Educate others by writing reviews

[Deleted]

Greetings All,

I have been contemplating this post for a while (please don't take offense)....Your posts here reach members and visitors of the forum.... but there are a lot more fish-keepers out there getting BAD advice on other forums (don't bother trying to help them there).  I encourage those who HAVE the time to write reviews for products you KNOW are good for fish. AAP may not sell all of the products you buy for your fish - so while you are shopping, if you see a product that you use regularly - and it doesn't have reviews with enough information- write a review for customers to read (make sure to include enough information so readers know why to by it).

I write reviews on all sites where I buy fish care products in hope of educating others to buy products that are good for fish. I don't bother with products that already have a lot of reviews (like most by API - see note below*), but on sites like Amazon that provide comments, I add on to what the other reviewers said. I no longer write reviews on sites that I know sell old products as I don't buy from them anymore (Carl knows one and has written his own review of that retailer). 

While it would be great if all home aquarists would come to AAP to purchase their products, most don't. They will buy from Amazon, Petco, PetSmart, Drs. Foster and Smith and the like (I support an Ohio company - PetSolutions, a partner to the pet stores where I buy fish - Jack's Pets). I am "4fish". I want to help home aquarists provide for their fish (smile). 

Yesterday I added two comments to posts about Seachem Matrix on Amazon as it wasn't necessary for me to write a complete review. One negative reviewer blamed Matrix for his/her rising ammonia. I added in my comment that Matrix wasn't the problem. The problem was likely low KH. I added a comment to a positive review that I am already seeing a reduction in nitrates - and that Matrix is the only product I have used that showed that much success in lowing nitrates.

And...as you "go fishing" make sure all associates know about American Aquarium Products informational articles. Make sure they know they can buy the pdf files. I have helped many store associates know what medications to use (and which ones not to use) by referring them to AAP. 

Oh... and if you save a little money by purchasing from another retailer....be sure to come over to AAP and give a little donation (smile).

Judy

* I plan to write a review about API Water Softening Pillows..... including why NOT to use them....I will do that sometime after the holidays.

[Carl]

A way to get these reviews to more possible readers would be to write an Everything Aquatic Blog Post review
These do very well in readership, to the point that the last two were paid entries by non members who realized the power of the readership here, as while activity may not always be high, but readership of both this forum and more so its blog is very good

All Everything Aquatic Blog posts are member driven (with the previously noted types of exceptions), I sometimes provide input or add some information, but not much

These are all found from our home page
www.everything-aquatic.com/

If you would like to do one, I can send anyone a Blogger pass as an author

Carl

[clayn]

I am not much help with reviews however I could do a boring fish nutrition blog that most aren't the least bit interested in.

[Carl]

Dec 22, 2014 0:37:26 GMT -5 clayn said:

I am not much help with reviews however I could do a boring fish nutrition blog that most aren't the least bit interested in.

I sent you a blogger invite for Everything Aquatic should you decide to write a blog post about fish nutriton

I used the email on file here, please correct me if another is best

Carl

[devonjohnsgard]

Dec 22, 2014 0:37:26 GMT -5 clayn said:

I am not much help with reviews however I could do a boring fish nutrition blog that most aren't the least bit interested in.

That's great Clayn. I would like to set you up with Paradigm sponsor board. We can put your current nutrition thread there and anything that comes in the future. Thanks for doing a blog for the group!

[devonjohnsgard]

Dec 19, 2014 13:17:10 GMT -5 @judy4fish said:

* I plan to write a review about API Water Softening Pillows..... including why NOT to use them....I will do that sometime after the holidays.

Judy,

If you would like to take part in this blogging, I can also set you up an area in the forum to keep your conversions and information organized. Would that be helpful, then maybe you can help up spread the word. With the amount of work you already do, a blog would come easy.

[Deleted]

Greetings All,

Last night, I did some searching online to find out more info/reviews for Weco Wonder Shells (Carl has an idea what sparked my inquiry -- no need to post that here). Weco claims the Wonder Shells clear cloudy water and maintain pH.
I refuse to write any kind of review for Pet Mountain....a site that under-cuts the price.... but did add a comment to one review on Amazon. I will eventually write more comments on Amazon --- and may write a full review there. I think Amazon only sells one size. Amazon doesn't allow links to be posted, but I think I can post - Do an Internet search for benefits of Wonder Shells and you will find a source that has done extensive research on these. No home aquarist should be without them -- even if only using during disease treatments.....Then I will add more on how they help with disease treatments, etc.

Before I post an full review, I will run it by you folks here for corrections (remember, I am an old lady and can't remember everything I ever read).

If I had an aquarium with cloudy water, a Wonder Shell would not be my first choice (smile)....Also, there is no way I would put a whole little Wonder Shell in a small Betta tank - as what is recommended. I have had Bettas live for many, many years without Wonder Shells (smile)....but, if I ever need to, I wouldn't hesitate to give my little boy blue a piece if he needs some.

Cheers,

Judy

[Carl]

The Wonder Shell actually does clear cloudy water by stabilization of mineral ions and absorption.
However as you noted, it is not a first choice and it would depend upon the cause in the first place

As for PH and more so KH, the Wonder Shells has very mild positive affects for both due to calcium carbonate, but these are very minor effects at best and already only help in an aquarium that is already stable. So for this I would in general disagree with Weco and others.

As use with Bettas, yes I too have kept many a Betta for years without a Wonder Shell, however one of my longer running tests with multiple controls showed that not only was lifespan better when Wonder Shells were used, but the incidence of disease, most notably Columnaris was lower.
This said, a Wonder Shell is only a piece of the puzzle, as excellent feeding (as Clayn could attest to), UV Sterilizations, and more are major parts of the Disease Prevention puzzle

Reference:
www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Disease.html

Carl

[Deleted]

Thanks Carl,

and with Bettas... it is often just the fish. I have kept Betta fish for years. We always had one for my son when he was a kid.... So.... we are the reason my son became a fish keeper when he headed off to College, I guess.

I have never seen a Betta fish (in my care that is) present with any visible sign of disease. They just die. Some after many years which is to be expected (smile)..... and some in a short time. I won't ever buy them again from the local store that only guarantees fish for 48 hours (smile). They all live longer than 48 hours. It is impossible to know the kind of care they get at the stores.... The fish I have now was purchased from a national chain store on the same day he arrived at the store (only minutes after he arrived....as I called that day to see when the new fish would arrive). This Betta fish is the only fish I bought last summer from that store that is still alive..... and is the last fish I will ever buy from that store. I don't even look at the fish (haven't for months...they won't listen to the "Lorax for Fish"). I boycotted the store for a while....They sent me a $5 coupon that they missed me, so I bought cat litter..... When they sent me another $5 coupon that they missed me, I bought Catnip spray for my friend's cat. Since it was on sale, I did go back and bought some for my son's cats for Christmas.

I am sure when you guys give advice to the places where you buy fish, they listen to you. The Ohio based chain has received many emails from me.... They listen....although I am still waiting... and waiting... for a store to come back to my home town. I kid them that I can't possibly be giving them so much business that they no longer need to have a store here.

Thanks for the additional info on Wonder Shells.... That will help me with my review. I won't work on that until after Christmas.

Cheers,

Judy

[Carl]

If you have had good results from a source, please share.

I am guessing?:
www.petsolutions.com/C/Freshwater-Fish-Plants+SAll.aspx

I am more familiar with the wholesale/distribution side, for which I can recommend any retailer that sells fish from this source:
www.aquatropic.com/

In both my opinion (as per ethics of how they get and ship their fish) and my experience in purchasing/selling this place is light years ahead of anyone else.
The only problem I had was sometimes selling, as their fish were more expensive than most everyone else too (not a problem for my aquarium maintenance customers, as they usually wanted the best)

Carl

[Deleted]

Hi Carl,

I buy fish from Jack's Pets -- a partner company to PetSolutions - both owned by the Brenner family.... out of Beavercreek, Ohio (near Dayton). My current Betta though came from the local Pet Supply Plus (There, I posted their name). I knew better than to buy one they had in the store for a while. I wanted to buy a fish with a 14 day guarantee. I would have needed to dive 45 miles to buy a Betta from Jack's Pets. I lucked out.... all fish were 25% off the day I bought the Betta (so only around $2.00). Jack's Pets Bettas cost more usually -- they do run sales on them. So far, I don't need a Jack's Betta.... but my next one will come from Jack's (so I get a 14 day guarantee). Note: The majority of problems I had with PSP fish happened after the 14 day guarantee (poor genes, I guess --- and definitely poor water quality at the store. That is a fact).

I use PetSolutions to see when fish become available -- although they offer more varieties of rainbows and cory cats to the stores (Kamaka rainbows have never been listed on PetSolutions). If I don't see a fish listed, I email the buyer to tell her what I am looking for. She got the Peacock Gudgeons in for me.

I only bought one fish online... a Denison Barb from LiveAquaria....and that was only because I had three $15.00 coupons for Live Aquaria. Drs. Foster and Smith used to give them out when purchases were over a certain dollar amount (that was back in 2008 or 2009). I bought the fish to raise for my son as a gift. When it was big enough, I drove him down to Kentucky in a five gallon bucket with air pump and plastic filter. Of course, I kind of liked the fish after I had him for a while...so started to collect my own from Jack's Pets locally. I also bought one from PetSmart in Columbus, OH for $3.99!!!!!! These fish normally sell for $19.99 or more (silly me paid $29.99 for one, but I did get $2.99 off the price with my "Fish of the Month" card -- a discount Jack's Pet no longer offers.

For anyone still reading.... Roseline Sharks/Denison Barbs do not do well at all if presented with low oxygen conditions. If you ever do get any.... be sure to isolate them if you ever have a filter failure or power outage.... or even a heater mishap. Learn from us (my son and me).

Judy

[Carl]

I do not know who Pet Solutions or Jack's Pets purchase fish from, but I do know where Walmart, Liveaquaria, and PetsMart at least get some of their fish from and IMO they are not a very good source (this is also based on purchasing there myself too)

Carl

[Deleted]

Just laugh out loud... My Walmart fish are still alive.....all of them. I don't plan to buy more... unless I lose some Rasboras (half that I have are from Walmart). I have some Glo-Tetras from Walmart, too (I do still inspect their stock to see if they have long finned ones). Don't scold me for buying those.... I just like them. Now I only look for ones that have long fins (those are a bit of a rarity with the Glo-Tetras as these are created used the regular white skirted tetras). I only have one from Pet Supply Plus - the last Electric Green one (he was a trade.... I traded my too big one from Lima Jack's for a smaller one). I like the Sunburst Orange ones.... but also have three Galactic Purple, three Cosmis Blue..... and two long-finned Sunrise Pink (bought because of the long fins... Princess One and Princess Two).

Judy

[parker002]

I generally don't buy anything at Wal Mart unless I have to. However, recently I did notice they had some strikingly yellow Angels that I had not seen other places so I decided to buy them. So far, so good. And they are definitely beautiful.

[Carl]

I found this new post from a blog I follow:
aquariumopinions.com/2015/01/11/amazon-reviews-for-aquariums/

This was an excellent read, but I would also not mean by sharing this to discourage others from correcting incorrect reviews by posting your own on Amazon.

Carl

[parker002]

That is great article. I made this post here a while back and it goes right along with the article:

everythingaquatic.proboards.com/post/30087

Oct 8, 2014 11:14:45 GMT -5 parker002 said:

It's a double-edged sword. Obviously, Amazon now sells home networking equipment. While the vast majority of reviewers have no technical expertise, the reviews themselves are valuable in aggregate when trying to determine things like failure rates. You simply cannot take individual reviews and utilize them in a specific manner because they don't provide specific, technical information. However, a device that has 150 reviews that say "failed after 30 days", there's a good chance the device has manufacturing issues. The informed consumer would use that as a cue to go do more research before purchasing. Unfortunately, the opposite does not work. Dozens of positive reviews does not guarantee success for the individual consumer. Again, the utility of consumer reviews comes in aggregate.

I understand that aquarium chemicals and things of that ilk are a different ballgame and unscientific reviews can be particularly damaging but there is a usefulness in consumer reviews that is better than not having any reviews at all.

I also posted this on a forum dedicated to home networking gear called Small Net Builder. It's also applicable because as the article mentions, reviews represent a snapshot in time and rarely, if ever, detail the lifecycle of a product.

It's a question of lifecycle.

Many positive reviews, especially for wireless gear, are written during the "honeymoon" phase, when everything is freshly-unboxed and the "wow" factor is still present. Very few of those people go back and edit their review in a month when it becomes apparent that the router has to be rebooted every 3 or 4 days to keep it stable.

On the flipside, many of the negative reviews are posted during that 2nd window, when the router has to be rebooted all the time. Those reviewers very rarely make it to "stability" so they have no frame of reference to go back and update their reviews with current information. They've already moved on to some other model or brand of equipment.