The Puffer Forum

Any feedback on the eclipse lighting and filtration hoods? I'm curious as to how well they work.

energizerfish wrote:Any feedback on the eclipse lighting and filtration hoods? I'm curious as to how well they work.

i had 2 of them, bought many years ago
nice idea, but very weak on the filtration end & expensive to replace the filters
tried gutting the filters, removing the charcoal, and supplementing the elements (messy hassle & still didn't address the weak flow issue)
wound up using the hood for lighting and covering only, and went to external Fluval Canisters for filtration
the hood itself is bulky, heavy to open, and restricts access for maintenance
the product is more of a convenience factor than a valid system, almost a toy

I had an Eclipse tank once long ago that I attempted to use for goldfish, and my experience was similar to eieio's. The filtration just couldn't cut it for the amount of waste generated by goldfish. Puffers are also messy fish, so I'm betting an Eclipse would be too wimpy for them too.

id say they were only really good for a beta or snail breeding, unless there were a way to get a more powerful flow other than hacking the lid and running a canister

I have a fairly newer model, the lid is different, maybe? I have the option of lifting the back half, which is thin and light, or the front light housing, a bit heavier. The cartridges can get clogged impeding flow, and even over flowing :/. It holds 2 T8 bulbs, would be great if they were T5's, but they are in a virtually water proof casing. The input is an awkward, ugly, rectangular type thing. The hood gets pretty salt encrusted over time if used salt or brackish water.
That being said, I've removed the bio wheel since it's a marine tank now, so less salt mess. I also don't have the cartridge or any media at all in the hood, so my flow rate is not restricted.

I think overall it's an "OK" system in theory, but I'd like to see a less ugly intake, an improved cartridge system that doesn't tend to leak or impede flow, and T5 lighting that is placed a little more toward the center/ back of the hood with better reflectors. As is the lights are very close to the front, which is awesome for lighting the floor in front of the tank lol, and I get spot algae pretty bad right at the top of the front glass by the lights.

Thanks for the input, but this wouldn't be for a puffer tank. I'm thinking dwarf gouramis.

Because of the leaking hood issue, I'd not get this system again. I got this 37 used for $40, with a bunch worthless chemicals, hideous decorations, a mostly brown siphon, and a slew of dead bugs and spiders.

NMFT!

Pufferpunk wrote:NMFT!

ok what does this one mean? im such a dunce on abbreviations and google didnt work for this one

"not in my fish tank" i think

Actually, that one was just, "Not My Fish Tank".

lol was wondering where the "I" was

All of my tanks are eclipse system. I bought them all used. I use higher power filter for the hood, and then its good to go for puffers

I would never buy them new because its not worth it.