Reddit reviews Aqueon AQE17102 Evolve Desk Top Aquariums Tank, 8-Gallon

I'm not trying to sound argumentative, but there is a reason people are telling you the same (above 2.5 gallons) for a betta. This is a LIVE creature that you have and are taking care of. Please make sure to put the life of a creature into consideration as your betta cannot take care of himself in captivity.



I think I have the perfect analogy for you today. Just like you in your dorm room, you can survive in there, but it lacks many of the amenities that a normal house might have. I'm sure you don't want to spend the rest of your life in a dorm room, huh? The same will go for a smaller tank for a betta. While it is true they can live in small spaces for a significant time, it is different from thriving. A tank size of 2.5 gallons or bigger (something like http://www.petsmart.com/gsi/webstore/WFS/PETNA-PETUS-Site/en_US/-/USD/ViewProduct-Start?SKU=36-2831438&utm_campaign=2831438&utm_source=googleproduct&mr:referralID=a3adbc2b-4ea5-11e4-a1c0-001b2166c2c0 is awesome for the price!) with a heater and filter are necessary for keeping any betta, unless you are going to do daily 50%+ water changes. This shouldn't break the bank, and most dorm policies allow up to a 10 gallon aquarium/terrarium. Think of it as "graduating betta school"



If you are in the Atlanta area and funds are an issue, I have an 8 gallon that housed my betta after moving to Atlanta (previous tank broke on the move, this was a replacement) that I am no longer in need of (http://www.amazon.com/Aqueon-AQE17102-Evolve-Aquariums-8-Gallon/dp/B006OMKMFG).



Please consider the quality of living for your Betta before deciding what you currently have is sufficient.

Im new to Planted tanks. And I spent a considerable amount of time researching before making an investment (which everything should be coming in tomorrow, cant wait!). The Fluval edge series is gorgeous. However i went with something different. Only because i love to mod the crap of things and tinker. Fluval makes some great stuff but i don't see a lot of mod-ability with the Edge series, (a creative modder could prove me wrong). This past weekend i saw a Fluval Edge 12 gallon at a goodwill New in box unopened for 86 dollars. In all honesty it was the hardest thing to pass up, and if i see it next weekend i may buckle and buy it to tinker with.

What matters is this:

• Does the tank appeal to you? Will you enjoy working with it for a long time to come.
  
• Is it easy to maintain? I know the edge series has small openings. Are you willing to deal with that during maintenance/scaping/Misc. adjustments?
  
• Are the replacement parts easily available? sometimes fluval makes products with specific parts that are hard to find once the product line is discontinued.
  
  These are the top three things i thought about when i tank shopped. I wanted something that i could mod completely (almost a blank slate) but looked nice and was within my size range that i wanted. I went with this because i really just liked the tank design. and the size was nice because i am moving soon to an apartment. i wanted something small that was easy to move and maintain. I have a new pump, and lamp coming with it. I'm sure i will get into large tank eventually.
  
  The main thing is this, If you like this tank, and you know its faults and are ready to make it work. By all means more power to ya! have fun and push the envelope on what you can do with that tank. I have been lurking this subreddit for about 2 months now and i know there is a community here of legit people who are willing to help.

Looking at reviews for that tank ultimately stopped me from getting that model. I was looking heavily at an innovative marine kit or an eheim kit and ultimately went with the aqueon nuvo 8 as they had one at petco and I talked them down to $60 for it since there were a few scratches on the acrylic. Here is a link to it I plan on cutting out the filter area making one very large opening instead of two and then inserting a custom made acrylic basket in with my preferred media. It will be a low-tech freshwater with just a couple of fish like some shrimp or a dwarf puffer or something. Not decided yet since I have to do the modifications first.

The reason I didn't get an eheim was because I liked the hidden filter compartment options and even though the eheim filter was rated well, it also meant I had to have a heater visible and people commented that the glass top to the tank doesn't easily let a heater cord through and they had to have it cut by a glass cutter. I would prefer glass over acrylic but for $60 bucks, I'll give it a try.

You'd be better off ordering it. Should anything happen during shipping they have replacements and I dont. The cost would probably be the same in end any. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006OMKMFG?pc_redir=1407180366&robot_redir=1

aqueon evolve8

Is THIS the setup you are talking about?

So thats $85. Plus plants, fish, and shrimp. About how much will that be total? Am I missing any other key ingredients?

About how much maintenance will this take?

why are canisters out of the question? i got one of these, and have been using it for a month now and it seems to be doing quite well.

Also i have one of these i for from petco on clearance for 22 bucks that might be an option for you as well. i dont have it set up yet waiting on the ok from my boss so i can set it up at work.