For the price, I wasn't expecting the sun and the moon, and after reading other reviews I went in expecting the filter to be pretty sub-par. I had been shopping around for a more ideal aquarium for my betta that was in a shape I liked in a 3 gallon range, and didn't see many options. I was a little concerned getting the tank shipped and possibly cracking, but it arrived perfectly fine. It was in a box in a box :) I just got it set up and I am pleased so far. I like the size- its just right for me! I feel much happier having my betta in a 3 gal tank rather than a 1 gal, and I think he agrees. I really like the cube shape, and that the edges are rounded. Feeling it, you can tell its cheap plastic, but the look of it is nice, particularly in the dark with the light on. It looks like a glass tank. I imagine the main difficulty will be in treating it gently to keep it scratch-free. I was also able to carry it from the kitchen to my room with it mostly full though its a little heavy. The bottom base is also cheap plastic which is not flat across the bottom which makes carrying a little awkward, but it held up fine. The light seems quite nice, I appreciate there is a on/off switch on it (my other tank came with a light that did not have one.) The filter works ok as far as I can tell- there was nothing in the way of pictures or instructions, but it was only a few pieces and I figured it out. I wasn't sure how high it needed to be placed compared to the water line, I may fiddle with that more later. The current seems like it may be a little strong but just around where the water dumps in, but I can see if I can modify that or just get a different filter- it seems like there are other good options that aren't very expensive. I have no idea which way you are supposed to face the filter, or if that even matters. I'm guessing probably not. As for noise, it makes a soft buzz and some light water/bubble noise. It does bubble up at the back which can kind of push against the lid making a clacking noise as it moves up and down. It seems like you can kind of feel out an ideal height to minimize noise and current. I have mine placed so the spout is around 3/4 inch above the water line. Several people had commented it is easy to drop the lid in the bowl. I've been careful so far and have not had a problem. I actually kinda like how tightly the lid rests against the top. I also really like that there is a small feeding hole, and at the back sections cut out for the light and filter, so you shouldn't have to take the lid off very often. The filter area is big enough you can substitute most any small filter if you prefer a different one. I think the lid is a great shape to be practical, and tries to be an unobtrusive as possible. I don't like the tanks that have the huge hood on them. I would recommend people consider this setup primarily for the tank and light, which I think its still a decent deal price-wise. I'm considering looking into adding a ghost shrimp or mystery snail now that I have a little more space. UPDATE: I've had the tank about 5 days now. After some messing with the filter, the current still seems stronger than the betta likes. I've seen him swim under it, and it pushes him down. He seemed kind of restless too, or rests on plants oddly. Someone at the pet store just suggested to tie a knot in the tube- I ended up kinking it and tieing it with a twist-tie, and that has worked wonderfully. I've cut the output rate by about half. I would say just be careful not to cut it back too much, or if the water level goes down it will stop coming out at all. As for the filter's effectiveness, I don't really know if its doing much or not, but at least its aerating the water. With my tank setup there shouldn't be a really high level of waste. I may still go with a better filter in the long run, the one recommended by another post seems really good and not expensive, but this one seems sufficient for now. My tank now also has a ghost shrimp and a blue mystery snail. There was some dissent with the betta at first, but now they seem to be getting along for the most part. I was surprised, the ghost shrimp really held his own- I picked a fairly large one, but figured if the betta wanted to he could still take him apart. The betta has been poking at him occasionally, but no harm done. I added some more plants which really helped since the ghost shrimp hides unseen by the betta most of the time. I would recommend these companions for the tank- it is really too small to consider other fish. Depending on your betta's personality and level of aggression, it may not get along with the shrimp, but it may so you just have to try with the knowledge the shrimp may not make it. I wouldn't want more than 1-2 shrimp in there so he's not feeling stressed seeing them all the time. So I'd say don't go overboard. You also shouldn't get more than 1 snail for this size tank. If you do decide to add companions, particularly with the shrimp make sure there is enough plants and other places for him to hide so he doesn't constantly have to contend with the betta. If you want to ensure the best care for the snail, do something to make sure there is good enough calcium levels for him. This can be as simple as putting in a cuttlefish bone, some seashells, or adding some calcium supplement to the water. I actually took a bit of screen and cut it to fit on the bottom of the lid to prevent possible snail escape. I don't know how necessary this is since it'd probably be hard for him to get up past the filter and there isn't that much open area on the lid, but I figure better safe than sorry. The tank is a little cloudy now, but I was experimenting with foods for the shrimp and snail, and they weren't eating the algae wafer right away. I know generally they eat scraps, but there's not much scrap with just one betta if its food he likes. My betta seems a lot more active now than he was in the old 1 gal bowl. While larger tanks are always preferable, this seems like a great size if you don't want to go too big.
