The instructions are pretty skimpy, but not much assembly is required since most accessories (heater, air pump, lamp, background) are built into the unit.After securing the wall bracket and putting the bio rings on the filter sponge, the book says to fill it with water, then hang it on the wall bracket. I thought, why risk a crippling back injury? Hanging it BEFORE adding the water seemed more sensible, and using a bucket and step stool was easier for me.
It comes with a net, the gravel, a long-handled "grabber", a suction hose for water changes, a scrubber, 3 sponge filters and about 50 bio-rings for the filtering system. The air pump for the bubbler is a little loud, but you can turn it on or off with the electric control. The temperature, lights, and filtering are all controlled with the side panel, either automatically or manually. You always have to reset the clock should you need to turn the tank off, but your other settings are retained and the constant temperature readout is in nice big numbers.
The T-4 lighting tube didn't work from the getgo, so I attempted to unscrew the lamp cover and check the connections. The screws are tiny T-9 torx-head, but the fixture was DOA. Customer service did send me a new one, however.
The top flips up for access, and the unit has a 3/8" thick 6 ft. electrical cord. I wanted to hide it with cord cover, but it's a little big so I'll probably just paint it grey to match my wall.
There's not much floor space for decor and plants, but adding a few is good for the fish and adds depth and beauty to the background. On top, the small surface area of water-to-air restricts the amount of water oxygenation, so use the air pump a lot to compensate.
Being only about 4 inches wide limits the choice of occupants who can actually turn around in it. The booklet suggests several species that would be too large within a couple of months, so please disregard unless you plan on buying a larger aquarium soon. After cycling the tank through its deadly ammonia spike, I finally decided on 4 fancy guppies. They're a small but hardy and active species, and come in beautiful colors. It might also make a good Betta tank, since the filtering system is gentle, but they don't like rapid water movement or air bubblers.
Keep in mind that the small water volume is less forgiving and can quickly turn poisonous from fish waste, so plan on doing more frequent water changes and maintenance than the book suggests. I siphon out 1/3, or two gallons, every week and replace it with fresh, dechlorinated tap water of the same temperature.
For the price I wish I had bought a bigger tank, but there's a premium for convenience and "living art", and it does look pretty cool on my wall, I have to admit. As long as you're aware of its limitations, it should bring you lots of enjoyment.
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I have had my Aquavista for about two months. It is low maintenance and we really love it. If you check out their website and click on the "parts" tab a window comes up which says "check next week". It has said that since I bought the thing, they have tons of frames but for some reason no parts. My guess is they either don't have parts, which is scary, or their parts are so high priced they would rather not list them on the web site. I am going to be ready for a new filter soon and I am not quite sure what will happen with that. Another warning, once you mount it to the wall you will never get the thing off again without bending the bracket. The directions were skimpy at best and we really wish we had known this along with some other things we had to learn the hard way. Overall I think it is one of the better wall mount tanks on the market. Expect some aggravation with the skimpy directions and probably parts.Read Best Reviews of Aquavista 500 Wall Mounted Aquarium with Seaweed Background Here
First, I would like to say that if you are considering buying this product, you should read this. I was very mislead by the youtube videos, and all the product reviews on this product. I have had this product for over 6 months. Let me explain to you, my story.1. Purchased Product, Received Product fairly quick. Missing Mint Cloth, Screws & Hardware, also the entire lightning balast system /including bulb.
No problem? Just exchange it right? Wrong. 2nd Product Received with the same accessories missing plus a plastic part on the aquiarum cover/lid was broke off. And instead of the aquarium saying Aquavista (under where the frame goes, it said "china" embedded in the plastic.)
Hmm.. I think to myself.. This can't happen a third time can it? Why, Yes it can! It came from china. Same missing accessories: Screws & Hardware, cloth, lightning ballast system + bulb. Wow, Right off the bat someone would rate this a 1 star.. Not me, I'm willing to give it a shot!
I call Amazon, they told me to contact Aquavista. Aquavista Customer Service Support was very nice, they sent me Lightning Ballast + bulb that i had to install / + free filters.
After setting up this aquarium, i had bought my own pebbles / Rocks. ( this will become a nightmare as small rocks will fall in the filteration area and become stuck). I followed the manual, waited to put fish in tank.
I have had a horrible time with this tank, I have to clean this tank at least once every week otherwise the tank becomes filthy and fish start dying. I have had horrible, horrible experiences with this tank. Here's one to mention. One morning, GloTetra Disappeared. Hmm.. Where he go? Called aquavista. They told me to check behind the aquarium background. (was really fun trying to take this off after setting aquarium up.) Long story short, in the bottom right side of tank, theres a small hole (between black filter cover and background in corner of tank) where little fishies can get through. SO, Mr. Fish was stuck behind the tank. Long story short, becasue i had to bend background alittle to get fish on other side, small rocks fell between the plastic and background to where the picture would not fit the way it should. Had to take the entire tank apart, fake aquarium plants, small ship, fish, rocks.. everything. This was truely a nightmare. This didn't happen once, but three times. Once with a albino frog (didn't have to take the tank apart because he was easier to get) and also a neon tetra who is decaying in the bottom of the tank under the black filter. Oh yes, this causes disease and all fish will die, Except my Pleco + Frog. I have bought a water testing kit before all of this happened, and the ammoneia levels were extremely high. (50-100% water changes + cleaning of all objects/rocks) per week. To top things off? If you accidently overfill the aquarium with water (there is a meter) water will drip on your floor. But one time dripped on the right side instead of the left side. This caused the LCD touchpad + Screen to short out. Aquavista customer server was extremely nice, and sent me another one for me to replace. I paid $ 140 160 for this product and felt that I extremely over paid for cheap china plastic and poor quality. Poor Filtration in a 5.5 Gal = Death to all fish (cept pleco+frog or other high immune system species)
I would not have gotten this product if I would have known all of this could happen. It's truely a beautiful tank when it is lit up and turned on. Then the beautiful moment is ruined by fish who sink to the bottom of your tank lifeless and dead. Go to your local pet store to buy an aquarium worth spending this much money on.
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If I could rate 0 stars, I would. This was possibly the worst purchase I have ever made. It is kind of a hassle to hang and I hang a lot of stuff on walls for a living, there is no room for the cord behind and the bracket is cheap. Once you get it up, it looks nice until the water overflows out the overfill drain even before it gets up to the max level mark, pouring water all over your couch or whatever is underneath. Small fish disappear, big fish swim out the overfill drain and are impossible to get out. Basically there is nothing good about it.
