Water Dispenser Guide

We’ve Added a Water Cooler Store!

Miranda — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 17:24:47 +0000

Just a quick head’s up to any readers who are looking for competitive water cooler prices: We’ve added a store to the site which is accessible through the top menu bar (entitled “The Store”). As we’ve stated on the store page, we get a few bucks for every purchase made through the store. This money goes toward maintaining our site and paying our authors for their research and writing time. Thank you in advance for this support!

Here’s a direct link to the store: The Water Dispenser Store

Fluval Aquarium Filters: The Essential Buyer’s Guide

Miranda — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 00:22:55 +0000

While an aquarium can be serene and peaceful (some scientists actually argue that they can lower a person’s blood pressure through relaxation), keeping an aquarium clean can be a source of frustration for some people. One way to help is to utilize a high quality filter, and Fluval is one of the companies at the head of the pack in the aquarium market.

Fluval aquarium filters help filter waste products from the aquarium water. Things like excess food, fish waste, excess chemicals and other like items are drawn down through the filter system and eliminated. The filter prevents the water from getting cloudy, and prevents toxins from building up and poisoning the fish. In terms of physical appearance, the Fluval filter is a canister style filter that is capable of handling large volumes of water. They make numerous models for various sized aquariums.

The 105 model is capable of handling 125 gallons of water per hour. This volume keeps the aquarium free of debris and toxins. It is perfect for aquariums that contain 25 gallons of water or less. The average cost is around ninety dollars. The 205 will handle 180 gallons of water per hour. It is best used in aquariums of 26 to 80 gallons. It can be purchased for around one hundred and ten dollars. There are three other sizes that go up in gallons per hour, aquarium size and price (dependent on the variables).

The Fluval external filter works by pulling water through the intake port and then sending it through the filter for cleaning. When cleaning is completed, the clean water exits back into the tank. The filter system involves two primary parts: a pre-filter and main filters.

Fluval filters sports a few qualities that go above and beyond many competing products. First, most of them feature a self-release pressure valve that will cut off the pump if it senses an increase or a decrease in the water pressure. Additionally, these pumps are extremely quiet. The Fluval filter media is implemented in a modular design, making the cartridge easy to change and clean.

There are several parts of the filter that provide mechanical, chemical and biological filtration. This combination of filter methods provides superior filtration and water cleanliness. Interestingly enough, one part of the filtration process can be executed without having to do the remaining parts, so the system is pretty efficient. This is great for people that change pre-filters more frequently than the other parts of the filter. Since the Fluval filters use various filtration media, they rarely need changing at the same time, making the modular system ideal. Lastly, the intake spout can be adjusted to work horizontally or vertically, making the filter even more versatile.

Fluval filters all come with instructions on how often to change each part of the system. Since each model serves various sized aquariums, there is no general guideline for filter part changes. Thankfully, the written instructions will provide clear, concise information that is pertinent to the specific filter the consumer has purchased. Prices range from around ninety dollars for the smallest model to around four hundred dollars for the largest one. There is a Fluval filter for any size aquarium!

The Fluval 05 Series Aquarium Filter:

Similarly to your office water dispenser or water cooler, a water filter makes an aquarium stay much cleaner between cleanings, but of course they do not eliminate the need for water changes and cleaning of the aquarium in general. Keeping the water exchanged and clean will increase the quality of life and longevity of the fish that live in the aquarium. Additionally, a high quality filter is great for plant life and any other living organism in the tank. Having a filter will help eliminate some of the work and frustration associated with owning an aquarium!

My Ceramic Water Dispenser Picks: The 2 Best Models And Accessories

Miranda — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 20:55:23 +0000

It’s been a little while since I last posted my water crock buyer’s guide. Since then, the post has received a lot of positive feedback from people who prefer the rustic appeal of the typical water crock over a modern water dispenser.

Given that positive reception, I thought I would provide a quick update on the currently available models on the market. Specifically, 2 models have consistently sold well and received great reviews on Amazon.com:

First on the list is the Primo IIC Ceramic Water Crock Water Dispenser. This unit has garnered great reviews across the board in a market that is traditionally filled with dubious consumer feedback. Unlike many competing models, the IIC has gained very high marks in terms of both long-lasting durability as well as functionality. The real trick with water dispensers is not to go overboard with features that you couldn’t reasonably justify given a meager manufacturing budget.

Too many companies are going way beyond what is needed, and thus the basic features are suffering while these companies attempt to cater to every possible market (a huge mistake). The IIC thankfully does not fall victim to this temptation, providing a no-frills (but not unattractive) wooden stand. The unit itself can accommodate both 3 and 5 gallon bottles, a pretty typical range for products of this type.

Many people recommend purchasing the Bluewave 3 Gallon Water Bottle as a compliment to the IIC. Lastly, like most water crocks, you aren’t going to need a nearby outlet to use the IIC, so you can be pretty flexible on where you place the unit in your home. Additionally, Primo have gone above and beyond the standard water crock design, providing small accommodations like a small plastic ring on the spout at the top to prevent chipping of the ceramic finish among other things.

Number two on my list is distributed by the “For Your Water” company through Amazon (and probably elsewhere). There’s no specialized unit name for their products as they are pretty generic. Don’t let the lack of branding fool, you, though. For Your Water has received high marks from a great many people who have been happy to purchase a no-nonsense, reliable ceramic water crock which performs as expected and comes with no unnecessary features.

The Wateride System Provides An Interesting Alternative To Traditional Bottle Refills:

The unassuming look of these products is perfect for anyone that desires a low profile water cooler that can sit off to the side during a home gathering or even next to the dinner table. Since these units are so affordable, many people enjoy using them as an alternative to buying loads of bottled water – a responsible move for both your wallet and the environment.

Useful Accessories

While I could leave you with the short list above and you’d probably be all set, I thought it might also be useful to mention a couple accessories that don’t cost much but can add lots of value to ceramic water dispensers:

First of all, think about getting a water bottle handle to save your back and hands any undue strain when you’re refilling the water crock. Check out the Wateride video above for one proposed alternative to using bottle replacements (I’m not entirely convinced by the video, alone, but the idea is interesting).
While you’re at it, you can also get a replacement stand for your water crock in case the original one is damaged. While these stands tend to last for quite a while, there’s no escaping the fact that they’re made out of thin wood that is at risk in environments with rambunctious children or pets.