Best Nano Aquarium?

I want a desktop aquarium for my Betta and possible shrimps. I've been choosing between the Penn plax 5 gallon or the fluval spec 5.6 from PetSmart. If you guys have any other suggestions please do tell me. I do wanna try and keep it $150 cad.

What are you opinions? I need something durable and nice.

 

If you want something really cheap but not shoddy look into TopFin's range.

 

If you want something really cheap but not shoddy look into TopFin's range.

I looked at there's actually and it looked nice. I just didn't like the filter that came with it. That's why I'm considering the fluval spec.

 

The Fluval Spec V is my choice for a 5 gal. nano.

 

The filters in the TopFin tanks might not look like much but they are silent and work very well. I have 2 of the 3.5 gallon Enchant model, one for my Betta, the other for shrimp. If I had the space and wasn't limited by weight issues, I might have gone with the 5.5 gallon. I would never pay the prices that Fluvals command. Not when I can get a TopFin for half or less than half of the price. The 2 tanks I have cost me $20 apiece. I'm on a fixed income of $760 a month so I have to watch my spending. I do only pay $185 for rent and pay no utilities though. I also get my healthcare and cell phone completely free so sometimes it pays to be old and broke in New York.

 

The filters in the TopFin tanks might not look like much but they are silent and work very well. I have 2 of the 3.5 gallon Enchant model, one for my Betta, the other for shrimp. If I had the space and wasn't limited by weight issues, I might have gone with the 5.5 gallon. I would never pay the prices that Fluvals command. Not when I can get a TopFin for half or less than half of the price. The 2 tanks I have cost me $20 apiece. I'm on a fixed income of $760 a month so I have to watch my spending. I do only pay $185 for rent and pay no utilities though. I also get my healthcare and cell phone completely free so sometimes it pays to be old and broke in New York.

I really am considering them now. The only issue I'm having is that I need something thin that can it my space. I'm trying to see if the top fin one is too wide for my desktop. Otherwise, I nah go for the 3.5 gallon one

 

The filters in the TopFin tanks might not look like much but they are silent and work very well. I have 2 of the 3.5 gallon Enchant model, one for my Betta, the other for shrimp. If I had the space and wasn't limited by weight issues, I might have gone with the 5.5 gallon. I would never pay the prices that Fluvals command. Not when I can get a TopFin for half or less than half of the price. The 2 tanks I have cost me $20 apiece. I'm on a fixed income of $760 a month so I have to watch my spending. I do only pay $185 for rent and pay no utilities though. I also get my healthcare and cell phone completely free so sometimes it pays to be old and broke in New York.

Is the filter quiet? I plan on placing this in my room.

 

The Fluval Spec V is my choice for a 5 gal. nano.

Is it quiet? I plan on placing this in my room as well so I need it a bit quiet

 

Is it quiet? I plan on placing this in my room as well so I need it a bit quiet

Ultra quiet...
I have one in my bedroom and I don't even know it's there when the lights go out.

 

I love the mr aqua tanks, but they're just tanks, not kits, and they're pricey. you'd have to buy a filter and lights, but you can just use a clip on or desk lamp for the lights and get a little sponge filter or an azoo hob.

 

Is the filter quiet? I plan on placing this in my room.

I can't even hear mine running standing right next to the tank. They are much more silent than an air pump and sponge filter would be and since I keep my tanks filled to where the filter outlet is partially submerged, there is no sound of falling water either. Both tanks are in my bedroom and I think my houseplants make more noise than they do.

 

The only issue I see with the TopFin tank kits is that the lights and filters are not sold separately as replacement parts. If one or the other gives out, you will have to figure out a way of replacing them. The Fluvals have the filter built in as part of the unit and I don't know if there is a way to replace parts or not if they give out.

 

I was looking closely at all a bunch of nano kits and one big alarm bell for me is that some of the kits have the light and filter on a single cord. So you either leave the light on all night, or turn the light AND FILTER off so you can sleep. No way.
Just something to watch for.
Also, most kit lights (at least in the budget range) won’t support live plants.

 

Personally I’d go with a Fluval spec V, it’s small, thin, quiet, looks good, and has a good light to grow plants. A little nano planted would look good in a spec.

 

I was looking closely at all a bunch of nano kits and one big alarm bell for me is that some of the kits have the light and filter on a single cord. So you either leave the light on all night, or turn the light AND FILTER off so you can sleep. No way.
Just something to watch for.
Also, most kit lights (at least in the budget range) won’t support live plants.

I've never seen one with both on the same cord. The lights in my TopFin support low light plants like Java Fern, Anubias, and the different forms of moss with no problem. Anacharis also grows but with reduced size leaves which really isn't bad in a small tank. Hornwort also seems to grow.

 

Thanks for the opinions everyone. I actually just finished setting up the fluval V because I found it in sale for 100

 

My sons betta is in the 5 gal top fin kit and I always check to see if the filter is running at all because it doesn’t make any noise lol

 

Thanks for the opinions everyone. I actually just finished setting up the fluval V because I found it in sale for 100

Congrats. I personally would have never paid that much but I hope you like it. The main issue I see with that tank is the opening in the top cover. It would be very easy for fish or snails to escape and die. I would have to modify it somehow and close that opening. They probably leave it open so as not to block any of the light but IMO it's not a good design. The TopFin tanks have the lights under the hood so light does not get filtered and there are no openings for things to escape.

 

Congrats. I personally would have never paid that much but I hope you like it. The main issue I see with that tank is the opening in the top cover. It would be very easy for fish or snails to escape and die. I would have to modify it somehow and close that opening. They probably leave it open so as not to block any of the light but IMO it's not a good design. The TopFin tanks have the lights under the hood so light does not get filtered and there are no openings for things to escape.

Fair point. I just saw that a local fish store was selling it for the cheaper price and decided to go through with it. Thank you though for your help.

 

Fair point. I just saw that a local fish store was selling it for the cheaper price and decided to go through with it. Thank you though for your help.

It is a very nice tank. There is no question about that.

 

Are you wanting an all-in-one kit or just a smaller tank?

 

Are you wanting an all-in-one kit or just a smaller tank?

She already got the tank.