I may have a chance to pick up a 30 gal for a good price. Does anyone have any of these and what are the pros and cons of them. I'm not sure I like the equipment all in the hood. You are kinda stuck with that it comes with then, aren't you?
marineland eclipse tanks
- Thread starter nursie
- Start date
Nursie.
We sell allot of them at the store they are very popular considering the price.
You can get a Marineland 55 gallon regular kit for the same price as the 30 gallon eclipse at our store.
Still they sell very well though.
I personally hate the filter. I find that the power is lacking and the overall flow to be blah, and those bloody useless Marineland filter cartridges....
I tend to be bias however because I don't like any of the Marineland filters.
One thing I have noticed in the two years that we have been selling them. It seems to be more newbies than the experienced aquarists that we have that like them and buy them.
Read into that what you will but to me that says volumes.
We sell allot of them at the store they are very popular considering the price.
You can get a Marineland 55 gallon regular kit for the same price as the 30 gallon eclipse at our store.
Still they sell very well though.
I personally hate the filter. I find that the power is lacking and the overall flow to be blah, and those bloody useless Marineland filter cartridges....
I tend to be bias however because I don't like any of the Marineland filters.
One thing I have noticed in the two years that we have been selling them. It seems to be more newbies than the experienced aquarists that we have that like them and buy them.
Read into that what you will but to me that says volumes.
We have a marineland eclipse 3 hood on our 37 gallon tank. We really like having everything in the hood. It's very quiet. We do not use the filter cartridges, though. We just use regular filter sponge material. Carbon can be added if needed (as can peat, etc.) I like the biowheel, too. We feel it does a great job filtering the tank... we set the outflow spouts a certain way until we could see the current moving through the tank so all areas got stirred up. Maintenance has been very easy. It starts up very quickly after a power outage, too. Of course, according to ScottoMacD, my opinion is probably not the best one because I am a newbie. It's just my experience.
thesydmonster said:
I didn't mean to offend you in anyway. If I did offend you I apologize.
Your opinion on the product is yours and it is a good one. If you like the product please don't feel that because you are a newbie that it is not valid.
Like I said I do have a bias against most Marineland products. I find most of them lousy, again though that is just my personal opinion. I know for a fact that there is people who swear by them. Including a whole whack of people on this site.
I was just stating an observation from the store I work at on my part.
You are completely right about the filter sponges as a much better option to those awful cartridges.
Sorry for the offence again thesydmonster.
You know..I'm glad I posted this. I for some realon thought this came with the tank..now I'm not so sure. I've emailed the seller to ask.
If he's put the bulbs in he says he has and they are new..like he says, it should be worth it for the bulbs.
If he's put the bulbs in he says he has and they are new..like he says, it should be worth it for the bulbs.
Sorry, Scott, I wasn't offended. I am a newbie and have no experience with any other filters so am not able to offer more than my experience with my eclipse 
We bought it because it was contained in one unit, no holes for fish to escape through (which I needed for my zebra loaches, those crazy kids!). It has worked well for us. I am not sure what type of bulbs it comes with but we have some plants in our tank (all low light) that are growing well -- anubias coffefolia, cabomba, dwarf sag, java ferns, and java moss.
We bought it because it was contained in one unit, no holes for fish to escape through (which I needed for my zebra loaches, those crazy kids!). It has worked well for us. I am not sure what type of bulbs it comes with but we have some plants in our tank (all low light) that are growing well -- anubias coffefolia, cabomba, dwarf sag, java ferns, and java moss.
I ended up not getting it becasue the tank did not come with it. I really wanted the tank...must have more tanks.... 
Hey Scott what store do you work in, and where is it located? Always on the look out for new places to get my stuff.
I have an eclipse 3 and I have found it to be less than adequate even though the biological filter is supperior to many out there. Even though it is simple to maintain, and works well, I probably will not ever buy another. I upgraded the light to a 55 watt pc because the origional is not enough light. The cartridges were costly so I started making my own. The reason I got it was because everthing is right up top and it is easy to maintain.
I added a internal filter for more mechanical filtration and water flow. If the price you are getting it for seems worthwhile, then go for it. Buy the blue sheets of filter material, cut it your self, remove the blue filter material from the standard cartridge and lay the new material on top. I you need to add carbon at some point, make sure you only use one ounce.. To much and you will have problems. Use a couple of clean rocks to hold down the pad to keep the carbon in place.
Its easy and much cheaper than purchasing new cartridges.
I added a internal filter for more mechanical filtration and water flow. If the price you are getting it for seems worthwhile, then go for it. Buy the blue sheets of filter material, cut it your self, remove the blue filter material from the standard cartridge and lay the new material on top. I you need to add carbon at some point, make sure you only use one ounce.. To much and you will have problems. Use a couple of clean rocks to hold down the pad to keep the carbon in place.
Its easy and much cheaper than purchasing new cartridges.
downloader said:
Big Al's in Pointe-Claire.
It is on the Northwest corner of Sources and the 40 service road. In the same mall as Rob Macintosh and Hemsley's.