was probably too early to put them in, but they survived just fine on algae wafers and leftovers. It was amazing to see how fast the pleco grew over the course of a few months. I couldn't wait to see my Bristlenose with their spikes, but after about half a year I realized that my pleco wasn't getting any bristles. At that point I looked the species up and realized only males got bristles. I knew that I would have to get a male eventually.

I ended up getting a Rubberlip Plecostomus about a year after I set up my 55g. After three attempts I got a Rubberlip to survive. They were the complete opposite of my Bristlenose. He would hide all day and I would rarely even see him. My female Bristlenose would be happily sticking to the glass all day long.  The Rubberlip actually hid so well that sometimes I couldn't even find him when doing a full tank clean out.  After about six months he had grown some, but nowhere near my Bristlenose.

A few months ago I decided to upgrade my 55g to a 75g. Petsmart had a nice sale with Corey Cats for just a dollar so I decided it was finally time to upgrade my stock. Of course when I got there, the dollar Corey Cats were conveniently sold out. I decided to go ahead and buy something else. I looked for a while, but couldn't get the image of the male Bristlenose pleco out of my head. It was time to take another shot at getting a male Bristlenose. I bought a regular colored one because my female was albino. After just a few weeks I began to see bristles on my new pleco. I was completely ecstatic at the time.

After awhile I noticed the Rubberlip became much braver and would come out for brief spurts. He stayed to his side of the tank and the Bristlenoses stayed on the other. About a week later I couldn't seem to find my Rubberlip at all. I looked everywhere, but seen absolutely nothing. Unfortunately, I did find the Rubberlips carcass on cleaning day. I didn't understand how the plecos had lived in peace for a few months and then bam one gets killed. A few weeks later I got my answer...

My male Bristlenose was quite a bit shier than my female, but on this particular week he was no where to be found. I went through my weekly cleaning and still nothing! I was beginning to worry, but found my answer two days my cleaning.Baby plecos were found hiding under my driftwood and on my filter intake tube. At first I only seen a few, but at this point I have at least 50 or more! My male also started showing his face again. Surprisingly, every single baby turned out black. My parents had a batch of babies, but got a variety of colors. It is really amazing to have so many babies because my mollies did a great job at controlling their own population, but they won't touch the baby plecos.

Bristlenose Plecostomus Eggs

I'm still baffled at what to do with all the babies. I did contact a few local pet stores, but I don't know if they would take so many babies. Craigslist hates my phone carrier so I can't sign up and I really don't trust it anyway. If you are in the Indianapolis, IN area and want free Bristlenose then shoot me an email!

Review: 18 - 24'' Marineland LED Single Bright Aquarium Lighting System

 Features:

• 17,000 Lifetime Hour Rating  
• 300 Lumen Output
• Adjustable Support Legs
• Night & Day Mode

The Good:

• Bright Enough For Low To Low-Medium Plants
• Low Power Usage
• Stays Cool
• Sleek Profile
• No Bulbs To Replace

The Bad:

• Once It Burns Out You Have To Replace The Whole Thing
• A Bit More Expensive Than Fluorescent Counterpart

 

Experience:

 

I bought this to replace an Aqueon fluorescent deluxe full hood that came with my 55 gallon kit. This light cost me a little over $50 on sale at Petsmart. It was really easy to fit the light over my current hood. The light should fit most 18 - 24'' gaps above tanks, but I would avoid keeping it on a tank without some kind of cover. The light looked more natural than my fluorescent light and seemed to be just as bright. The plugin might be its only real flaw. It is similar to an old cell phone charger that hangs off the outlet sideways. The night mode looks great, but I don't use it to extend the life of the light. My light is still running like brand new seven months later.

 

Should You Buy It?

 

I liked it so much that I bought another one two months after the first one. It should work fire for a low lighted non-C02 injected planted tank.

Buy At Amazon

 

Update 4/8/2014:  

 

Still working perfectly with little to no brightness reduction.

 

Review: Aqueon 55 Gallon Deluxe Aquarium Kit

 

The Good:

• Comes With All The Basics To Start A Tropical Or Goldfish Tank
• Reasonable Price Compared To Buying Everything Individually
• Aqueon Filters Have The Highest Flow Rate For HOBS

The Bad:

• The Florescent Hoods Look Outdated 
• Aquarium Addiction Possible

 

Contents:

 

This set comes with most of the essentials to get a tank up and running. It includes a 55 gallon glass aquarium, two 24 inch fluorescent deluxe full hoods, a QuietFlow™ 55/75 filter, a 200 watt submersible heater, a small fish net, a sample of tropical fish food flakes and enough tap water conditioner to set up your tank.

 

Other Equipment Recommended For Tank Set Up:

• 55 Pounds of Gravel, Sand Or Other Substrate
• Aquarium Stand
• Decor
• Air Pump / Bubbler
• Gravel Vac
• Extra Filter

 

Experience:

 

I bought my set when it was on sale at Petco for right around $150 with taxes. I hadn't had an aquarium since I was a kid but the easy set up guide was clear enough to get everything going. Each piece of equipment also came with their retail instructions. The aquarium is built very well and should last for many years. The hoods are very sturdy and have plenty of room for equipment in the back. The fluorescent lights were complete junk. I had one of them go out within three months and the other went out two months after that. The filter keeps the water crystal clear and my parameters at safe levels. The filter media is expensive and should be replaced with any cut-to-fit filter media asap. The heater has performed flawlessly. It even kept my fish alive during a furnace failure in the dead of winter! The heater has a convenient light to show when it is on. The net and food do what you would expect. The tap water conditioner works fine, but I would suggest you buy Amquel / Novaqua or Prime for water changes.

 

Should You Buy It?

 

The Aqueon 55 Gallon Deluxe Aquarium Kit is a great starter kit for the price. You might have to buy a few extra piece of equipment later, but this set will get you started. I would definitely buy this again if I ever set up another 55 gallon.

Update 4/12/2014: 

 

I am currently only using the 55g tank from this set. My parents have the HOB filter running in one of their tanks. The only thing that actually failed from this set were the two florescent hoods. I would still recommend buying this if you see it on sale or are just starting out.