Tetra 3 Gallon Fish Tank, Aquarium Starter Kit with Pedestal Base, LED Light and Filter, For small tropical fish, guppies, goldfish, or betta

I decided to introduce a Betta sorority in my biggest tank, and had an aggressive female who attacked and killed other fish. I only had a 1 gallon to keep her in, I didn't have a money to spend on a lot of equipment, and I didn't really have room for anymore aquariums. I grabbed one of these from Amazon Warehouse at a steal, and as somewhat knowledgeable aquarium owner I wanted to give my impressions. Filter Pump Noise Level: Probably the biggest thing on everyone's mind concerning this purchase. Let me assure you it is absolutely silent with very low agitation. I have 4 different sized filter pumps and this is the most quiet, albeit smallest one. There is absolutely no friggin' way for your fish to get sucked into it, the water inlet hole is about as big as a lead pencil. It has just enough movement to circulate the water through a very small charcoal filter. You don't even so much as hear water trickling because there is very little movement. The Tetra Whisper 3i is a hang on the inside style filter, and the impeller snaps onto the bottom of the reservoir, so there are no hoses. The trick is everything needs to fit together snug and tight, you really have to force the impeller housing onto the end of the reservoir to get a good fit. There is also a clip to attach so you can hang it on the aquarium and you really have to push in tight so it's stable. I adjusted it to the tallest height setting and filled the water level to the appropriate height in my pictures. If you look at them you can see I added a piece of rubber drawer liner to the clip to act as a vibration dampener. It also says in the instruction manual that you can order suction cups if you have a problem with the clip for some reason. Design: I really like the sleek, minimalist style. It looks cool, and is a functional piece of art that is perfect for an office, or bedroom. The plastic is crystal clear, but it is plastic so there is the potential for scratches if those bother you. Features: I got exactly what I needed: a complete aquarium in a small form factor, with a quiet pump, and an LED light. You really should get a small aquarium heater and an AC light timer A) for your convenience and B) for the fish to have a consistent light schedule. A cheap $5 rotary style is all you really need. The LED light and pump are both two prong, non-grounded AC plugs. Other things you will need you may not be thinking of: Don't waste money on fake plants, real ones are cheaper and they help clear and oxygenate the water. You need a 5lb bag of aquarium substrate, extra filters, some kind of a hiding spot for your fish, liquid aquarium bacteria, water dechlorinator, and a gravel vacuum. You really should give your aquarium time to properly cycle and clarify before adding a fish, but I didn't really have a choice this time so I used plant clippings, rocks, and decorations from other tanks and lots of bacteria starter. You need to do a 25% water change every week and check your filters frequently.

Lovely little tank. Bought 2 for 2 Bettas and they look pretty happy in these 3 gallon. Taking the advise of the other user and not going to attempt the pump that comes with the unit. I knew this going in so I have what I was expecting. An inexpensive plastic tank that looks expensive.👍🏼 Tetra does make this super inexpensive 10 gallon filter we picked up at walmart and its kicking the butt out of the fluval spec 5 filter. I think we may pick another one up if we feel the need for a filter in this tank. I received the tanks in a box within a box which was delivered in the shipping box. So they arrived prestine out of the packaging. The lights are hreat if you have plants that need some light. The room they are in are well lit so we can see the goings on within the tanks from the kitchen & the family room. The tanks have a small enough foot print that allows for the tanks to sit in the designated space. (No the bettas cannot see each other) I can see why moving the tanks around too much can cause breakage. They do seem a tad fragile ; will siphon to clean to avoid a lot of movement. Over all super happy. I gave 5 stars because I knew the filter with this tank would not be used, great price, I like Tetra products, it fit my chowen decor and space AND I love that you can have a completely unobstructed view of your fish. Amazon was also very cool and sent me a picture of the delivery so I knew exactly where to find my box when I got home! Thank you Amazon!

Betta lovers please read..... This tank is perfect for your Betta. It's roomy but not too big. The look is modern and stylish. There are a few things Betta keepers need to do with this unit - VERY simple things. I knocked off a star because the filter is comical. 1) Throw away the filter that comes with this unit. It's junk and will only cause you unnecessary issues. The filter I use for all my Betta's in a 5 gallon or less set up is the Aqueon Model AT10 (internal filter). Make sure you rotate the flow knob to the lowest setting and aim it towards the corner of this tank. It's powerful for a 3 gallon unit but if you set it up correctly the water will seem practically stagnant. I purchased this one from Petco - so I paid an extra $10 for the instant gratification. Amazon has it for much less. $21.99 https://www.amazon.com/Aqueon-10-Gallon-QuietFlow-Internal-Filter/dp/B00AWV4R8I 2) Purchase a Betta heater - this tank is plastic making the inexpensive Betta heater worthwhile. MAKE sure you take the temperature a few times over the first 72 hours to avoid Betta soup. I find it keeps the water at 80 degree far. $9.64 https://www.amazon.com/Marina-Betta-Submersible-Heater-Aquarium/dp/B00AE23Z88/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1467929335&sr=1-2&keywords=betta+heater 3) Substrate - use something that is very easy to clean - I use accent rocks that you can find at Petco for $4.99 a bag - 2 bags is plenty (even though they are kinda small) $9.98 4) Get a few Silk plants - you can of course do real but NEVER plastic. They will shred up their fins. Also Petco - 3 pack for $11.99 5) Get a small floating log - your Betta will love it! $9.99 https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Med-Floating-Aquarium-Small/dp/B000FMWPBK/ref=sr_1_7?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1467929628&sr=1-7&keywords=betta+log 6) Make sure you clean the tank out - NO SOAP - before filling. And you MUST cover the gaps and feeding hole. I used some plastic (hard) from a packaged item. $0 7) Make sure you condition the water - I use Reverse Osmosis Water. Misc supplies - Omega Betta Water Conditioner $5.94 & Omega Betta Buffet pellets $6.65 https://www.amazon.com/Aqueon-06020-Betta-Conditioner-4-Ounce/dp/B003OCXQDE/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1467931051&sr=1-1&keywords=betta+water+conditioner https://www.amazon.com/Omega-One-Betta-Buffet-Pellets/dp/B01DFT93TG/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1467931148&sr=1-2&keywords=omega+betta+food 8) My Betta's thrive with Indian Almond Leaves. 1/2 leaf left in the tank replaced every 3-4 weeks. This will naturally soften the water and create condition very similar to the wild. $7.95 https://www.amazon.com/SunGrow-Betta-Leaves-Pcs-environment/dp/B00HG1TMIW/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1467930944&sr=1-2&keywords=betta+leaves Total investment to set it up correctly is about $142 plus the Betta - This is a set up that will last you years.

I wish I bought this tank first! My betta looks really happy in his new home. I love the look of the tank - it's very modern and sleek and can but customized with many different types of aquarium decor. My favorite feature is that the lid is a single piece of plastic that can be easily removed and cleaned. I also like that they left a hole for food and airflow. The filter is strong and has good flow and bubbles, it functions well in the tank. The tank is much easier to clean than others I have had in the past, and the plastic is definitely lighter to carry than glass would be. When full it is very sturdy and not easily moved. It was super easy to setup and I was able to get my fish moved in quickly.

This is a pretty tank. I had my beta in a 3 gal cylinder tank before, and I liked it, and I think he liked too. He's quite an active swimmer if he has the room. Betas don't like filters, so I had to clean the tank about once a month. Not just remove some of the water and freshen it with new water, I mean, take him out of the tank, rinse the rocks and wipe down the sides of the tank. The algae would grow back after 2 or 3 weeks, and after a week or two of those conditions (depending on how bad it was) I would go through the cleaning process again. It is impossible for me to find a dark spot for the tank---he is not in direct sunlight, but the room is almost more windows then wall, and full of bright natural light. Exactly what I wanted in a living room, but unfortunate for a tank with no filter. All the moving around of the tank eventually caused it to crack on the bottom, and a slow leak developed. I moved my beta into a 1.5 gallon tank while I researched tanks, and filters. When he was in the smaller sized tanks he just sat on the bottom coming up for air occasionally. This tank itself is not disturbed when you have to move it due to the base. It is 3 gallons and my fish is back to swimming around and looking happy. I like the LED lights. It illuminates the tank perfectly. I read reviews of this tank/filer and everyone said they hated the filer and that they threw it out. That actually was appealing to me because I had been thinking about getting a super weak filer to help in my battle with the algae. After hooking up the filer and the light and the heater and letting it all run for the day I added my sweet little beta baby into the tank. He is much more active then he was in the smaller tank. I did save about a gallon of his original water and some of his original gravel and décor. I am concerned about the filer and watch him almost obsessively. I don't want him to be stressed. The tank change in itself is stressful enough. I have moved an object in the path of the falling water to minimalize the current that the falling water makes. It seems to help. He doesn't seem too bothered--if at--all by it. He swims next to it, and I can see that in just the right spot he does get pushed around a little, but it doesn't stop him from going over there. He has a little nook he sits inside of. (Décor from his original tank) He looks perfectly calm and relaxed when he's in it. He's always "hung out" in there so I can't say if he goes there to get away from the current or just because he's always liked it. Most of the time he's up and swimming around, and that's what I want to see. I unplug the filer when I go to bed so that he can have relax time.

This was the coolest looking fish tank ever! I purchased for my daughter to have one fish and a snail, and it worked out perfectly! I could even add things to it like a thermometer and a heater and a bubbler. I just loved the look of this thing! Very sturdy, but also very easy to clean! Easy to set up!

Read Review for Each Feature: Tank: The tank is a nice, angled cube. It is clear and easy to clean. The lid, however, traps moisture if your tank has a heater. The lid quickly covers with water. The lid became so saturated with that I needed to remove the lid. IF YOU REMOVE THE LID, water will evaporate and a higher rate and water will need to be added every week or so (not a lot of water just a little). Other than that, the tank itself is sturdy and sleek. Filter: The stock filter is a cheap tetra air pump that I saw listed at Petco for around $10. The filter itself keeps the tank clean and the filter cartridge only needs replacing every month. Replacement cartridges are cheap and can be order on Amazon. The air pump, however, is an external device which pump air into the filter to create a suction in which water is lifted into the filter. The air pump is the noisiest filter I have ever heard. To compare, the filter sounds like a running refrigerator. I had read some other reviews regarding the sound but I decided to give it a try anyway, thinking that they had defective pumps. I quickly needed to replace my filter with a large, Aqueon filter which is quieter and more powerful for about $15. If you get this fish tank, I strongly recommend buying a new filter if you intend to put this tank in a quiet environment. Cleaning: Cleaning this device is very easy. The tank is a 3-gallon cube, so it is relatively easy to clean. Depending on how you care for the tank and water, you may only need to change the water very rarely. The tank can fit up to four pounds of pebbles, a medium sized decor item and some plastic plants. Base: The tank comes with a black, square base. I recommend putting a mat under it to make it quieter when the filter is on. The tank has a clean and nice design, but their are a few critical flaws in the design. If you are not willing to pay another $15 for a new filter if you want something quieter, than this is not the tank for you.

Overall, I would consider this aquarium kit to be better than most I've read about in regards to specs and general reviews. I'll break-up this review in categories for easier reading. I'm ONLY raising nano shrimp in this tank, not any other kind of aquatic animal. My tank is also all natural, meaning none of the items you see in my tank is artificial. BUILD: Some reviews state the tank is "ugly," but let's be real guys, all tanks aren't exactly beautiful when you first set them up. In fact, I found this tank to be more on the aesthetically pleasing side as the corners are rounded not separate pieces welded together. Granted, the build is plastic, I find it quite sturdy for a 3 gallon tank, and as long as it's on a flat surface (as all tanks should be on) and whatever surface is able to take the weight safely, you shouldn't have any issues. On a side note, I wouldn't recommend a plastic made tank of more than 3 gallons for safety/longevity purposes. LIGHTS: The removable lights on the hood area were much brighter than expected. Mine arrived all functioning and also has an ON/OFF switch, which I found to be good touch. FILTER: Ok, like most reviews had stated. It really does suck, lol. I would suggest getting the filter that has been mentioned in mulitple reviews already and the link is here as well. I just ordered it, so I don't have a completely valid opinion on it, but from what I've read from other reveiwers it seems much more superior. Furthermore, the original filter provided is HORRIBLE for shrimp. My pool little dudes got sucked up into the stratosphere, as the intake does NOT have a mesh covering, unlike this better filter that has been suggested. Thankfully, none died after it happened twice, but it still freaked me out as I've come to care a lot for these little critters. Many people have complained about the noise, I personally don't think it's horrible, but I can see how it can be annoying in an office atmosphere. Either way, I'm looking forward to this new filter! AZOO Mignon Filter 60 FINAL THOUGHTS: Would I buy again? Actually, most likely yes. Other non-kit aquariums seem to be much more expensive, but as previously mentioned I would only consider buying this if I'm going to stick to a 3 gallon or below tank. Even having to buy the better filter again if I got the second tank, I think this is more cost efficient for quality and purpose in the long run for smaller aquarium enthusiasts.