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It's super quiet, and the hinged lid in the hood makes it great to access the filter and cartridge for cleaning. The filter just pushes the food out and away, so it's not like the fish won't get to it.I'll agree with other reviewers about goldfish in this tank. I'd say this is the perfect tank for those of you with Bettas and want to provide the poor little guys with some room after being stuck in those cramped cups.The assembly is easy and I had no issues putting everything together (Though I have had past experience. I did some research on this one before I bought it and I absolutely love it.
I just sprinkle a bit of the food in that space, and it works out fine. I'd been wanting to get another aquarium, but was lacking space for a nice 20-30 gallon tank like I'd wanted. There's a small space between the filter and the edge of the lid opening which works fine for me. It's a beautiful system and stays super clean with Bettas. Unless they're teeeeny goldfish, you'll really want something bigger and with a bigger filter.
But still, it's pretty straight forward in the directions and shouldn't be an issue for beginners). If you don't have much room but want a nice aquarium, I'd totally recommend the Eclipse 3. Ideal for those who want to have a tank but are short on space and cash. I don't see why people are complaining about the hood as far as feeding goes. Even if they're tiny, you'll be cleaning the filter a ton with those guys.Absolutely recommended for beginners and perspective Betta owners.
However, I would not purchase this tank again. Disassembly and close examination of the fixture revealed what looks like burn marks all over the plastic housing, which is a little scary. Marineland wants $35 w/ shipping to replace the light fixture, which is more than I paid for the entire tank system to begin with. It makes them perfect for desktops, book shelves, and home decor. For small tanks I have one 10-gallon and one 5-gallon conventional glass tank and both have outlasted this tank with no problems. It looks great and fits in limited spaces. However, it seems as if the smaller models are just a bit *too* small and short-lived for the price.This tank lasted me a little over 2 years before the light fixture died. Also, if and when I need replacement parts for these tanks, I know I can get them locally and cheap.
I have a feeling the compactness of the design does not lend itself to proper ventilation, and the light fixture stays wet due to condensation. What's alluring about the "Eclipse System" series of tanks is their all-in-one, compact and clean designs. They require more attention than most people are willing to give and will not support the number or size of fish that most people want to have, and they are definitely too small for goldfish (or other high-waste producers). So, it is pretty much a disposable tank in my opinion.On the plus side, this tank supported limited numbers of small fish just fine with no "crashes". Finally, I would not recommend tanks less than 10-20 gallons in size for beginning aquarists.
The curved front provides an excellent view.As other reviews have mentioned, the lid only opens to access the filters. There are two small Pearscale Goldfish in it. I have had this aquarium at my office for about 2 weeks. There is a small space that you can drop food in, but if you need to do more than that (use the net, test the water, etc) you have to take off the whole lid.The only downside I have found is that since my goldfish tend to like cooler water, I need to leave the lid door open. The filter pump is extremely quiet. I think that the light lets off a small amount of heat that gets trapped in the lid.
I can only imagine what a pain it is for an adult whose hands are of more average size. Bettas are shallow-water fish, best served with longer rather than deeper tanks with easy access to the surface. According to user reviews, the two best models seem to be Marineland's own Stealth and the Theo by Hydor--both are Italian-made, are completely submersible, and are available on Amazon through third-party sellers. At that time, the smallest available heaters were 50 W models--way too powerful for a three-gallon tank.
Forget gimmicky items--including the ones manufactured by Marineland--such as bowls, cubes, "hexes," vases, etc. It's my understanding that the filtration system for the Marineland Explorer, a two-gallon setup, is too powerful for a betta, but is fine (it's the same unit) in this tank--no stressful "riding the rapids," just a pristine environment, populated with beneficial bacteria, that requires only a weekly partial water change and a monthly cartridge replacement rather than the frequent complete changes necessitated by the lack of a filter (just to play it safe, though, I cover the intake tube with coarse nylon mesh to ensure that long fins don't accidentally get sucked in and torn).This little tank sat empty for several years; it was purchased with a betta in mind, but I realized that between-seasons heating in my apartment is too iffy for an unheated tank. It's a minor, but very irritating, design flaw.With a little gravel (1/4" or so), a cave (I found a perfect one on Aquabid), a Java fern (which Petco markets as "'Tropica' Fern"), some Java moss, a thermometer, and a free-floating plant like gymnocoronis for lounging and algae control (bettas love plants but please, NO plastic--real or silk only) you're good to go. I recently discovered, however, that 25 W models with reliable thermostats are now available, so there's no reason why anyone shouldn't be able to house a betta safely and comfortably all year 'round. Owners, on the other hand, dislike maintenance.
I have one of each (although I haven't needed them yet); my suggestion would be to go with the Stealth because it's made of plastic rather than glass and carries a lifetime guarantee (the Theo's is two years).This tank's only minus is the feeding area--it's much too small and is nearly inaccessible, even for someone like me who has very small hands and long, slender fingers. As previous reviewers have noted, this is a perfect home for a single betta. Highly recommended for families (except those whose members include obsessive, troll-like, liver-lipped Ugly Boys from Finland). It's also too easy to miss the water surface, hitting instead the plastic brace that supports the filtration system (lots of fun with bloodworms). The Eclipse System Three strikes a perfect balance between both parties.
The filtration system is very convenient. Another reviewer stated 3 years to be a long time for a goldfish to live which is ridiculous. With proper care can live well over 20 years. The tank itself looks very nice decorated and it's a great tank for a single betta and some tetras, though you may want to invest in an air stone if you're planning on getting tetras. I've had this tank for a while now and my little betta Shinku just loves it, as do I. Also, due to the fact that the goldfish is a very messy fish, they require a much more powerful filtration system than this tank can provide.I cannot stress enough, do not get this tank for a goldfish. I've had no problems with any aspect of the tank and I would highly recommend it to others.I must however address the notion of others reviewing this product believing it is suitable for a goldfish, it is NOT. (I believe the record is 43 years) As such, goldfish require a large area upwards of 20-30 gallons in which to grow, at three years they are just tiny babies, eventually reaching a very large size, upwards of 8".
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