Thanks for visit our ebay store. We aim to supply you some of our innovation and some top brand aquarium products with a right information to save you time and money on your aquarium.

Please read through all information as following before you make decision -- you will know a lot secrets on how to buy a right and top quality and safe aquarium product. 

As you know, we need change water or treat water to keep aquarium tank crystal clear for fish health grow. But most aquarium products only has recommendation due to different quantity of fish, the size of fish, fish food etc. will make different pollution for the tank.

To having a successful aquarium tank, you need know two key points:

1. Fish food: do not feeding excess 3% of total fish weight every day.
2. Set up a right filter system.

How to set up a right filter system for the tank?

The first thing is understand the tank pollution problem and how the filter works.

Same as any animal, fish make pollution by the urine and manure. Urine mainly is ammonia that turns water to toxicity. Fish manure will dissolve if not remove by filter, and part of them will biologically turns to ammonia -- increase the ammonia level. Higher ammonia level will cause directly fish death or promote harmful disease growth which results in sick fish and fish die in short period.

In the fish tank, there are many kinds of beneficial bacterial in the water; they convert the ammonia to less toxicity nitrite, and then non toxicity nitrate. However, high level ammonia promotes bad bacterial growth, restrict the beneficial bacterial grow.

How to solve the ammonia problem?

To solve this problem, the recommend best gear is the external filter. External filter has large room for adding different function filter media to treat the water problem.

Common aquarium filter media are:

1. Material with large surface area for good bacterial growth and biological treatment, they are traditional bio balls, ceramic rings which has around 27 M2 surface area per liter, The new super star media (more expansive) like quartz noodle etc. which has 270 M2 surface area per liter or over for beneficial bacterial grow—result more high efficiency on biological treatment, replace your old traditional filter media to new filter media will approve your filter efficiency.

2. Activity carbon that absorb the smell, color, nitrate. The best carbons are bamboo carbon or coconut carbon which has more room for absorb aquarium waste.

3. Ammonia absorbs stone can direct absorb ammonia when water passes through. It widely used in aquaculture farm. There are many in aquarium retail shops and packed in different name like ammonia remover etc. – expansive.

4. Bio sponge like white pad, black sponge etc. which stop large solids pass through and do a little biological job.

Please note: Quantity and class of filter media inside filter is added by importer or seller, not factory. You can find above filter media at my eBay store: the replacement filter media suction for more information.

And these filter media will replace in the filter baskets. The quantity and quality of filter media used will determine the filter filtration result. And the number of filter baskets inside the filter is not equal to the number of filtration stages--e.g. 4 baskets filter with only one filter media means one stage filtration.

The real water flow pass the filter media back to tank is also important key for filter filtration result. But many people confuse with the water flow rate printed on the box. It is the water flow tested by factory at level. The water flow will reduce once you connect pipe to the tank. Therefore, you need choice a large water head external filter (Hmax on the box) for a better filtration. Low Hmax external filter has very small real water flow to your tank if you put it into the cabinet. At same filter media condition, large water flow pass them will result much better performance. At same water flow (same filter) condition, add more filter media will reduce the water flow -- result in a little bit efficiency improvement, but change filter media to top class media will show you a great high efficiency improvement.

The water head of build in water pump determine the real water flow. For example, measure the distance vertically between the top of fish tank to the top of filter, say 90cm, Jebao 1000L/H filter use 2.1m Hmax water pump, it will show you about 600L/H real water flow rate, if your tank is 200L, the filter will make circulation 3 times. However, cheap filter use low Hmax build in pump to reduce cost, for example one "07 model" filter use Hmax1.6m pump (and 40w, very old technology pump), the real water flow is about 250L/H, not recommend for 200L tank, the minimum circulation rate should be 2 times for any tank. That's why Jebao 1000L/H filter recommend for up to 4 ft tank (250L to 300L). However, you need use Jebao 815 or 818 if your 4ft fish tank has many fish or large fish.

Jebao also has an ex-large external aquarium filter (Jebao 104 model), it has a build in 2000L/H, and 3m water head pump, and you will find its real water flow in the tank is same as or big than Aqua One 2340L/H, water head 2.2m ex-large external filter if you run them at one tank. Therefore, check the water head of build in pump is also important. Large water flow printed on the box is not equal to large water flow to the tank.

On the top of filter, there is water valve, please don’t turn it down; always left it in the maximum position. It original designed for an easy filter maintenance, reducing water flow by adjust water valve will result high pressure back to pump – reduce the water pump life time. Therefore, buy a right size external filter is recommended. e.g. don't use 1000L/H or over for 2 ft tank--water flow too large for fish.

And, external filter works well or not is depends on the brand. To save cost, cheap model filters do not consider some facts: e.g. block on impeller area will make build in pump turns to hot and die, and the rough internal designed filters water will not pass all filter media before back to tank that result in water turns to milky in just few days. Therefore, you need check:

1. Is there a plastic cover on the top basket? -- White pad or sponge will floating if without it -- cause water direct back to tank without pass filter media. (All Jebao filter has top basket cover)

2. Does the filter pump have build in auto off protector? (Only few brand filters has it) -- to avoid argue with seller in the future when pump die (seller will refuse your warranty by improperly used, why you not do maintenance on time, and the low quality economical model filter pump is designed for 6 months use).  

Who knows when and what will happen when filter runs inside the cabinet!!! How you know filter inside is dirty? Refuse the warranty after you post faulty filter back to seller is not fair for buyers. We pay all postage if filter pump is dying. However, our record shows that no any Jebao products return for warranty.

For the competition, large aquarium factories have advantage on lower the products cost by make huge quality and develop many different model external filters. However, small factories make one model filter only, and cheap model external filter sellers use cheating skills to attract buyer’s attention. For example: Boosting water flow rate on the box to make price looks cheap is a good example; and describe the filter as 2007 model, 2008 model, 2009 model etc. for the more than 5 years of old model cheap filter is another way of cheating.

Generally, please keep in mind that choosing external filter should be consider the brand, water flow rate and build in pump water head, price, and what filter media and quantity of media included, plus the build in auto protector. Some seller sell external filter without any filter media, or very limited filter media (described as complete with filter media) that will cause buyers to pay extra -- over $20 to fill up. And check seller’s feedbacks for the bad feedbacks record to see if any previous buyers left: "item not as described".

And most of cheap filter can identify by your eye: looks very rough compare to nice color box, and use recycle plastic pipe--looks dark green, no filter basket cover etc.

Please don't confuse on Jebao 81x series external filter's low price. Same filter under German brand Sera packing sale at over $200 in shops, the only difference is internal filter media added and packing box. Both are made by Jebao. I sell at the lowest price is to beat the original cheap priced economic model filters on eBay. You can contact all early buyers to ask the quality of filter, no any fraud description in my listing.

In China, Jebao filter price is over double than those cheap brand external filter, and average lifetime is at least 3 to 4 times than those cheap filters. 

Hope this information can help you make decision on choice external filter on shops.

Other type of filters like internal filter, hand on filter, top filter, undergravel filter etc. are not work well as external filter, I mean you should not expect it run one of these filter only, but they help external filter working better, and good for tank filtration.

I will add more details late.

What else will influence the filtration process? A good air pump!!!

Many people may only know the air pump can increase the oxygen level, and make water move. In fact, air pump is very important for aquarium tank biological treatment.

Fish tank system includes both beneficial bacterial and bad bacterial. And both survived by eat the fish pollutions. High level of oxygen in the water will promote the beneficial bacterial growth, indirectly restrict the bad bacterial grow. And more import is that the biological treatment will go reverse way if lack of oxygen in the water: convert nitrate back to nitrite, and then ammonia – kills your fish.

Therefore, add a powerful air pump to your tank is very import. And a powerful air pump also brings the final biological process waste-- harmful H2S etc. to the air.

How to choice a right air pump?

Many people experience the air pump lifetime is only few weeks or few months, and the air pump does not make enough air bubbles. Over 300 different brand air pumps in the market, choice a good one from them like play lotto. But if you check large brand air pumps, you will find they make different size and air pressure air pumps for different size and depth tanks. They are professional designed quality air pumps.

For example, you can see how a little Hailea 2201 air pump works in my air pump listing. It is only 1.3L/Min. (78L/H) but it makes huge air bubbles via a quality 12 inch long air bar in a 12 inch deep tank. Your old “large air flow” air pump can do it same?

For aquarium use, factory make air pumps in different air pressure and air flow rate, the largest air flow rate for one air outlet is 2.5L/Min (150L/H) which enough to run any size air stone or air bar. In another words, 2 outlets air pump max. air flow should be 5L/Min (300L/H), 4 outlets air pump Max. air flow is 10L/Min. (600L/H). And 600L/H air pump can make a 4 ft tank (250L tank) like boiling water.

And you don't need buy very large air flow pump for your tank due to oxygen dissolve rate is 8ppm to 10ppm. It won't go over 10ppm if you add 10 x air pumps or over sized air pump. And the Hailea 600L/H 4 outlets air pump is recommend for up to 800L tank, 600L/H air flow air pump can make 4ft tank (350L) water look like boiling water!!! Always buy a right sized air pump.

How to choice right water pump?

For aquarium purpose, there are 3 types of water pumps: powerhead, submersible water pump, wet/dry water pump. Price are big different due to different internal design and the class of copper wire used – the main cost on pump, but low class cooper wire made water pump is very easy burn in short period. And water pump is not repairable if it burned.

Powerhead is designed for water movement inside aquarium tank. It is not recommend for pumping water to high level due to very low water head. Price is the cheapest among 3 type’s pumps due to simplest structure. Disadvantage is that the powerhead will increase the tank temperature. Therefore, newly made high tech powerhead use less power and made in compact size to minimize the water temperature rise, for example, all Jebao internal filter’s powerhead.

Powerhead can deliver full water flow as printed on the label due to it pump out water at level, you don’t need check the powerhead water head on the label, just buy it with the water flow you need. To avoid too big water flow for fish, 2 ft wide tank needs around 250L/H powerhead, 3 ft is around 450L/H, 4 ft needs around 750L/H, 5ft around 1200L/H, 6 Ft around 1200L/H to 1800L/H. Marine tank should be consider a little big. However, you need thinking that the real water flow should 30% less if the powerhead is made by small factories, or 50% less if it packed in some Australia importer's brand -- they just boosting water flow to make price looks cheap compare to the large brand powerhead.  

Submersible pump is designed for pumping water to higher level, and the size and weight is big than powerhead. Therefore, large watts, low water flow rate, higher water head. You need measure the vertical distance between the pump and the highest point water will pass, and then come back to check the water pump's water head, and Max. water flow (zero head), if seller do not point out the water flow at example point, you need ask seller to get confirm before you buy.

For example, if your tank is 300L, the vertical distance is 1.2m, and your expect pump water flow at  around 1200L/H to make 4 times circulation for your tank, then, Jebao 3000 model pump (Max.1800L/H, Hmax 2.5m, 35w) is the right choice--it will deliver 1200L/H at 1.2m high. If you buy Jebao 5000 model, the real water flow will be around 2500L/H to your tank, fish will hard to swimming--too big water flow.

However, cheating on water flow rate of original cheap pump make a lots customer confuse on choice the right size pump. For example, you can find a 6000L/H submersible pump which has 4.2m water head, and it only runs 90w on eBay. Don't trust it!!!  No any factory can make a 90w water pump at max. 6000L/H water flow with 4.2m water head in the world. Seller double boost the water flow rate, or water head after re-packing to make price looks much cheap than large brand, in fact, buyers paid more on this short lifetime and small water flow pump compare to large brand top quality pump you can get online.

One of this 6000L/H water pump buyer told me that he bought one for his sump filter, and he feel it works fine, then, he pay higher price for second 8000L/H pump to increase water flow into tank, but he found the real water flow is same as 6000L/H pump. I told him that do you know what the real water flow should be if it is 6000L/H, and water head 4.2m pump? It should be show you over 5000L/H real water flow rate after left water from sump filter to the tank; it means that it can fill your 500L tank in just 6 mins!!! And your fish won't able to against this large water flow in the tank. You paid similar and higher price as Jebao 3500L/H pump I am selling, but you get the low quality and water flow very small pumps, and it only can run few months -- don't expect the warranty in the future due to seller cheating you at beginning.

Wet/Dry pump is similar to industry pump, more big and heavy due to internal structure is different than above pumps. It can work both in and outside water. So the price is much higher than submersible pump. And top class water pump like Jebao pump has build in auto protector to stop pump burn if it runs too hoot or accidentally run out the water.

For aquarium tank, you only need up to 3500L/H pump, or 4500L/H if your tank is huge big. The 6000L/H and above pump should use for multi-tanks, or pond.

In fact, if factories use same top class materials to make similar water pump, large factory can make pump price lower than small factories, and quality is much better due to advanced design and production line. However, lower class of copper wire can reduce factory cost up to 90% (result in short lifetime of pump). A brand new recycle copper wire  2.5HP water pump is only $35 in China. But it will kill your fish at any time after you power on. That's why the pump price is big different among the different brand. Value for money. Please keep in mind that water pump is not repairable if it burned. And seller knows the quality, so those seller normally sell low quality water pump without warrarnty.

And more, for safety reason, all top brand water pumps did a high voltage testing before packing into the box. However, many small brand pumps not, that's why some people experience a big bomb noise and smoke came out after power on, and all fish die. Low quality copper wire made water pumps can not do this high voltage test, otherwise, all pump will killed in factory by the high voltage (30,000v).

That's the main reason I recommend you buy a top brand water pump!!! Safe for you and your fish!!! In fact, you only pay few dollars more for a top brand water pump if you know the large water flow of cheap brand is boosted.

Aquarium lights:

You must see a lot cheap priced aquarium light on one ebay store, or you already have bought one and dead in 2 or 3 months. Why is so cheap for SunSun brand aquarium lights? Because the ballasts used are not made in Australia, and not safety approved in Australia. Those lights only can run about 2 to 3 months, that's why seller not offer any warranty, and muck you around by recommend you use UPS to run the light.

If you check this seller's T5 ballast buyer's history, they all bought cheap light 2 or 3 months. However, most early buyers don't know how to change the ballasts. they lost all after light dead in 3 months.

SunSun aquarium lights are illegal selling in Australia. You should report it to Australia electrical products safety department on 07-32370728 or equipmentsafety@deir.qld.gov.au if you have one.

New aquarium T5 lights can deliver more light for fish tank, however, the top quality tube in the Bunning's warehouse sell at $30 each. But you will find the SunSun T5 light tube is big than real T5 tube, and small than T8 tube. China aquarium industry people call fake T5 light, or T7 light.

SunSun metal hailede light also very cheap, but same problem as T5 light, the ballast also not safety approved. And you need replace the bulbs in 3 months time too. Buy 2x real quality bulbs can run over 1 year, and real Australia safety approved ballast can run at least few years, it will cost you another $250 to $350 to change the light to safety use. However, the poor material and paint still remain same. Don't waste money on SunSun lights if you don't know how to repair the light. Buy the light at your local retail shop only.

How to choice an UV steriliser?

A real good quality UV steriliser can use many years by change the UV globe. However, one customer told me that he bought a very cheap SunSun 18W UV steriliser for his 4 ft tank, and tank water still green after a week. He ask this ebay seller (importer), then paid more for a 36W SunSun UV steriliser under this seller suggestion, but tank water still green.

I suggest him to replace a real UV-C globe, and ask him to come back when it broken after few months. He paid another $65 for the UV-C globe from a retail shop, and it turns his tank water from green to clear just one night.

As I suggested, he come back my place few moths late with the broken UV sterilizer, the plastic body is cracked, water spread everywhere in the cabinet he told me. Why???

Because a real UV globe can kills algae--turns green water to clear; A real UV-C globe can kills both algae and disease. A toy UV globe can do nothing for the tank.

And a toy UV sterilizer use a real UV globe or UV-C globe will result in damage the plastic body, internal rubber rings etc. and unsafe once internal parts are damaged. You can test it by put a plastic basket in the garden under sun for few months, the basket will crack when you try to use it again.

A top quality UV sterilizer must use a real UV or UV-C globe and all the parts are UV protected for long term use. The price of UV or UV-C globe is in a wide range base on quality. It is easy to change UV globe to UV-C globe by re-print it.

For aquarium use, one 7w UV sterilizer is enough for 4 ft tank, 11w UV sterilizer is enough for 6 or 8 ft tank. Big than 16w UV sterilizer is use for pond. If you find your UV sterilizer can not turns green water to clear, then you need through away due to its an aquarium toy.

This customer paid double price than SunSun 18w UV sterilizer for a 11w Jebao UV sterilizer at my place. And he did come back to me--bought a Jebao 2000L/H external filter 2 months late. I ask him why you not buy a same size SunSun external filter with build in UV globe on eBay? He said to me: He doesn't want waste money on toy products any more. Yes, that's why build in UV globe large external filter's ebay online price same as SunSun UV sterilizer that goes cheap and cheap every day. Early buyers can tell you more.

How to choice top quality aquarium products?

There are many brand in the market, its no double that every seller describe product as top brand, large brand, top quality etc.. In fact, excluding the Europe made products, over 90% aquarium products original made in China. EHEIM has own factory in China too, they start make products on early 2006 in China. There are over 300 aquarium factories in China, and many Australia importers relabel China made products in their own brand to increase the sales price—add value on the products???!!! No. They just change the label and packing box.

I strongly recommend you buy following well know brands of products as your first choice if you don’t want waste your money on the low quality products. They are well-know quality products makers, and many of large Western brand products are made by them. They are also recommended by China aquarium products wholesalers. And remember that they are the most expansive priced products in China. Don’t over pay on other brand due to price is much cheap.

Atman: www.chuangxing.com.cn/doce/gsjj.asp  - sale by large Australia agent: Kong’s international in Australia and relabelled in Aqua One in Australia. It is rare on ebay due to wholesaler protecting retail shops profit.

Jebo: www.jebo.com.cn  - the largest aquarium factory in the world. They make over 5,000 top quality fish tanks a day!!! Distributor is large company: Pet Pacific.

Hailea: www.hailea.com/E-hailea/index.htm - make famous top quality air pumps, air blowers, chillers etc. Hailea-Aqua Medic chillers is a good example. There are few agents in Australia. I carry few of Hailea products like 22xx series super silent air pumps, Hailea HC series chillers -- all newest model.

Jebao: www.jebao.com - famous top class water pump maker in the world, as well as some water pump related products like external filters. And they mainly make products for exporting under different big brands like German brand Sera www.sera.com.de etc. You can find the Jebao 81x series external filters in Sera web site for more useful information. And Jebao boss was one of three directors of Jebo, He is an engineer, his duty was new products design and quality control in Jebo, and Jebao independent in 1998 with water pump section of Jebo, that’s why large Western brands do OEM at Jebao. And early Jebo water pump users found the pump can run many years. You will find the Jebao products quality is in top class. Zero return in first year we experienced.

Resun:  www.resun-china.com – Products not in top quality, but it is ok compare to many other small factories, and quality getting approve on new products. This brand is well known by Australian users due to cheap price. And the quality is much better than SunSun said by China aquarium products wholesalers.

Remember this:

Buy a low quality products at very low price without any warranty offer will result a big lose in short time period. If the product is reasonable quality, seller must sell it with at least one month warranty to help sales.

What you should aware when you shopping online?

Online purchase should understand that 1 year warranty offer on small size product not equal to good quality product except seller offer you free postage on warranty. Otherwise, it needs you post back faulty products first, and then pay postage for the replacement one. Or you will receive a very kindly email from seller -- tell you how to use their product in right way, let you trust that product were improperly used, and then they will ask you buy another low quality product again--you will pay more until you fully understand. And cheap products look very rough when you open the nice color box.

Always ask seller about the product original factory web site--you will see the real description of product, but you won't get answer if seller boosting the product's water flow and air flow rate on their own brand packing.

And check the products has Australia safety approved plug or not. Buy a product with overseas power plug means that you take a risk on product not working properly and reduced lifetime, or killed directly by the high Australia voltage. All ethical importers pay extra to modify products for Australia use to China factory. Some importer's products are not made for Australia (they pay less), they may add a power adopt for buyers, Or just cut the original round power plug, and then add a 3 pin Australia plug on, it is not safe for aquarium use due to it not water approved after change the plug. And Australia cable is 0.75mm2, China cable is 0.5mm2, use China cable products in Australia will result cable fire. Those unethical direct importer don't care buyer's risk, they just want secure profit by sell them without warrranty.

In addition, buying the expansive products (over $50) without warranty is a big gamble for your money except you know how to repair it before you buy.

Remember that all water pumps are not repairable once it burned. But the top quality water pump like Jebao water pumps use top class copper wire and it has build in auto power off protector to stop pump burning if something block in the impeller area or run out water for long run.

I am not the earliest ebay seller on aquarium products section compare to other power sellers, but I receive over 15,000 positive feedbacks from over 6,000 buyers). I won repeat business by doing business honestly for every one. Please check my feedbacks.

The reason to add this information is that I received many help emails from other eBayers all the time. Please don't expect a good after sale service if seller cheating you at beginning. And some sellers offer 2 years warranty, but disappeared after few months (May still on eBay under new user ID).