Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Don't get me wrong, this tank is great for what it is, but it's not much, especially for nearly $100. First, you really need a heater to keep anything more than a goldfish alive in this tank. We bought it for a betta, so we added a heater. And another expense. Second, it's far from self cleaning. Keep it from sunlight and the plants don't grow to do their part. Give it enough sunlight for the plants and algae grows. Enter an algae eater and now you've got more poo than the plants can clean. Yes, I can go longer between cleanings in this tank than I can in our bigger tank with a traditional filter, but that tank is also ten times easier to clean since I don't have to disassemble the 8,000 piece top (I may be exaggerating) and clean every freaking grow stone for the other tank. Third, it's really not enough of anything. The amount of rocks they provide doesn't even cover the bottom of the tank. There are no plants, decorations or any other hiding place for a betta. For a $100 kit, it really should come with everything you need. Still, it's a neat science lesson for the kids, so I've played along so far. BUT...here we are, 9 months in and the filter dies. What my daughter really wanted was one of those $9 vase and lily systems where she could watch her betta and have a pretty flower. What I got was a huge headache and yet another expense, since now I'm shopping for a new filter.