Are Small Tank Kits Really Worth It?

[shrimply]

A few years ago i bought a "RENA KID MAXI GLASS AQUARIUM" as my second small tank. Originally it was for a fantail goldfish. However the other Day I was thinking about it. Basically it only holds about 5 gallons
and for the complete kit I payed £50.

As soon as I got it home I had to buy gravel as the stuuf which came with it was not only multicoloured but hardy covered the bottom.

A couple of months later the filter broke down and apparently it was the impeller that was to blame. However Rena apparently don't do spares and it couldn't be replaced. I was also told it wasn't covered by the guarentee as it was classes as normal wear and tear. So I went and bought a new filter.

Later I realised that the tank was too small for the fantail and payed out for a heater. In place of the goldfish I put in two glowlight tetras. Everything seemed fine and they looked really nice(in fact the brightess I have ever seen them).

Then I went out and bought an airpump as the tank looked a bit boring and I thought it would benifit the fish with added oxygen levels.

The next thing I know only a year after I had bought it the light packs in due to corrosion. Again I could not claim on the guarentee. So anther light unit was purchessed.

Recently I decidee that the glowlight tetras would be much happier in may larger tank and so have started up a shrimp colony. Probably all the tank is good for.

The thing is I have probably spent over £100 on a 5 gallon tank for shrimps. For the same price I could have got a nice sized tank. I a not acctually complaining as it is my favourite tank at the minute. I just wish that I had put a more reliable kit together myself.

Here is a pic.

 

[mantis147]

I bought a small tank for my Bettas and its great!! its a six gallon and cost £40 which i though was a bargain.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

£100's on a 5gal is very expensive ! One of my lfs's sells plastic 4gal tubs for £15's(although i'm not sure if they are still selling them). But if you are happy with it i guess thats the main thing, sounds like it broke a lot though.

 

[Jules H-T]

I bought a small tank for my Bettas and its great!! its a six gallon and cost £40 which i though was a bargain.

I bought my 70 gal for that.

No, unless you are limited by space they are a total waste of money really.

You have done a good job on that tank though Shrimply, looks very good indeed.

 

[shrimply]

Tanks for the coments.

Just realise you can see masses of cables on either side. Aww well it is a fire hazard or no fish which would you choose

Hoping it will bush out a bit more once I get full spectrum lighting in (yup more money )

The tank is now filtered by DIY sponge filter in case my cherries breed but there was an internal filter before that,

 

[dwarfgourami]

It all depends what you want and what the alternatives are.

If what you really want is a community tank- yes, then buying a small tank is a waste of money- because it isn't really what you want.

I went looking for a small hospital tank and found after I'd done the maths that the Rena 25 ltrs kit ( c. 50 pounds) was actually a cheaper option than buying a cheap small tank, and then having to add filter, heater and hood. For a hospital tank for small fish, I really didn't want to get a bigger tank; it seemed a waste of space-and would not have ended up any cheaper. Touch wood, mine is still in excellent working order after 6 months- but obviously time will have to tell.

Another situation where I might actually prefer a smallish tank is if setting up a species tank for some very small fish (am thinking of Heterandria formosa).

And of course, space is a real issue for lots of people.

 

[dthoffsett]

I bought one very similar to that for my betta for about $30. He really likes it, and I don't think their a waste if you want a species tank for a single small fish. I added a pick so you can see what mine is like (if you care ).

 

[shrimply]

went looking for a small hospital tank and found after I'd done the maths that the Rena 25 ltrs kit ( c. 50 pounds) was actually a cheaper option than buying a cheap small tank, and then having to add filter, heater and hood. For a hospital tank for small fish, I really didn't want to get a bigger tank; it seemed a waste of space-and would not have ended up any cheaper. Touch wood, mine is still in excellent working order after 6 months- but obviously time will have to tell.

Yeah but the problem is that all the stuff in my tank has been replaced anyway. And replacement parts aren't available. Ohh and to replace the full light kit it would cost £20 for that one halogen bulb and set-up.

I deffinatly like small tanks becuase they look smart and are easy to cope with and aquascape. However I would never give up my 30 and 60 gallonns becuase the range of fish is much greater.