Chi II Series Aquarium Set, 5-Gallon - Aquarium Tank with Ambient LED Lighting, Flowing Water, and Elegant Design, White

UPDATE 3/16/16: A few months back I had an algae problem, which I think was from the moss balls (they're in their own bowl now, looking swell still). Then I made the mistake of cleaning the tank with vinegar and apparently not rinsing it thoroughly enough, my pH went all bonkers and though I attempted to correct it, the fish was not able to be saved (he was rather old too for a betta and slowing down anyway, so the stress of the pH probably just helped him go a little sooner, sadly). After cleaning the tank again and rinsing well, I now have a new betta in there and he's doing splendidly. Two things that I've done differently - one, I have put some large river rocks in the top instead of the glass cover, because I loved the sound of the water fountain in my living room but didn't want it to splash so much. Contrary a bit to my original review, there was indeed evidence of drops splashing, not really that it was wet but that there were dried spots when I would dust so I know tiny droplets were getting out. I have some speakers next to the tank that were never harmed, but still. Also, I think having the river rocks in there does help to cut down on the current a little. My previous betta didn't really seem to mind the current, but this new one did. Rocks in the top have solved all those issues, and I still have a pretty betta tank with burbling fountain noise in my living room. After a year it still looks and works like new! Couldn't be happier with it, so far. Hopefully the lights and filter motor will last awhile yet, but I feel like I've already gotten my money out of the setup. :) ORIGINAL REVIEW: I've had this little tank for a couple of months now and I really really love it! So does my betta, and the moss balls. The current isn't too bad for him, it does help if you keep the water up to the maximum line I think. I did add a heater hanging in the back next to where the filter hooks onto the tank edge, fits fine and highly recommended if you have a betta as they like a constant temp in the 75F+ range, the heater I got has an auto temp adjust for 80F (in practice, most of the tank is kept closer to 75F). The tank itself looks stunning and gets so many compliments! At first, I was offput by the splashing, the plastic tank cover was clearly getting very splashed and so it seemed that the fountain at the top would sprinkle around my tank onto my bookcase. For weeks then I used the little plastic fountain cover/cap, which does work fine for quieting the fountain and stopping it from splashing at all - but was disappointed because I like the sound of the fountain. One day I took a chance and removed the little plastic cap and kept an eye on it for a couple of days to check for splashed drips on the bookcase - amazingly, no drips around the tank!! I've since left the cap off and happily enjoy the sound of the fountain all day/night. Doubles as a humidifier for me; it is very true (as others have noted) that by having the fountain open the water level drops dramatically in just a couple of days, at least in my climate (Colorado). I keep two gallon jugs of prepared water handy and top the tank off every couple of days (and wipe off the plastic tank cover, which definitely is very spotty from all the splashing it gets), to me it's not a big deal and like I said, I like having it work as a humidifier too. Once a week or so I do a quarter of a tank water change, saving the waste water in a bucket to rinse my filter pad and foam pad. No need to replace the filter pad very often at all, and by squeezing it out/rinsing it in the tank water you will not lose any of the good bacterial colonies in it that help keep your tank clear. To me, this is not bad regular maintenance at all and the beautiful and joyful-sounding tank is worth it. YMMV. Initially, maintenance for me was a little challenging - because I used new gravel that, clearly, I hadn't rinsed enough. :( Very cloudy water for days and weeks, long after the tank cycled. I finally used Seachem Clarity 250ml , doubled the dose, left it for a day and then did a half-tank water change with my little suction vacuum tube. I had to repeat that again the following week (didn't want to replace too much water at once), and then followed up with a dose of Seachem Stability 250ml (which is what I used to cycle the tank the first time, it introduces the proper bacteria to the water for cycling). It worked and the water is clear now, though it took a few days and a couple of tries. I only mention this because I guess someone else may have this problem, it's a common "new tank" problem no matter what your tank. And you may want to go with a larger river rock base rather than the tiny gravel, easier to rinse thoroughly and hopefully avoid this... :)

This was my FOURTH Fluval Chi, and my last! I think the issues with the cube filter are getting worse instead of being addressed and improved upon. At one point around ten years ago I owned 3 of these tanks, each with its own Betta, but it was a lot of work so I downsized to just one. The toggle on the back of the cube stopped working but a google search suggested using a magnet to control the switch. Great solution, but I ultimately bought a new cube which lasted a couple of years until I replaced it again. Now those filter cubes have become so expensive that I bought this whole tank when I felt it might be nice to do away with the magnet again. The Betta I had back in the spring was happy and I didn't want to upset him with a move so I decided to put the tank away. Six months later he was gone and I felt it would be nice to start this new aquarium and finally replace the old one: new energy, good vibes and all.... This cube lasted TWO weeks and the light switch is stuck in the "on" position, so no magnet trick works here. I have had to cover the light opening and use a strip light that isn't bright enough until I can find another replacement. I should just buy another aquarium after 10 years I am used to the size and shape of this one in the limited space available. Avoid this product! They are beautiful but don't work reliably and of course I am way past my return window.

I purchased my Fluval Chi II back in May when I was looking to upgrade to a 5 gallon aquarium from the 2.6 gallon Fluval Spec III. I had been looking at the Fluval Chi on and off for a couple of years and finally decided to give it a try. I've had the tank up and running for 6 months now and I have to say that I absolutely love it! My betta and nerite snail seem to like it too. This tank has a very elegant design and the combination filter/fountain/light is a really neat feature. I own 3 other 5 gallon aquariums, a Fluval Spec V, a Marineland Contour 5, and a Marina Style 5 Glass Aquarium Kit, and this one is one of my favorites due to it's dimensions. The Chi is 10 inches wide by 10 inches deep, by about 12 inches high (in terms of swimming space for the fish, the aquarium itself is a bit taller due to the filter cube and it's foot) so the fish have quite a bit of space to swim around in all directions, yet the tank has a small enough footprint to fit comfortably on a desk or a nightstand. If you're looking for a nice elegant tank, this one might fit your bill, but it does have some cons: • Like others have said, the filter is just so so. It's not very powerful and personally I've found mine to be finicky. After water changes, I have to rotate it from side to side for a couple of minutes to get it to prime in order for it get up and running again. * The light is another con – it isn't very bright, so if you want a planted aquarium and you don't have any sunlight you're pretty much stuck with having only low light plants. Also, the light is underwater so floating plants are pretty much goners if you don't have any sunlight. • The light is part of the filter, so if either breaks you have to buy a whole new unit. They're for sale here on Amazon, but they cost around $45. Fluval Filter/Light Cube with Transformer and Media Replacement for Fluval Chi 19L Aquarium Kit • The filter cube is textured and a dark color – calcium deposits gather in the ridges on all sides of the thing and become noticeable. On the plus side, it is easy to clean. I just clean mine in the bathroom sink and scrub it down using paper towels. • The lid is made of a thin piece of plastic and it feels a bit flimsy. I'm kind of surprised by that to be honest – I own a Fluval Spec III and a Spec V and the covers for those, while plastic, are thicker and sturdier than the Chi's. • The plastic foot of the aquarium seems to be sturdy enough but there's really not much too it, unlike other aquariums such as the Marineland Contour 5. • Due to the fact that the aquarium has a built in fountain, water evaporates very quickly. I usually have to top off the tank a two or three times a week with some spring water. • The plastic bubble dome lid thing for the filter cube tends to rattle if you don't put it in place before turning the filter on. Also, even after that, it'll rattle for several hours before it fills completely with water before settling down. • The fountain has a built in light that is always on – there is no way to turn it off. That being said, the aquarium has a number of pros: • It has an elegant, stylish design while still providing ample swimming space for your fish. • The aquarium is easy to clean and the filter isn't too bad either. • The lid is made of smooth plastic so it's easy to wipe down and clean. • The filter has a weak output, which is actually good for some critters like bettas and dwarf shrimp. • The light isn't very bright, which is good if you want only low light plants or artificial plants and little to no algae. • Water evaporates from this tank, so it tends to increase the humidity in a room (at least it does in my bedroom, which considering how dry my room is, tends not to be a bad thing.) • Due to the size of the aquarium, it's easier to find decor that fits it, unlike the Fluval Spec V. • Fluval makes a number of ornaments that fit in the filter cube. My favorite is their boxwood ornament, but their waterfall one is pretty neat too, and it really quiets down the sound of the water fountain. Fluval Chi Boxwood Aquarium Ornament • Fluval makes backgrounds for the Chi. I never bought one, but they're designed specifically to fit on the back of the Chi. • Fluval also makes a nice little aquarium stand that fits this tank perfectly. I bought one and it's really heavy and sturdy and it was simple to put it together. Fluval Nano Tank Stand in Natural Oak, 22 Inch All in all, this is a nice little nano aquarium and despite the cons, I love it and I have to say it's one of my favorite aquariums. However, if you're looking for function over form, you might want to take a look at either the Marineland Contour 5 or it's updated version, the Marineland Portrait 5: Marineland ML90609 Portrait Aquarium Kit, 5-Gallon My understanding is that the only difference between the Contour and the Portrait is that the Portrait has a better updated light. Price wise, they cost around the same as the Chi, but if you shop around, you might be able to get one for less. I purchased the Contour 5 when it was on sale for around $50 and it's a really nice aquarium. I've had my Contour up and running for about year now and I'm pretty happy with it – it has a pretty sold construction, a sturdy base that is separate from the aquarium itself, a glass lid that can slide back for feedings, the filter seems to be pretty decent, and the light has moonlights as well. I have the aquarium planted with ludwigia repens and I also have some Amazon frogbit and duckweek and everything is doing pretty well with the light – everything is growing, but they're growing slowly. Also, the glass lid is really tight fitting – out of the 5 aquariums I have up and running, the Contour is the only one that doesn't have an evaporation problem. My only problem with that tank is that, while the tank technically holds 5 gallons of water, the fish only have something like 4 to 4.5 gallons of swimming space, since the filter takes up something like, .5 to 1 gallon of water. ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– UPDATE: March 9, 2018, Problems with the Light Switch & Warranty Info ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– Well, I've run into a little problem with the aquarium; after having the aquarium for about 8 months, the light switch on the filter cube stopped working. The filter is still working fine, but the light switch is apparently controlled by a magnet and for some reason it isn't able to make the connection anymore. After researching the problem, I found a video on YouTube that shows a solution to the problem – you put the light switch in the "ON" position and then you wave a strong magnet behind the filter cube to trigger the switch. YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1GurgaaXqc Since I've only had the aquarium for a few months and it has a 2 year warranty from the date of purchase, I've decided to contact the manufacturer, except I haven't had a chance to do it yet. What I have found out, is that you have to register the warranty online at hagen.com and you need the aquarium's model #, which is 10505, according the Amazon listing page and Fluval's website. (I couldn't find the model # listed anywhere on the User's Guide or the aquarium packaging.) When you register the warranty, you have the option of extending the warranty by 2 or 3 years if you want. The cost of the extended warranty is pretty reasonable – it's $7.20 for 2 years and $9.00 for 3, and from their site, it looks like you can extend it whenever you wish prior to the 2 year warranty running out.

This is my third fish tank over the last 10 years. It has to be the best so far. I thought in the past it best to get a simple tank and add the other bits separately like the filter, heater, aerator etc. Having gone through a few filters and what with all the wires I decided to buy something a bit more "all in one". Admittedly I have not had this tank for long but it has not disappointed. I have had to add in a heater as my fish are tropical but the filter and lights are built in along with a waterfall to give some extra oxygen in the water. So I now only have two wires going to the tank which is much neater. The sound of falling water make it very relaxing as well. The lid provided should give it some protection from evaporation and the tank is tall enough for standard heaters to fit which the old tank wasn't. You can switch off the lights if you want to but there is always a light on illuminating the fountain from the filter. To replace the filter or just give it a clean you just need to remove the lead from the plug, slide the filter up and off the side of the tank and remove the parts from underside. All in all a very attractive tank which has pretty much everything you need to get going. You will need a heater as mentioned and I used some decorative stones and a couple of ornaments to brighten it up. Finally some fish of course! You can see the picture attached (if it comes out the right way up!). Before I purchased this tank I went to my local pet supermarket but left with nothing as their options seemed cheaply made and much more expensive. At £60 this tank is brilliant and I hope it lasts. No doubt as with all tanks (all pets for that matter) there will be some maintenance to do but that's normal. I noticed that the filter sponges etc. were all available from Amazon which I will be purchasing soon.

aggiornamento a due mesi dall'acquisto : il filtro e' decisamente scarso, il fatto che sia di acrilico e non di vetro e' risultato essere una delusione nel senso che si segna molto facilmente e si sporca molto di piu'. il calcare dell'acqua ha gia' segnato il bordo in alto e non c'e' verso di toglierlo. il calcare e' anche estremamente visibile sui lati del filtro. ora e' tutto striato di bianco e non e' un bel vedere. riguardo le dimensioni. e' piu' alto che largo e questo rende difficile pulirlo con un sifone elettrico che necessita di essere immerso fino ad un certo livello per iniziare a funzionare. essendo cosi stretto per sifonare il fondo si e' costretti a togliere quasi tutto quello che c'e' .. una gran rottura di scatole ! non lo consiglio, specialmente ad un principiante proprio per la difficolta' di gestion È il mio primo acquario quindi non ho alcuna esperienza ma ho trovato molto semplice allestirlo . Esteticamente è molto bello , la fontanella in alto è estremamente piacevole, la luce della fontanella rimane sempre accesa, mentre quella dell’acquario vero e proprio si può spegnere. Il cavo della corrente che alimenta contemporaneamente luce e filtro può venire mimetizzato da una pianta alta sullo sfondo. Spero che pompa e luce durino nel tempo e che il filtro sia davvero efficace. 19 litri non sono tanti, appena sufficienti per pochi pesci molto piccoli, non per un normale pesce rosso ad esempio.ho inserito dei guppy che al momento sembrano a loro agio .. vedremo in futuro per ora decisamente soddisfatta. La confezione comprende 1 filtro composto da una spugnetta e un pad di “feltro” , il coperchio. E niente altro

Ideal para espacios chicos, se aprecia elegante. La filtración al momento es buena. Siento que la luz no es muy brillante. Es una sola conexión eléctrica, que es el filtro/luz. Tiene una palanquita manual detrás del filtro para prender y apagar la luz, no se maneja de forma independiente al motor del filtro. No salpica ni hace remolinos, ideal para un pez betta. El filtro no succiona gambitas, tanto por la altura como el tamaño chico del filtro.

This is the perfect beginner tank. I had no idea what to get at first but after researching this was the best bet. It has the filter and lots of room for a heater and air pump if using one. I was surprised at how roomy it was so I added a lot of colorful plants. The only thing I didn't take into consideration at first was how heavy it would be when filled with water. I had to get a sturdier table to put it on but other than that no adjustments needed. If you are wondering about how strong the filter is it's super low flow, my betta literally swims in the current without freaking out. Fluval also sells stuff to put on top of the filter and I have tried them but they all suck. It comes with a cover in the box which is what I am using now. See pictures for reference. The only downside is that the tank loses a ton of water because the filter sucks a lot in and evaporation I guess but you need to top it up at least once a week ortherwise the filter starts flipping out because the level is too low so it makes a lot of noise. If you have enough water and you are using the cover it's basically silent so don't worry about the noise.

Es sieht vom Design her schön aber für mich grundsätzlich eine Fehlkonstruktion. Der Filter ist einfach laut und nicht leistungsfähig. Das Licht 💡 ist viel zu schwach. Ich habe zwar behalten aber betreibe es mit einem leisen Rucksackfilter und einer anderen Lampe. Die Licht-Filterkonstruktion habe ich entfernt. Von mir gibt es keine Kaufempfehlung!