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fshkpr4evr

Edmonton & Area Member
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Posts posted by fshkpr4evr

  1. I was in PJ's W.E.M. on Saturday and noticed they had a really cool freshwater shrimp 'desktop' aquarium set up. It looked like there were about 20-30 shrimp spanning over 5 varieties. My readings on shrimp indicate that they require a lot of hiding spots, a filter with a small grid on the intake, and a pH ranging from 6.5 to 7.6. They are omnivores so it would be good to include some hardy live plants such as java moss or moss balls.

    I believe Fluval just launched a bunch of new "Ebi" products designed for freshwater crustaceans, so you may want to check that out at your LFS.

    Hope this helps.

  2. I would check that there is no visible damage to the impeller, impeller shaft, and impeller cover. Do you see any black rubber 'bushings' on each end of the impeller shaft because they should be there and help prevent vibration within the impeller chamber.

    If all looks o.k., I would try to prime the filter again and wait until the filter is completely full before you plug it in. If noise still persists, then air is getting into the unit somehow. Check all fittings to make sure they are tight to the hose.

    Hope this helps.

  3. A few facts on ammonia / ammonium and how AquaPlus & Prime relate:

    The amount of ammonia freed when the bond of chloramine is broken is not going to be a toxic level given the usual conentration of chloramine that is used for water for human consumption. Biological capacity exisiting within the aquarium is all that is required to metabolize it. If the pH is below 7, then ammonium is not toxic. Ammonium is related to pH only, it is unrelated to the use of Prime.

    Aqua Plus does not contain aloe vera. It contains colloids that will not interfere with fish gills in any way.

    Aqua Plus is the only water conditioner that features a US patent in regards to stress prevention; important when perfoming tank maintenance as well as when new specimens are being introduced etc.

    The exact composition of Prime is proprietary, so it leaves me to speculate onto the make of the product. A few tests done on Prime lends some certinity that it contains a compound named sodium formaldehyde sulfoxylate (Also found in Amquel, Kordon under the name of sodium hydroxymethylsulfinate). This causes the peculiar aroma of the product. Why onto a half bottle it is more evident than first opened? Basically it is a question of airspace (O2) above the product. Does oxygen deplete the integrity of Prime. Perhaps??

  4. These are nice kits. They are more of a concept than just a rectangular glass box. What would you rather have in your office, on a bookshelf, or perhaps your child's room? I agree they are a bit more expensive but "price is what you pay - value is what you get". It's no different than getting an iPhone vs a regular cell phone. You can make a call on both but the iPhone is more modern and high-tech looking.

  5. Just a question.....

    Why would someone order from the states and absorb a lot of extra costs on fish or dry goods that appear to be 'cheap'

    It appears that there is some money to be lost: extra fees and added potential of fish loss - buy at your own risk?

    I would rather walk into my LFS and hand pick healthy stock and pay a little bit more. In reality...it is probably more cost effective.

    Just my opinion on this topic and am curious to hear others.

    Thanks

  6. I have used nothing but Fluvals on my aquariums since 1995 and have had no problems. With ANY canister filter it is important to lubricate the o-rings with a silicone based lubricant a few times per year. This will keep the o-rings in good condition and prevent them from twisting or kinking which usually causes leaking issues.

    Fluval (Hagen) stands behind their products. I needed a replacement Aquastop because I broke it and their customer service representative sent one to me N/C under warranty.

  7. The reason why I mention the order I did is because the water flows from bottom to top in the Fluval '05 canister filters. That is to say that you want the cleanest, most filtered water to pass through the biological chambers - the top two or three.

    You are not doing yourself any favors by placing Biomax in the bottom tray as it has a higher potential for the very porous tunnels and caves to clog up quicker which makes it very ineffective. This applies to any porous biological media.

    Bacteria will latch on to anything.....glass, gravel, ornaments, and even fish.

    Beneficial bacteria, nitrosomas and nitrobacter, need a 'home' to colonize, multiply, and perform their biological function in. This 'home' is usually in the last stage of the filter with some degree of water flow bringing an energy source to them - NO3 and NO2. If the porous environment becomes clogged and inoperable, then the bacteria's function becomes limited.

    Regards

  8. I ran the Rena XP3 on one of my aquariums for about a year and have had nothing but problems:

    Difficult to prime

    Inconsistent impeller operation

    Leaking from motor head

    Defective valve 0-rings (leaking)

    Very frustrating to deal with. After contacting the retailer, whom I will not mention, and the manufacturer directly I still did not receive much help or product support.

    I switched to a Fluval 405 and am very happy with the performance. I notice that most reputable stores sell them and parts availability and warranty is not an issue.

    Seriously looking at the Fluval G6 as my next upgrade......

  9. Tray #1 (bottom): chemical media eg. carbon, NO2 - NO3 - NH3 or PO4 removers

    Tray #2: same as tray #1. You might want to use extra biological media such as Fluval Biomax

    Tray #3: Fluval Biomax

    Tray #4: Fluval Biomax (top)

    The reason why there is dividers in the trays is so it is easier to use and change various types of media and also it assists with the rotation of your biological media. The general rule of thum is to change half of it every 6-8 months.

    Hope this helps. They are great filters. :)

  10. Why do people by Mercedes or Rolex watches? Because they want 'the best'.

    The Fluval G is not for everyone and in reality it will probably filter the water just as good as the '05 series. For the person that is into high tech equipment (iphones, home theatre, digital SLR cameras, etc.) and wants 'the best', then he/she would appreciate the Fluval G.

    The Fluval engineers are not reinventing the wheel here. They have just advanced the technology, on-board reporting, and ease of maintenance to the aquarium filtration industry. In my opinion, they are keeping up with a level of technological advancement that we are used to seeing in other industrys.

  11. I was in Vancouver yesterday and had a chance to visit Aquariums West. They just got in a brand new Fluval aquarium called the Edge. I must say that this kit is quite innovative. In the 20 minutes I was there, I saw 3 people purchase one. You can see it on their website.

    Does anybody know if these aquariums are available in Edmonton yet?

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