Aquerium - what makes one do much more expensive?

[Dolby]

So as some of you saw, I got a little 5 litre planted aquerium last month - and it's really growing well. It's got little guppies in, but comments were that I shouldn't have in etc

I've started looking for something larger (though, still small at only 19l) and the one I fancied was R2,999 - including filter, LEDs etc. It looks great too!

But looking around, I see you can get type a 10th of the price.

Maybe something like thicker glass?
Better constructed and designed?
Is there more to it?

Very new at this..

 

[Dolby]

https://fluvalaquatics.com/us/spec/

I was going to get this.

Reading the blurb, it does seem pretty impressive I guess.

But again, I know nothing about this

 

[SauRoNZA]

While Fluval kit is quite premium priced I reckon you are very near getting what you pay for.

You just need to look at the alternative options to know why there’s a massive distinction.

1. The Fluval is a one piece product imported from overseas and hence has import costs raising the price.

2. The other stuff is locally put together by a dude with a few sheets of glass and silicone in a tube.

The Fluval is manufactured as a one piece construction with no seams.

3. Fluval are the king of filters and it’s a completely integrated 3-stage system whereas the other tank you’ll have all of that sitting externally.

Or like the last pic a crappy undergravel biological filter with an air pump is hardly a filter at all and will require even more frequent water changes and sucking up the soil and a whole lot more maintenance.

Canister filters you hardly need to touch the soil and the filtration is mechanical and all maintenance happens outside the tank other than keeping the glass clean.

4. The lights on the Fluval are likely top class and geared for plants and would cost near as much to do alternatively in not even nearly the same sexy package.

Of course you can do it cheaply with that plastic canopy but it will never be as aesthetically pleasing.

At the end of the day the DIY is all about function and nothing about form.

The Fluval (and other brand kits) are about form but also still remain functional.

A nice middle ground is normally the Boyu products.

It’s like buying an Apple product over crappy Androids.

 

[saor]

It’s like buying an Apple product over crappy Androids.

Bait in a thread about fish.
Nice .

 

[Nirv]

Can vouch for Boyu quality if you find an equivalent for cheaper than the Fluval. But like Sauron says, you do get quality for that price.

 

[Dolby]

Bait in a thread about fish.
Nice .

... but I'm not taking it

 

[Dolby]

Thanks guys.

Will check out Boyu, but from what I've seen most come with cabinets or pedestals.

I also need to use my eBucks - so the fact that Fluval is on Takealot, is pretty decent

 

[Dolby]

So I read somewhere that the air pump is really just breaking the surface to get the oxygen - so so guess with that little adjustable nozzle, no need for the air filter ?
And with our climate, I guess no need for the optional heater ?
So at R2,999 - that's everything I'd need ?

 

[SauRoNZA]

So I read somewhere that the air pump is really just breaking the surface to get the oxygen - so so guess with that little adjustable nozzle, no need for the air filter ?
And with our climate, I guess no need for the optional heater ?
So at R2,999 - that's everything I'd need ?

View attachment 1013628

Heater is about consistency so I would recommend it but you don’t need to buy a Fluval one specifically.

Depends what fish you plan to keep and what temperature they require and how sensitive they are to it but it’s a cheap once off buy so just get it and be sure. In winter a big body of water can fluctuate a lot.

The built in pump should break more than enough surface tension and will aerate the water through motion anyway.

Air pump is just there for aesthetics when not using an underground bio filter.

Very cool that they are on Takealot. I’ve wanted a previous Fluval design for years but they never brought them in.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Thanks guys.

Will check out Boyu, but from what I've seen most come with cabinets or pedestals.

I also need to use my eBucks - so the fact that Fluval is on Takealot, is pretty decent

They do often come with cabinets or pedestals but usually can just buy it without that too.

Personally prefer that as I’ve seen more than my fair share of “normal” surfaces used and things coming crashing down because they couldn’t handle the weight.

 

[SauRoNZA]

If I can recommend something it would be not to trap yourself with the high maintenance of another micro tank.

Rather buy something 80-100L.

Still reasonably sized but much easier to work with.

At the same time I understand ebucks also makes it virtually free, so there is that.

 

[Dolby]

If I can recommend something it would be not to trap yourself with the high maintenance of another micro tank.

Rather buy something 80-100L.

Still reasonably sized but much easier to work with.

At the same time I understand ebucks also makes it virtually free, so there is that.

eBucks makes it free - and with everything going on in my life, I need something to relax me

I think I've settled on Fluval then, but as you say, tough to get here. I'd have got this 57l - but it's flex ... and I'd need to see it in real life to see how big it is

Takealot

 

[SauRoNZA]

eBucks makes it free - and with everything going on in my life, I need something to relax me

I think I've settled on Fluval then, but as you say, tough to get here. I'd have got this 57l - but it's flex ... and I'd need to see it in real life to see how big it is

Takealot

Can’t go wrong with Fluval really.

That’s 41 x 39 x 39 cm

https://fluvalaquatics.com/us/flex/

But for the love of all things please don’t RGB your fish. I actually can’t believe a reputable brand like Fluval is pushing that kak.

What do you mean “but it’s Flex”?

 

[SauRoNZA]

You are making me want to go polish the glass on my Boyu and fire up my tank again.

 

[Dolby]

Can’t go wrong with Fluval really.

That’s 41 x 39 x 39 cm

https://fluvalaquatics.com/us/flex/

But for the love of all things please don’t RGB your fish. I actually can’t believe a reputable brand like Fluval is pushing that kak.

What do you mean “but it’s Flex”?

It's that curved glass on the front.

I've heard it can distort

 

[SauRoNZA]

It's that curved glass on the front.

I've heard it can distort

Nah dude it’s not a concern at all, especially not with this class of product.

I’ve had a massive bullet shaped tank with 1cm thick glass from virtually a no-name brand and never had an issue with visual clarity or strength.

This is really an ultra top tier AAA quality product you are buying here.

 

[Thor]

Go to panorama petshop, don't know where those pics are from, but it's overpriced.

 

[Dolby]

Nah dude it’s not a concern at all, especially not with this class of product.

I’ve had a massive bullet shaped tank with 1cm thick glass from virtually a no-name brand and never had an issue with visual clarity or strength.

This is really an ultra top tier AAA quality product you are buying here.

Let me think a little more.

Considering that we're in 2021, they should combine probes / smart features into a tank ...

Considering they have that side chamber to hide a heater and filter already - they should hide probes and have built in temperature / ammonia / dissolved oxygen meters to display neatly on the site.



They should should also have a neat clip on spray / dripper / waterwall thing that can take water from the chamber and drip / spray it down, to create a mini waterfall

 

[Cius]

Checkers hyper has a 25l starter kit for about R260 that is decent. Got it for my daughter for Christmas. Just note that the crappy filter and air pump they provide with it can barely handle two fish and are very very noisy. I would recommend getting a silent filter to go with it and if you want tropical fish a heater.

 

[Dolby]

Checkers hyper has a 25l starter kit for about R260 that is decent. Got it for my daughter for Christmas. Just note that the crappy filter and air pump they provide with it can barely handle two fish and are very very noisy. I would recommend getting a silent filter to go with it and if you want tropical fish a heater.

Do we need heaters in this country ?
Are guppies considered tropical ?

I just want a bigger space for my little guppies