Product Review

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Pondmaster - Building and Maintaining a Koi Pond
Product Rating:

Review:
This was the first pond book I bought before building my pond. i found it useful and informative and easy to follow. now that I know a lot more about it, the book is a bit limited in what it covers and doesn't describe some of the more advanced aspects of koi pond filtration. but great for the average beginner.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Sugar Loaf Air Dome Bottom Drains
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Review:
This is a very well made drain. If you want only the best for your pond and koi, then this is the drain to use.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Pond Care AlgaeFix
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Review:
I read a lot of bad things about this product but I have had zero problems and it cleared my pond quick. much faster then the barley for sure. It was recommended to me to only use when I have algae and never to prevent algae so thats what I do.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: AquaMeds Pond Support
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Review:
Been using this for about a year now, along with koi clay, it keeps my pond is spectacular condition. I highly recommend it.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Laguna pH Down
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Review:
My koi freaked out every time I used this product. I was told I was bringing the pH down too quickly and it stressed them. I stopped sing it and just let the pH be high, the koi don't seem to care at all.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Microbe-Lift Barley Pellets
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Review:
I had good luck with this barley and it made less of a mess as the regular straw looking barley. It took weeks and weeks but it finally got rid of the green.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Microbe-Lift Dechlorinator Plus
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Review:
It does what it is supposed to do, remove chlorine. I gave it 4 stars because it doesn't treat as much for the money when compared to other brands.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Thrive Koi Clay
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Review:
I was very happy with the Thrive clay. It dissolved fast in my pond and I didn't see any at the bottom. It really made my pond clear after the first time I used it so I kept using it. I have seen a big difference in the colors on my koi over the past year and I am sure it is at least in part due to the clay.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Tetra Oxygen test kit
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Review:
This test saved me. I had no idea I was low on O2 in my pond and my fish were gasping and I didn't know why. Picked up this test kit and found out I was really low on O2 even though I had a waterfall running. Everybody should test for O2 levels in the summer, even if you think you are fine, its worth getting this test kit to make sure.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Aqua Ultraviolet Viper Series
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Review:
I don't own one, but I saw one in use at my local koi dealers. He had over 15,000 gph going through it and his water was amazing. He said it was because of the huge UV he used and I believe it. The thing actually hummed it was so powerful. He said the bulbs cost $200 to replace so I see that as a down side, but if you have a pond that needs a UV like this then I doubt $200 for a bulb would be a problem

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Oase Bitron 55C - 110C
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Review:
I can't complain about this UV. Its housing is kind of a cheap plastic, but it has held up well and doesn't leak. keeps the water on my small pond nice and clear. The first bulb died in about 3 months, but the replacement bulb lasted over a year, so i think the first one was just a dud or something.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Dolphin AV-50 Pond Air Pump
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Review:
I can't tell the difference between this pump and the ones that cost twice as much. Its gives lots of air very reliably for under $100...what more do you want?

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: TetraPond 1500, 2500, 4000 Pressure Filters
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Review:
not bad for the money. hard to clean the sponges. I saw a newer version (which I don't have) that gets rid of the sponges. Looks a lot better then what I had which is 4 square sponges that clog and need to be cleaned.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Galaxy Air Blower
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Review:
I don't have this brand of blower, I just picked mine up at a spa supply. All bead filters need a good blower to really get them clean.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Cal Pump Bio-Filters
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Review:
What a piece of junk this thing is. Water leaked out of the backwash pipe after a few weeks of use. i called cal pump and they said it happens all the time and to just install a ball valve on the drain to stop the leak....um if it happens all the time, maybe you should consider it a design flaw and fix it? Then after about 6 months, then handle broke off and the ring clamp was rusted and impossible to open without a hammer.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Wave Vortex Filters 24
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Review:
its effective as a vortex filter, but its very big and hard to install and even harder to hide. Plus the thing costs and arm and a leg to buy and its just a fancy looking round basin.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: AquaMats
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Review:
I guess these are ok. i used them and they kinda work. Don;t seem like they have much surface area to really have any effect on filtration. My turtle chewed them up after a few weeks anyway so I just got rid of them.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Pondmaster Mag-Drive Models 2 - 7
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Review:
The best small sub pumps on the market. They run and run and run and never die. They cost about 50% more then some cheaper pumps but are worth twice that because of how long they last. I have had mine running for over 12 years!!! I had a cheap o pump Rio pump that died the very first time it clogged. It was a waste of money at any price. Go quality, get the pondmaster!

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Matala Versiflow Pump
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Review:
I have had this pump running 24/7 for the past 3 years. I have not had one single problem with it. I gave 4 stars instead of 5 because its a bit high on watts compared to other brands. But it make sup for it with reliability.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Sequence 4000 series
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Review:
very happy with my recent pump purchase. I got the 4800 (it think) and it is very very quiet and gives me tons of flow. I haven't used it more then a few months, so I can't say on its long term reliability, but my last sequence 1000 series lasted over 8 years so i know they make a good pump.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Nycon Deluxe Koi Handling Nets
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Review:
good net, no complaints. I wish they attached to a pool pole instead of their own, more expensive, net handle. but otherwise its a fine net for 90% of koi owners.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Pearls of Paradise Show Tanks
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Review:
Very well made tank, has held up very well over the 5 years I have had mine. I have set it up and taken it down dozens of times and not so much as a single leak. The only reason i gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is the cost. I think they are far too expensive. Although they are made in the US so its going to cost more. You get what you pay for I guess.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Koi Viewing Bowls
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Review:
If you have koi you got to have a good bowl. Perfect fro treatments, photos, viewing and inspection. Having a bowl makes it much easier to catch the koi because all you have to do is guide them into the bowl and you don't have to lift them out of the water in the net. I got my bowl from Fancy Koi outlet...very nice bowl for the money.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Pond Fizz Fungal
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Review:
This was the first time I had ever used a pond fizz product. I was relatively happy with the results. I didn't clear up the fungus completely, but it seemed to keep it under control and a single treatment with hydrogen peroxide finished it off.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: ProForm - LA
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Review:
I had good success with this stuff. It took three treatments but the anchor worms were gone and have not come back. It does what it says...what more can I say about it?

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Aqua MedZyme Dry Concentrate
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Review:
Nothing but good things to say about this. Its cheaper then other brands and does the same thing, maybe even better and treats more. Its great not having to keep it refrigerated too. For really crowded ponds or koi with ulcers, this product is a must

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Kaldnes Moving Bed K1
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Review:
This is the best stuff anywhere for a open flow through filter. Very easy to clean, tons of bacteria, never clogs. There is the ideal media for a koi pond. I found it works the best if you put it loose in a basin or tub and run air through it so it boils and rolls. basically the same thing they do with the nexus filters.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 13 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Laguna Bio Mesh
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Review:
Its very tightly woven so very little can get through yet it doesn't clog very easily which is nice. It also holds up well and hasn't fallen apart on me. Very good media

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Thursday 07 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Savio Radiance LED Lights
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Review:
I have 5 of these on my koi pond and after 3 years not one of them have failed. Very bright and clear. highly recommend.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Thursday 07 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Red Fox Urine
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Review:
My pond is open to the hills and I had a raccoon family that would visit me often. I got this and spread it around and it kept them away. I had to keep using it every few days, but it did work. If I didn't use it for over a week, they would come back. After several months of use they seemed to move on and haven't come back. My koi are definitively happier without the raccoons coming by.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Thursday 07 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Laguna Master Test Kit
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Review:
Been using this kit for over a year and it has worked very well for me. Tests all the key items and seems pretty reliable and give consistent results.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Thursday 07 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Cal Pump UV
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Review:
Wasn't happy with this UV. It leaked and didn't help clear my water. The retailer who sold it to me went out of business so I couldn't return it.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Thursday 07 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Koi - Volumes 1 & 2
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Review:
I was given these books as a present and I LOVE them. Really beautiful photos and everything I know about the different types of koi comes from these books. They increase my knowledge of koi 100x.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Thursday 07 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Phos - X Phosphate Remover
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Review:
It really got rid of my string algae in my pond. I did a phosphate test and it was high so I added several bags and the algae went away within a couple weeks and never came back.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Thursday 07 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Microbe-Lift Barley Extract
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Review:
Only saw moderate results with this. I had green water and it went away only a small amount after several weeks of use and I finally gave up and used an algaecide.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Thursday 07 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: AquaScience Cloram-X
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Review:
I switched to this dechlor and have been very happy and will probably never switch again. I can add as much as I like and the fish never get stressed. It also treats a lot for the money.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Thursday 07 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Pond Prime
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Review:
I used this product several times and I noticed that the fish seemed stressed after each use. It's really inexpensive, that's why I tried it. I think i was using more then needed, but I don't want a product that is stressful to my koi if I use too much.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Thursday 07 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: PondCare Chlorine and Heavy Metal Neutralizer
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Review:
Never had a single chlorine issue with this product. I have a big pond and it doesn't treat as much as other brands, so I gave it only 4 stars instead of 5.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Thursday 07 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Oase AquaOxy
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Review:
This has been a reliable air pump for me over the past year. Its quiet and doesn't use very many watts.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Thursday 07 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Pondmaster Pro 5000 Bio-Filter 18-inches
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Review:
I added this to my pond as extra filtration. i had a self built stone waterfall and I wanted extra filtration but didn't want tor redo all my plumbing. So i just added this at the top. It was easy to install and added a lot of filtration to my pond. There was also soom for a mesh bag of my own media. I'm happy with this waterfall filter

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Thursday 07 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Proform PC
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Review:
This stuff really works. Every time I notice my pond is a bit cloudy or brownish I just add this stuff and I got crystal clear water the very next day.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Thursday 07 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: PondCare Microbial Algae Clean
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Review:
I saw good results with this product. I had to add it three times before I saw a difference, but after that my green water cleared up pretty quickly.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Thursday 07 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: EA Show Koi Food
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Review:
By far my favorite koi food on the market. Really had amazing results with my koi. Great growth and color. The whites really popped. I tired a different food this year because of budget reasons, but when I have the money, this is the food I always get for my pond babies.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Thursday 07 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Hikari Economy
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Review:
I used this every now and then when I am out of food and need something quick from the local pet store. Not a bad choice, but its pretty expensive for what you get. I'd rather spend my money on some of the better premium brands.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Thursday 07 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Emperors Choice
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Review:
I have used this food the entire 2010 season. I have been very pleased with the growth and health of my koi. Seems like there is very little fish poop after each feeding and the koi love it. Its also less expensive then the premium brands.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Thursday 07 October, 2010
Product Reviewed:
Product Rating:

Review:
This is a really cool media. I added it to my regular filter and it vastly improved the quality of my water. It was worth the extra money over other media for sure. Highly recommend as an addition to any open filter system.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Thursday 07 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Sequence Primer Pumps
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Review:
This has been my main pump for over 3 years and I am very happy with it. It has run non stop the entire time and is still very quiet and gives great gph. It even got submerged once during a heavy rain and I dried it out and it started right up without a hitch.

William Bettering (Hobbyist) on Thursday 07 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Alpine Hurricane
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Review:
I am pretty happy with this pond pump. I did find it clogged a bit easier then I liked, but I rigged a prefilter to prevent this. It ran dry a couple times after it clogged and it never had a problem after i cleaned it so that is saying something. A lot of cheap pumps die if they run dry even once, so I was impressed with this. Good flow and seems pretty quiet.

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