( 14 reviews )
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Posted: Sep 20 2008
This was a first fish tank purchase for a daughter who wanted fish. We ended up putting 2 female bettas in it, but contrary to what I read and was told, they didn't get along. After a month or so, this big aquarium was home to one betta. That was fine with me, hardly needed any maintenance and I have changed the filter maybe 3 times in a year. After a year, I thought I would try 2 more female bettas. Nope, still didn't work, so I ended up getting the Marineland Eclipse 3 gallon tank, and the Hex 5. I trust them and they are nice a quiet. With one betta in each tank, overkill, I know, it makes keeping them clean easy. One thing with the 12 gallon one, it is a pain taking the light part off when you want to change out some water. The 3 gallon will be even more of a pain as there is a very small opening for feeding the fish, but the 5 gallon hex tank seems to be the best design of them all. Still, if you try to put more than 2 or 3 fish in the 3 or 5 gallon tank, you will be doing more work as the filter is smaller and the water will needed to be monitored more. Good Luck. Marineland.com has replacement parts for all these models, haven't needed them though, , yet.
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Posted: Aug 20 2008
I bought the Marineland Eclipse 12 aquarium unit a few months ago. I've kept fish for over 30 years, but thought it would be easier to set up a new tank with the hood and filter attached. Unfortunately, I've not been pleased with this tank. I will say that when I check my ammonia levels that they are generally good and so the biowheel and filter must be doing their job. However, working in the tank itself is VERY difficult because the filter apparatus is in the way. Also, my filter suddenly stopped working and so I guess the biowheel won't be doing its job now will it? I've only had this tank for a few months and the filter must not be very good if is stops working. I take good care of my tanks and so there was no reason for it to stop working unless the filter is of poor quality.
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Posted: Aug 19 2008
I bought this aquarium for my daughter's room. I have kept many aquriums in the past and consider myself nearly an expert. However, I wanted an easy system to maintain as I am busy and don't want to be spending a lot of time with it. This aquarium has been nearly maintenance free (partial water changes and occasional replacement/cleaning of the filter). I love the filter and the look of the tank. The only reason I don't give it a 5 is the acrylic can scratch easy and kids will find a way to scratch it. Also, if you need to clean off algae or get into the tank, you have to remove the lid and it is a pain for reasons mentioned elsewhere. This is not enough of a bad to outweigh all the good however, and I am planning to buy another for my other daughter's room. PS - This tank KEEPS FISH ALIVE! That is most important to me and all of my daughter's friends wonder how all of her fish have been alive for so long as theirs have been dying routinely. We have had several fish for 2 yrs now and no problems.
