What is a good tank?

[DetroitDan]

I'm upgrading from a 10 gallon to 20. The 10 gallon is a marineland kit, the kit was junk the heater didn't work and the filter lasted less than an hour. I'm looking to buy an aqureon 20 with the kit. Are the kits any better with that brand. I have a feeling they are hunk also. Who makes the best tank.?

 

[Islandvic]

"Who makes the best tank" is an open ended question.....

Who makes best tank found at big box stores?

Or

Who makes best tank for all-in-one kits?

Or

Who makes best tank where money is not limiting factor?


I've bought a PetSmart Top Fin 20 gallon and 55 gallon kits and had zero problems with them. I put different filters on them though, and put the included filters on other tanks.

The Aqueon kits aren't bad, but their included filter has a small reservoir and it's hard to put you're own media in their. The cheaper Top Fin Silentstream filters actually have larger reservoirs where you can easily put a block of foam sponge and bag of bio-media in there in lieu of the cartridge.

Higher up the food chain are Fluval all-in-one kits such as the Fluval Spec 16g, the Fluval Flex 15 and 32 gallon kits, the Fluval Bow 26g.

If you want to buy an Aqueon tank, then I would suggest to buy the bare tank when Petco has there $1/gallon sale. Then buy a separate Aqueon Versa-Top hinged glass lid and pick up a decent LED light off of Amazon. The Beamswork LED's are good lights and have optional timer modules. Look for a decent heater online at the Chewy website, Amazon or PetSmart websites.

That way, you can buy all the individual pieces separately instead of buying a kit, being unhappy with it, and buying new components for it.

Spend more up front to save money later.

Also, PetSmart will price match in-store their own online prices which are usually cheaper and allow to stack their coupons w/ the price match. Download their app and play in-app game to earn 25% off coupons. They also price match the Chewy website , which they also own.

When you say best tank, then there is always the option for an acrylic tank or one with low-lead / high-clarity glass.

Custom Aquariums website has low-lead glass as an option.

Then there are the Red Sea aquariums and AIO style kits. Red Sea is upper tier.

What type of budget are you looking at, and would you consider going larger than a 20g, such as a 29 gallon or even a 40 gallon breeder tank ?

Here is a link that may interest you, a thread on the forum for adding your own media to filters and doing away with cartridges.


Diy Media Guide For Top Fin Silenstream, Aquaclear And Other Hob Filters | Filters and Filtration 385506

 

[Debbie1986]

I have the Aqueon 20 gallon tall and 20 gallon long. They are on my bedroom dresser ( circa 1960, very heavy wood)

I enjoy both. Aesthetically, the 20 tall is classic, but 20 long works better for other fish - betta, cory cat as they like length.

The tall was the kit, the long was the $1.00 a gallon that I bought a glass lid for on amazon. subcompenets added to the$1.00 a gallon tank sale purchase, it ended up about same price - HOB filter, heater, glass lid etc.

I have read ppl have issue with their tanks post 55 gallon, no idea if true. I have had the 20 gallon Tall since last fall,HOB filter broke, my fault liely so I purchased the internal tank filter- lid doesn;t sit as nice but I like it better ( Aqueon quite flow internal) . 20 long since Feb 1st 2020, no issues. Good tanks. My 36 bow front & 38 long are also Aqueon and I have two 6 gallon Ascents for bettas ( love the design, slopes to front)

I have had no issues with any of them ( knock on wood, jinx! do not listen to this comment fish tank gremlins....)

That said, I have purchased 3 10 gallon Aqua culture tank kits from walmart & they work nicely too. (cheaper price, whisper filter is fine, but less powerful imo) so I skipped using them when I upgraded to a 20 gallon.

 

[Donthemon]

I have 3 Aqueon with no problems. Like mentioned before. Buy just the bare tank and separate components- you will get better quality heater filter light that way.

 

[New fishes]

I have had a 20, 55 and 75 aqueon. The 20 was a kit. Usually best to but separate if you can.

 

[JB92668]

petworks tanks are good and aqua one tanks are good

 

[DetroitDan]

"Who makes the best tank" is an open ended question.....

Who makes best tank found at big box stores?

Or

Who makes best tank for all-in-one kits?

Or

Who makes best tank where money is not limiting factor?


I've bought a PetSmart Top Fin 20 gallon and 55 gallon kits and had zero problems with them. I put different filters on them though, and put the included filters on other tanks.

The Aqueon kits aren't bad, but their included filter has a small reservoir and it's hard to put you're own media in their. The cheaper Top Fin Silentstream filters actually have larger reservoirs where you can easily put a block of foam sponge and bag of bio-media in there in lieu of the cartridge.

Higher up the food chain are Fluval all-in-one kits such as the Fluval Spec 16g, the Fluval Flex 15 and 32 gallon kits, the Fluval Bow 26g.

If you want to buy an Aqueon tank, then I would suggest to buy the bare tank when Petco has there $1/gallon sale. Then buy a separate Aqueon Versa-Top hinged glass lid and pick up a decent LED light off of Amazon. The Beamswork LED's are good lights and have optional timer modules. Look for a decent heater online at the Chewy website, Amazon or PetSmart websites.

That way, you can buy all the individual pieces separately instead of buying a kit, being unhappy with it, and buying new components for it.

Spend more up front to save money later.

Also, PetSmart will price match in-store their own online prices which are usually cheaper and allow to stack their coupons w/ the price match. Download their app and play in-app game to earn 25% off coupons. They also price match the Chewy website , which they also own.

When you say best tank, then there is always the option for an acrylic tank or one with low-lead / high-clarity glass.

Custom Aquariums website has low-lead glass as an option.

Then there are the Red Sea aquariums and AIO style kits. Red Sea is upper tier.

What type of budget are you looking at, and would you consider going larger than a 20 gallon, such as a 29 gallon or even a 40 gallon breeder tank ?

Here is a link that may interest you, a thread on the forum for adding your own media to filters and doing away with cartridges.


Diy Media Guide For Top Fin Silenstream, Aquaclear And Other Hob Filters | Filters and Filtration 385506

 

[DetroitDan]

I see that PetSmart has a top fin tank kit for 65 dollars. I dont know much about them or the quality. I would like to have a bigger tank than 20, but my house is just 1100 sq ft and full of antiques so I want to at least get a quality 20 and upgrade components. My heater for 10 gallons is 50 watts so I think I may need to step up to a 100 but not sure.

 

[Islandvic]

I've never had an issue with their Top Fin kits, I've got a 20 gallon and 55 gallon from them. Almost all of their online negative reviews are from user error, people having no clue how to keep fish, or from unrealistic expectations of the equipment.

A 29 gallon is only 6" wider than a 20g. 29 gallon = 30" wide, versus 20 gallon = 24" wide.

I'm not sure which kit was $65 you saw, regarding the kits their prices in store sometimes are lower than the online price.

Plus you can earn the 25% off coupon by playing their in-app game.

Their kits come with lid, led light, filter and heater. Only thing I would suggest to add is a 2and filter, either a HOB or a large sponge filter.

I've never had an issue with their heaters. I've got a 100w and 200w that came in kits. Their filters included in the kits are their Silentstream models. If you toss out the cartridges and add your own DIY media, they become decent filters. I think their Silentstream 20 filters are on sale for $15. You can add one of those next to the filter the kit come with and then you would have some decent filtration on a budget, especially if you take a look at the link I posted above showing how to do that.

You can always upgrade individual components in the future.

 

[DetroitDan]

I've never had an issue with their Top Fin kits, I've got a 20 gallon and 55 gallon from them. Almost all of their online negative reviews are from user error, people having no clue how to keep fish, or from unrealistic expectations of the equipment.

A 29 gallon is only 6" wider than a 20 gallon. 29 gallon = 30" wide, versus 20 gallon = 24" wide.

I'm not sure which kit was $65 you saw, regarding the kits their prices in store sometimes are lower than the online price.

Plus you can earn the 25% off coupon by playing their in-app game.

Their kits come with lid, led light, filter and heater. Only thing I would suggest to add is a 2and filter, either a HOB or a large sponge filter.

I've never had an issue with their heaters. I've got a 100w and 200w that came in kits. Their filters included in the kits are their Silentstream models. If you toss out the cartridges and add your own DIY media, they become decent filters. I think their Silentstream 20 filters are on sale for $15. You can add one of those next to the filter the kit come with and then you would have some decent filtration on a budget, especially if you take a look at the link I posted above showing how to do that.

You can always upgrade individual components in the future.

Thanks for all the info, I guess the top fin would be fine. Someone did mention that the heater was preset at 78 degrees. I plan on updating the filter or do as you said with the existing one. The Aqueon was almost twice as much at a small pet shop. I didn't read too much negative on the TF most of the negative comments were about their components. Anything on them reviews I take with a big block of salt.

 

[Islandvic]

The heaters in our 20 gallon and 55 gallon kits were all adjustable, not preset.

The lid on the 20 gallon has a cut out for one filter, and adjacent is a section that is removable to place an optional 2nd filter next to it. I believe the 29 gallon also has this feature. This would allow you to run the stock filter along with a 2nd one, or place something like an Aquaclear 30 next to it.

 

[DetroitDan]

The heaters in our 20 gallon and 55 gallon kits were all adjustable, not preset.

The lid on the 20 gallon has a cut out for one filter, and adjacent is a section that is removable to place an optional 2nd filter next to it. I believe the 29 gallon also has this feature. This would allow you to run the stock filter along with a 2nd one, or place something like an Aquaclear 30 next to it.

 

[ghostdawg]

I have a Top Fin 10 gal kit for over a year now and haven't had any issues with the filter or heater (adjustable).

I followed the thread on here for DIY Filter Media guide and been happy ever since!

 

[DetroitDan]

The heaters in our 20 gallon and 55 gallon kits were all adjustable, not preset.

The lid on the 20 gallon has a cut out for one filter, and adjacent is a section that is removable to place an optional 2nd filter next to it. I believe the 29 gallon also has this feature. This would allow you to run the stock filter along with a 2nd one, or place something like an Aquaclear 30 next to it.

I did get the top fin and upgraded hood, lights, heater and filter. The filter is an aquaClear 39 gallon. The heater is Marineland Visi Therm 100 watt. Not crazy about Marineland components. Not much to choose from.

 

[Islandvic]

Why not just use the Top Fin heater ? In store price of Marineland heaters is. very high.

If you want another heater, look into the Aqueon Pro 100w heater at the Chewy website on sale for $20. They have lifetime warranty

 

[DetroitDan]

Why not just use the Top Fin heater ? In store price of Marineland heaters is. very high.

If you want another heater, look into the Aqueon Pro 100w heater at the Chewy website on sale for $20. They have lifetime warranty

I did get top fin 24 inch glass canopy and a top fin 20 inch led hood with 2 color led tube. The pump is a Fluval aqua clear for 30 gallon. The heater is Marineland 100 watt visi therm, I dont know how good this stuff is but has some negative reviews, especially the heater