#and then they sent out a 'water is off in 3 buildings while maintenance replaces a part

[medinaquirin]

I would like it very much if my apartment complex would stop shutting off the fucking water with zero prior notice.

[mulderist]

Wicked Game

Previous chapters // read on A03

Washington, D.C - 1948. Fox Mulder is a detective on the top vice unit; scandal, corruption, and lies come with the territory. He is forced to investigate a fellow officer and finds the lies go much deeper than the truth.

tagging @today-in-fic

CHAPTER 6

Navy Yard Washington, D.C. 10:13 p.m.

The Navy Yard sits on an unappealing southeast corner of the city pressed up against a polluted strip of the Potomac. It was used for ship maintenance and ammunition manufacturing during the war and continued for a little while after. The surrounding warehouses and docks became defunct once the war effort projects dried up. The shipyard devolved into a revolving door for small-time criminals which begat large-time mobsters. Security was usually an older night watchman who was past his prime and easy to track. Smaller boats would pull up and drop off cargo whenever they could. Deals were quick and dirty. Soon, respectable businesses in the southeast east district wanted a piece and formed a “two ships passing” style agreement. I suppose it saved them from having their goods sent to Anacostia or down towards Virginia. 

A flash of lightning brightened up a cluster of clouds. A rumble of thunder echoed in the distance. Fortunately, I had arrived and got into position just prior to the downpour. I sat on a dirt driveway off the access road, which was quickly becoming a muddy river. There was a canal to my left at the nine o’clock position, the Potomac dead ahead at my twelve, and the edge of a warehouse was at my three o’clock. The rain sounded like I had parked my Pontiac under Niagara Falls. Water pounded against the roof, rushed down the windshield in sheets of grey making the wiper blades useless. The water-logged Buddy Rich solo played on against the car and I had a feeling my view was not going to clear up anytime soon.

I fidgeted with a sunflower seed I pulled from the half-empty bag on my dashboard. Ideally I would toss the shells out the window but given the weather and trying to keep a low profile, there was an unsalted graveyard on the floor of the sedan. I cracked the shell with my teeth and added it to the discarded brethren. The seed danced around my tongue and I turned my wrist trying to make out the time on my watch. The minute hand eased a tick past the quarter hour. I then picked up the radio and connected with the precinct dispatch.

“This is Detective Mulder, over.”

Static. Click. Click.

I pressed the button again on the comm as I leaned over and grabbed my hat.

“This is Detective Mulder, do you copy? Over.” 

“Evening detective, this is Officer Stanz. Always nice hearing your voice in the dead of the night.”

“You too, sweetheart.”

“So Mulder, what’s your status?” 

“Waiting for this storm to strip the paint off my car,” I replied as I ran a hand over my face. “Visibility is shit sitting here in the driver’s seat. Regrettably, I think I’ll have to go on foot. Over.”

“Copy that,” she said, “Hopefully you won’t need to build an ark.”

“Honey, I’d rather swim for it. Over and out.” 

I placed my hat on my head, pocketed the small binoculars that were resting on the seat next to me, and opened the car door into the deluge. The rain sounded different as it slapped against the water in the canal, rang against the scrap metal, and beat against the dock. I dashed towards a scrap pile and crouched down amongst rusted metal and what I hoped were empty oil drums. If there was a gunfight I didn’t want to go up like a Roman candle. I peered over an oil drum and got eyes on the warehouse through the binoculars.

The info Krycek had provided Skinner said three was the magic number; Vincenti favored odds over evens. Guess I know how he’d play the roulette wheel at the casino. I saw a worn metal sign tacked to the side of the building letting me know I was in the right place. There was a dim light piercing through a shadow on the dock so somebody was home. Suddenly, headlights came down the other end of the access road and I got out of sight. The car went dark and I counted to ten then shifted my position. Rain poured off the brim of my hat, dripped down my neck so I flipped up the collar; glad I chose the dark grey trench coat. The new vehicle slowly crept closer to the front of the warehouse and idled. Once the hood touched the dim light source I knew it looked familiar; the distinct yellow paint job of a D.C. cab. I squinted and tried to memorize the plate number through spikes of rain. The passenger door opened flashing the checkered pattern on the side panel. A figure stepped out and rounded the front of the car then paused at the driver’s side before heading into the warehouse. Just then, a headlight shone on the river. I listened to the putter of the engine as it pulled up to the edge of the dock. Once the engine was cut I watched through the binoculars and saw one of the goons wave as the boat approached the dock. It was the same goon who was with Lodi at the restaurant. He approached the boat as they cut off the light. My grip switched and my eyes strained.

The D.C.cab was still idling along with the boat at the dock. I kept to the shadows. I could feel moisture collect at my mid back from an adrenaline surge. That all too familiar feeling. Suddenly as a thunder clap sounded, I had a flashback to a sunrise mission on Wake Island: Rain made my hands very slick on the Carbine as I tried to ready my aim. Bullets whizzed around me. The mud was so thick. An explosion went off nearby, my ear was ringing. My sergeant was yelling commands. I held my breath for three counts and pulled the trigger, a bright spray of red marked where I hit a Japanese soldier square in the throat. First time I successfully made that shot. Confirmed kill.

  I closed my eyes and dug my nails into the palm of my hand, one pain replaced another and the memory faded. My breath was short but steady. I needed to focus. If the goon was there, Lodi was surely lurking somewhere inside. I just needed to get eyes on him. The backside of the building seemed like a safer option and I pressed against the rotting wood as I moved around to a shabby staircase. A quick glance up and I climbed towards the single door. The steps were slippery and I was waiting for my foot to punch through a soft spot in the warped planks. At the landing I readied my gun and turned the knob, slowly opening the unlocked door. The upper level looked clear. It was a nice respite from the storm. I held my position and holstered my weapon. My trenchcoat felt like it took on about twenty pounds of rainwater and I would have enjoyed shaking off like a wet shaggy dog. Drips from the edge of my coat marked my hiding spot like an X on a treasure map. Luckily I didn’t need my binoculars from my perch because, as if on cue, Carlo Lodi’s hulking frame lumbered across the floor. 

He blew a puff of smoke from a dying cigarette. His goon handed over a white package which Lodi bounced in his hand with approval. He gave a wave and a couple of men filed out of the warehouse and approached the boat. I could just barely make out the edge of it bobbing at the side of the dock. The lackeys quickly transferred packages from the boat to the trunk of the idling taxi. I adjusted my stance and craned my neck. The cab had a picture of the Capitol dome and what looked like the word ‘Speedy.’ They were using the taxi company to move the heroin. I heard the boat engine rev and pull away from the dock. One of the men approached the driver’s side door of the cab and pulled the driver out. He pushed the confused cabbie away from his vehicle. Then the man swiftly plunged a knife in the cabbie’s side, repeating the motion until the poor driver went limp. He was then dropped in the Potomac like yesterday’s garbage. The goon took his place behind the wheel and I knew I needed to get back outside to tail him.

I saw the headlights from the commandeered taxi so I was careful not to be spotted. I couldn’t tell which direction he was going to pull off so I waited behind a different wood and scrap pile. The chug of the engine caught my attention. The lights appeared to be moving backwards and when they were far enough, I made a break for my car. Inside via the passenger door I fished out my key and started the engine then grabbed the radio comm.

“This is Mulder, does anyone read?”

I backed up on the access road and spun the wheel in the right direction. That sweet voice came through my radio once again.

“This is Stanz. Over.”

“I got eyes on Lodi. Shipment confirmed at Dock 3 at the Navy Yard, get anyone from the Southeast Division who isn’t asleep down here now. Beat cops, vice, narco, I’ll take whatever I can get. Take caution, he isn’t alone.”

I pressed the gas a little harder keeping textbook distance as I locked onto the cab. I clicked the comm again. 

“I’m in pursuit of an accomplice heading west on Waterfront Dr. It’s a taxi, plate number: TK-0421. Speedy Capitol Cab Company. Over” 

“Roger that. I’ll relay to Captain Skinner. Over and out.”

I tapped the break as I pulled around a corner and turned up Patterson Ave. then on to M Street. The cab slowed to stop at a red light a block ahead of me. Mighty nice of him to use a turn signal. He switched lanes and merged onto New Jersey Ave. angling towards Capitol Hill. The street cut a sharp diagonal and the famed white dome came into view. I heard my radio crackle but ignored it. My eyes felt like I had rubbed them with sandpaper, I hated to blink for fear of losing my target. I was dangerously tired, a second wind was long overdue. 

Street lights and neon bounced against puddles in the street. The rain had slacked off to the point where it was an annoying stubborn mist that couldn’t make up its mind if it wanted to stop or go full tilt. I had cracked my window and listened to the rush of tires on slick pavement, splashing in potholes and against manhole covers. 

The cab turned right onto Independence Ave. I tailed a little closer than protocol distance, keeping only one car between us. I missed the signal change and watched my target turn left on First St. Impatiently I waited for the signal, hoping I hadn’t lost them. After I made the turn I slowed down and searched for the taxi. I spotted it parked in front of the Library of Congress, parked like he was picking up a fare. There was a man standing on the curb holding an umbrella. I performed a u-turn maneuver and pulled into an empty parallel space, threw the gear shift into park and advanced on the suspect.

“DCPD!” I yelled as I approached the driver’s side door with my badge and gun drawn. The driver calmly rolled down the window and lifted a meaty hand from the wheel. A thick signet ring on his pinky finger looked like butcher’s twine around a sausage link. 

“No, keep ‘em on the wheel! Don’t move.”

He smirked and obliged. I held my gun on him and glanced in the backseat; a red ember glowed from the tip of a freshly lit cigarette.  

“Is there something we can do for you, detective?”

That voice. That distinctive snake hiss I couldn’t forget; it slowly coiled around like a wisp of smoke. The smoking man. Spender’s father. 

“Fancy meeting you here. Looks like you chose the wrong taxi tonight.”

“On the contrary detective, it’s you who chose poorly.”

“Yeah I have a knack for doing that,” I retorted, fingers gripping the handle of my gun, “Alright, you — out of the car. Hands where I can see them.” I pulled the door open and took a step back, letting the goon out. I made him turn to face the car, hands atop the roof. The smoking man leaned forward from the backseat, cigarette tucked between his lips.

“You have no idea what you’re doing.”

“Hey! You are next on my list.” I shouted then continued frisking the goon, finding a small handgun and a switchblade. I stuffed them into my trench coat pocket.

“Careful, you’re gonna make me stiff,” he said with a laugh as I patted his legs down to the ankle, finding another blade in a clever holster. I pulled out my handcuffs and clasped his wrists behind his back. I pushed my gun in between his shoulder blades, directing him toward the rear of the taxi and told him to open the trunk. I felt the heat from the exhaust pipe blowing against my pant leg, creating a small dry patch on an otherwise drenched pair of trousers. The goon shook his head and flipped the latch. The trunk appeared empty.

“Alright where is it?” I asked,

“Where’s what?”

“The package. The white package.”

“Ain’t no package here.”

I leaned in and felt around, searching for a latch or tab or something that would indicate a hidden compartment. As my free hand finally found what it was looking for, my occupied hand dug the tip of the standard issue deeper into a lesser known pressure point in the goon’s back. The pulled a section of fabric loose, revealing a hidden compartment that was packed full of white packages. 

Sirens wailed in the distance. I tossed the goon in the back of my car, adjusting his handcuffs so there was no funny business, then radioed in my location. The smoking man approached under the cover of his umbrella.

“I could have your badge for this, detective.”

“You can try.”

“This small incident won’t change anything.”

“Just keep telling yourself that. I have officers from every direction to bust up the little party at the Navy Yard. This is the tip of the iceberg and I’m willing to go all the way to the core.”

We stood silent, listening to the approaching sirens. The rain had finally stopped but the percussive sound of drips could still be heard in the surrounding trees. A plume of smoke wafted in the air. He was about to say something to me but a squad car had arrived coming to a stop in the middle of the street. Two unis got out with guns drawn. 

“I’m taking my suspect back to the 3rd,” I called out, “You boys can take this one for a ride.”

[inconsequentially-cataclysmic]

HP ProBook 450 G5 review

HP ProBook 450 G5 review Overall, the devices are often indestructible, e.g. T410 which do any control work in remote locations 24/365 and have been running without problems for eight or ten years when changing the battery. Everything on the series is available in the Thinkwiki. Windows 10 also runs on ancient models and is tuned with an SSD and possibly In our guide, we explain how to deactivate the laptop touchpad and how you can reactivate the touchpad. I have to revise my comment above. Because the whole thing can also happen with all other HP notebooks, no matter how expensive. It's all very worrying. New HP Noteooks have thus died for. You can also install an SSD on the HP to do this. To avoid possible burns or overheating of the computer, do not place the computer directly on your lap and do not block the ventilation slots. When you reinstall the notebook, it automatically returns to desktop mode. I can understand the buyer's anger, but the HP Pavilion series is clearly a consumer series, business devices are Probook, Elitebook etc. where there are also 3-year warranty extensions. Switching on the laptop with residual water in its corners and edges will sooner or later lead to a short circuit or electrical corrosion. The fact that it works properly at the beginning does not mean that the risk has been eliminated.

What is the HID keyboard?

Human Interface Device (HID) (access to input devices in German Windows 7 versions) is a device class of the USB standards for computers, which describes devices with which users interact directly. HID is mostly used for devices such as keyboards, mice, joysticks and graphics tablets.

Never shake your laptop to get rid of liquids. This is another way to make the situation worse, even if the water damage was small and easy to control. Part of the liquid can be shaken, but a certain amount hits critical points and does even more cleaning work.

List go available Hewlett Packard Pavilion x360 13 series spare parts for your laptop, such as batteries, keyboards, power supplies and more.

To avoid possible burns or overheating of the computer, do not place the computer directly on your lap and do not block the ventilation slots.

There are openings between the buttons.

Isopropyl alcohol (available in electronics stores or hardware stores). There are also a toothbrush, swab sticks and handkerchiefs. Also have a small screwdriver and a dryer set to a low drying temperature, as well as compressed air (spray or compressor air) if necessary. In some cases you will also need a soldering iron. Thank God, the system is up-to-date, and such a stupid battery that inflates does not disturb support. Only 'keep your nerves and calm' helps, if the battery has been puffed up long enough, it will run out of air. Today a short information splitter from the world of support, to which blog reader Michael B. referred me. It's about an HP pavilion, the battery of which is likely to inflate. Expanding the HP Pavilion X360 RAM, installing the SSD, cleaning and removing the fan, removing the hard drive, removing the motherboard - you can see this in this video. I answered this question for you last week using two HP Ultrabooks. Hello, I have an HP ENVY 15- j001sg. I opened the device and disconnected the CMOS battery for a few minutes. Be careful not to damage them. Pay quickly and easily in small monthly installments. Simply select the item, go to the checkout and pay for the goods using the "financing" payment method. Mobile work, fast website hopping while surfing the Internet or a spontaneous gaming session with friends - the HP ProBook x360 440 G1 does it all. The G and H buttons (next to the trackpoint) sometimes give a clicking sound when you press them.

How do you clean an LED screen?

That means: Switch off the device and pull out the mains plug. 2. Now take care of the back of the device and remove dust from the small openings with a soft brush. 3. Moisten one of the microfiber towels with a little water and use it to wipe the screen.

1cm bloated, his wife casually, yes, I've just recently squeezed again. I immediately sent them to the MediaMarkt (the devices were bought at the beginning of 2017 for € 1400 each, so no pavilion cheap), warranty of course expired by almost 3 months, although spare parts for the devices are known 924960-855 4Cell sore. sold, remains only send in and pay approx. 400 € for the battery replacement. Oh yes, the Pro model doesn't have a battery, there is a current replacement 908319-855 (I thought I would buy it, since at least the battery is pro series according to the Maintenance Guide CRU) with the status not available , So the new hp builds dangerous scrap and causes customers to bleed for it.

[successfulaquarium]

Sponge Filter Vs. Hob Vs Power Filter by Joe Smith

Are you a fish owner trying to weigh your filter options? Trust me; the decision can be a tough one. I’ve been struggling with this for several years and tried every other filter for my fish tank. Recently, I had to do a lot of research to weigh my options, which would be better between a sponge filter, hob filter, or power filter. Let’s see what I discovered. 

Sponge filter 

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Lefunpets Biochemical Sponge Filter Breeding Fry Betta Shrimp Nano Fish Tank for Aquarium Fish Tank 5 Gal-25 Gal (Small for 5-10 Gal)

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AQUANEAT Aquarium Bio Sponge Filter up to 60 Gal Breeding Fry Betta Shrimp Fish Tank

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hygger Aquarium Double Sponge Filter, Comes with 2 Spare Sponges, 1 Bag of Bio Ceramic Media Balls, Quiet Submersible Foam Filter for Fresh Water and Salt-Water Fish Tank (S)

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Last update on 2020-08-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Sponge filter

Sponge filters are durable and easy to use. It will never suck up your tiny aquarium fish, keeping them happy, safe, and healthy. 

It’s also the ideal filter for breeding and quarantine as it enables a moderate flow rate. Its model and design is highly advanced and created using high-end technology. 

While a sponge filter is designed to be simple and quickly accustomed to dirt, they are popular for its excellent performance in cleaning your tanks in both biological and mechanical methods. 

Mode of operation 

Its working mechanism is simple. It requires the use of an air pump which you have to buy separately. 

There’s an air tube fitted in the middle of the sponge. The air tube uses an air pump to blow the air out. The air pump creates a high pressure that pulls out water from the sponge. 

The sponge captures and stops any solid waste products which you can later remove manually when you change the water. These foods can also serve as food requirements for the beneficial bacteria in the tank. 

Also, sponge filters help to convert the decayed materials into harmless nitrates, which you can easily take out of the tank when the tank water is changed. 

Maintenance

You can easily maintain fish sponge filters. What’s important is to implement the maintenance process regularly. 

Thankfully, you can easily see when your sponge gets dirty. 

Furthermore, the amount of food, plants, fish, and other factors in the aquarium can determine the level of maintenance to be implemented in the tank. 

The best way to have your sponge cleaned- based on an expert recommendation- is to perform a water change. You need to save a part of the removed water to do this. 

Plunge the sponge in the used water, then squeeze and release the sponge to dislodge all dirt that has accumulated on it. 

If you perform this procedure regularly, the sponge will last long and won’t clog totally. 

You can- in most cases- use this in multiples. You can either stack one sponge on another or using two inlets. 

If you use more than one sponge for your tank, you can rearrange the cleaning schedule, so you don’t do all the sponges together. 

Doing this will limit the influence on biological colonies, and reduce the risk of ammonia spikes or nitrites after cleaning. 

Filtering capabilities 

The sponge performs a mechanical filtration by filtering out or removing solid debris such as leftover food, fish waste, and other small water particles. 

Hence, sponges with smaller pores can capture smaller particles. 

It will lead to a slow-motion because of the decreased water flow. Precisely, it functions as a unit of mechanical filtration. 

But its function does not end here; a sponge filter can also perform biological filtration. 

Biological filtration is a critical method that helps to maintain a healthy freshwater or saltwater environment. 

That’s because fish waste can release toxic ammonia into the fish tank, which can be harmful to both plants and fish, regardless of the quantity of the compound. 

Hence, biological filters, are beneficial because they allow the activities of ammonia eating bacteria that degrades ammonia into nitrite (nitrites can be fatal to aquatic life). 

Again, the beneficial bacteria go-ahead to break down this nitrite by converting them into nitrates, which are less harmful to aquariums. 

Here’s the thing; sponge filters are not actively engaged in chemical filtration. 

Price 

Sponge filters are relatively reasonably priced when compared to other types of filters. 

What you should be aware of

Sponge filters have their filtration capacities limited, especially when you own a larger aquarium. Also, using air pumps can make the filter inefficient and loud. 

I also noticed that these filters tend to stick out, making them difficult to hide beside decorations and plants. 

Hob filter 

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Marineland PF0350B Penguin Power Filter, Upto 75 Gallons, 350 GPH

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boxtech Aquarium Hang On Filter - Power Waterfall Suspension Oxygen Pump - Submersible Hanging Activated Carbon Biochemical Wall Mounted Fish Tank Filtration Water (5-10 Gal)

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MarineLand Magnum Polishing Internal Canister Filter, For aquariums Up To 97 Gallons, 10.5 IN (ML90770-00)

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Last update on 2020-08-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Hob filter

Hob filters are different from the sponge filter. As we move on, we will expand more on the main difference between both. But for now, let’s discuss its mode of operation. 

Mode of operation

Hob filter does not have any sponge that captures water in the tank. Simply hang the filter on the back of the tank, and it will use a small pump and a lift time to extract water. 

When water gets in the filter, it uses multiple filter media to purify the water. Unlike the sponge filter, the hob filter goes through chemical, biological, and mechanical filtration. 

Once you have successfully filtered the water, it is delivered back to the tank. Like the sponge filter, It is also easier to set up HOBs. 

Maintenance 

One of the perks of HOB’s is easy cleaning-you have to disassemble them every few days to remove build-up, and you must replace the filter as soon as it performs less. 

Filtering capabilities

In terms of aesthetics, if you’re looking for a filter that won’t fault your tank’s view or you don’t like machinery and several tubing, a pretty simple choice would be a HOB filter. 

If you will be using your filters for commercial use, for example, if you have a store, you must think professionally. This is where you will need a HOB filter. 

Price 

HOB filters are a bit pricier as they are designed to support larger aquariums. Because of its built quality, HOB filters can be operated for a longer period. 

The price can differ by a wide margin when you check on stores.  

What you should be aware of

Like most filters out there, always replace the carbon in the filter, and regularly- because saturated carbon may have wasted and releases harmful toxins.

Power filter

Bestseller No. 1

Furman Power Conditioner (SS6B)

15 foot power cord

Illuminated ON/OFF switch

$35.99

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SaleBestseller No. 2

Marineland PF0350B Penguin Power Filter, Upto 75 Gallons, 350 GPH

WITH ROTATING BIO-WHEEL: Patented...

MULTI-STAGE FILTRATION: Delivers...

$22.60

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AC Power Filter Power Conditioner - WAudio AC Power Purifier with Surge Protector

PHASE DETECT - Phase and the ground wire...

OVERLOAD PROTECTION - The sockets will...

$179.99

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Aqua Clear, Fish Tank Filter, 20 to 50 Gallons, 50v, A610

Aquarium refiltration system that offers...

Quick andeasyinstallation,we recommend...

$37.99

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Last update on 2020-08-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Inarguably, power filters are one of the commonly used filters among aquarium owners. 

They suitably support medium-sized tank, as these filters can filter water in a way faster than it’s under gravel counterparts. How do they work?

Mode of operation 

If you’ve ever bought one of those cheaper aquarium sets before, it usually comes with a power filter. Power filters are not installed inside the tank but at the back of the tank.

Here’s how they work: 

A power filter allows water circulation through a pump. The pump allows the entry of water into a filtration chamber. The clean water is sent back into the tank via tubes. 

Sounds simple? 

Yes, because it is. 

Power filters are averagely priced, simple to install, and because of where they are placed, they won’t suck up much space. 

Most power filters enable you to store another type of filters- paving the way for a better filtration process. 

Maintenance 

If your tank is larger or heavily stocked, we recommend going for a power filter because of its quality- it takes some time for a larger amount of water to purify. Still, a power filter does a quick and effective job. 

Price

While they are generally inexpensive, power filters are more expensive than its sponge counterparts- therefore, this might not be your ideal choice if you’re on a budget. 

Filtering capabilities 

Power filters will never interfere with the interior of your tank- not only does this filter save spaces, but they are also a safe option for your plants and fish, which won’t get trapped inside. The major concern with power filters is cleaning-you have to disassemble them every few days to take off build-up, and you must replace the filter as soon as it performs less. 

What you should be aware of

Remember, as with the HOB filters, make sure you replace the carbon in the filter regularly, as saturated carbon may contain waste and release toxins. 

Sponge filter vs hob vs power filter- final Verdict

Sponge filters are durable and easy to use. It will never suck up your tiny aquarium fish, keeping them happy, safe, and healthy. 

It’s also the ideal filter for breeding and quarantine as it enables a calm flow rate. However, you won’t get a chemical filtration. And if you’re looking for a filter that incorporates all the three filter media, then go for a power filter. However, if you own a larger aquarium, I’ll suggest going to a HOB filter.

Also, In terms of aesthetics, if you’re looking for a filter that won’t fault your tank’s view or you don’t like machinery and several tubing, a pretty simple choice would be a HOB filter. Overall, it all goes down to your preference and aquarium needs. 

The post Sponge Filter Vs. Hob Vs Power Filter appeared first on Successful Aquarium.

[volcanicpizza]

The Great Emergence

On February 2, 2001, the monster race emerged from Mount Ebott after centuries of living beneath the surface. Paranoia and fear led the government of the United States to scramble to cover up the incident, installing a total lockdown around the mountain. Unsure why this was happening, the monsters waited uneasily for whatever might come next while attempting to make diplomatic overtures through their ambassador, but none were accepted. President Bush feared what the monsters could be planning and sent the military to DEFCON 4, hoping to keep the issue secret for as long as possible while he and the rest of the government attempted to figure out a way to deal with the problem.

The inhabitants of the area around Mount Ebott, however, did not wait for them. Confused as to why there was currently a noticeable military presence around the mountain, some locals sneaked past the military with a variety of ingenious strategies and managed to get pictures and video of the monsters. Once they escaped, they promptly released this media to several major newspapers, not having an Internet connection. By May 6, practically everyone in the country had heard of what was being termed the “Ebott Incident.” Initially, Bush planned to deny everything, but when an incident occurred following a short skeleton monster inexplicably managing to get out of the containment zone and wander into a town, he was forced to admit that the military has been keeping the monsters in Mount Ebott and, in a momentary lapse of control, also stated that they are intelligent and sentient. It was on May 22 that monsters were finally released amid an ongoing storm of controversy with people from all political wings alternatively lashing out at Bush for not releasing the monsters earlier and accusing monsters of being demonic, genocidal freaks. Most of the monsters chose to stay on Mount Ebott or in the surrounding areas due to fear of what the humans might do while monster diplomats attempted to negotiate with the reluctant American ambassadors.

On July 5, 2001, hoping to foster better relations between humans and monsters, King Asgore managed to convince the US government to allow him to temporarily use parts of nearby Harrisburg in order for humans from around the country to be able to come and meet the monsters to see that they genuinely mean no harm. It grants mixed results, as although most people who attend see that monsters are genuinely kind-hearted, the gathering falls into awkward silence after a reporter asks Asgore how the barrier was broken and says that he heard it required human souls to be broken.

Two days later, American intelligence agencies uncovered evidence that several monsters committed unethical acts, including the killing of six human children and unethical experiments by the royal scientist, Dr. Alphys. Acting on their own, some rogue FBI agents attempt to arrest Asgore in the middle of the night, but he is defended by the local division of the Royal Guard, and the agents are forced from the palace and flee. Asgore quietly accuses the Bush administration of attempting to carry out a coup the next day, but President Bush is confused, seeing as he never ordered anything of the sort. (Many conspiracy theorists will still accuse Bush of trying to kill Asgore.) By July 20th, a combined task force made from parts of the Royal Guard (including Sans, who decided to join the Guard to protect his brother) and the FBI manages to finally capture the rogue agents. In the face of arrest, they spill all the evidence they have against Asgore’s regime. For the Royal Guards, this is old news, but they pretend to not know what the agents are talking about. However, once Asgore finds out about this, his sense of honor does not allow him to continue this deception any longer, and he publicly confesses to having killed six human children, offering to appear at a trial for war crimes. Alphys is eventually ignored, as the experiments were done on monsters and not humans, and additionally there’s circumstantial evidence that the prior Royal Scientist began the experiments. King Asgore, however, is placed on trial for war crimes on July 28.

Much to the surprise of the world, Asgore is eventually acquitted following clear presentation of evidence showing that several of the fallen humans killed monsters, with the defense arguing that he was merely attempting to protect his people from a possible genocidal maniac. Following Asgore’s release, he resumes his duties in a shaken kingdom and begins hopeful negotiation over reclaiming ancestral monster land, but despite the considerable amount of gold that he offers all attempts at purchasing any of that land is met with blatant refusal. The only land that the monsters are allowed to keep is Mount Ebott and some of the surrounding land. Attempts by monsters to assimilate into human society frequently end after just a few weeks of racism and segregation. The monsters also attempted to negotiate with other nations as to the possibility of getting land there, but the only thing even close is that the Canadian government agrees to the possibility of allowing monsters to migrate to Canada en masse and settle in parts of Ontario and Manitoba.

The rest of the world has not remained the same, however. Many changes are relatively minor, but the most minor is that Osama bin Laden decided to integrate monsters into his campaign against the ostensibly satanic western world. One day in July, he was extremely incensed following a meeting in which some others argued that, since monsters and the United States are not on the friendliest of terms, they should be trying to steer the kingdom to their side, and in his anger tripped down a set of stairs and broke his neck. Al-Qaeda attempted to pull off the 9/11 attacks anyway, but due to incompetence on their part only one plane was successfully hijacked. Several monsters were in Washington, D.C. at the time for a diplomatic meeting, and as a result the plane was stopped from crashing into the Capitol Building by quick use of gravity magic by Sans. Al-Qaeda, already not in the best state, collapses within months. America does not intervene in the Middle East, keeping the situation there the same as it was before, and there are no massive floods of anti-Islamic sentiment. 

In early 2002, Dr. Alphys proposes the formation of artificial islands off the coast of New Jersey and Long Island in order to provide room for monsters to settle free from human bigotry. The project receives Asgore’s approval, and the most skilled monster mages immediately go to work raising new land in international waters. It is around this time that other nations begin to recognize the Kingdom of Monsters as a legitimate nation. By July 2003, thirteen new islands have been created for monsters to settle in, though the capital remains in New Home for the time being.

The Arab Spring occurred in 2004, destabilizing multiple countries across the Middle East and prompting multiple coups, most notably in Pakistan, where a near-totalitarian military government takes control. The Arab Spring will not end until 2007 and proves massively destabilizing, with multiple nations scrambling to place allied governments in the nations wracked by revolution and some that aren’t.

Following the Arab Spring, world events prove relatively uneventful. Bush wins reelection in 2004 by a slim margin, though the Democrats manage to take control of both houses of Congress due to a gradual dissipation of anti-monster racism. Colin Powell ends up becoming president in 2008, but leaves office in 2012 voluntarily after refusing renomination. He is replaced by Obama, who in the modern day is still president. In other news, Cuba’s communist regime fell after Castro’s death in 2013 from food poisoning and has since been replaced by an American-allied government that is genuinely trying to create a Cuban republic. The monsters mostly keep to themselves nowadays, occasionally aiding the American government in return for maintenance of their tentative alliance, and monster population outside of the Kingdom of Monsters is practically nonexistent save for tourists and exchange students. Many view the kingdom as another North Korea due to its relative isolation and utter lack of democracy, and in reality the kingdom is essentially a benevolent dictatorship. Despite some tension, this world is overall better than ours, with much lower anti-Islam sentiment than our timeline due to almost all Islamic terrorist factions having fallen apart during the Arab Spring (and those that do still exist are, quite frankly, laughably incompetent) and a stable Middle East. Of course, North Korea still exists and is still doing nuclear missile tests, and Vladimir Putin maintains control over Russia. But hey, no timeline is utopian, but for its inhabitants it’s as good as they’ll get.

THE WORLD IN 2017

POINTS OF INTEREST

1. Mount Ebott, the location where the Great Emergence happened, is surrounded by the United States. New Home remains the capital of the Kingdom of Monsters due to the Atlantic Islands not being very industrialized yet, and it’s since become an international tourist attraction.

2. Cuba’s new semi-democratic government is an American ally thanks to the lifting of the embargoes, and is on its way to becoming the #1 tourist destination in North America.

3. Thanks to Puerto Rico, the flag of the USA now has fifty-one stars.

4. The United Kingdom has not left the EU. Yet.

5. Wallonia enjoys considerable autonomy from France.

6. Thanks to the EU backing Catalan independence, the Republic of Catalonia left Spain in 2015 and joined the EU in 2016.

7. Released just now, Serbia v2! Half the size, twice the firepower, and twice the xenophobia! Sponsored by Vladimir Putin. Daily rebellions not included.

8. Some things can’t be changed.

9. You can thank the Arab Spring for the current situation.

10. According to Vladimir Putin, Georgia’s annexation into Russia was backed wholeheartedly by the population, and he has the results of the referendum to prove it.

11. The Pakistani military kindly requests that you not pay too much attention to their troops here or question their business here.

12. North Korea hasn’t changed much from our timeline. President Obama has recently considered making a deal with the Kingdom of Monsters to eliminate the threat it presents.

This map and scenario was a commission for @fnafredux. If you’d like to make a scenario request, please see this post.

[well-i-guess-i-could-write]

Sudden Neighbors (Part 3 ish)

This is a part 3 (the second part I have written) to @bananashemmo ‘s writing prompt sudden neighbors. I’m still a huge coward about my writing so still on this blog made specifically for the purpose of wanting to respond to something I found interesting. I dunno if it’s good or bad but it like before was written late into the night. Oh and if anyone thinks this part isn’t good they are more than welcome to continue off of the previous part. or if you do you’re more than welcome to continue off of this. Or if you want to try your hand at this story you can go see part one from @bananashemmo ‘s page. I encourage anyone who wants to to do so.

Three days. It had been three days since you’d smoked a cigarette. It wasn’t like you were especially trying to quit or anything. In fact, there was nothing you craved more than a cigarette break. However four nights ago you had ducked out onto your balcony only to run into Vanessa and Calum on their balcony having some sort of romantic dinner. You swiftly apologized and tried to go back inside. However your balcony door had a tendency to stick closed. Usually Calum had little problems opening it. However, that wasn’t necessarily an option right now.

“Is it sticking again?” Calum asked. He sounded like a formal ass, like he didn’t know you at all. 

“Yes.” You said huffing in frustration. Calum was supposed to call the maintenance before he left but he never did obviously. Not that you blamed him. He was busy packing. And forgetting important gifts from friends.

“Y/N do you need help?” Calum offered.

“Nope I’m fine.” You assured throwing a small polite smile their way.

“Y/N, you should just let him help you. You don’t want to hurt yourself.” Vanessa said offering a sympathetic smile.” Our door does the same. What are neighbors for anyway?”

You refused to let your smile slip, “It’s kind of you to offer, but I’m fine.” you said jerking the door open at last. “See? Nice to see you” you turned to go inside. As you re-entered the apartment you took a deep breath. The awkward feeling of that moment lingered a moment. It hadn’t occurred to you that Calum and Vanessa might want to use their balcony.  You supposed it was their right to use their own balcony. Even if it was right next to yours. If this was the case you decided not to use the balcony to smoke anymore.

This situation wasn’t working however. Your building had a strict no smoking inside rule. Balconies were the only part of the building considered free game. Now that was out. The office building you sometimes worked in had a similar rule. Although you rarely had to go there seeing as you normally worked from home. It used to be one of the things you loved about your job. Do work in your pajamas, got to take a smoke break when you needed one.  Your box of cigarettes teased you. “Relax. Relax Y/N” you repeated to yourself.

“Just focus on work.” You began typing again when your stomach growled. With a sigh you switched over to an open internet tab and looked up the restaurants nearby. The same four restaurants appeared. You’d eaten so much take out that you were almost sick. With your lack of cooking abilities what could you do?

‘ I could always call one of my sisters in the city. ‘ You thought, ‘ No, then they’ll just brag. And make fun of my lack of self care.’

As you tried to make a plan for your dinner, your phone beeped. A text. You reached over to your phone and unlocked it.

‘ Ladies night on the moon. 9 PM-3 AM. Ladies get in free until midnight. You should come.” Your eyebrows wrinkled as you went back to check who had sent you the text. You couldn’t help your surprise when the name Michael with a little smiley face emoji was illuminated before you. Sure Michael had your number in case of emergencies. And yes you two had hung out a lot with Calum but only a handful of times  had you ever hung out on your own with Michael. He’d scored tickets to your favorite band and offered you his spare as he didn’t have anything else to do with it. You’d had a great time and decided you wanted to do something like that again sometime. Whenever Michael would score a good couple of seats he’d invite you. However Michael wasn’t really a concert goer.

Before you lost all nerve you quickly typed back, ‘Did you send this to me on purpose??’  Within the minute your phone blinked with a new text.

‘Yes. Is that a probem..’ you scrunched your face at the typo but soon cleared it up as he sent a second text correcting himself ‘Problem*’

‘No not at all it’s just I didn’t think you’d want me there.’ you texted back.

‘Why not?’

‘No reason in particular.’ You sat your phone down for a moment as you got up for a glass of water. By the time you came back Michael had already texted back.

‘Just because you aren’t Cal’s roommate anymore doesn’t mean you’re not welcome at the moon.’ He’d texted. The Moon, Michael’s bar. The first time you’d been invited to the moon, you’d been skeptical. You thought it’d be one of two things. One, a seedy little dive bar where drunks and assholes hung out. Or two, a fancy club where you had to be on the list to get in. In reality it was neither. It was a nice bar with a nice floor and a little dance floor that curved into a hill resembling the moon, painted on craters and all. Michael said it was hell whenever he had to replace it. You’d had fun and never hesitated coming back. Until now.

‘ I know.’ You typed,’ I just don’t want it to get awkward if he’s there. And you know he probably will be.’

‘It’s ladies night. He most likely is having a night in with Vanessa.’ Michael texted. You debated yourself for a moment. If that was true then perhaps ,maybe. you could go.

‘Besides, we both know you can’t cook. I’ll offer one free meal. Good for tonight only.’ He texted. How could you refuse that? Your stomach wouldn’t let you.

‘Fine but it better be the good stuff.’

‘You got it.’ You could just imagine Michael’s shiteating grin as he typed. What could be so bad? A free meal and a chance to get out of the house. You glanced at the clock 8:39. Leave it to Michael to wait until the last minute to tell you to come by.  You didn’t waste time. You took a shower quickly, avoiding washing your hair for lack of wanting to do it afterward. You’d use dry shampoo later.

A quick glance at your closet deciding whether you wanted to wear pants or not. Of course the answer was no. Pants were restrictive and as you worked from home eight times out of ten you didn’t usually wear jeans or seven times out of ten pants at all. Even when Calum lived with you he wasn’t usually around during the day so you still didn’t wear pants. But you couldn’t show up to the moon in your undies or yoga pants. You got a laugh out of the fact that you owned five pairs of yoga pants because you were nowhere near being a yogi but you like the feeling of yoga pants.

You settled for a nonrestrictive cute black skirt with lace trim and white top with a patterned loose open jacket. You looked okay for a quick night out. Most likely you’d be home before Midnight even hit. By the time you were done it was almost nine. You’d made great time. The moon was such a popular bar that parties there were packed within thirty minutes and ladies nights were even more so. You got on the bus to get there. Normally you would walk with Calum or take your bike if you were just there to talk to Michael. However you had no doubt you’d have a drink or two while you were there. You’d have someone walk you home. Maybe one of the workers or a friend. You didn’t want to think about later yet.

By the time you got there there was a small line. You let out a huff. There was no way you were waiting in line just to get onto the roof of your friend’s (acquaintance?) bar. You took out your phone and texted Michael. ‘Here’

‘On my way. At the front?’ He responded quickly.

‘Yeah.’ You texted back. Within five minutes Michael had come to get you and you were sitting at the bar having a conversation as you looked at the menu.

“So baby bird what have you been up to?” Michael asked.

“Not much. Just going through everything.” You responded nonchalantly looking down at your menu.

“That’s vague.” Michael chuckled.

“Well..” You mumbled. “It’s weird living on my own now. “

“How so?” He asked.

“For one, I’ve begun to tire of frozen pizza and takeout from Golden Palace.”

“You should really take a cooking class.” Michael laughed, You glared at him playful.

“Michael, I’d rather not pay to rebuild a cooking institution thank you.” You half joked. At this point your lack of ability to keep yourself alive without the help of restaurants or frozen pizza was becoming a running gag.

“Well I could teach you a couple things like pancakes or cheeseburgers.” Michael offered.

“ Great then I’ll know how to make frozen pizza, pancakes and cheeseburgers.” You laughed. “ Speaking of cheeseburgers, that’s what I’ll be having with fries. And gin and tonic to drink before.” You smiled brightly with a wink.

“I gotcha. ” Michael said flagging down his bartender and turning to go to the back.

“Don’t you need to know what I want on the burger?” You asked.

“You want provolone cheese extra pickle and tomato. “ Michael said confidently. He’d gotten it right. You laughed.

“ If I’m that predictable I should think about a lifestyle change.” You said as he went to the back. You scrolled through your tumblr dash for a few minutes to pass the time.

“Excuse me, Miss is this seat taken?” A rather deep voice said from beside you. You looked to your right with the intent of telling them yes it was, even though it wasn’t.

The smug grin that greeted you was nothing less than friendly, warm and familiar.

“Luke! You’re back!” You said getting up and extending a hug to him.

“Hey Y/N, how are you?” He asked happily hugging you back.

“Good, I’m good. Sit, talk, let’s catch up.” You said hopping back onto your bar stool. You and Luke had a good twenty minute conversation before your food came.

“Luke, you made it!” Michael said happily giving his friend a clap on the back. The conversation went on as you tucked into your burger and drunk your gin and tonic. The night had been surprisingly fun so far. You decided to leave around eleven thirty, much to Michael’s amusement.

“It’s not even midnight. He’d mocked. Luke had offered to walk you home, and after your two gin and tonics plus three shots you were a bit dizzy and accepted.

“So Calum moved out huh?” Luke finally said on your walk back.

“Yeah.” You said remembering your lack of roommate. You pouted thinking of going back to the empty apartment. You’d have to start having people apply for the extra room soon. Your job paid well but not well enough for you to afford the apartment and takeout every night. Lost in your thoughts, you didn’t hear Luke talking.

“-Naomi.” He finished

“Huh?” You said looking over.

“You weren’t listening?” He asked laughing.

“No was it important?” You asked embarrassed.

“I asked if you were looking for a roommate.” He asked again.

“Why, Mister Traveler, looking to settle down for a while?” You joked. You both laughed at that. You and Luke often talked about his travels. He’d never left Australia before he was seventeen but once he started traveling he love it so much he decided to continue doing it. He got a job as a landscape photographer and got popular off of a photo of a sunset from a mountain.

“No, not me. I have a friend, her name is Naomi. She’s looking for a place to stay and since Calum isn’t there. I figured.”

“Oh. Yeah, I’ll meet with her just give her my number.” You said sobering up as you arrived at your apartment complex. Luke opened the door for you and you went inside. You set your keys down  and looked over at the balcony. You turned back to the clock. Midnight. Calum and Vanessa had probably finished their nightly scream session and you could probably get away with a quick cigarette. You quickly grabbed the box from the kitchen counter and made your way out to the balcony. After lighting your cigarette you sat on one of the folding chairs and smoked slowly.  A sigh of relief came to your body.

The sound of the sliding door interrupted the silence. You looked over to see Calum sneaking out onto his balcony. Quietly like he didn’t want to be caught. Perhaps it was the little bits of alcohol running through your system but you got curious.

“Hi there.” You said louder than expected. Calum jumped before realizing it was just you.

“Y/N. Hi.” He said slightly nervous.

“Any particular reason you are sneaking onto your own balcony.” You laughed, Calum’s eyes scrunched.

“Um.Vanessa doesn’t like when I smoke.” He said.

“So you sneak out as to not hurt her.” You caught on.

“Yeah, do you mind.: He asked. Your eyes flicked to the cigarette in your hand.

“Have I ever minded you smoking? Besides since when do you need my permission to smoke on your balcony. Since when do you need my permission to do anything?” You rambled.

“Y/N are you drunk?” Calum asked.

“No, just tipsy. I’m okay. Luke walked me home.” You mumbled.

“Luke? I didn’t know he was back in town.” Calum said lighting his cigarette.

“He got back in last night, at least that’s what he told me. “ You said taking another drag.

“Oh. “ There was a silence that left the air permeated with an awkward feeling.

“So I haven’t seen you much this week.” Calum observed. You nodded awkwardly with a shrug and a small sigh.

“Yeah, well work due. Bills to pay.” You said nervously.

“Yeah, yeah same here.” He said sitting on a patio chair and putting his feet on your shared railing.

“Well I’m finished up here.” You said putting out your cigarette and standing.

“Oh. Okay.” he said wavering a little. You turned to open your door. As you tugged at the door you noticed the door had stuck again.

“Aghhh!” You grumbled.

“Stuck again?” Calum asked.

“Yeah.” You mumbled, your cheeks heating up.

“Let me help you.” He said. Before you could say it was fine, he was already climbing over the shared railing and walked close to you. You stared at him for a moment. A cigarette stuck between his lips. he looked back down at you a small smile gracing his face.

“Y/N, if I’m going to open the door you kinda need to back up.” Calum said chuckling around the cigarette in his mouth.

Oh right, you thought. With three swift tugs your door was open. “Thanks.” you smiled.

“Sorry for the inconvenience.”

“Hey, um, Vanessa and I are having a small get together, a little housewarming party. Kind of semi formal I guess. If you wanted to come,,” Calum offered.

“Oh, um, I’ll see. You know with deadlines and everything.” You offered.

“Yeah, right, okay. If you can. It’s next Saturday at seven.” Calum said before climbing back over the barrier. “Goodnight.”

“Mhm.” You said closing your balcony door and moving the curtain back into place. A party huh? You thought. Maybe.

[commercialplumber2536-blog]

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[ntrending]

The president's plan to revisit the moon raises lots of questions—here are the answers

New Post has been published on https://nexcraft.co/the-presidents-plan-to-revisit-the-moon-raises-lots-of-questions-here-are-the-answers/

The president's plan to revisit the moon raises lots of questions—here are the answers

Donald Trump isn’t the first president to suggest we send people back to the moon, but his recent declaration sparked a lot of questions here at PopSci. Being science journalists, we went ahead and answered those queries, then compiled them here in case you’re curious, too.

Won’t going back to the moon inspire people to become scientists?

If you were a kid in 1969 who watched man first set foot on the moon through a crackling television, you may have been awe-inspired enough to want to become a scientist or an astronaut. Going back won’t have quite the same effect. Yes, we could do more advanced experiments up there and come back with better footage, but it’s not a massive feat the way it was when our computers were basically just calculators.

How much of the moon have we actually seen, and does anyone think we should see more of it?

The Apollo 11 crew (the first to touch down on the lunar surface) explored an area smaller than a soccer field. There are certainly plenty of experts who would like to learn more, especially about the dark side, which faces away from Earth and is harder to visit. We don’t know a lot about lunar geology, either, and more direct sampling could help us understand how the big cheese formed. It’s not that no one thinks we can learn more, it’s just a question of how valuable that information is compared to what else we could fund with the same money. Then again, that argument could be made against pretty much any space expedition.

How different is the space ship they’re going to use to get there? Will it be a shorter, safer trip?

Neither Trump nor Vice President Pence have given any specifics on how exactly we would return humans to the moon. That being said, NASA would probably do it with their Space Launch System, which is going to replace the space shuttle (retired in 2011) for ferrying people to the International Space Station and eventually (maybe) help get humans to Mars. It would undoubtedly be safer than the original space shuttle, if only because we have better technology today, but it wouldn’t be without risk. Sticking humans on top of a rocket and shooting them into space is dangerous no matter what.

The trip probably wouldn’t be much shorter, though. The safest way to make sure astronauts return to Earth is to use a free return trajectory, where you launch the rocket at precisely the right time and velocity so that it doesn’t require any more adjustment—once it leaves Earth’s orbit, it falls into the moon’s, loops around, then comes back. This took Apollo missions about 2.5 to 3 days. If we wanted to go back, we wouldn’t be shaving much time off of that estimate simply because the capsule has to move at particular speeds in order to enter the moon’s orbit. A craft going to fast would zip right past.

If humans lived on the moon, would we have to live in tunnels under the surface?

We could build moon habitats on the surface. But we’d have to watch out for bits of meteors and particles from solar flares that slam into the satellite, because there’d be no atmosphere to protect us. The ideal real estate is at the poles, since the rest of the moon experiences 14-day-long nights (and days), and temperatures range from 253 to -387°F. You don’t get these extremes at the poles, so we could take shelter in the perpetual twilight. Which sounds suuuuuuuper fun.

Why does Donald Trump want to go to the moon?

Look, it makes sense to have nostalgia for the time when we just got all our crap together and got ourselves to the gosh-darned moon. It’s true that the Apollo missions were good for patriotism in the U.S.—heck, that’s why President Kennedy wanted to go in the first place. We’re just not convinced that going back will inspire the same blind enthusiasm that the original mission did.

What do we have to gain by sending humans, not robots, to the moon?

It’s certainly cheaper and safer to send a ‘bot. Crewed missions require capsules equipped with life-support systems, and you have to gently land people on the surface. Robots, on the other hand, often land in a sort of semi-crash. All that extra design, weight, and gear costs money. Plus, you risk those human lives. If a robot gets destroyed in the process, we’ve lost the time and money we invested, but no one got all the way to the moon only to die there. Which the people who sent men to the moon were always prepared for, by the way.

Why send humans instead? Some people actually argue that robots should handle all of our future space expeditions. But it’s true that humans are much better at thinking on their feet (at least for now). Other than that, it’s mostly a spirit-of-exploration kinda thing.

What kind of science do we miss out on if we pay for a trip to the moon?

NASA’s most recent estimate put the cost of another moon trip at roughly $10 billion. It’s not a precise trade-off with other federally funded science, because we can’t know what pennies would be pinched and where to scrape that funding together. But to put the number in perspective, we could fund the entire National Parks Service about three times over with that money. They have a backlog of maintenance right now that’s hovering at $12 billion, so we could almost wipe that out with our hypothetical moon money.

Or we could put that cash toward the National Institutes of Health, which operates on a $35.6 billion budget. An extra $10 billion would mean a lot of much-needed grants for scientists investigating ways to cure Alzheimer’s disease and treat all types of cancer. Funding is scarce, and researchers often spend huge chunks of their time trying to find money rather than actually researching.

We could also almost triple the Office of Science’s budget. The Office of Science is part of the Department of Energy, and is the biggest sponsor of physical science research in the U.S. They fund all of the national laboratories and have produced 76 Nobel Prize winners. Think of how many we could produce with another $10 billion!

If we want to stick to space spending, that money could chip off about 10 percent of the price of going to Mars, or fund something like 14 missions like New Horizons, which studied Pluto and is soon to investigate a strange new object. We could also have three Cassinis. Three! Cassinis!

Who’s going to the moon?

Many agencies (including NASA) have robotic missions in the works. Several contestants in Google’s Lunar XPRIZE are set to land in the next few years, with various plans to hop and rove around. India’s second lunar mission, Chandrayaan-2, is slated for launch in 2018 and will include an orbiter, lander, and rover. China’s Chang’e 4 should land on the far side of the moon later that year. NASA will send the Orion spacecraft into lunar orbit in 2019 (without anyone onboard).

But when it comes to human missions, all existing plans are still in the wishy-washy stage of development. Elon Musk recently claimed that SpaceX would send two private citizens on a lunar fly-by by late 2018. A crewed test of the Orion spacecraft is supposed to take astronauts into lunar orbit by 2020, but that date is really rather up in the air until we nail the uncrewed version of the test.

Russia plans to launch a crewed orbiter in 2028 and land humans on the moon in 2030. Japan also has a 2030 landing supposedly in the works, while China plans a landing for 2036. The Russian agency Roscosmos has talked about plans to have some kind of lunar base by the 2030s. But all of these missions are in the very earliest stages of planning, and could very well be scrapped.

Is there any reason we should or aren’t trying to go to the dark side?

Because our planet’s tidal forces have slowed the moon’s rotation, Earth always sees just one hemisphere of our satellite while the other half always looks away. But it’s not actually dark. Each half sees two weeks of sunlight or darkness at a time. So if the far side isn’t some eternally black hellscape, why didn’t we ever go there? The answer is pretty simple: the moon blocks radio communications from Earth. When astronauts took a slingshot around the far side on their way back home, they were totally incommunicado until they emerged on the other side.

But astronaut Harrison Schmitt, a geologist who flew on Apollo 17, thought it was a shame to leave the far side unexplored. He proposed a plan to put a communications satellite out beyond the moon, positioned in orbit so as to keep NASA in touch with astronauts on the far side. Unsurprisingly, this extra planning, hardware, and launch was deemed too expensive. But in theory it could be done!

So far no one has picked up data from the surface of the far side (though astronauts and orbiters have seen it many times). NASA’s Ranger 4 probe impacted the surface in 1962, but it didn’t return any scientific data. If China’s Chang’e 4 lands on the far side as planned in late 2018, it will be the first probe to successfully do so. China will first launch a communication relay station to facilitate contact with the robot.

Why go to the dark side? It’s not just like the part of the moon we’ve landed on stretches out in all directions, unchanged. Most of the hemisphere we’ve stomped on is made up of “maria” (named because scientists once thought they were seas of lunar water), which are plains formed by ancient volcanic activity. The far side is mostly made up of craters, and scientists aren’t totally sure why it’s gotten more of a battering. But is it worth the cost of a crewed mission when we could send better robots and orbiters? Doubtful. Still, perhaps a trip to the never-before-touched far side could inspire the kind of public fervor NASA accomplished with its first missions.

Would the moon make a good base to launch missions to Mars?

There’s really no straight answer to this, because folks disagree. Both politicians and engineers have made vague proclamations about the moon being a stepping stone to Mars, and they don’t always mean that literally.

Okay, so what are the benefits of literally launching from the moon? Sure, the gravity is lower, so it would take less fuel. But to take advantage of that, we’d have to have such a sophisticated moon base that we could create and build every bit of the rocket and launch pad on the lunar surface. Otherwise, we’d just be shipping all the pieces up to the moon and then using another mess of fuel to launch it a second time. And if low gravity on the moon is good, wouldn’t zero gravity in space be better? Build an orbiting space launch base! Or don’t—that would be expensive.

There are other, less literal, more realistic ways the moon could serve as a stepping stone. Some research suggests we should launch Mars-bound rockets with just enough fuel to get to the moon—as long as we can figure out how to turn lunar water-ice into fuel for the rest of the trip. The viability of this plan is definitely TBD. Then there’s the idea that sending folks to the moon will help us get our sea legs by improving our rocketships, space suits, extraterrestrial homesteading skills, and general astronaut preparedness. That’s a good point, but one could also argue that the funds and time we divert to moon exploration could simply be poured into an aggressive gun for Mars itself.

Haven’t we said we were going back to the moon before?

Yup. The Washington Post has a helpful rundown of all the presidential space promises that have been for naught. But if we’re just talking about returns to the moon, President George H.W. Bush and President George W. Bush made such declarations. President Obama scrapped the latter Bush’s program in favor of renewed vigor toward Martian exploration.

Written By By Rachel Feltman and Sara Chodosh

[5axismachiningchina]

Cool China Metal Machining images

Posted from 5 axis machining China blog

Cool China Metal Machining images

Some cool china metal machining images:

Tupolev SB High-Speed Bomber. 1934. Скоростной бомбардировщик Туполева СБ

Image by Peer.Gynt Central Air Force Museum at Monino Airfield. Moscow Центральный Музей ВВС. Монино.

The Tupolev ANT-40, also known by its service name Tupolev SB (Russian: Скоростной бомбардировщик – Skorostnoi Bombardirovschik – "high speed bomber"), and development co-name TsAGI-40, was a high speed twin-engined three-seat monoplane bomber, first flown in 1934.

The design was very advanced, but lacked refinement, much to the dismay of crews and maintenance personnel – and of Stalin, who pointed out that "there are no trivialities in aviation".

Numerically the most important bomber in the world in the late 1930s, the SB was the first modern stressed-skin aircraft produced in quantity in the Soviet Union and probably the most formidable bomber of the mid-1930s. Many versions saw extensive action in Spain, the Republic of China, Mongolia, Finland and at the beginning of the War against Germany in 1941. It was also used in various duties in civil variants, as trainers and in many secondary roles.

Successful in the Spanish Civil War because it outpaced most fighters, the aircraft was obsolete by 1941. By June 1941, 94% of bombers in the Red Army air force (VVS RKKA) were SBs. In 1933 the Soviet Air Force ministry (UVVS) issued an outline requirement for a high-speed bomber. Work on this proposal at TsAGI began in January 1934. The SB was designed and developed in the Tupolev KB ("Design Bureau") by a team led by A. A. Arkhangelski. Two versions were planned – with Wright Cyclone radial engines (ANT-40 RTs), and with the Hispano-Suiza 12Y liquid-cooled V12 engines (ANT-40 IS). The skills gained in the design of the MI-3 and DI-8 aircraft were widely used. The first two prototypes were designed as ANT-40.1 and ANT-40.2. The Cyclone powered prototype flew first, on 7 October 1934, with the first Hispano-Suiza powered prototype (ANT-401), which featured a larger wing, flew on 30 December 1934, demonstrating superior performance.

The second Hispano-Suiza powered aircraft, the ANT-402 was considered a production prototype, and its performance was impressive. It was however plagued by teething problems, leading unhappy test personnel to cover the ANT-402 with placards listing the aircraft’s defects prior to a visit by Sergo Ordzhonikidze, the Commissar for Heavy Industry. On seeing these placards, Ordzhonikidze summoned Tupolev to a meeting at the Kremlin to discuss these shortfalls. When Tupolev stated that most of the defects were trivial. On hearing this, Joseph Stalin said:

There are no trivialities in aviation; everything is serious and any uncorrected ‘triviality’ could lead to the loss of an aircraft and its crew.

The first production aircraft, designated SB, rolled off the production line before the end of 1935, and before ANT-402 had completed its flight test programme.[5] The aircraft entered full production in 1936, and was produced in two plants, State Aircraft Factory No 22 at Moscow and No 125 at Irkutsk until 1941.

Despite the fact that the assembly lines were plagued with a constant string of modifications, some 400 SBs were delivered by the end of 1936 – a number of these being diverted to Spain – and 24 VVS squadrons were in the process of working up with the new bomber. Giving excellent performance in the Spanish Civil War, it acquired the popular name "Katyusha" (Catherine).

In 1937, negotiations were successfully concluded between the Soviet and Czechoslovak governments for the supply of SB bombers and a licence for local production in exchange for the right to produce the Skoda 75 mm Model 1936 mountain gun. The version of the SB to be supplied to, and subsequently license-built as the Avia B-71 was fundamentally the SB 2M-100A but fitted with the Avia-built Hispano-Suiza 12-Ydrs engine. A single 7.92 mm ZB-30 machine gun supplanted the twin ShKAS machine guns in the nose and similar weapons were provided for the dorsal and ventral stations.

Sixty aircraft were to be flown to Czechoslovakia by mid-1938. The planned licensed production program took a decidedly leisurely course, despite the increasingly dangerous political situation. By 15 March 1939, when the German Wehrmacht occupied Bohemia and Moravia, not one Czech-built aircraft had been delivered.

Development of the SB continued, meanwhile, with revisions being made to reflect the lessons of early operations in Spain. As problems were encountered in converting pilots to fly the SB, a trainer version, the USB was built in September 1937, with a modified nose with an open cockpit for an instructor and dual controls. Problems were also encountered with the aircraft’s armament, with the nose guns having limited traverse and so being little use against head-on attacks. Later aircraft were modified with a better field of fire. From 1940 the dorsal gun position was replaced by an enclosed turret, while the ventral gun position, which was difficult to use effectively, was also modified.

The aircraft was also progressively fitted with improved engines. At first it was equipped with the Klimov M-100, a license-built version of the Hispano-Suiza 12Ybrs engine, but this was soon replaced by the more powerful M-100A, and from 1938 by the yet more powerful M-103. While the engine installation of the SB 2-M103 initially retained the drag inducing frontal radiators of the M-100 powered aircraft, an improved engine installation was developed with the radiators slung under the engines.[15] On 2 September 1937 M.Yu. Alexeev set an official altitude record of 12,246 m (40,177 ft) with load of 1,000 kg (2,200 lb) in an M-103 powered SB. He had earlier set an unofficial record of 12,695 m (41,650 ft).

In an attempt to further improve the performance of the SB, which by 1939 was becoming obsolete, the development of two second-generation versions were authorised, a direct replacement for the SB and a specialised dive bomber. The level bomber, known as the SN-MN or MMN, had a new wing of reduced wing area and was powered by more powerful Klimov M-105 engines. Performance was little better than the standard aircraft, however, and it was abandoned. The dive-bomber, designated SB-RK (later redesignated Arkhangelsky Ar-2 after its designer, with Tupolev having been imprisoned and being in disgrace) was similar to the MMN but was fitted with dive brakes. Testing was successful, and it was ordered into production.

Even though the SB was no longer a state of the art aircraft, production continued to increase through 1939 and 1940, as the Soviet Union tried to build up the strength of their air forces to compete with the growing threat of Nazi Germany, with almost 4,000 being built in these two years. The SB was phased out of production in early 1941, being replaced by the Petlyakov Pe-2. A total of 5,695 were built at Factory No 22 at Moscow before it was evacuated to Kazan, while Factory No 125 built a further 1,136 at Irkutsk. Three prototypes were built at the Tupolev design bureau, while Aero Vodochody and Avia in Czechoslovakia built 45 and 66 respectively, giving a total of 6,945 built. The SB was an all-metal monoplane powered by two Klimov M-100 12-cylinder water-cooled engines (license production version of Hispano-Suiza 12-Yrds engine) which drove fixed-pitch two-bladed metal propellers. The engines were provided with honeycomb-type frontal radiators enclosed by vertical thermostat-controlled cooling shutters. At an early production stage, the M-100 engine gave place to an improved M-100A engine, driving ground-adjustable three-pitch propellers, with speed being boosted to 423 km/h (263 mph) at 4,000 m (13,000 ft). Because of its broad, high aspect ratio wing, that gave it a good altitude performance – Russian crews nicknamed the SB the "Pterodactyl"

After war, many ANT-40s that survived the Second World War were scrapped. In the late 1970s, however, Vozdushni Transport (A Soviet aviation newspaper) sent an expedition led by Evgeny Konoplev to survey an ANT-40 that was forced to land during a snow storm near the Yuzhne Muiski mountain range in the Baikal region. Konoplev considered what they found encouraging, with the aircraft being in fairly decent condition, in turn leading a team of VVS pilots to recover the airplane. It was returned to Moscow and restored by a group of volunteer Tupolev employees. The restored aircraft was unveiled in April 1982 at the Central Air Force Museum at Monino Airfield, the only known surviving ANT-40 of the almost 7,000 built.

[successfulaquarium]

Sponge Filter Vs. Hob Vs Power Filter

Are you a fish owner trying to weigh your filter options? Trust me; the decision can be a tough one. I’ve been struggling with this for several years and tried every other filter for my fish tank. Recently, I had to do a lot of research to weigh my options, which would be better between a sponge filter, hob filter, or power filter. Let’s see what I discovered. 

Sponge filter 

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Last update on 2020-08-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Sponge filter

Sponge filters are durable and easy to use. It will never suck up your tiny aquarium fish, keeping them happy, safe, and healthy. 

It’s also the ideal filter for breeding and quarantine as it enables a moderate flow rate. Its model and design is highly advanced and created using high-end technology. 

While a sponge filter is designed to be simple and quickly accustomed to dirt, they are popular for its excellent performance in cleaning your tanks in both biological and mechanical methods. 

Mode of operation 

Its working mechanism is simple. It requires the use of an air pump which you have to buy separately. 

There’s an air tube fitted in the middle of the sponge. The air tube uses an air pump to blow the air out. The air pump creates a high pressure that pulls out water from the sponge. 

The sponge captures and stops any solid waste products which you can later remove manually when you change the water. These foods can also serve as food requirements for the beneficial bacteria in the tank. 

Also, sponge filters help to convert the decayed materials into harmless nitrates, which you can easily take out of the tank when the tank water is changed. 

Maintenance

You can easily maintain fish sponge filters. What’s important is to implement the maintenance process regularly. 

Thankfully, you can easily see when your sponge gets dirty. 

Furthermore, the amount of food, plants, fish, and other factors in the aquarium can determine the level of maintenance to be implemented in the tank. 

The best way to have your sponge cleaned- based on an expert recommendation- is to perform a water change. You need to save a part of the removed water to do this. 

Plunge the sponge in the used water, then squeeze and release the sponge to dislodge all dirt that has accumulated on it. 

If you perform this procedure regularly, the sponge will last long and won’t clog totally. 

You can- in most cases- use this in multiples. You can either stack one sponge on another or using two inlets. 

If you use more than one sponge for your tank, you can rearrange the cleaning schedule, so you don’t do all the sponges together. 

Doing this will limit the influence on biological colonies, and reduce the risk of ammonia spikes or nitrites after cleaning. 

Filtering capabilities 

The sponge performs a mechanical filtration by filtering out or removing solid debris such as leftover food, fish waste, and other small water particles. 

Hence, sponges with smaller pores can capture smaller particles. 

It will lead to a slow-motion because of the decreased water flow. Precisely, it functions as a unit of mechanical filtration. 

But its function does not end here; a sponge filter can also perform biological filtration. 

Biological filtration is a critical method that helps to maintain a healthy freshwater or saltwater environment. 

That’s because fish waste can release toxic ammonia into the fish tank, which can be harmful to both plants and fish, regardless of the quantity of the compound. 

Hence, biological filters, are beneficial because they allow the activities of ammonia eating bacteria that degrades ammonia into nitrite (nitrites can be fatal to aquatic life). 

Again, the beneficial bacteria go-ahead to break down this nitrite by converting them into nitrates, which are less harmful to aquariums. 

Here’s the thing; sponge filters are not actively engaged in chemical filtration. 

Price 

Sponge filters are relatively reasonably priced when compared to other types of filters. 

What you should be aware of

Sponge filters have their filtration capacities limited, especially when you own a larger aquarium. Also, using air pumps can make the filter inefficient and loud. 

I also noticed that these filters tend to stick out, making them difficult to hide beside decorations and plants. 

Hob filter 

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MarineLand Magnum Polishing Internal Canister Filter, For aquariums Up To 97 Gallons, 10.5 IN (ML90770-00)

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Last update on 2020-08-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Hob filter

Hob filters are different from the sponge filter. As we move on, we will expand more on the main difference between both. But for now, let’s discuss its mode of operation. 

Mode of operation

Hob filter does not have any sponge that captures water in the tank. Simply hang the filter on the back of the tank, and it will use a small pump and a lift time to extract water. 

When water gets in the filter, it uses multiple filter media to purify the water. Unlike the sponge filter, the hob filter goes through chemical, biological, and mechanical filtration. 

Once you have successfully filtered the water, it is delivered back to the tank. Like the sponge filter, It is also easier to set up HOBs. 

Maintenance 

One of the perks of HOB’s is easy cleaning-you have to disassemble them every few days to remove build-up, and you must replace the filter as soon as it performs less. 

Filtering capabilities

In terms of aesthetics, if you’re looking for a filter that won’t fault your tank’s view or you don’t like machinery and several tubing, a pretty simple choice would be a HOB filter. 

If you will be using your filters for commercial use, for example, if you have a store, you must think professionally. This is where you will need a HOB filter. 

Price 

HOB filters are a bit pricier as they are designed to support larger aquariums. Because of its built quality, HOB filters can be operated for a longer period. 

The price can differ by a wide margin when you check on stores.  

What you should be aware of

Like most filters out there, always replace the carbon in the filter, and regularly- because saturated carbon may have wasted and releases harmful toxins.

Power filter

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Furman Power Conditioner (SS6B)

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Last update on 2020-08-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Inarguably, power filters are one of the commonly used filters among aquarium owners. 

They suitably support medium-sized tank, as these filters can filter water in a way faster than it’s under gravel counterparts. How do they work?

Mode of operation 

If you’ve ever bought one of those cheaper aquarium sets before, it usually comes with a power filter. Power filters are not installed inside the tank but at the back of the tank.

Here’s how they work: 

A power filter allows water circulation through a pump. The pump allows the entry of water into a filtration chamber. The clean water is sent back into the tank via tubes. 

Sounds simple? 

Yes, because it is. 

Power filters are averagely priced, simple to install, and because of where they are placed, they won’t suck up much space. 

Most power filters enable you to store another type of filters- paving the way for a better filtration process. 

Maintenance 

If your tank is larger or heavily stocked, we recommend going for a power filter because of its quality- it takes some time for a larger amount of water to purify. Still, a power filter does a quick and effective job. 

Price

While they are generally inexpensive, power filters are more expensive than its sponge counterparts- therefore, this might not be your ideal choice if you’re on a budget. 

Filtering capabilities 

Power filters will never interfere with the interior of your tank- not only does this filter save spaces, but they are also a safe option for your plants and fish, which won’t get trapped inside. The major concern with power filters is cleaning-you have to disassemble them every few days to take off build-up, and you must replace the filter as soon as it performs less. 

What you should be aware of

Remember, as with the HOB filters, make sure you replace the carbon in the filter regularly, as saturated carbon may contain waste and release toxins. 

Sponge filter vs hob vs power filter- final Verdict

Sponge filters are durable and easy to use. It will never suck up your tiny aquarium fish, keeping them happy, safe, and healthy. 

It’s also the ideal filter for breeding and quarantine as it enables a calm flow rate. However, you won’t get a chemical filtration. And if you’re looking for a filter that incorporates all the three filter media, then go for a power filter. However, if you own a larger aquarium, I’ll suggest going to a HOB filter.

Also, In terms of aesthetics, if you’re looking for a filter that won’t fault your tank’s view or you don’t like machinery and several tubing, a pretty simple choice would be a HOB filter. Overall, it all goes down to your preference and aquarium needs. 

The post Sponge Filter Vs. Hob Vs Power Filter appeared first on Successful Aquarium.

[successfulaquarium]

Undergravel filter vs Power filter- which is the best

Every filter comes with its benefits and downsides for different tank types. If you’re stuck between deciding what’s best between an under gravel filter or a power filter, here’s detailed information that will help you make the right choice and according to your preference. 

  The Undergravel filter

  The Power filter

Undergravel filter or power filter?

First off, overall, power filters are very, highly superior to undergravel filters. 

At least, the vast majority of fish keepers think so. 

The reason being that: 

Undergravel filters don’t perform impressively when it comes to filtering larger tanks. 

Undergravel filters are easy to set up; however, it’s a little laborious, as you must complete the setup process before you can lay the substrate. 

Undergravel filters require less cleaning than power filters, but cleaning them can be more wearisome.  Undergravel filters do not support just any kind of rooted plants, and in some cases, you may find it hard to ensure the stability of anything that sits on the tank’s bottom. 

Power filters (also called a hang on back filter) are undoubtedly the most used filter by many aquarium fish keepers. They suitably support medium-sized tanks, as these filters can filter water in a way faster than it’s under gravel counterparts.

Undergravel filters

Power filter

Mode of operation This type of filter comes with a reasonably simple design. As with its name, undergravel filters are placed under the gravel of the tank- which controls the filtration process. 

This filter has plates that connect to the tubings. As the filter pulls the water, the gravel works as a natural filter- it traps the toxins and sustains beneficial bacteria. 

The tubing accommodates the freshly-filtered water and transports it upward into your aquarium. This filter might require an air pump because it allows water to circulate consistently. 

If you’ve ever bought one of those small, cheaper aquarium sets before, it usually features a power filter. Power filters are not installed inside the tank but at the back of the tank.

Here’s how a power filter works: 

This type of filter allows water circulation through a pump. The pump allows the entry of water into a filtration chamber. The clean water is sent back into the tank via tubes. 

Power filters are averagely priced, simple to install, and because of where they are placed, they won’t suck up much space. 

Most power filters enable you to store other type of filters- paving the way for a better filtration process. 

Maintenance In terms of aesthetics, if you’re looking for a filter that won’t fault your tank’s view or you don’t like machinery, and several tubing, a pretty simple choice would be an undergravel filter. However, if you dislike several minutes of cleaning or don’t have much time, know that it takes some time to clean an undergravel filter- you must thoroughly vacuum the substrate every week, as it houses the filtered waste.  If your tank is larger or heavily stocked, we recommend going for a power filter because of its quality- it takes some time for a larger amount of water to purify, but a power filter does a quick, thorough and effective job.  Price Undergravel filter is cheap. You can purchase a decent one for as low as $20 or less.  Power filter is expensive, You can purchase from $20 to $50  Filtering capabilities  Undergravel filters are inarguably the cheapest filter types on the market. They are super easy to set up, perform surprisingly well, and are uniquely created to support small fish tanks. Your undergravel filter is useful if you own a tank that is undemanding- regardless of whether it is a quarantine tank, breeding tank, or a regular betta fish tank. Unlike the undergravel filter, you cannot submerge a power filter; else they won’t work. However, a power filter will never interfere with the interior of your tank- not only does this filter save spaces, but they are also a safe option for your plants and fish, which won’t get trapped inside. The major concern with power filters is cleaning-you have to disassemble them every few days to remove build-up, and you must replace the filter as soon as it performs less.  What you should be aware of Some undergravel filters come with carbon cartridges that stay at the head of the lift tubes. They can be harmful. 

These cartridges lack enough carbon to provide the right level of chemical filtration, if your filter is run using an air pump, enough water is not moving through the carbon to give the proper chemical filtration, plus the carbon will prevent or even stop the smooth flow of water through the filter. Make sure you’re aware of this. 

Remember, as with most filters, make sure you replace the carbon in the filter regularly, as saturated carbon may contain waste and release toxins. 

Introduction to list of Undergravel filter and Power filters

Undergravel filter: Top Selected Products and Reviews

Bestseller No. 1

Penn Plax Premium Under Gravel Filter System - for 40-55 Gallon Fish Tanks & Aquariums, Blue (CFU55)

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Penn Plax Premium Under Gravel Filter System - for 29 Gallon Fish Tanks & Aquariums

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Penn Plax Premium Under Gravel Filter System - for 10 Gallon Fish Tanks & Aquariums

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Lee's 50/65 Premium Undergravel Filter, 18-Inch by 36-Inch

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Last update on 2020-08-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Power filters: Top Selected Products and Reviews

SaleBestseller No. 1

Marineland PF0350B Penguin Power Filter, Upto 75 Gallons, 350 GPH

WITH ROTATING BIO-WHEEL: Patented...

MULTI-STAGE FILTRATION: Delivers...

$22.60

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Bestseller No. 2

Furman Power Conditioner (SS6B)

15 foot power cord

Illuminated ON/OFF switch

$35.99

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Bestseller No. 3

Marineland Penguin Bio-Wheel Power Filter 150 GPH, Multi-Stage aquarium Filtration

WITH ROTATING BIO-WHEEL: Patented...

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$14.25

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Bestseller No. 4

Aqueon QuietFlow LED PRO Aquarium Power Filter 75

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Last update on 2020-08-24 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Power filters vs Undergravel filters- which is the best? 

You’re probably still thinking: “which should I use between a power and an undergravel filter?”

While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to choosing between these two, your selection should be based on your budget tank design/size, and your goal. 

If you’re looking for quick water filtration for a large amount of water and not limited by budget, go for a power filter. But if you own a smaller tank with a subtle setup or you’re limited by budget, get an undergravel filter. 

However, in terms of filtration efficiency, power filters usually do a better 3 stage filtration job. Furthermore, here’s where a power filter does better than an undergravel filter:

Power filters can filter out impure water and make it into a quality of an undergravel filter, and most times, even better. 

They are usually hanged at either the side or at the back of the aquarium. Although the placement method is much like undergravel filters, the power filter still takes the win because an undergravel filter will still take up some space in the tank. Also, the power filter will never after your aquarium plant roots. 

Going further, anyone that prioritizes the aquarium’s aesthetics should go for an undergravel filter because, after all, you will barely see it. 

Also, if your tank is enclosed or features a good, it might be challenging to attach a power filter to the sides. In such a situation, an undergravel filter will be a preferred choice. 

Bottom line is, both filter types serve a different purpose and your choice should be based on what you intend to achieve with the filter. 

The post Undergravel filter vs Power filter- which is the best appeared first on Successful Aquarium.