Whats the worst aquarium product you've ever bought?

I had hornwort and it was awful. I’m still getting needles out. My tank wasn’t fully cycled and it lasted a week until about 90% of the needles were gone! Never again!

 

I had hornwort and it was awful. I’m still getting needles out. My tank wasn’t fully cycled and it lasted a week until about 90% of the needles were gone! Never again!

Hahaha shedding plants with tiny leaves are the worst
I gave the Moneywort to my mother in law for free, when she started up a small tank... may it Rest in Peace lol

 

which ones? mines work very great. I have the marienland penguin 200b

i had the 100. I'm sure you got a good one, there was probably quality control issue. i get so unlucky with the products i buy, they always break.

- Heidi at Petco sold me SO much useless garbage!

HIEDI. tsk tsk

 

I can’t remember the name of this certain product because it’s hidden inside a box in the back of my closet wrapped in three plastic bags, i haven’t used it in months.
It’s some kind of water additive like ammonia neutralizer or something else. If I had known that it had the most putrid, worst smell I’ve ever experienced in my life I would have never have gotten it. I have no idea how people tolerate it enough to actually use it. I tried to use it once and I put several layers of masks on but still couldn’t begin to get past the stench.
I googled it later and found that the smell is normal, that the product just naturally smells disgusting and people still buy it. It blows my mind.

That will probably be Seachem Prime. It does have a very distinct, not so pleasant, odor. I can imagine it could get pretty bad if some of it is spilled on the outside of the bottle. Instead of pouring it out of the bottle each time it is used I just transfer some of it to a small bottle and use a syringe to dispense it. I just refill the small bottle as needed. Thankfully the odor goes away as soon as it hits the water.

Like others, I wasted money on Seachem Flourish. I also have various filter cartridges that will never be used. Once I moved over to more permanent filter media these things were moved to the back of the shelf. Nitra-zorb was a good buy, nitrate reducing pads, not so much so were a waste.

I can't think of anything else I've bought that I can say was totally useless. Sadly there are so many useless things on the market. The ones selling those things know we want to do the best we can for our pets so they play to that desire. Most of the time all we really need is fresh dechlorinated water kept at a consistent temperature and nutritious food.

 

I’d say seachem flourish. It smells absolutely terrible and if it gets on clothes you might as well throw them away. Not to mention it does absolutely nothing

Just curious, if you don't use seachem flourish, what do you use?

 

I’ll agree that Seachem Prime smells awful but I actually like the sulphuric smell because you can tell wether it’s in date or not by sniffing it. I got a new 2 litre bottle of the stuff today and I can’t find the expiration date on the bottle no matter where I look. I don’t regret getting Prime because I’ve sussed out how to properly use it and it’s very efficient.

The product I regret getting is my 5 gallon tank because it hasn’t worked at all in the three times I’ve set it up. As of this post I’m over two months into cycling it. My dad also agrees that it’s not working and that nobody pays attention to it.

I want to say rainbowfish because I was kinda mislead when buying them and now I can’t provide a shoal for them. I simply can’t regret buying them though provided they are among my favourite and most personable fish now.

 

I hate the "all disease" treating medications because they either add to much copper to the tank or make the disease worse and kill the fish.

 

The only thing I regret about using Prime is discovering Safe exists.

 

I would, but I feel like I can find some sort of use for them, rather than just making more waste. Idk, maybe I can find some kid with a tank in my area who wants them.

I use mine in my quarantine tank. The ones with weighted bottoms I'll set up as normal, and the ones that don't I'll either wedge into a decoration, or I'll just let them float to provide more cover.

 

Just curious, if you don't use seachem flourish, what do you use?

I use the liquid fertilizer from marcusfishtanks
https://marcusfishtanks.com/collections/fertilizer

 

I hate the "all disease" treating medications because they either add to much copper to the tank or make the disease worse and kill the fish.

Imo, the only all disease treatment is salt.

 

I use the liquid fertilizer from marcusfishtanks
Fertilizer

Thank you for taking the time to respond, I appreciate!

 

Just curious, if you don't use seachem flourish, what do you use?

I use the liquid fertilizer from marcusfishtanks
Fertilizer

I will second this, I stopped using flourish & started using Marcus Fishtanks Fertz a few months ago & I like it better.
About the Seachem prime, I've never noticed a bad smell, huh. I use 1 gallon jugs though, add 2 drops prime, fill 'em up & let them sit. Then run them up & down the stairs. Maybe because I use such a small amount I don't notice the smell, that's interesting though.

 

I’ll agree that Seachem Prime smells awful but I actually like the sulphuric smell because you can tell wether it’s in date or not by sniffing it. I got a new 2 litre bottle of the stuff today and I can’t find the expiration date on the bottle no matter where I look. I don’t regret getting Prime because I’ve sussed out how to properly use it and it’s very efficient.

I thought that the sulphuric smell didn't help at all in determining whether it's still in date or not?

 

As others have said, I found flourish to be fairly useless. I have also got an unopened bottle of seachem pristine that they sold me along with stability for cycling a tank. It is not for that. And I have an unopened bottle of prime that I won in a raffle at the local shop. Don't need it as our water does not have chlorine or anything added, and I have never had an ammonia problem. However, it is there in case of emergency...

I think fluorite was probably a waste of money as well.

 

The number one worst product I ever purchased was Marineland algaecide. I just learned to manage algae and keep it under control.

The second worst is definitely Eheim Pro 4 Canister Filter. I purchased it based on brand recongnition that Eheim is the king of the crop when it comes to filters, but I found it to be a nuisance. To spare the details, It will suffice, but most certainly cannot recommend it.

 

I thought that the sulphuric smell didn't help at all in determining whether it's still in date or not?

I think Seachem’s website said something about the smell indicating that the product is in date. They’re probably right about that but I doubt they know everything about their product. Prime can give false readings for ammonia (usually 0.25ppm) and this I’ve experienced. There’s probably more faults to the product that aren’t mentioned on the website but overall it’s a reliable conditioner.

 

Hello! Happy Friday!

I was browsing the aisle at petco the other day and I was wondering, whats the worst fish product you've ever bought? Why?

-Anna (;

Everytime I buy a glass, floating thermometer it breaks. The 2nd time was the last time I tried.

 

Everytime I buy a glass, floating thermometer it breaks. The 2nd time was the last time I tried.

The ones with a little suction cup? I like those ones. I bought one from petco with a weight on it, like a black tripod mini stand, it broke inside tank, so I was afraid to buy anymore sinking thermometers.

 

Everytime I buy a glass, floating thermometer it breaks. The 2nd time was the last time I tried.

Mine never sticks to the glass and I have to wedge it behind the filter output. My fish knock it in the night.

 

I’d say seachem flourish. It smells absolutely terrible and if it gets on clothes you might as well throw them away. Not to mention it does absolutely nothing

I've used the liquid and the tablets in various tanks. Never saw any effect on the plants or the health of the aquarium.

 

Plastic plants, thank God that was a very long time ago. IMO they are a waste of money and space in a tank.

 

I really regret buying this cheap filter floss from Amazon when I first decided to 'DIY my filter' instead of wasting so much money on replacement Fluval filter cartridges before I knew better. It came from China - the listing said so many amazing things about it that I got sucked right in and truly thought I was getting a right bargain. So I got the scissors out; cut it to size (as you do) and fitted it thinking I was a genius. Within an hour the whole tank was filled with rank white wooly fluff (seriously - I'm still finding bits of it when I rake in the gravel) and I was ready to fling myself out of the window. Lesson learnt...

 

The ones with a little suction cup? I like those ones. I bought one from petco with a weight on it, like a black tripod mini stand, it broke inside tank, so I was afraid to buy anymore sinking thermometers.

I’m not having trouble with my glass thermometer it’s just that it never sticks to the walls of the tank. There is some spot algae on the thermometer and the suction cup so I think this is preventing it from sticking.

 

I’m not having trouble with my glass thermometer it’s just that it never sticks to the walls of the tank. There is some spot algae on the thermometer and the suction cup so I think this is preventing it from sticking.

Also the suction cups eventually get stiff and won't keep suction. I got one the other day that hangs from the top of the tank to give it a try.

 

Ah I see. As long as it’s wedged behind the filter output (I’m using an external filter) it should be fine. Often it floats away but this is usually due to fish knocking and I can manually move it back.

 

Ah I see. As long as it’s wedged behind the filter output (I’m using an external filter) it should be fine. Often it floats away but this is usually due to fish knocking and I can manually move it back.

I also want to try one of those thermometers held on by a magnet.

 

I’m not having trouble with my glass thermometer it’s just that it never sticks to the walls of the tank. There is some spot algae on the thermometer and the suction cup so I think this is preventing it from sticking.

Also the suction cups eventually get stiff and won't keep suction. I got one the other day that hangs from the top of the tank to give it a try.

The suction cups on those thermometers are absolutely worthless. Once mine stopped sticking, it would end up getting caught by the flow and would constantly bump into the corner of the tank. The noise drove me crazy. (Don't ask me why the other noises of my aquarium don't bother me but that one did, because I have no clue....) I just use a digital thermometer now. Not nearly as convenient to check, but saves the headache. The hooked thermometer sounds like it may be a great option though.

 

The suction cups on those thermometers are absolutely worthless. Once mine stopped sticking, it would end up getting caught by the flow and would constantly bump into the corner of the tank. The noise drove me crazy. (Don't ask me why the other noises of my aquarium don't bother me but that one did, because I have no clue....) I just use a digital thermometer now. Not nearly as convenient to check, but saves the headache. The hooked thermometer sounds like it may be a great option though.

I modified the hook a bit to hang it where i wanted it but so far, so good. Only had it since saturday. To use as-is, would be best on a rimless tank or one of those small acryllic tanks.

 

The suction cups on those thermometers are absolutely worthless. Once mine stopped sticking, it would end up getting caught by the flow and would constantly bump into the corner of the tank. The noise drove me crazy. (Don't ask me why the other noises of my aquarium don't bother me but that one did, because I have no clue....) I just use a digital thermometer now. Not nearly as convenient to check, but saves the headache. The hooked thermometer sounds like it may be a great option though.

Basically the same situation I’m in lol.

 

I also want to try one of those thermometers held on by a magnet.

They work very good, i use them in my tanks

 

They work very good, i use them in my tanks

Guess I'm behind on the latest trending thermometers
I've tried the suction cup Marina ones & they seem to work pretty well. Hang on + magnets + sinking + weighted + digital! Didn't realize there was so many options. The digital ones, are any battery operated? Or do they ALL need to be plugged in to power strip?

 

Guess I'm behind on the latest trending thermometers
I've tried the suction cup Marina ones & they seem to work pretty well. Hang on + magnets + sinking + weighted + digital! Didn't realize there was so many options. The digital ones, are any battery operated? Or do they ALL need to be plugged in to power strip?

I have one of the battery operated digital that’s sticks to the outer glass and has touch screen, its working great so far.

 

Guess I'm behind on the latest trending thermometers
I've tried the suction cup Marina ones & they seem to work pretty well. Hang on + magnets + sinking + weighted + digital! Didn't realize there was so many options. The digital ones, are any battery operated? Or do they ALL need to be plugged in to power strip?

I didn't realise there was all of those either! My little glass version with suction cup one was pretty cheap from Pets at Home, I've had that one in one of my tanks for way over a year now and it works (and sticks to the glass) great, no problems at all

 

I never have trouble with Pets at Home’s fish products just the fish.

 

Yep - I'm with you there.. And the fact they refuse to do trades or give you anything for your fish :-(

I never have trouble with Pets at Home’s fish products just the fish.
[/QUOTE

 

My Pets at Home do good aquarium products such as biological boosters, food and whatnot, and I’ve found myself buying products from there as my LFS is struggling with shipments.

 

Let’s stay on topic please, this thread is about your product purchases not the merits or otherwise of Lfs’s.

 

In my local P.A.H it's the pop-eyed goldfish and black Moor's that are always under treatment. They also often use misinformation to sell products - a few of the new staff in there don't like me very much as I butted in last month to stop a large goldfish being sold to a woman who'd just purchased a kiddies 15 litre tank to keep it in. The woman didn't much like it either but I just couldn't keep my mouth shut at the thought of it suffering. Luckily I know the manageress pretty well as I'm in there all the time - she noticed the debate so came over and sided with me (phew!) The newbie shop assistant now gives me dirty looks and a wide berth when I'm in there haha

My Pets at Home do good aquarium products such as biological boosters, food and whatnot, and I’ve found myself buying products from there as my LFS is struggling with shipments.

 

Ok.

Let’s get back on track. Another product I regret buying is Superfish tanks in general. The tank lights are really bright and the lids have little filtration of air causing condensation and limescale. They always come with filters that have no media so they’re not suitable for bare-bottom tanks. In the UK Fluval has a big presence and they do much better tanks, so I regret ever using Superfish tanks instead.