Anyone use a Hartz Crystal Clean III?

platytudes

platytudes

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Nov 4, 2006
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Nicole
This is a filter I see now and then on Aquabid, just like those Wardley Sandman filters. It seems to be a closeout, discontinued filter.

The only picture I can find online is this one:
Hartz_Power_Filter_large.jpeg


I found a place where you can buy a 12 pack of them for $72 (so, $6 per filter). The minimum order is $100 though, so I would need to buy two 12 packs.

I had this idea that when I got my tax return money, I could buy two 12 packs for $144, then resell them on eBay or Aquabid for $10 each. I think they would sell at that price, they are rated for a 29 gallon tank. (I've only ever found them for sale in lots on AB)

They seem sort of like a mixture between a Whisper and an AquaClear. I wonder if the motor is removable, like an AquaClear?

I don't want to get into this venture if the filters are noisy junk...but if they aren't too noisy, and work reasonably well and are reliable, I might consider it.

Anybody ever used this filter before? It seems like a filter from the good ol' days...:rolleyes:
 
Never heard of this filter. Not much of a fan of the Hartz brand. It's odd that there's basically no info on them, pretty much like they never existed. Will be interested to see if anyone's every tried this filter out.
Looks like the motor detaches like on the aquaclears to me also.
 
if they aren't popular or don't have much info out on the net about them, then i don't think people are going to be as willing to buy them as they would the more common brands. i know i try to find as many reviews about a product before i even consider purchasing it.

i'd spend your tax money on a new tank instead :)
 
Well, I've noticed on eBay people sell a lot of Jebo and Odyssea stuff - the thing is that even though it's not got the best reputation (compared to name brand AquaClear, Marineland, etc.) that it's still kind of expensive! It's a little cheaper than whatever it's imitating, but not by all that much.

I just figure - how bad can this filter be that it wouldn't be worth $10? The worst part would be if it was noisy. That would make it a no go.

I know I've wanted hospital tank or spare filters and not wanted to pay a lot of money for them. This person is selling a lot of these 4 filters for $22.25 each! Now that is crazy: http://www.aquabid.com/cgi-bin/auction/auction.cgi?filteration&1297790401

They have no feedback and the filter isn't well known, so I'm sure it's going to get 0 bids...but they're just being greedy. The site I'm thinking of buying them from said that they retail at $34.95 as well. Yeah, maybe back in the '70s!

If no one thinks this is a good idea, I'll probably skip it. I don't really want to make a whole lot of money here, just a little bit...and I'm curious to own one of these filters myself. I'm just afraid that once I got it it would be loud, like the older filters were.
 
Those are really good $5.00 filters. If you can pick and choose so you don't get a cracked one or three or ten. The trouble is, they want $72.00 a case, plus shipping.

My question, meant to dissuade you, is do you need a dozen 10 gallon size power filters? I read the ad. I know Countryside says they fit up to a 29 gallon tank.
Fit and filter are not the same. These won't filter a 29 gallon tank but they will fit over the rim. These filters won't fit over the rim of a larger tank.

They used to be packaged with 10 gallon tanks, a heater, some gravel, and food. Back then Hagen was some Canadian trying to get into the US market.
 
It does kind of bother me that they don't list actual specs like gph or measurements. If they are only good for a 10 gallon tank, I certainly don't want them! And no, I'm not wanting to keep them for myself...but to resell them for a bit more, maybe make $3 per filter or so.

I think I'll try emailing Hartz about it to get some info...I bet they were hoping they were done with these filters ;)

I probably won't do it, but I'll let you know what Hartz says.
 
dbosman said:
They used to be packaged with 10 gallon tanks, a heater, some gravel, and food. Back then Hagen was some Canadian trying to get into the US market.
Click to expand...

Do you know around what time frame that was? I'm thinking it was pre internet, which is why there is not much info about these...

There is, strangely, sort of a market for "vintage" aquarium stuff! Dyanflo filters, diatom filters, etc.
 
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