Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

My beautiful betta lived in a bowl for about a year. It was a pretty big bowl in my relatively warm bedroom and I conditioned the water and changed it every week, but the other night I came home and he was so lethargic I thought he was dead. Literally, I flipped him over and he didn't budge, and I went to get a net to scoop him out and everything, but when I walked back in the room he was up and swimming! I was thrilled, because I'm pretty fond of the little guy, but I was worried he might be sick. I mentioned this to my housemate, who asked if maybe he was hibernating or something since it was winter now, and so cold out. Having just stuck my hand in the bowl, I knew for a fact that the water was really cold, and it occurred to me for the first time that that was probably Not Right. So I did some research. And I discovered that it's pretty much a myth that fish can live in bowls. There is essentially no species of fish that can live in captivity without a filter, a heater, and at LEAST 3-5 gallons of space. Fish like bettas and goldfish are super hardy and they will SURVIVE for extended periods in room temperature, unfiltered bowls, but that doesn't mean they should. Goldfish at the pet store even live in full tanks - the only reason the poor bettas don't get to is because they're too aggressive to live together. I also learned that bettas might like to hang out and rest in rice paddies, because they're shallow enough to be still and warm, and there's often food, but they get there from the rivers they live in, where they swim for miles and miles. They need space! Which is why they don't do well together. Horrified at my unwitting Fish Abuse, I was on a mission to get my cold and cramped little buddy a whole new setup, but I had no aquarium experience. I had learned that Fluval was one of the more reputable and high-end aquarium brands, and since my space was limited, I wanted something no less than 3 gallons but no more than 5, with a slim profile, lights (for fun), and a built-in filter so it wouldn't look clunky. I was nervous, but damn did the Spec V deliver. It's narrow, it's quiet, it's the perfect size, and it looks FANTASTIC. The built-in filter compartment keeps the design clean, and even has enough room to stick the heater in so it's hidden. The LEDs are a nice brightness, and the blue nighttime mode is really beautiful, while the tall, skinny shape makes it more fun to decorate. Plus the lid is thin plastic with the LEDs above it, so it's not some big ugly black thing like the hoods on most aquariums. I bought the Fluval EDGE Pre-Filter Sponge to go over the end of the filter, which I angled toward the glass, because it's a bit strong for a betta, and because the sponge will blow right off if you don't press it against the side. I also got the Marina C25 Compact Heater, and the Marina Floating Thermometer so I can keep an eye on things, and so far everything is working GREAT! It's only been a few weeks, but my bud is about 100x more active, he's eating way more, and his color and fins look better than they ever have. Plus he loves the filter! He hangs out in the current, he sleeps right next to the heater, he roots around in the rocks, and he swims all over! I feel such guilt that I didn't do this for him sooner, but I'm ecstatic that he's obviously so much happier, and the whole thing looks so sleek. I find myself just sitting and staring at it. Especially with an actual happy and active fish inside, it's truckloads more impressive than a bowl. UPDATE: It's been over a year. I am still using this tank and I still love it, but just some additional things I've noticed and learned. — I switched to the Hydor 25W heater, because it's more powerful and you can adjust it by degrees. Sometimes if it's hot outside or warm in my room, the temp in the tank gets a little high, or it'll drop if it gets cold, so I can turn the heat just a little up or down as needed, which I like. — I also switched to the Hallcrest LCR thermometer, because it's super thin and sticks to the outside of the tank and has a digital readout, which is easier and looks way better than the suction cup one, which kept coming loose and floating away. — Because of the open lid, this tank evaporates very quickly. I have to top it off with treated water probably once a week, so the level doesn't sink too low over the grate that leads to the filter. Most tanks need topping off, so I don't consider this to be a problem, really, but just something to be aware of. — The way my tank is decorated in the pictures is much too bare for a betta. They like to hide. I've since added a floating betta log, and a whole bunch of tall silk plants, and he's much happier. He chills in the log all the time, and rests on the leaves of the plants. Don't forget that betta fins are very, very, delicate, so make sure there's nothing in your tank that can snag. A good trick I learned is to drag a nylon stocking through the tank. If it catches on anything, that thing is probably not great for bettas. Also make sure your plants aren't blocking your betta from getting to the surface to breathe, or accessing other parts of the tank. I even switch out and move the plants and decor around every couple months to keep him entertained. One last thing: A few people have mentioned that this review helped them realize they need to upgrade their bettas and goldfish from bowls which is GREAT. So I just wanted to put out a reminder in case people don't know, that filtered aquariums need to be cycled. Meaning you can't just fill them up and put a fish in - the tank needs time to establish it's little ecosystem of bacteria that makes the filter work. If you put a fish in too early, the water will be toxic. Definitely research this if you don't know how to do it, but it basically entails adding tiny bits of ammonia to the tank and monitoring the chemical levels until they hit the proper point for fish to live. It usually take weeks, so you CAN cycle a tank right away by using API Quick Start, but I think it's generally frowned upon in the aquarium community because it can be risky to just dump in the bacteria and hope for the best instead of letting it grow organically on its own. But it is an option, and it's way faster. I started to cycle the tank the right way, and after like two months it just would NOT kick in, so I finally broke down and used Quick Start and I had no issues. I even add a few drops every time I do a water change to keep the filter happy. UPDATE 2: Switched out the pics for new and better ones with plants and all!