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  1. M

    Rainbow Plastics Lifeguard M6-9

    these look exactly like my Pentair AF-94 'single' filter module, except that the previous owner has glued multiple units in line. If my guess is correct, all of the currently available pleated filter cartridges and other parts for the current line of 'single' modules should work in your older...
  2. M

    Turbo-Twist 3x / 9 watt UV Sterilizer

    you're right that there aren't a lot of pictures floating around for a Turbo-Twist UV unit all set up. The closest thing I ran across was http://www.cloudytanks.com/reviews/aquariums/uv.html The basic idea is to hang the Turbo-Twist on the back of your tank, remove the return hose from your...
  3. M

    Best filter for a 100 gallon aquarium?

    if you really meant 'best', you might want to have a look at a Pentair (Rainbow Lifegard) modular filter setup.
  4. M

    flo rate for UV

    UV kills algae with relatively small 'doses' - however killing parasites requires much larger 'doses'. Basic guesswork would say that your UV unit was designed to kill algae at a flow rate of about 300-500gph based on the manufacturer's tank size specs. Wild guesswork would indicate a flow...
  5. M

    uv sterilizers

    I've seen some theoretical calculations ... ... and the math says that parasite kill is a function of both light intensity and exposure time. Obviously you can increase the light intensity by going with a higher wattage unit ... at a higher initial and ongoing operating cost ... but also with...
  6. M

    uv sterilizers

    I run a UV on my 55 gal My 55 gal tank filter setup incorporates an 8 watt UV near the end of the filter loop, and the flow rate is somewhere around 225 gph. [/img]
  7. M

    FilStar Bio-Chem Zorb

    This is a 'specialty' filter media ... according to the mfgr, Rena Bio-Chem Zorb ... "contains a unique blend of ion exchange and organic scavenger resins, along with activated carbon. Removes aquarium pollutants without removing trace elements" IMHO if you have 'decent quality' water to start...
  8. M

    Rena Filstar xP ... outtake/intake hose length...

    Every extra inch of hose length, and every extra bend and kink in the hoses, adds restriction to water flow. As you have discovered, it doesn't take a whole lot of hose length and bend reductions to cause a major increase in flow rate. As to the 'suction' hose collapsing, this can be totally...
  9. M

    Calibrate All-Glass Heater??

    This is also my one and only complaint regarding All-Glass a.k.a. Hydor-Theo PTC tank heaters. My solution was to stick a liquid crystal thermometer to the side of my tank and 'tweak' the temp setting knob on the heater repeatedly until the temperature I wanted was maintained.
  10. M

    upgrading filter

    if you don't mind a bit of noise, you might consider a Rena XP2 or XP3. Rena offers mechanical filter pads in different porosities all the way down to one micron, which makes a huge difference in terms of overall water clarity. Running one Rena with one of your Penguin 330's would greatly...
  11. M

    Regarding building an all glass 100 gallon aquarium

    I'm certainly no expert, but I do know that the 'bow' stress on the front and back glass sheets can become a MAJOR issue if the length of the sheets starts getting up there. The major function of the top frame on a 'long' aquarium (i.e. 4 ft or longer) is to relieve the 'bow' stress on the...
  12. M

    How can I cool down my tank?

    You may also get away with your own DIY chiller. Start with a WalMart style 12 volt electric 'beer" cooler with 120vac adapter. Then buy about 50 feet of thinwall nylon/kynar/styrene tubing one size up from the hose that your canister filter normally uses (guess 3/4"ID 7/8"OD tubing versus...
  13. M

    best canister filter?

    well, I've posted about my Pentair Rainbow Lifegard modular filter setup in another thread... but it isn't officially considered to be a 'canister' filter I guess, and it didn't elicit much in the way of comments/responses. Eheims get a lot of attention because they're considered to be the...
  14. M

    Retrofitting Light Fixture - quest for cheap hardware

    Most lighting retailers and industrial electrical suppliers will carry Advance ballasts - just match the wattage to your lamp. However, because compact flourescents really aren't that popular yet for 'mainstream' uses, you may not find the ballasts or socket clips in stock and the price might...
  15. M

    Pumps: Rio, Via Aqua, or Pentair?????

    I also have to '3rd' or '4th' or whatever the count is up to in support of Danner Mag-Drive pumps for return sump duty, or for any duty where the application requires pumping against 6'-8'-10' + of gravity lift plus pipe/hose/filter losses. Every pump in the Danner line-up has a respectable...
  16. M

    Ebo-Jager 250W possibly not working

    If the heater was working properly, the light should have come on instantly. Did you try adjusting the thermostat knob up and down several times ? Possibilities are a busted thermostat/contact, or a burned out heating element - neither is repairable without ruining the watertight seal.
  17. M

    Eheim 2213 need prefilter?

    considering the $5 it would cost versus the risk of eventually damaging the integral pump on your canister filter, it sounds like a 'no brainer' to me ! However, be sure to use/make one which is significantly oversized, as the canister filter's pump flow rate could drop significantly if the...
  18. M

    Temperature Control with Python System

    a dedicated make-up water 'tempering' tank with a heater and a pump is about the only practical way to avoid wrestling with faucet adjustments.
  19. M

    Filters and Oxygen Starvation

    Assuming that the canister filter has its pump located at the top of the canister, and is operating in a 'suction' mode, then yes, injecting air up the pump intake hose is probably going to lead to pump cavitation and/or airlocking (i.e. loss of 'prime'). As to doing any actual physical harm to...
  20. M

    Filters and Oxygen Starvation

    I happen to agree with your theory to some degree. When trying to get biological conversion in the anerobic chambers of sealed canister filters, indeed all the oxygen for the bacteria reaction must be pumped in with the tank water. In discussions about this matter on a different website, the...
  21. M

    Suggestions to optimize filter setup on new 55gal tank

    another update... I just finished replacing all of the 1/2" valves and 5/8" hose in my filter 'loop' with 3/4" hose, 3/4" full bore ball valves, and 3/4" fittings. The flow through the Rainbow Lifegard filter modules has now increased to more than 250gph, and the water level in my AquaTech...
  22. M

    Suggestions to optimize filter setup on new 55gal tank

    also - I quickly discovered that I could switch to 1 micron Rena pads in my post-filter. Doing this REALLY cleared up the optical properties of my tank water. It's surprising how much gray-black 'slime' the 1 micron pads take out ! But thinking about your point re the carbon, much of the...
  23. M

    Suggestions to optimize filter setup on new 55gal tank

    The tank is pretty much crystal clear ... but it's still early yet ! I initially went with the carbon because of the 100% new tank setup and the fact that I have well water. You're right that I may not stick with this once things are stabilized and I'm only doing 20% water changes weekly...
  24. M

    Won Bros Pro heat 2 Question ????

    no problem on the extension cord, providing you leave drip loops and do your best to seal up any plug-in connections that might take a splash (i.e. silicone unused receptacles)
  25. M

    Tired of looking at the powerhead?

    nice 'camoflage' ! I've been wondering how to do something similar with my Danner mag-drive 7 which is submerged in my 55 gal. I need to keep looking for a tall, skinny rock I guess, so I can still haul up the pump and clean the intake screen occasionally without disturbing too much !
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