Product Review

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 10 August, 2009
Product Reviewed: Aqua MedZyme Liquid
Product Rating:

Review:
I gave the 4 stars because I like the dry version better. But still a very good product and less money then KoiZyme. The only benefit I can see to use the liquid over the dry is its easier to use.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 10 August, 2009
Product Reviewed: Aqua MedZyme Dry Concentrate
Product Rating:

Review:
Really good stuff. I used to use KoiZyme but switched to this. It seems equally effective and a lot less expensive. Plus the dry formula treats a lot more and doesn't need to be refrigerated and it doesn't go bad. Another big plus over KoiZyme.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 27 May, 2009
Product Reviewed: Koi Viewing Bowls
Product Rating:

Review:
A must have for anybody serious about keeping koi. Its very hard to catch koi for treatment or transport koi without a good bowl. The blue color is perfect for taking photos too.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 27 May, 2009
Product Reviewed: Koi Care Ulcer Swab
Product Rating:

Review:
I tried this once. It worked on very minor infections but seemed to have no effect any anything more advanced. Minor redness did seem to go away though.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Wednesday 27 May, 2009
Product Reviewed: Microbe-Lift Pond Fish Wound Healant
Product Rating:

Review:
Pretty good product. I used it in conjunction with medicated food and tricide neo dips. All my fish healed quickly.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 04 May, 2009
Product Reviewed: Proform PC
Product Rating:

Review:
One of the best clarifiers on the market. You need to get past the initial doses before you can really see a difference, but after that the pond really clears up nicely

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 04 May, 2009
Product Reviewed: Islandscapes
Product Rating:

Review:
These are really neat! I planted grass and flower in my pond, and the roots grow down into the pond, really a very good product.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 04 May, 2009
Product Reviewed: Matsuda Koi Net
Product Rating:

Review:
By far the best koi net ever made. I cannot afford one, but I have used them and its like night and day with regular nets. They glide through the water so easily and makes catching the koi a snap.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 13 April, 2009
Product Reviewed: UVS Wave Power
Product Rating:

Review:
High flow, but poorly made. I have had nothing but problems with these units leaking. The gaskets give out quickly and the quartz sleeve fills with water and burns out the bulb. $100 every times that happens. Replace the gasket and 4 months later its leaking and another $100 bulb.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 13 April, 2009
Product Reviewed: Laguna Filters
Product Rating:

Review:
Good solid filter for the money. Easy to clean and the built in UV is a nice feature. Perfect for smaller sized ponds with a low fish load.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Tuesday 21 October, 2008
Product Reviewed: Water Garden News
Product Rating:

Review:
This is more or a trade magazine. If you are looking for wholesale items and manufacturers, this is the go to mag in the industry. But most the companies don't sell retail and most the articles are about market trends and such. So it's not all that interesting to the average hobbyist.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Tuesday 21 October, 2008
Product Reviewed: Dimilin
Product Rating:

Review:
Very effective product. Got rid of anchor worms very quickly. A bit more expensive when compared to ProfomLA, but its available at most pet/aquarium stores so you can always find it.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Tuesday 21 October, 2008
Product Reviewed: Matala Round Coils
Product Rating:

Review:
Perfect for 55 gal DIY filters. Tons of surface area, high flow and they don't clog.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Thursday 18 September, 2008
Product Reviewed: Wave Vortex Filters 24
Product Rating:

Review:
Not worth the money IMO. You can use a 55 gallon barrel with bulk heads and get the same results.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Thursday 18 September, 2008
Product Reviewed: Quin-Phos Anesthetic Solution
Product Rating:

Review:
works well as seems safe. The koi down down slowly and come out if it quickly. Much faster then with clove oil. But for the money clove oil is much cheaper and just as safe.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Thursday 18 September, 2008
Product Reviewed: Fido Shock
Product Rating:

Review:
This fence works great for raccoons but doesn't do much for birds. Don't touch it our you will get a good jolt, not enough to burn you, but enough to scare the heck out of you. I just wish the posts holding the wire were a bit longer as they tend to bend over when you pull the wire tight. But the raccoons really don't like this at all. I saw one the other night trying to get past it and kept jumping back in fear as soon as it shocked him. He finally gave up and has not been back in over a month.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 15 September, 2008
Product Reviewed: Matala Pond Vac II
Product Rating:

Review:
Very good pond vac. Works a lot like a shop vac, except it will automatically drain through a hose when its full. I used a wet/dry shop vac for one season and every 30 seconds you have to stop and dump it out. Having that happen on its own is great. Good strong suction even several feet deep. One negative is the drain hose will pull out if you drag the vac while its full of water. The drain hose doesn't lock in so when it's full of water and you pull the vac, out pops the hose. Easy to avoid, just don't move the vac until after it has drained.

One other thing, it can lose suction during the drain process, so it runs great for about a minute, then its at like 1/4 power for 10 seconds while it drains.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 15 September, 2008
Product Reviewed: Matala BioSteps 10
Product Rating:

Review:
Rockin' little filter!! Easy to clean and not too expensive. Gave my 700 gallon goldfish/small koi pond excellent water. I think this would be great as an add on to an exisiting system or a stand alone filter for smaller ponds. Highly recommend the UV when you purchase it. I bought the UV a few months later and it was more expensive then if I had just bought it together with the filter.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 15 September, 2008
Product Reviewed: Tetra Koi Excellence Complete
Product Rating:

Review:
Not a big fan of this food, but it will do in a pinch. I noticed an increase in the amount of waste in the filters as soon as I started to use it. The koi did seem to like it and the colors and growth were maintained. But water quality did go down while feeding this and I had to do larger water changes, so I quit feeding this. All the extra work, water and treatments didn't seem worth the savings over the premium brand foods. But if you just have pond fish, maybe this food will work for you.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 15 September, 2008
Product Reviewed: Azoo Koi Growth Plus Koi Food
Product Rating:

Review:
I like this food. I sometimes mix it in with Dainichi All Season to beef up the protein content. Good color and growth food, not a lot of waste created in the filters. Overall its a good buy.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 15 September, 2008
Product Reviewed: Debride RX Medicated Koi Food
Product Rating:

Review:
This is the only medicated food my koi will eat. Seems to have had a good effect, but I used this at the same time as other treatments so hard to say if it was the food or a combination of several things.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 15 September, 2008
Product Reviewed: Pondmaster Mag-Drive Models 9.5 - 36
Product Rating:

Review:
These are one of the best submersible pumps on the market. The run for years and can put up with a lot of abuse. They are a bit more expensive then some other brands, but you get what you pay for.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 15 September, 2008
Product Reviewed: DreamPond Show Tank 6 Feet
Product Rating:

Review:
Great tank for the money! The top ring does not come out so it's a bit easier to set up compared to the PoP version. And about 1/2 the price. It's not quite as sturdy as the PoP and the drain plug is not as good either, but for the money you really can't go wrong.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 08 September, 2008
Product Reviewed: Sodium Thiosulfate Dechlor
Product Rating:

Review:
by far the cheapest form of dechlorinator. You can dechlor hundreds of gallons for pennies. But it is ONLY for chlorine. If you have chloramines then it will release the ammonia into the pond. So not good for large water changes if you have chloramines. Otherwise its the cheapest and most effective dechlor on the market.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 08 September, 2008
Product Reviewed: Microbe-Lift Sludge Away
Product Rating:

Review:
This is a decent sludge remover. I like PondZyme a little bit better, but this works well and helped clean up the pond so I can't complain.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 08 September, 2008
Product Reviewed: Debride ProHealth
Product Rating:

Review:
Love this stuff!! Great for QT and transport. I use it every time I have a koi in my QT, new arrivals, treatments, post spawning, ulcers, etc.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 08 September, 2008
Product Reviewed: Dissolved Oxygen Meter SM600
Product Rating:

Review:
You really need to test O2 levels if you have a crowded pond like me. I started testing for O2 and had no idea how low the oxygen levels were in my pond. The fish seemed fine but after testing I realized I really needed to add oxygen to the pond. During the hot summer months my pond really dropped O2 levels. Using the meter made it a lot easier to check levels. The reagent/test tube kits work ok, but this was just so nice and easy and accurate.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 08 September, 2008
Product Reviewed: Milwaukee pH Tester Kits pH52
Product Rating:

Review:
A quick easy to use meter. Stays well calibrated for a long time. Makes testing pH a snap.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 08 September, 2008
Product Reviewed: Milwaukee ORP Meter SM500
Product Rating:

Review:
A good reliable easy to use meter. All ORP meters can give mixed results, but if this one is well maintained then it can be pretty reliable. You really need to use the conditioning solution for new probes and the storage solution to help keep it calibrated. I learned the hard way to NEVER let the probe dry out. Check the probe frequently with the test solution and replace the probe when it no longer tests correctly. The only problem with this meter is it cannot be calibrated manually. When the tests results are poor you have to replace the probe and they are not cheap. That's why the conditioning solutions and storage solution are so important.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 08 September, 2008
Product Reviewed: Pearls of Paradise Transport Tanks
Product Rating:

Review:
A solid, well made transport tank. Holds up well to travel and it's a lot less stressful on the koi then bagging them up. The seams and zippers and thick and well constructed. The unit is very expensive, but you will get many years of heavy use out of it. So if you go to a lot of shows or just move a lot of fish frequently, then this is the transport tank for you.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Sunday 07 September, 2008
Product Reviewed: Wave UV Sterilizers
Product Rating:

Review:
a decent UV for the money. I really wish they had wipers for the quartz sleeve like the Aqua UV. But they are easy to install, come with unions and are well constructed. A good buy IMO.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Sunday 07 September, 2008
Product Reviewed: Serenity Water Conditioner
Product Rating:

Review:
very good product. Does everything that Ultimate does except its cheaper.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Sunday 07 September, 2008
Product Reviewed: Bifuran (Koi Care Kennel)
Product Rating:

Review:
Really a quality product that does what is says. Far superior to Melafix. The only problem is it will turn your water bright yellow and it can take a couple weeks before it clears. But worth it when you have sick fish

Steve (Hobbyist) on Sunday 07 September, 2008
Product Reviewed: Matala Versiflow Pump
Product Rating:

Review:
Love these pumps. Solid and reliable with low watts for a submersible. In fact they are comparable in watts vs goh to many external pumps out there.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Sunday 07 September, 2008
Product Reviewed: Bio Wave Filters
Product Rating:

Review:
Good little filters. Easy to backwash and come with a blower which makes it even better. I do wish they have a sight valve so you know when the backwash is clean, but other then that they are very effective and well priced.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 18 August, 2008
Product Reviewed: Aqua Ultraviolet Statuary UV Series
Product Rating:

Review:
I use the fish on a small water garden in the front. Nice little UV, keeps the water clear. Not cheap, but its nice to have a spitter and UV in one.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 18 August, 2008
Product Reviewed: Aqua Ultraviolet Classic Series
Product Rating:

Review:
I have the 160 on my pond. Great UV, always had super crisp clear water and no issues with repairs. It is a pretty large piece of equipment for the flow and next time I might go with one of the stainless steel UV's on the market that will have less watts and a smaller footprint.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 18 August, 2008
Product Reviewed: E.A. Koi Nets
Product Rating:

Review:
I upgraded to this net and man what a difference. Really much easier to use, glides smoothly. I love how the net bolts to the handle, makes it feel solid in the water. I have not had any trouble with tearing like the others posted about.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 18 August, 2008
Product Reviewed: Nycon Deluxe Koi Handling Nets
Product Rating:

Review:
I used this net for a couple of years. I thought it was a good net and never had any problems with it. I was able to catch fish without too much trouble. But last year I upgraded to the EA net. Made this net look like a piece of junk.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 18 August, 2008
Product Reviewed: Ultima II
Product Rating:

Review:
I have two of the Ultima II 6000 units running on my pond. Each has a separate Wave II pump. One has a DIY fluid bed filter on the same line. These are great filters. Super easy to clean, the backwash doesn't need a blower. These have provided me with years a excellent water and zero mechanical problems.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 18 August, 2008
Product Reviewed: Magnetic Drive Waterfall Pumps
Product Rating:

Review:
worthless piece of junk!!! I bought one for a small water garden/goldfish pond I had in the front yard. It died after only a few months. Got a replacement under warranty and that one died too! Don't buy this pump.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 18 August, 2008
Product Reviewed: Wave II
Product Rating:

Review:
When my pond was first built, the contractor used 2 Hayward 2hp pool pumps. Man did my eletcric bill go through the roof!! I swapped them out with the Wave II and my electric bill was 1/3 what it was. VERY efficient pumps!!

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 18 August, 2008
Product Reviewed: AquaScience Cloram-X
Product Rating:

Review:
This is my most used product. I buy it in 10lb tubs at least 3 times a year. Great at removing chlorine and chloramines, of which I have both in high amounts.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 18 August, 2008
Product Reviewed: Rhino Bottom Drains
Product Rating:

Review:
This is simply the best aerated bottom drain on the market. I have 3 installed on my pond and they are worth every penny.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 18 August, 2008
Product Reviewed: ProForm C
Product Rating:

Review:
A staple for every koi owner. I keep it on hand all the time and I use it the moment I see anything that looks like flashing. Its safe and very easy to use.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 18 August, 2008
Product Reviewed: ProForm - LA
Product Rating:

Review:
Very effective. I had to deal with anchor worms this season and in the past I have used Dimilin. This stuff seemed much cheaper per gallon treated so I gave it a shot. Took care of the problem every bit as effectively as Dimilin.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 18 August, 2008
Product Reviewed: KoiZyme
Product Rating:

Review:
This product is gold IMO. I especially like to use it in quarantine for sick fish. I see much faster recovery when KoiZyme is used. I also use it every spring in my pond, I used to have bacterial infections every spring, but as soon as I started using this stuff they were reduced by 90%.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 18 August, 2008
Product Reviewed: Pond Care MelaFix
Product Rating:

Review:
This product is just OK. Find for a mild tonic to prevent infections but doesn't really cure much at all. If you have infections there are some much better products on the market.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 18 August, 2008
Product Reviewed: Dainichi All Season
Product Rating:

Review:
I really like the All Season in the cooler months. I have fed in temps as low as 50 degrees with this food and had no problems.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 18 August, 2008
Product Reviewed: Dainichi Color Intensifier
Product Rating:

Review:
I like to mix this food in with my growth food during peak summer months. Really makes the colors bright. Like all the Dainichi foods they seem more digestible then other brands and the koi produce a lot less waste.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 18 August, 2008
Product Reviewed: Dainichi Growth Plus
Product Rating:

Review:
My favorite food. I have seen lots of growth with this food. Also, very little waste in the filters. Better then Hikari IMO. In the summer months I mix in the Dainichi Color and in the cooler seasons I use Dainichi All Season. The koi really like this food and its priced comparably to other premium food on the market.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 18 August, 2008
Product Reviewed: Koi Kichi
Product Rating:

Review:
One of the best koi books on the market!!! This and Koi 2 Kichi make a great pair. Highly informational and its a beautiful book as well.

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 18 August, 2008
Product Reviewed: Medo 80 Air Pump
Product Rating:

Review:
I use the 80 on a DIY fluid bed filter. Tons of air, very quite. I really like this pump. I also us a 120 for my aerated bottom drains. Both pumps have been great!!!

Steve (Hobbyist) on Monday 18 August, 2008
Product Reviewed: Medo 120 Air Pump
Product Rating:

Review:
I really like the Medo Air pump line. I have the 120 powering 3 aerated BD at 7 feet of depth. It has been running for over 1 year with no problems. Very quiet operation. I also use an 80 for a DIY fluid bed filter.

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