I bought this tank at PetSmart about a week ago, and so far I'm impressed. The kit includes the Whisper 3i in-tank filter, a couple of bio filter replacement cartridges, tubing, pump, LED light, and two plastic plants that can be attached on a grid like system that runs along the bottom of the tank (there are 8 possible positions). It doesn't come with water treatment, gravel, or food, but it does have a convenient storage shelf that pulls out from the bottom for these items.
Before this tank, I had my Betta in a small Marina cube, which only held a half Liter of water. Two weeks later, I decided to upgrade to this kit. After a day of adjustment, my fish really began to enjoy his new home and has since built a bubble nest. The LED can swivel from side to side and adjust up or down, so I like to angle it towards the filter in the back corner. This allows enough light to illuminate the tank nicely, but avoids exposing my Betta to direct bright light when I have it on. The light itself it great. Using LEDs means very little electricity usage, as well as almost no heat output. The switch is located on the side, so it's easily turned on and off. My only complaint is that the light tends to slide down to a certain point when you raise it all the way up. Not a big deal, but something to note.
The filter has kept the water nice and clear so far. It's easily attached anywhere on the tank via two suction cups on the back end. The top lid of the tank has two small holes on either side for the hose, as well as a large hole for easy grabbing. The two holes are great if you'd like to add a small water heater along with your filter. The Whisper 3i does create a fairly noticeable current in a tank this small, something my Betta did not enjoy at first as they prefer still water. After some adjustment of the plants in the tank and raising it a little higher above water level, the current was reduced enough to not really bother him. I've also placed a small hut in the tank where he can hide and get out of the current if he chooses to do so (which I recommend). I would also recommend placing the plants near or around the filter intake, so your fish won't be tempted to swim around it and get pulled by the pump. A Betta is far to large to get stuck, but it can damage his fins if he's pulled to hard.
The plastic plants are very nice looking, but were somewhat on the hard side. I would keep an eye and make sure your fish doesn't injure his fins grazing against them. So far, mine hasn't had any issues, but it's something to take note of, especially for Bettas.
Overall, for the money you won't find a better tank for a small fish or Betta.
UPDATE: 8/10/2010
After about 4 months of owning this tank, the filter pump finally gave out. It's a shame, because it did work very well. While not a big deal if your housing a Betta, this may become problem for other types of fish that aren't labyrinth fish. Tetra does warranty the filter for 1 year after purchase, but you have to send $5.00 for return postage. The whole filter unit can be purchased for $9.95 new at PetSmart, so it really seems kinda pointless, especially if it will continue to crap out after a few months.
This tank is perfect for keeping a betta fish. It's roomy enough to decorate nicely so your fish is comfortable and has stuff to do. I was hesitant, as I've only had larger tanks before and worried that this would be too small, but it's just right for my betta fish.
I was worried that the filter might be too strong, based on some reviews here, but my betta has done absolutely fine with the filter on, and the filter does an amazing job at keeping the water clear. I'm able to do a full water change once a month, and the water is STILL crystal clear within that time frame. (But I wouldn't recommend going over a month without giving it a full cleaning, because the gravel traps old food and bacteria. Just an fyi for someone considering this as their first fish tank.)
I really love the LED light at the top of the tank, it looks beautiful at night. The storage space at the bottom is handy as well. I keep extra filter packs, de-chlorinator, and some emergency fish meds in there, just in case.
I'd definitely recommend this to someone looking into getting a betta fish. Many people want these intelligent fish as decorations, which I discourage because they tend to keep the poor things in tiny half gallon bowls. This tank is the right size for a betta to live happily and is visually stunning for the owner as well. It's a win/win!
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I bought this locally, and right out of the box, it didn't have the plant grid for the plants that it comes with. Which of course makes the plants all float up the second you try to do anything inside the tank. The filter however is awesome, it has adjustable flow, which is wonderful for a betta or any other fish that prefers little water movement. Keeps my water totally free of ammonia, nitrates, and nitrites. Condensation on the hood is a CONSTANT eye sore. While the setup has it's downfalls, it's still better by far than any other desktop with the dreaded lone undergravel filter and no lighting, often devoid of a hood altogether. I like that it has a cord cutout for if you want to add a heater or an airstone. The built in drawer is also very handy, but I don't recommend keeping water test strips in it, due to the humidity affecting them. It's good for stashing food and dechlorinator though.
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I had always wanted a small, but attractive, aquarium for my desk. I came across this one on Amazon and thought, this is it! It works great with African Dwarf Frogs, I bought two and there is plenty of room for them and their plants. The initial investment ran me about $40 total which included food, a small net, the plant, rocks, water conditioner, etc. I did find mine at Petsmart, but there are more colors/sizes and a lot of sale prices through Amazon that were comparable. I loved the light because its made of LEDs and does not get hot. I'm rather paranoid about hot light bulbs and plastic.
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I've had this aquarium for about a week and a half, and my betta seems to like it. He builds bubble nests and is very active. I never knew bettas to zip around a tank, which goes to show how much better off they are with some space than in the little prison cells that are among the betta homes pet stores sell. I am only using this 1.5 gallon aquarium because of space limitations, and would recommend a larger one if you have space so your fish will be happier. So far the filter is keeping the water clear, and makes a soft current, which is good since bettas are bothered by strong currents. Time will tell how the filter lasts. I'm hoping it lasts for a while since it seems hard to find filters with a soft enough current to suit bettas (I heard the Azoo Mignon is a good one). The lid has an opening for the top of the filter, and smaller openings on either side, so a micro-heater and cord can be easily accomodated while the lid still fits well. Condensation does build up on the lid, but there seems to be less of it now than there was the first few days. The light can be adjusted up and down, and the LED is nice and bright, making the aquarium pleasing to look at. There is an on/off switch for the light, but the light's power is controlled by the same plug as the filter. So if you want to turn off the filter, you have to un-plug it which turns off the light as well. Therefore if you want to feed your fish and not have the food get carried around by the filter current, he has to eat in the dark. Overall this is an excellent small aquarium for the money. I'm looking at the Aqueon Evolve 2 Gallon for my other betta, which has a wall that conceals the filter, and any heater and cords, and of course gives the fish a little more space. That one may be a good option too if you're willing to spend $47 or so.
UPDATE 6/20/12 A few days ago the filter stopped working. I removed it, rinsed it out and replaced the cartridge, and it started working again. It is very slow though. I'm just a novice with aquariums, but I'm wondering if this filter is effective because of how weak it is. If it breaks down, I'll just have to continue changing 2/3 of the water each week to keep it clean. I hope to someday find a filter that has a gentle enough current for bettas. The Azoo filter I previously mentioned is on back-order with Amazon. Because of the filter issue I'm reducing my rating to 4 stars.
UPDATE 7/9/12 Well the filter is failing...If I take out the cartridge and just put it back in, it seems to start up again, but this has to be done at least twice a day. The filter is junk...which is a shame because the aquarium is nicely built with great cutouts in the lid and good LED. But if you want a kit with a decent filter, don't buy this one, unless you're ok replacing the filter or just changing the water every week and not using one. Might as well spend the extra money for a better setup and more space for your fish.
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I have this bulb in front and a 6700k bulb in back to make my plants grow. My tank is high, like 22". When the fish swim within the top 12" to 16", this bulb makes their colors look soooo much deeper and richer. Power blue and dwarf gouramis look irradescent. Cherry shrimp glow bright red and red wag platties and swordtails have deep oranges. The powder blue gouramis look kinda lame in petsmart under the normal lights and I was kicking myself on the way home for buying it, but once it swam near the colormax bulb, I was glad I got him. One of my favorite fish now.
