Ah man, I was liking this tank kit. But if both sent to you came broken, then that is not hopeful. Thank you for doing the review and showing us everything! 🙏🏽
Something I would also like to point out, is that it's best to focus on getting a minimum 5 gallon tank. 3 gallon will just barely work, but they won't be as active or energetic. In my opinion, if you're looking to spend money on a 3 gallon, why not spend a little more for a 5 gallon.
Some times I understand that people can only afford 2 to 4 gallon tanks not always 5 gallon or up in less your Lucky enofe to find a 5 gallon at a thrift store or fined one for free I got my first taken at a good Will that don't always have them thow year nano tanks are a lot more Care but some times it's all someone can afford
People can make their own tanks.. i am only 14, and i made a 36 gallon tank from scrap glass all by myself. I have a great community tank going on with a koi glaxy plakat betta and 10 cardinals. Its going awsome so far.
@@maryrust569 If people can't afford to take care of a pet, they shouldn't be purchasing one in the first place. It makes me so mad to hear "it's all I could afford". Well, why didn't you wait one more month and save just a little longer to give your pet the very basics of what it deserves? Are you that incapable of keeping control of your own selfish desire for instant gratification, that you will even put it above the basic welfare of your pet? If you can't afford a 5 gallon tank, can you afford to consistently feed it? What if it gets sick, have you got money put aside to be able to buy the treatment it will need?
I have the Fluval spec V and 2.6. both look amazing and function as expected. I ordered both online and both came in intact. The lids in the packaging was in a box in the tank for both tanks. I have been using them no problem. They are very sturdy tanks. I keep foam pads under all my tanks for extra leveling. The new design as a betta looks amazing. It's unfortunate that the packaging was bad.
I too like the gentler filtration offered with this tank, which is basically a modified Fluval “Spec”. The Spec also has a flimsy base which I have to be watchful of when moving it, to avoid breakage. That said, I’ve had my Spec for 3 years and it has served me well as a Betta tank. I have put an “intake” sponge filter on the return nozzle to slow down the flow which works fine. Thanks for the review!
Spot on review!!! Seems like they've listened to fish keepers for a change (flow/filtration design) but WOW, so disappointing to see a genuine lack of fundamental quality control in the flimsy base design. I thought this tank was going to be exactly what I needed but I won't be buying it with that base. Thank you!
Base works great, I have 10 of these in our shop, she was flexing the plastic from side to side, the weight will be top down not from the side, very basic structural engineering honestly, it’s designed for its means, which is to distribute weight top down, not from the sides. Also sounds like the shipping company used was bad, 10 in our store not one was damaged and we’ve not had any customers come in with broken parts.
I keep my elder betta in one of these and have had no issues. The initial setup is tough because during cycling, there isnt much water agitation which causes a biofilm on the surface of the water, but once the tank is established It works beautifully! I keep it on my desk and my fishy loves it. I will say that I did replace the light as I found that the one it comes with isnt all that great for live plants but besides that it has been the perfect desk tank for my little fish friend
Fluval 5 gallon is perfect for beta. I actually have a few of the 2.6 gallons. I only house a beta in one because that paticular beta was a rescue and doesnt like to swim around much. The 2.6 is nice for shrimp.
my betta is in a 10gallon breeder. he is really active plakat. i think this size is good for some older or longer fin betta so don't hate on the size! 2.5 is a tad small but ok minimum. I like to recommend a 5g. I love the flow in this, I had to diy flow bc my filter came in a kit. i wrapped a plastic bottle on the outake xD unfortunate the quality and packaging is subpar. fluval makes some good stuff but this quality is disappointing.
The tank size is fine, if a little on the smaller side of what's acceptable, but the price isn't. Fluval offer aquariums 2-3x the size of this for like 10-20 bucks more. They're designed better too, with more side-to-side swim space rather than vertical. If you go to a less expensive brand, you can find even better deals. I can't really see why anyone would actively purchase this unless they'd done zero research and just happened to pick a Betta out in a store and went "i'll take the Betta tank!" for it.
I agree, it’s not a great tank for a Betta at all. It would be one of my last choices. When I see how active mine have been in longer tanks, I could never go back to a taller vertical, with less horizontal swim space.
I bought this kit a few months ago at my local Petco and everything was in great shape. Great starter tank. If you decide to get this tank, I was unable to find replacement polishing pads in stores or online but was able to have them ordered via Fluval customer support!
I think Fluval should invest in wrapping their tanks in bubble wrap. All around and under to avoid anything from breaking. But, before shipping, they need to double check to make sure that nothing is broken.
great review with detailed descriptions! I love cardboard too n bubble wrap in packages. Am on the same pg as you, the bottom plastic seems rather riskyy
Thank you! I felt bad talking about the broken parts because I got the tanks sent to me for free which was very nice of Fluval to do but I felt like it was impoprtant to be 100% honest about what happened and the pros and cons to the tank.
I am slowly phasing out all my small betta tanks. They are just too small. If you add plants and decorations, the small living space becomes tiny. Most of my bettas are in community tanks. If that doesn't work out, they get a 5 or 10 gallon. I wish the small tanks were shallower and longer. I think that would work better. It would also fit better on my kitchen counter and on my bookcase in my bedroom. I'm not sure why companies don't do that. Your betta would have more swimming space and a shorter distance to the top of the tank for breathing and breeding. Thanks for the review.
I suspect that the companies making these small tanks choose a tall design to minimize its footprint and maximize the aesthetics. So it's not for the fish; it's for the buyer.
This tank would have been better if it had been longer than taller. I have found that bettas really enjoy having side-to-side swim room and you can get away with having less gallons if the tank is longer but more shallow. Especially if you have a plakat. I realize it's better than a bowl, but my little tornado would be absolutely miserable in this tank as much as he swims back and forth all day in his 10 gallon. Thanks for another thorough review.
I have the fluval spec iii tank which is very similar to the one you reviewed. I’ve had the tank for a year and a half and never had a problem with the plastic bit on the bottom of the tank. I just have to be careful not to move the tank when it’s full or yes, the plastic would probably crack. Overall, I love fluval tanks 🥰
Just in a 15 minute or so review, this tank looks really, really cheaply made out of cheap material. I'm pretty sure I'd spend less money on a better quality tank (they are certainly out there) and low flow DIY a filter system. Thank you SO much for doing this!! You actually saved me money! I have considered the other Fluval tanks, they look really sharp, so I guess I better look at your other vids!!
I've had 2 of the standard 2.6 gallon Specs which have identical glass and bases. The base looks flimsy but it does hold the water volume without issue. One issue with the older designs was low water flow over the heater if you place this in the filter outlet compartment. Hopefully they fixed this.
I was debating between this tank and the Marineland Contour and eventually went with the Marineland. Has basically the same filtration set-up, the pump is adjustable and it has a glass lid. Have had it for 4 months with no problem. Thanos, my Betta seems quite happy with the live plants and driftwood.
You preformed amazingly, your ability to keep me listening is beyond great. I think your review was fair and very concise. Bravo! Great job. I think I will cut a filler platform to fit inside that cheese lower plastic frame in order to evenly support the completely decorated and filled tank weight.
Idk man I feel like for a few more bucks you get a way better tank by going with the Fluval Spec V. And if you’re scared about the flow being too much for a betta, just put a pre filter sponge on the outflow and you’re good. I’ve been using my Spec V since 2017 for bettas and it’s given me zero issues.
Hi Kasia, this is the 2nd review of this tank that I viewed. Everyone agreed with me that the tank needs to be a least 5 gallons. The fact that 2 tanks arrived to you damaged not good. The filteration system is great, but Fluvial dropped the ball on the other issues. Last but not least what brand new Betta keeper is going to spend $100.00 on this setup.... Thank you from NYC.
Thanks for the update. Looks real cheap from the bottom to the top lid. I hope they make changes as i would not purchase that the way it sits. Happy Halloween!
I have seen this design in pet stores. It looks good until you realize the built in equipment takes a lot of space. Therefore it really is not the water capacity as described. I have a 2.5 gal Aqueon mini bow. Took out the filter and replaced it with a sponge filter. Giving more room. Also have a small heater that can heat 5 gallons. My betta loves his tank and now he is slowing down with age it is a better fit for him. Aqueon packages very well. Happy Halloween. 🎃
That is true. This is 2.6 US Gallon/10 Litres swimming/usable space so it actually meets the minimum requirements for a betta. The max volume is actually 3.65 US Gallon/13.8 Litres which is handy to know when dosing the tank with anything.
Great review, thanks. While I would love to purchase this tank, I'll have to pass on it. This tank needs to have a stronger base as you mention. Another thing is the light, no blue "night" option? This tank would be perfect for a desk tank setup. Hopefully Fluval is listening. Make the base stronger, add a blue night light and package this tank better.
Mahalo 4 sharing. I am going to purchase one of these but, I will most certainly check it out in store first before bringing it home and it is damaged! Aloha, W.
Mine came perfect and I LOVE IT but the heater only increases the temperature a little and its not that cold here in Australia! It doesn't reach the temperature advertised when empty but it might when you add substrate in (mine hasn't arrived yet, but I would like to be able to use this a hospital tank so I need to be able to use it empty). Since I do not like pre-set heaters anyway and I don't want to risk returning this perfect tank and getting a broken one, I have purchased another heater for it. I am currently setting up 2 x Fluval Flex 34L/9G tanks for two bettas and this tank as a backup/quarantine/hospital tank. The low flow will be much less stressful for the betta (especially when sick) and I have made modifications to the Flex tanks as well. I have owned 24 bettas in the past but have had a break for a few years since moving out of home. I am super excited to get my new bettas and just waiting for the tanks to cycle whoo! :D
First time watching your videos, loved it! I have this tank and I agree with all the points you made. For mine, even on max flow setting, I find that the gentle flow can sometimes get bogged down too much and it stops movement. Cleaning the filter motor weekly is a must. Even after having it for about three months now it seems to have lost some of its pep so i may wind up replacing it soon, which is somewhat frusterating. I also took out the water polishing pad early on after washing it a few times yielded no sucess. despite all the other filtration methods, it got icky. Now i use simple filter floss or nothing at all in the output. I LOVE the longer intake slats too, no more dead zone risks. I like to toss in some live shrimp or snails periodically for my girl to hunt at her leisure and they have the ability to go hide in the filtration compartments if they think to. I REALLY wish they would make a fluval 5g like this versus the long. I enjoy scaping for my betta and its still hard to make a pleasant set up that she can really search around. I know not everyone’s betta’s are as active but mine has personality for days!
Fluval should take notice of this review. You raise some very substantial concerns here. I love my 5 gal Spec V but feel there is certainly room for improvement.
At that price point with a company like Fluval you expect a little better. Very frustrating thing with aquarium products that always seem to get some things right (filtration, heater) and other things not so great (packaging, shape of tank).
That's super nice. Sam is in a 5 gallon spec and I ended up having to put a piece of sponge in the tube that attaches to the pump. It was like a hurricane to her and she lives in fla. 🤣🤣
Cheers just nice and super nice video again :D and i just also came back from a betta shop as well. and cool to show if the actual product is it good or badd
It really baffels me how in US 2 gallon is considered a good size for a betta since where I live the minium LEGAL tank size to keep shrimp is 7.9 gallons and for any fish it's 15 gallons🤔 I do understand breeders housing their fish in small tanks but not really pet keepers.
Stocking suggestions change from location to location (just like laws are different from country to country) but none of them will ever compare to the hundreds of thousands of gallons available in the wild. Personally, I don't think 7.9 or 100 gallons is enough for shrimp. We just need to do the best we can.
It's really sad- It's like that here in the US for hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits and birds as well -- all animals-- The pet stores are not required to sell the larger size cage or educated the buyer on what is needed. My best guess is they think people won't spend more on a larger proper tank or cage so they choose money over education and proper housing. I would rather know what is best for the pet and spend more money on what is right rather than be cruel! We need better laws for this and the suppliers should want to be responsible and put out great products for their customers.
I had a similar issue 2 years ago when I got my 5 gallon tank from fluval. The lid wasn't cracked, but it was really scratched up bad. After a year of use, the divider that separates the filtration and main display separated itself from the glass, which can be resealed obviously. I'm disappointed in seeing that Fluval still has improvements to be made in the same areas. The company is a major name in this industry, if they keep pumping products out with cheap material they are going to lose their name. My $0.02 of the day!
I LOVE this tank since I don’t have too much room (I’m not even allowed to have pets 😂) but these tanks are perfect for my two betta and the limited space I have. They are my first bettas! Both my tanks came in perfect condition , however I took the lid off and accidentally sat on one of the lids and cracked it 😭 and I instantly thought of this video. I contacted Fluval and they sent me a a replacement lid. by the way, can I have these tanks next to each other ? They are planted and one houses a male and the other is home to my female betta..
Sad that Fluval's Packing Department dropped the ball ): They need to place the lids in a "Pocket Pack" to protect them during shipping, as they are lose and banging on stuff it seems.
@@yeahokbuddy2510 The smaller tanks should bring anxiety! It is super hard to keep water parameters at a good level with a small tank- harmful, stressful and hurtful for your fish. The ammonia builds up super fast and you need to water test constantly and clean constantly. It's also easy to overheat your tank. If you use a bucket or sink and Top Fin mini gravel vacuum (or any gravel vacuum) its much easier to clean a 5, 10 15 or 20 gallon than a tiny tank. RU-vid has many tutorials if that is the part that brings anxiety-
@@porcu12345 i dk what yall are on about, I've had a aqueon 2.5 stay stable since it became established, heavily planted, deep dirted substrate, 3 endler males and a bladder snail. No fluctuations. So I really think it has more to do with how you set it up and less to do with size. Ntm if you do need to water change, especially in an apartment, a 3 gallon is MUCH easier to manage than a 10+. This coming from someone who has 2 10s, a 5.5 and a 2.5. The fluval flex 9 gallon is the dream tank tho.
@@volcanixthanksyoufortheviewz I'm looking into getting a tank for my daughter to house a betta. I'm looking at the Fluval Flex 9 as an option. I'm curious why you think it's a great option. Thanks!
I still feel to have a happy healthy betta a minimum is 5 gallon, better a ten, I have 5 ten gallons community tanks all with happy betta. Try you local Craig’s list you can get supplies for cheap prices. Kibitz
@@CreativePetKeeping Yes, that's a good idea! I have a 6,6 gallon (25 liter) aquarium set (Startup 40) from Diversa - a group of Aquael -, and it has a bottom rim, but it is around and UNDER the glass thightly. Very stable, no need to put anything under it, the plastic is very sturdy. I had it for 10 years. It was around 32$ back than, today you can purchase it for around double the price - 64$. Still not a 100$... It comes with a lid with a 6W led light, a 25W heater, a very good sized internal filter, a fish net and with some sample food. I had it with a neon tube lighting, but since I upgraded it to led lights. Now I keep shrimp and endlers in it with live plants and a piece of wood. One of my favorite tanks. 😊😉
That was a bit disappointing, for that price point they could have done better. The fluval flex 9 is only a few bucks more and is probably a better choice.
Hi, I hope they listen to you. I had the same problems with my first tank. The top and bottom were broken. The second tank seems fine, but I am concerned about the bottom breaking again. I just set it up, but I will wait a week before I add my fish.
If you get this please plan on upgrading in the future. 5 gallon should be a minimum size for a betta and personally wouldn’t put one in anything less than 10. Way better tank than I started with though. Just trying to help people avoid the mistake I made when first entering the hobby which was starting with a tank that was way too small. If you have the budget and room please go bigger
It’s flimsy in a direction the weight will not be distributed so your worry isn’t an issue. The weight will be top down not from the sides. So weight distribution for the filled tank will work great, basic structural engineering.
How long has he looked like this? If he stayed the same for a few months and there are no major changes in his life (for exemple things that cause stress) then he might possibly stay the same.
@@apss5736 Its tricky to say because some of my bettas are 1.5 years old and are just now starting to change color. I think if you observe him for a longer time you will be able to better predict if he might change or not. If he does, then he might..in theory become blue over time.
@@CreativePetKeeping thanks for the help i will have to monitor him also could you do a video on picky bettas as mine was super picky and he only eats one brand of flakes and it took me ages to figure it out so it would probably be good info for new betta owners
In Australia fish tanks are insanely priced in stores I had a Kmart tank once and it ended up leaking and killing my fish so never get a cheap tank I probably wouldn't get a tank under 4gal I've got a Aqua care 5.5
Great review. I have the old Spec 2.6g/10l and it came boxed with the lid inside the tank. A few modifications to the old Spec will make it better suited for a betta but I feel it's a bit on the small side maybe ok for a less active plakat?
Poor quality parts. Lid and plastic frame not durable enough for day to day usage. That pump needs more flow than that; I predict a surface oily biofilm will occur due to a lack of surface agitation resulting in water stagnation. I would have preferred 5 gallons of swimming area. The lighting is pathetically poor. I seriously doubt it will grow even low light plants. $100 for this tank is ridiculously over priced. I have the 15 gallon Fluval Flex and love it for a betta community tank. This betta tank is a step backwards for Fluval.
Really good kit, 👍but Betta fishes need more than 20L, so just the half of it like this tank is too small in my opinion. [Edit: and yes, 100$ for this little tank with fragile plastic at the bottom, it's expensive.]
That is a flawed filtration system, it is on my Fluval Fflex. You will end up with 0.5 to 1 inch of mulm ( waste matter ) at the bottom of each filter compartment, in my case 3 compartments. Very hard to deal with and remove.
I ordered two imaginarium aquariums and both had glass lids and both were broken. They sent another one and again the lid broke during shipping. When I tried to get a replacement lid they don't just do the lids. Bad experience 😪
I have a 5 gallon with a built in filter and I hate it. I like to breed snails for my pea puffer in that tank and they block up the pump every few days no matter what I do...so I got a tiny hang on back which is a thousand times better and it has a flow control..I also breed shrimp in that tank and the new filter already comes with small enough holes so babies don't get sucked in..yes it's cheap but it works..I would recommend it for a 5/10 g Betta tank..it's clear small and $9.99 on Amazon..thinking of getting a second one for my pea puffer guppy tank...I don't like that tank..not even for my old Betta fish that I keep in smaller tanks..
Very nice review although please do not promote tanks that are not suitable for Bettas. This is advertised for Bettas at a 2.6 gallon when they need 5 gallons minimum and 10 gallons to thrive. Yes, this is better than many other Betta advertised tanks but it is still not the most optimal choice. Bettas are the most abused fish in the fish keeping community, please try reviewing better tanks for Bettas! Thank you~! :)
Horrible tank! 5 gallons should be the absolute minimum! Nothing should be forced to sit in a 2.6 gallon tank- bettas like to swim (in a long tank as opposed to tall) , explore and they like to have a hiding spot- Along w plants. It is much harder to keep the water parameters at a good level in this small of a tank. Much easier in a 5 to 20 gallon long tank. It's also hard to heat a tank that small without frying the fish. The Aqueon Pisces bullet, Marina LED or even the Fluval Spec V would be a much better option. Just need to order a preset heater and sponge filter to fit over the water nozzle to slow the water flow. I would much rather get online and order the heater and filter sponge than make my fish live in a container where he can't even swim. It is irresponsible of Fluval to sell these tanks advertised for a fish to live in-especially for beginners!
I have a 3 gallon nano and a 8 gallon biorb, planted tank. I change the filter once a month, but how often do I do a water change. It's just one betta per tank. Thanks
Do you have live plants and do u have one betta in them? If you use a watertest kit you can have a general idea of how much waterchanges are needed. If you are not sure then it's safe to assume that at the very least a 25 or 50% waterchange once a week will be good.
I liked the review. I don’t think I would purchase it because of the condition it arrived to you in and I feel like it is too small, beginner keeper or not the beta deserves a larger environment.
I got one as a hospital/quarantine tank/backup tank and it came in perfect condition. It's perfect for my needs. :) I am also setting up 2 x 9G Fluval Flex for two bettas and if one of my bettas is unhappy in there then I will move him to this tank and see if he's happier. Some do better in smaller tanks and some prefer larger tanks. I have always met the needs of each of my bettas in the past (I have had 24 bettas in total throughout my life before I moved out of home). I am just waiting for all my tanks to cycle. I cannot wait to get back into the hobby!
It depends on the care of the betta owner. Since I breed bettas, I learned to keep them healthy in small jars..some less then 0.5 gallon. I feel ok keeping some bettas longer term in 1 gallon but I do not recomend any of these options for someone keeping a bettas as a pet.I have one older betta that kept getting sick and fin nipping in the 20 gallon community tank. When I put him in the 1 gal jar, hje stopped getting sick and stopped biting his fins..he is suprisingly doing really well...so its a weird rare example that SOMETIMES bettas do best in a small setup. Therefore its hard to say what is the ideal for all bettas. For most beginner betta owners, I think 2.5 gallons is fine as a minimum but personally my favorite recomended tank size for bettas is a 5 to 10 gallons.
Me personally wouldn't put a betta in anything smaller than a 5g tank just think its cruel keeping them in such small tank also its so difficult to keep your water parameters in check!