Product Review

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Pond Care AlgaeFix
Product Rating:

Review:
I have read many bad things about this product. But I used it for years and years on dozens of ponds that I maintain weekly and I have never had a single problem in any of the ponds. Products like this can reduce the amount of oxygen in the pond, so you should never overdose or use it for no reason. But when used properly it should be very safe for the pond. Oh, and it works too!

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Microbe-Lift Ammonia Remover
Product Rating:

Review:
This product does work and does exactly what is says it will. I gave it 3 stars because there are much cheaper ammonia products on the market. Most chlorine removers have an ammonia binder in it. ChloramX and Dechlor and More are two products that will treat 10x what one gallon of this will treat plus they remove chlorine all at around 1/2 the cost.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Microbe-Lift Phosphate Remover
Product Rating:

Review:
In certain towns I know their source water runs high in phosphates and I get more calls in those areas because of algae then in others. They think I am some sort of wizard because I get rid of their algae so easy with a phosphate remover. I have used this one many times and its pretty much the only one I use although I have tried other products with equal success. If you have algae that simply won't go away, test for phosphates before you dump a bunch of algae killing products in.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Thrive Koi Clay
Product Rating:

Review:
I use thrive koi clay in every single pond I treat and maintain. My customers usually say that after hiring me for only a few weeks their water is so much better. I am certain it is at least in part because of the thrive. Excellent product.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Beckett Submersible Filter
Product Rating:

Review:
This is the basic PetSmart filter and I see them quite often on the ponds I treat. I am simply not a fan of submersible filters, so no matter how wells its made I would not give any of them over 3 stars. But if you use one, this is as good as any. I usually upgrade my customers because they are hard to clean and fill with muck very quickly. But you will see that in almost all submersible pond filters. And with as many of these as I have come across, I have never seen one broken and cracked, so that's something I guess.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Wave I
Product Rating:

Review:
I have installed a total of 8 wave I pumps. So far, over the past 5 years, 4 have died on me. Once during the summer and my customer lost some very nice fish. Not sure if the customers were running them dry or what, but it had the highest failure rate of any other pump I have used so I stopped installing them. I now install sequence pumps primarily and have not had any issues.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Tiny Might Pump
Product Rating:

Review:
A bit small for most ponds, but it is ideal some situations. I have used them as a low flow alternative. There is a big pump and this pump on the same line with a bypass rigged in. This one is used when they want to save money and simply keep the water flowing and the filter going during the winter in warmer climates. Then when they want a big splash on their waterfall for a party or whatever, they fire up the big pump. Its a great alternative to an expensive variable flow pump.

The other use is in a QT. Ideal for small a small set up around 500 gallons. Really low watts and very quiet.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Torpedo Pump
Product Rating:

Review:
Yet another terrible product made my Cal Pump. If you like headaches and problems, this is the pump for you. I have removed and thrown away more cal pumps from my customers ponds then any other manufacturer. People buy them because they don't cost much, but they end up costing more when you have to replace them with something better.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Waterfall Pumps PW-Series
Product Rating:

Review:
I can't count how many of these I have had to replace over the years. As an installer and pond builder I come across a lot of pumps and I have never seen one of these last for then 1 year.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Pond Care MelaFix
Product Rating:

Review:
I have never used this product. I gave it 4 stars because so many of my customers swear it works. I have read online over and over how it doesn't work, but I have numerous customers who will say different.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Bifuran (Koi Care Kennel)
Product Rating:

Review:
Its very hard to get it to mix into the water and its even harder to get the yellow out of your pond. For weeks and weeks your pond will be yellow and it takes massive water changes to get it out. I had a pretty upset customer who was having a party a week after I added this to their pond. But the product it works and their fish made a complete recovery, so I guess that's the only thing that really matters.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Argent Oxolium Powder
Product Rating:

Review:
I have had a lot of success with this powder. I couldn't get it to work as a dip, but when i set up a QT and leave the koi in their for 48 hours I have seen remarkable results. After 24 hours I do a big water change and then redose. Like most antibacterial products you can't let it have any contact with your pond, so you have to use it as a dip or a bath. I like to use it as a 2 day bath because you don;t have to catch up the koi over an over to treat them.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: UlcerAid Rx
Product Rating:

Review:
If you read my reviews here, I am a big fan of the aqua meds product line. Everything they make is as good if not better then similar products on the market, but at usually 1/3 the cost. This product is comparable to the Tricide Neo dip. But the 5 gallon bag of tricide neo costs over $80. This product makes 5 gallons also but only costs $55. It works every bit as well, if not better.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: MinnFinn
Product Rating:

Review:
I use this product whenever I have koi in a pond that makes it impossible to catch them like something with lots of deep hiding places. Or if there are simply so many koi that are sick that I simply need to treat the whole pond rather then just pulling out one or two. Minn Finn is one of the very few products on the market that actually works as a pond wide treatment. Most product that claim you can just dump it in the pond and it will solve all the koi's health problems are usually a waste of money. But Minn Finn actually works, and works well. Just be careful, it can wipe out your biofilter, so you need to rig up a bypass. But that's also how you know its working. Anything that claims to kill bad bacteria and heal infections but is safe for your biofilter probably doesn't work very well.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Jungle Labs Fungus Clear Tank Buddies
Product Rating:

Review:
Worsk very well in smaller ponds and tanks. I use it for koi that have fungus after I move them into a small quarantine. Really gets rid of the fungus quick and the koi aren't stressed out.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Pond Solutions Bio-Bandage
Product Rating:

Review:
I give this to a lot of my customers when they are dealing with ulcers and infections. Its easy for them to apply themselves. Its a medicated powder that you apply to the wound and it forms a sticky gel covering that really stays on for over a day. I usually suggest they use this product as a two step process where they dip the koi, then apply this powder.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: PondCare Master Liquid Test Kit
Product Rating:

Review:
This is a great test kit for the average hobbyist. I leave all my new pond owners with this exact kit. Its easy to use, easy to read the results and very reliable. Its every bit as good as the expensive test kit I carry with me when I am out maintaining ponds.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: AquaChek Pond Test Strips
Product Rating:

Review:
I don't like strip tests in general. A lot of my customers use them and tell me their water is fine, but my digital and reagent testing proves their test strips aren't worth a dang.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Total Dissolved Solids Meter ( TDS ) T75
Product Rating:

Review:
Not a bad little tester. I use it a lot when maintaining ponds. Its worthless if you add salt as it will give you readings off the charts, even if the water is clean, because it will read the salt as a dissolved solid (which it is i guess). But if you want a quick snapshot of how the pond is doing, a little tds meter like this one is ideal.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Dissolved Oxgen Meter Kit AQ600
Product Rating:

Review:
I have several milwaukee meters. They are good basic meters that give reliable results. This one is pretty expensive for only being an 02 tester, but it has done well over the years. Definitely needs to be calibrated and cleaned regularly. In the summer months I use it a lot.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Digital Salinity Tester
Product Rating:

Review:
Pretty much a standard in my pond tool box. I use low levels of salt from time to time in my customers pond. other then replacing the batteries I have never had to do anything to this meter and it has been giving me reliable results for over 4 years. I haven't cleaned it, calibrated it or anything. I sold a new one to a customer and I wanted to test mine to see if it was still accurate after all these years, so I put them both in the water at the same time and I got the exact same results.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: PondBuilder Elite Biological Waterfall Box 14-in.
Product Rating:

Review:
I have installed many of the 14in and the 22 inch waterfalls from pondbuilder. They are very well build and over the years I have never had 1 single complaint from any of my customers.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: PondBuilder Elite Biological Waterfall Box 22-in.
Product Rating:

Review:
I have installed many of the pondbuilder waterfalls. They have proven themselves very sturdy and reliable. I always feel comfortable finishing a pond knowing one of these is there. Easy to install, affordable and rugged construction. I have never had a single complaint about these water falls over the years.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Leader Ecovort Pumps
Product Rating:

Review:
I used this pump for a couple of years, but in a professional setting with weekly if not daily abuse, it just didn't hold up. The body cracked when it was dropped. I was happy enough with the pump that I upgraded to the same one in the stainless steel version and it has held up very well to my constant abuse. But I suspect most people won't treat their pumps as hard as I do so this one might be fine.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Leader Provort Stainless Steel Pump
Product Rating:

Review:
This is the pump I have in the back of my truck all the time. I have used it and abused it for years. I don't use it to operate ponds, I use it to drain them. I clean out ponds every week that are filled with sludge and gunk from years of neglect. I have used other cheaper drain out pumps and they clog frequently and died quickly. Been using this for years and it almost never clogs except in extreme situations.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Little Giant Low RPM pumps
Product Rating:

Review:
I have worked with the high RPM and the low RPM pumps and a few submersible pumps by little Giant on several ponds. I am very happy with the quality of all the pumps. The Low RPM pumps don't handle high head, but then again they aren't designed to. This one is great for ponds with less then 5 ft of head, anything more then that I would go with the high RPM pumps they make.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Little Giant Direct Drive Pump
Product Rating:

Review:
I love the dual discharge on this pump. Makes it very easy to hook up multiple waterfalls and/or spitters. They are very powerful and handle very high head pressure and watt usage is reasonable. The only problem is it can clog easily and you have no way to hook up a prefilter. So its better to use in a skimmer or someplace where it won't have to deal with lots of sludge and waste like at the bottom of the pond.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Little Giant Watermark K series
Product Rating:

Review:
One of the better solids handling pumps on the market. Most waste pumps are very high watts, but this one is very reasonable. Watts are low enough to run 24/7 but only if you have a high sludge environment like in a bog filter or something. If you don't need a solids handling pump, then there are better pumps for you. But if you need something that won't clog every other day, then this is a very solid choice.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Little Giant High RPM pumps
Product Rating:

Review:
A very well made, effecient and quiet pump. I have installed 4 of these over the past few years and so far not one complaint from any of my customers.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Koi Viewing Bowls
Product Rating:

Review:
I use the bowls from DreamPond. Being in the pond cleaning business, I use them pretty much every day. Very solid and have held up well after years of abuse. W. Lim also makes a good koi bowl, but the dream pond bowls are 1/2 the cost and every bit as nice.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: EA Show Koi Food
Product Rating:

Review:
One of the best, if not the best food on the market. All my high end customers with show quality ponds get this food. If you have lowly pond mutts, then this food may not be worth the extra cost. But if you are developing your koi for show, then this is a food that will work well for you.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Ultra Balance Super Premium Koi Food
Product Rating:

Review:
My regular food was out of stock so I grabbed a few bags of this so I had something to give to my customers. I was pleasantly with the quality of the food and the cost. The ingredients are good, and the fish digest it well. Now its one of the regular foods I supply my customers with.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: BioMate Carbon Filled
Product Rating:

Review:
A great way to add carbon to the filter without all the mess. The only problem is cleaning and replacing the carbon. Opening and replacing all the carbon inside each little ball is a real project. And the snaps that hold them closed fail after you have done it a few times, but some little twist ties solve that. So a mesh bag filled with carbon is easier in that regard. But if you have a closed filter system and don't want a big mesh bag in your waterfall, these are a easy and effective way to add carbon.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: EasyPro Pond Salt
Product Rating:

Review:
Don't bother buying this stuff. I gave it it 3 stars instead of 1 because I do like to use salt and its good for the pond at times. There is nothing wrong with this salt other then the cost. Just go buy a big bag of water conditioner salt at Home Depot. You can get a 40lb bag for around $6 and its the exact same salt.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: AquaMeds Armor
Product Rating:

Review:
Whenever I have to clean out and/or repair a pond, I always have to set up a tank to hold the koi for a few days. I always use this product and I have never had a stress related death, not once. They do well in the tank for several days and do well once put back into the pond. I am a big fan of the AquaMeds product line. Quality products and cheaper then anything else on the market. I had never heard of them until my local supplier started to carry them and so I tried them out and I have been very happy with all of their items.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Proform PC
Product Rating:

Review:
A very solid product. It does everything it says it will. Most clarifiers don't do anything, but this stuff really works.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Ultimate Water Conditioner
Product Rating:

Review:
This is a great water treatment. It does everything. Much more then just a chlorine remover and ammonia binder. The only problem is the cost. Very expensive per gallon treated, that's why I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars. The AquaMeds dry product does everything the same for a fraction of the cost. But this product is much easier to find.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: AquaMeds Dechlor and More
Product Rating:

Review:
This is another items i have with me at all times when i am out cleaning and maintaining ponds. This is basically a powdered form of Ultimate, it does all the same things and every bit as well, but its a fraction of the cost.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: GreenFin Little Green Bugs - Sludge Eaters
Product Rating:

Review:
I used this product for a number of years on the ponds I maintained. i was happy with the product but my local supplier stopped offering it so for convenience I switched brands. Happier with the new, AquaMeds Pond support product because its cheaper per gallon treated. but at the time I was very pleased with this.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Jump Start
Product Rating:

Review:
I use this frequently when starting up new ponds I built. When i don;t use it my customers usually complain about green water for a long period of time. But when I do use this then they usually have clear water within a few weeks rather then a few months. It contains live bacteria and needs to be refrigerated.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: AquaMeds Pond Support
Product Rating:

Review:
I carry a bag of this with me at all times when I am out servicing my ponds and every pond I clean gets a scoop of these every servicing. I am convinced this makes my job a lot easier and my customers a lot happier with the look of their pond.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Tetra - UV 3
Product Rating:

Review:
I see a lot of these on the ponds I repair and service. They are very light weight plastic and not very sturdy. They are usually not operational after several years of use, which is when they call me. They seem to be very common with those that built their own ponds.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Aqua Ultraviolet SL Series
Product Rating:

Review:
The Aqua UV is my standard unit that I use on all my construction projects unless the customer requests higher end equipment. The cost is low and the quality is good which works well when I am submitting bids for a project. There are other higher end UV's, usually made of stainless steel rather then plastic, but for the cost these are good solid units. Thicker material and stronger then most small plastic UV's.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Matala Stainless Steel UV-C
Product Rating:

Review:
Installed several of these. The entire unit is stainless, even the fittings and threads. 100 years from now you can still use this UV. It will never crack or leak or rust. The cost is a bit higher then other stainless models, but probably because it simply uses more metal. Other models have plastic fittings that will crack and wear out over time.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Zapp Pure ZP-5
Product Rating:

Review:
One of the best UV's on the market. Very effective even at high flow rates. Well made and easy to install. The stainless UV chamber will last forever.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Tetra 2-inch Vacuum Drain
Product Rating:

Review:
I end up using these on a lot of retro projects. There are a lot of aquascapes muck ponds in my area. The customer doesn't want to rip up the pond to install a true bottom drain, so I simply remove the rock (and the massive amount of sludge) and then retro fit in one of these bottom drains. They are not as good as a proper drain, but they are far better then the skimmer only design. If you are building your pond from scratch, then go with a regular bottom drain, but if its already built w/o a drain and you want to upgrade, this is a great way to go.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Savio Compact Skimmer Filter
Product Rating:

Review:
Pretty much the standard skimmer I install. Very sturdy, doesn't warp when its full like other brands. Has the UV upgrade which is a nice feature. Big basket and easy to clean. I don;t like the filter pad material they use, I usually upgrade with matala pads. But aside from that they are excellent skimmers.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Rhino Bottom Drains
Product Rating:

Review:
I have installed dozens of these drains over the years. Its a very well constructed bottom drain and that is by far the most important thing when choosing your drain. Never go cheap on the drain!

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Sugar Loaf Air Dome Bottom Drains
Product Rating:

Review:
Hard to find these, you pretty much have to order them direct from the manufacturer, other brands have better distribution and are easier to get. but I have installed 3 of these and they are very well made. That's the number one concern with a bottom drain, the quality of the construction. Price is of no concern when it comes to a drain as this is the one item you can't easily replace later, so its the one item you do not want to skimp on. I refuse to install cheap bottom drains on my customers ponds. The last thing I want to do is have to pay to rip up a pond 2 years later because the bottom drain leaked.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: PerformancePro Artesian
Product Rating:

Review:
I have worked with these on several occasions. Very well made pumps with low watts and they are very quiet. I would say that the purchase cost of the pump compared to the GPH they give seems a bit high so usually my customers opt for a different brand. But performance pro is one of the top quality brands on the market and I always feel comfortable installing them on my customers ponds.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Leaf Baskets
Product Rating:

Review:
Pretty much the industry standard. Very strong and well made and very rarely have any issues with them at all, and usually its because of the gasket being damaged. All external pumps that are not self priming should have one of these installed to protect the pump.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Matala EZ Bio
Product Rating:

Review:
Excellent pre-filter! I love Matala products to begin with, and these are one of their best ideas. I use them all the time with pondmaster pumps. They are perfect for several applications. I usually use them as a pre-filter for submersible pumps, but they also make great bio filters for small quarantine systems. I usually recommend them for a QT system because you can keep them in the main pond year round and just remove them to a temp tank and you have a cycled bio filter for your QT ready to go at a moments notice.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Tetra DynaTec Pumps
Product Rating:

Review:
Not a well designed pump. I have never purchased one, but I have maintained two ponds that had these installed. They clog easily but don't seem to die quickly. Every week when I would clean out the ponds I had to remove the pump and clean it out. I eventually had to insist they switch to a pondmaster pump with a proper pre filter

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Wunder Flo Pump
Product Rating:

Review:
Very good high flow pump. These came with a pre-designed system I installed for a customer. The entire system came on a pallet and had the pumps with it. I was impressed with the flow and energy usage.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Dynamo Pumps
Product Rating:

Review:
I rebuilt a customers pond and they already had one of these installed. I reinstalled it and it seemed to be a very good pump. Quiet and gave good flow. They had it installed outdoors and uncovered for several years and it was still working very well.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Savio Water Master Solids Handling Pump
Product Rating:

Review:
Energy usage is crazy high. I can't believe the amps these things draw when compared to the gallons they give. They are well made and Savio is a good trustworthy brand. But there are other pumps out there that use 1/2 the watts and are just as well made.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Pondmaster Mag-Drive Models 9.5 - 36
Product Rating:

Review:
Pondmaster really makes an excellent submersible pump. These things never break. I have seen these go through some serious abuse and never have any problems. I use these a lot when fixing smaller ponds that have a similar style pump installed that burned up. The coast is more for these then other brands, but you really get what you pay for with this pump. Its cheaper in the long run because you won't have to replace it in a couple years.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Beckett Wet Rotor Watergarden Pump
Product Rating:

Review:
I have never bought or installed one of these, but I have replaced many of them. Very common pump among DIY'ers because they are cheap and easy to find. Usually die after a few years, which isn't bad for the cost. I usually upgrade them to a Pondmaster which costs more, but will last 10 times as long.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Matala Versiflow Pump
Product Rating:

Review:
I have used these dozens of times to replace the Aquascapes pumps that always die after a few years. They fit perfectly in the skimmers, use few watts for the same flow and least a lot longer. If you are looking to swap out a dead aquascapes pump, this is the ideal replacement.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Sequence Titan
Product Rating:

Review:
Just recently installed one of these on a very large project. 30 ft waterfall and they wanted high flow rates. This pump really impressed me. For the flow rate the energy usage is the best I have seen and it really handles the head pressure like a champ. Very solid pump.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Evolution ESS Series
Product Rating:

Review:
A very good economy pump. Not as quiet as some of the premium brands and after a year of so they get a little louder. But after several years they are still running strong with no loss of flow. For the money they are a good choice.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: ValuFlo 1000 Series
Product Rating:

Review:
Installed a couple of these on a few ponds when my customers were looking to save a few bucks. its not a bad pump, made by Sequence which is a brand I trust. Not as quiet as their 1000 series and 4000 series. Energy consumption is good. The pump feels lighter then other pumps its size which makes me worry its not as well made. But no complaints over the past year they have been installed.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Savio Radiance LED Lights
Product Rating:

Review:
LED are the way to go because they don't burn out and use 1/10th the electricity. Savio makes a very nice light too. But be warned, if you splice the lights into a pond, then the warranty is void. Luckily they are well made and not likely to break under the warranty anyway.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Monday 01 November, 2010
Product Reviewed: Savio Radiance Halogen Lights
Product Rating:

Review:
Very nice lights, well made good warm and bright light and they don't leak. I prefer LED so I don't have to worry about the bulb burning out and energy consumption is lower, but the LED light is a bit bluish and these are a nice warm yellow tone. But be careful, if you cut and splice these into your lighting system, then you void the warranty. Not sure why since the wiring doesn't effect the body of the unit, but Savio never gives an inch on their warranty. If you alter anything in even the slightest way, you are on your own.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Fluidart Pinnacle Filter
Product Rating:

Review:
I have installed 8 of these so far. I use them for all my larger pond build outs unless the customer requests something else specifically. These are great filters, the dual valves make it very easy to hook up both a bottom drain and skimmer on separate pumps but into the same filter. These filters are very well built and worth every penny.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Pentair Tarpon Sand Filters
Product Rating:

Review:
I never use sand filters as primary mechanical filtration, however on several occasions I have installed them as a water polisher to really get is super clean. If installed after the primary filter then these work very well. The pentair is really designed for pools, but are often installed on ponds.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Emperor Aquatics BioPro
Product Rating:

Review:
If you can find these on sale then they are great filters. They tend to be expensive most of the time, but they are well made and backwash very easily. But for a bit less there are similar filters on the market. Shop around and if you see them on sale or marked down, grab it up...you won't be sorry.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Bubble Bead
Product Rating:

Review:
The first time I installed one of these I had never heard of them, but my customer insisted on it. So I installed and its really an amazing filter. Its really well made, very solid and it does a great job of filtering even as a stand along filter on a well stocked 3000 gallon pond. It worked so well that I used it on two additional ponds later that years and my customers were very happy with them.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Hecht Rubber
Product Rating:

Review:
Great product. i have used it on a new pond 3 times and I have resealed older ponds with this about a dozen times. If you prep the surface correctly then this product will bond very well and last a lifetime. The main concern is allowing it to cure before adding fish. If the weather is cold and damp then I learned the hard way that it won't cure even in 4 days and you have to wait until the weather improves no matter how long it takes. But once it has a few days a sunny warm weather it will cure great and give you no problems at all.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: OASE Pondovac 3
Product Rating:

Review:
This is standard in my truck as I go around cleaning ponds. Work at depths over 4 feet very well and its great that I don;t have to stop and drain it. I clean quite a few ponds and need something that works quickly and I don;t have to mess around with. Recently upgraded to the pond o vac 4 and it is a superior vac to the 3.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Odyssey Muck Vac
Product Rating:

Review:
I clean over 30 ponds a week. I can use this on any pond where the home has good water pressure. Those with weak pressure or a regulator then i have to use my vac. But I like this because its easy to move around and does a very good job. It does waste a lot of water though.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Pearls of Paradise Transport Tanks
Product Rating:

Review:
I have been using one of these for years. I often have to move customers fish for them and this makes it much easier. Its held up well over the years. its a bit tricky to set up though if you haven't done it before.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: E.A. Koi Nets
Product Rating:

Review:
Those who know me often see me driving around town with these nets in the back of my truck. I service 30 ponds a week and I rely heavily on these nets. Tough to transport and I have to tie them down, but most people don;t need to worry about that. Great nets, move easy through the water and easy to catch fish even in deep ponds.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Weco Nox - Ich
Product Rating:

Review:
I tried this once. It treats very little for the money and is not very effective. I prefer other products on the market that treat more for less money and are more effective.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: KoiRx Terminate
Product Rating:

Review:
Every Spring, and Summer I get regular calls from my customers with parasite issues. I always keep several gallons of this on hand so I have it ready. This product has worked for me over 100 times over the past few years. I could not recommend another product for getting rid of parasites as quickly and effectively.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Aqua MedZyme Dry Concentrate
Product Rating:

Review:
Every time I finish installing a pond, this is one of the products I give my customers to help them keep their fish healthy. Almost everybody ends up buying more because they like it so much and their koi stay healthy.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Savio Springflo Bio-Filter Media
Product Rating:

Review:
I like this just as much as the bact twist, but are similar media and work very well and will give similar surface area. Easy to get into almost any container and easy to clean. If comparing this and bacti twist, go with whatever you can can at a lower cost.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: PolyFlo Filter Mat
Product Rating:

Review:
works good as mechanical filter media, but plan on replacing annually as it falls apart if cleaned frequently. I have dealt with this stuff a lot because it comes with most skimmer filters on the market. Its cheap and works for awhile, so if you are ona tight budget the go with it for now, otherwise spend the money and get some matala of Jap mats.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Matala Sheets
Product Rating:

Review:
without a doubt my favorite mechanical filter system on the market. Use the media in stages and you will have no solid waste coming through the final gray sheets. Then the water is ready for any sort of bio media. The matala will give you bio surface area as well in the later stages, but its so easy to hose the media out, which will kill all your good media, that I don't rely on it for bio. Great in skimmers, prefilters and waterfalls. You don;t have to use as mechanical filter either, you can also use as bio media as surface area is great on the high density media.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: BioMate Ceramic Filled
Product Rating:

Review:
These little things give you plenty of surface area and protect your old growth bacteria from being scrubbed away during cleaning. So in this regard they are highly effective as a bio media. These are NOT intended for mechanical filtration and you will never get the internal media clean during any sort of rinse process of you allow them to be filled with fish waste. However if you already have good mechanical filtration and you install these after, then you will be very happy with the biological growth.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Nursery Pro BioBlox
Product Rating:

Review:
These give tones of surface area, but they are very difficult to clean. I would use at the very end of the filter system as additional bio media and not as primary mechanical filtration. To many little little pieces that get filled with muck and sludge to use for mechanical.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Kaldnes Moving Bed K3
Product Rating:

Review:
I like using this in filters that have larger opening to allow for high flow gravity returns. This media won't flow out and doesn't need to be as tightly contained. Lots of surface area and ideal home for new and old bacterial growth.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Filter Carbon
Product Rating:

Review:
Carbon is a good filter, but you must rinse very well before using it or you will turn your pond will turn grey. Great for absorbing out toxins, chlorine and even soap!

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Bacti Twist
Product Rating:

Review:
I have worked with pretty much every form of bio media available in a DIY situation. This one is very east to work with as it will conform to almost any shape. It has lots of surface area per sq ft and won't break the bank. Its very easy to clean if the container holding it is designed properly with a clean out valve at the bottom, then you just reach in, grab a handful and shake up and down, then drain the tank.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Oase AquaOxy
Product Rating:

Review:
This unit was just too small and I had to remove it from a customers pond because it would not send a significant amount of air to 4 feet of depth. probably fine for a shallow pond, but won;t work for anything larger. Not very quiet either.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: Medo 120 Air Pump
Product Rating:

Review:
I have used these on several large pond projects. My customers have had zero problems even after several years of use. The 120 will supply air to over 10 feet of depth without any problems and that's hard to find in an air pump. A very well made unit.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: HAKKO Linear Air Pumps (HK-40 HK-60 HK-80)
Product Rating:

Review:
One of the top air pumps on the market. Very quiet and will run forever. Just be sure not to under size the outlet or you will create back pressure on the diaphragm and wear it out quickly. luckily it is easily replaced.

Alex Ramirez (Installer) on Wednesday 27 October, 2010
Product Reviewed: EasyPro Linear Diaphragm Compressors
Product Rating:

Review:
I have installed several of these on my customers ponds. They run well and are reasonably priced. Not as quiet as others I have used, but a good reliable pump for the money.

Banner Ads

Product Review

Pond Product Reviews

Pond Calculators

Add to Favorites