Thanks for this video very detailed. I bought this tank from chewy. I wasn’t sure if I had the filter and the black sponge assembled correctly. The instructions were not to clear lol. I typed in google and here you are to save the day. Thanks and your tank looks awesome
Thank you for such a thorough set up of this particular tank. I’ve been mulling this model over in my mind for a while and I think I might just order it 🤗
Excited to watch this video. My sibling bought me this tank for my birthday and I hope to finally house a betta properly after a childhood of not being taught how to do it right. I'm doing all the research I can!
@W.D. Gaster Unfortunately I still don't have the betta, since I've fallen on hard times and haven't been able to get all the supplies. But I'm still researching and still plan on owning one in the future!
thanks for this vid! There’s so much misinformation in the fish community but this vid is really clear and easy to watch! I’m definitely going to get it in the near future:)
Im looking for a 5 gallon because I want to get my "First Betta" ( I had one like 7 years ago and didn't know how to care for them) and this video is making me want one more
Howdy! I want to replace my pump but keep the same flow system, any recommendations on new pumps and the size tubing that would fit? I love this aquarium otherwise!
@@BarrysAquarium hi Barry. I was hoping you could help me out. I feel like this tank would be a good setup to make a tall paludarium with a trickling waterfall coming from the water outtake at the top. However I only want to fill the tank 1/3 full of water which won't be enough to reach the intake grill i think. Do you think if I siliconed up the intake hole in the middle and made another one lower that would work? Or does the tank really need to be full to work effectively?
With my experience with the tank is that if it is half way full the pump starts to run dry. It would be a perfect paludarium and making a different filter intake should work. The only thing is the pump. You might be able to experiment with it so it doesn’t run dry or you could probably get a smaller pump that would work good with the tank. That’s an awesome idea and hope this helps!
Buy it now, it went down to $47.99 on Amazon! The way they have lowered this tank I think Spectrum Brands it thinking of discontinuing it in 6 months. I bought it a few weeks ago, super!
Nice video! I love my Marineland. I have a black plantstand that it sits on perfectly so I didn't use the plastic stand that came with it. Good to see you also adding your own floss to the back. I did the same and had to block the intake with biosponge to keep some tiny Phoenix rasbora out of the back! Hope you are enjoying your tank!
A heater can be placed in the back. I’ve found the water in the back part of the tank stays warmer than the rest of the tank. The temperature difference is only about 2-4 degrees Fahrenheit.
Thank you for your great video. i want to put in VCA's random flow generator. i need to know if it can be attached to the return outlet? is the outlet compatible with genuine Loc-Line? what is the outside diameter of the outlet? does your nozzle fit over or inside that elbow? thank you
Hi. Are you plants real and where did you get ur driftwood from and well as the circular sponges? I am new to the aquarium world as my my 4 year old got a gold fish And I love taking care of her.
I own this tank and just wanted to warn that if you don't use the lid then expect to refill the tank every now and then due to evaporation. Never a problem when I have the lid on, and the only time I refill is for a water change.
I bought one of these tanks from a goodwill in my town, it didn't come with the filter hose part, do you know where I could buy it at? I've been looking on Amazon but can't find it☹
@@diegorojas9676 I was thinking of getting neon tetras as well, do they all get along well in this tank? I saw some people say to get a bigger one but ion wanna do that
hello! what fish would you suggest with this aquarium? I want to fill this thing up! i was thinking maybe one betta and some shrimp? what are your thoughts.
A betta would be perfect for this tank! If you put shrimp in this tank, I would recommend some amano shrimp. If you go with other shrimp species they might get sucked into the filter intake. Good luck!
I had fish in the past and am thinking of getting another. I like this tank and I am wondering how did you get the water so clean after adding the plants, gravel, and wood in?
I just found your channel and am new to fishkeeping! yesterday when i replaced the filter, the water level in the front of the tank dropped and the water went into the filtration compartment in the back.. should the water level back there be full? Thanks!!
Glad to hear! I would recommend almost any heater for this tank. You only need a 50 watt heater for a tank this size. The Marineland 50 watt heater on Amazon is a good choice- www.amazon.com/s?k=50+watt+aquarium+heater&sprefix=50+watt+&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-a-p_2_8
What kind of water do you fill your tank with? And do you test it, or add anything to it? I have well water, with a softener, so I assume I am going to have to take water from a family member that has tap water. I just bought this same tank, and cant wait to set it up. I am just having conflicting answers on the water condition. I am going to use live plants, and maybe a beta with a few shrimp. Havent fully committed to what fish yet.
I just use tap water. If you want to keep a betta fish, they like a pH of 6.8-7.5. So you could buy a cheap pH test kit and if your water is in the range then you should be ok. I add water conditioner to my water because there is chlorine in it. I also add some fertilizer for the plants every week too. Good luck and if you have any more questions feel free to ask!
Gabby, I am basically a Marineland Aquarium guy. I have owned a System 3, 5 Gallon Hex, System 2 Hood, and Penguin Filters for years. I own 2 of these Marineland Portrait tanks for around 2 years. 1. This tank has an adjustable filer up to 85 GPH, which usually means one can put more fish in it, except a Cube or Hex has less surface area than a rectangle shape, so a rectangle has more oxygen at the surface, due to more area. 2. There are a few flaws after a couple years, yet still useable. The biggest problem is I can still get Replacement parts for my very, very old Eclipse Tanks, yet the manufacturer has NO replacement parts for their newer Contour or Portrait tanks. 3. I like these tanks very much for the price. 4. Well, you still get algae, except it is easier to clean the algae off of glass than thin acrylic. I use the “Z” filter cartridges from Marineland, which are the same ones for the Old System 3 and 5 Gallon Hex. 5. I have used tanks w/o the lids like he is doing. One has to add water more due to evaporation, frankly that is good. Marineland is owned Spectrum Brands, which is also Tetra. They are good quality. I am tempted with spending $60-$70 more for the Hagen up-brand, a Fluval Flex 9 Gallon, which I see a drawback of the filter only going 61 GPH, yet that one looks good overall too.
Hi and thanks for the sub!! I collected the driftwood myself out on a hike. It’s manzanita wood and if you can’t collect it, I think you can order it online. The plants in the tank I got from petco and Amazon 👍
I love taht acutium i alreadi have a 3 gallons tank whit 4 goldfi 2 snails and a loach fish but teres not enout spase for them so i was thinking if i coul buy taht acuarium it have beautyful desing in it
I have had this aquarium for about 2 weeks now and the water in the back compartment is lower than the front could that be because my filter is getting clogged
Yes, that might be because the part that lets water into the back of the tank is clogged. If you have a sponge in the back you might have to clean it out. If you have any more questions let me know!
Hey thanks for such an informative video, I just set this in line for purchasing next week, (although I'm not able to have fish due to family) I plan to make it for plants what beginner plants would you recommend for this tank?
I literally just gutted the filtration system with a razor blade, the design of it is so flawed and I’ve lost so many guppy fry and shrimp in the back of that thing. It’s held by silicone so a razor blade will too. I used a more than capable hang on the back filter and a LED lamp and it looks ten folds better than what came in the box.
Barry's Aquarium The openings on the top left and right and the circular intake are too big for fry. They’ll easily slip in and get stuck in back. It’s happened to me countless times.👍🏻
Rene Picota I bought some gorgeous guppies from Guppy Train and they died in the tank I felt like shit. There was $150 down the drain. I feel your pain !
@@BarrysAquarium I’m trying to setup a 10 gallon freshwater tank and wanted live plants but I wasn’t sure if that gravel was safe for fish, so thank you! Do you know what filter would be best for it?
I love the regular aquariums it has safer no electricity flowing in the water it’s safer lol I love your old fashion tank I found one for 30 dollars like wow Craigslist’s is the best too
It’s an “okay” first timer tank. Perfect for an office or for the casual hobbiest. I had a really hard time keeping the filtering system clean because it’s difficult to access. And the included light is just way too dim, especially for a planted setup. There are a lot of better options out there but for the price, it’s “okay” at best ✌🏾
Thanks for this video very detailed. I bought this tank from chewy. I wasn’t sure if I had the filter and the black sponge assembled correctly. The instructions were not to clear lol. I typed in google and here you are to save the day. Thanks and your tank looks awesome
Awesome build, Feeling inspired to set up a 5 gallon as my next tank!
I just set up the 5 gallon, video will be up in a few days!!
Thank you for such a thorough set up of this particular tank. I’ve been mulling this model over in my mind for a while and I think I might just order it 🤗
Glad to hear! Good luck!
Got mine set up looks awesome. My betta loves it. I figure if the pump ever dies I'll cut the back panel out and put a sponge filter in it.
this design is really cool. I actually just got this exact tank, what a coincidence!
same
Same ♥️
Thank you for this video, it helped with my new tank/set-up!
Very awesome and thank you very much for showing where to put the heater!
Excited to watch this video. My sibling bought me this tank for my birthday and I hope to finally house a betta properly after a childhood of not being taught how to do it right. I'm doing all the research I can!
Howd it go?
@W.D. Gaster Unfortunately I still don't have the betta, since I've fallen on hard times and haven't been able to get all the supplies. But I'm still researching and still plan on owning one in the future!
@@shilohwhiloh9636 sad
Cool little tank setup
You created a cool looking tank 😎
Thx a lot, I really needed help setting up my tank.😀
That’s a pretty sweet tank
I literally clicked this video because I was thinking about getting this tank for a pea puffer!😂 I just subscribed I really enjoy your content
😂 Thanks so much for the sub! Should be adding a pea puffer to the tank soon!
Thanks for the video! I just ordered this last night!
Thanks so much! Do you know what type of fish you’ll add to it?
thanks for this vid! There’s so much misinformation in the fish community but this vid is really clear and easy to watch! I’m definitely going to get it in the near future:)
Glad this video helped! Good luck with your tank in the future!
Im looking for a 5 gallon because I want to get my "First Betta" ( I had one like 7 years ago and didn't know how to care for them) and this video is making me want one more
Howdy! I want to replace my pump but keep the same flow system, any recommendations on new pumps and the size tubing that would fit? I love this aquarium otherwise!
This is really good! I just subscribed! This is an amazing video!
Thanks! Watched some of your videos and they are amazing as well. I hit that sub button too! 👍
@@BarrysAquarium hi Barry. I was hoping you could help me out. I feel like this tank would be a good setup to make a tall paludarium with a trickling waterfall coming from the water outtake at the top. However I only want to fill the tank 1/3 full of water which won't be enough to reach the intake grill i think. Do you think if I siliconed up the intake hole in the middle and made another one lower that would work? Or does the tank really need to be full to work effectively?
With my experience with the tank is that if it is half way full the pump starts to run dry. It would be a perfect paludarium and making a different filter intake should work. The only thing is the pump. You might be able to experiment with it so it doesn’t run dry or you could probably get a smaller pump that would work good with the tank. That’s an awesome idea and hope this helps!
@@BarrysAquarium thanks for getting back to me! It arrives tomorrow so ill be able to take a closer look then, but im excited to make it work.
Good luck!👍
Nice job young Barry! Please keep us updated.
Going to buy that one in 6 months
Buy it now, it went down to $47.99 on Amazon! The way they have lowered this tank I think Spectrum Brands it thinking of discontinuing it in 6 months. I bought it a few weeks ago, super!
Great video man
Nice video! I love my Marineland. I have a black plantstand that it sits on perfectly so I didn't use the plastic stand that came with it. Good to see you also adding your own floss to the back. I did the same and had to block the intake with biosponge to keep some tiny Phoenix rasbora out of the back! Hope you are enjoying your tank!
I lose fish to the back also 😂 is the intake the swirl cutout?
Id love to make my own shrimp tank, thanks for the tips barry. Love from philippines
Great video! And great plant choice 👌
Thanks!
I love my marineland portrait! I'm about to do some "hacks" to it that Pharmaquatics did a video on.
I have seen his videos on it! I’m probably going to end up doing some of the hacks as well!
Woww your channel has started growing a lot faster
Can a small heater be placed in the back part of the tank and still heat all the water correctly ?
A heater can be placed in the back. I’ve found the water in the back part of the tank stays warmer than the rest of the tank. The temperature difference is only about 2-4 degrees Fahrenheit.
Did you ever run into trouble with those intakes sucking up shrimp?
Thank you Barry
What is the light? I have a finnex on mine and have major algae issues...
Do you have a vid about maintenance on this regarding filter cartridge and sponge!?
awesome explanation, neat camera work and editing, you definitely need more subs! so i just subbed
Thanks so much!
Hello. Nice work. You put the heater behind? The sane place you put the cilinder soongues?
Yes that is ok. As long as the pump is still running and exchanging water through the back
How can I put a bubbler line in there without the cover in the back lifting up
Thank you for your great video. i want to put in VCA's random flow generator. i need to know if it can be attached to the return outlet? is the outlet compatible with genuine Loc-Line? what is the outside diameter of the outlet? does your nozzle fit over or inside that elbow? thank you
Hi. Are you plants real and where did you get ur driftwood from and well as the circular sponges? I am new to the aquarium world as my my 4 year old got a gold fish And I love taking care of her.
Were those "cylced" sponges dry? There dead now
But how can I keep shrimp in it, they'll get sucked up
Nicely done ! Everyone suggests a 50w heater for 5galon tanks howz 100w working for u ?
It works great! The temperature never seems to fluctuate!
@@BarrysAquarium thanks
Just found one in good condition for 20 bucks. Hope it's worth it. Idk the retail price.
I own this tank and just wanted to warn that if you don't use the lid then expect to refill the tank every now and then due to evaporation. Never a problem when I have the lid on, and the only time I refill is for a water change.
I bought one of these tanks from a goodwill in my town, it didn't come with the filter hose part, do you know where I could buy it at? I've been looking on Amazon but can't find it☹
Would you recommend this as a good first tank for beginners?
I have it, it’s really good for fish, I have a betta with 4 Neon Tetras.
Yes!
@@diegorojas9676 I was thinking of getting neon tetras as well, do they all get along well in this tank? I saw some people say to get a bigger one but ion wanna do that
@@noirslament0 they would do better in a bigger tank, but mine do just fine
thanks for the video, im a new on this and i got this thank for my beta fish but i going to buy some plants
hello!
what fish would you suggest with this aquarium?
I want to fill this thing up!
i was thinking maybe one betta and some shrimp? what are your thoughts.
A betta would be perfect for this tank! If you put shrimp in this tank, I would recommend some amano shrimp. If you go with other shrimp species they might get sucked into the filter intake. Good luck!
Is that for sea or river fish
I had fish in the past and am thinking of getting another. I like this tank and I am wondering how did you get the water so clean after adding the plants, gravel, and wood in?
Good question, given enough time the tank would clear on its own but i just filled mine up and drained it a few times to get it clear
I just found your channel and am new to fishkeeping! yesterday when i replaced the filter, the water level in the front of the tank dropped and the water went into the filtration compartment in the back.. should the water level back there be full? Thanks!!
awesome video - you convinced me to buy this tank!! any heater recommendations?
Glad to hear! I would recommend almost any heater for this tank. You only need a 50 watt heater for a tank this size. The Marineland 50 watt heater on Amazon is a good choice- www.amazon.com/s?k=50+watt+aquarium+heater&sprefix=50+watt+&ref=nb_sb_ss_ts-a-p_2_8
@@BarrysAquarium thanks!
Those packs also have carbon in them which is a bono so slice them open rinse reuse an replace carbon works great great for clarity
How can I modify for shrimp?
so Beautiful
What kind of water do you fill your tank with? And do you test it, or add anything to it? I have well water, with a softener, so I assume I am going to have to take water from a family member that has tap water. I just bought this same tank, and cant wait to set it up. I am just having conflicting answers on the water condition. I am going to use live plants, and maybe a beta with a few shrimp. Havent fully committed to what fish yet.
I just use tap water. If you want to keep a betta fish, they like a pH of 6.8-7.5. So you could buy a cheap pH test kit and if your water is in the range then you should be ok. I add water conditioner to my water because there is chlorine in it. I also add some fertilizer for the plants every week too. Good luck and if you have any more questions feel free to ask!
Looks great ! What fish would you recommend for this tall tank
i'd recommend a bettafish
how did this tank setup age over the years? do you like it? does it stay clean? How’d it work out without the lid?
Gabby, I am basically a Marineland Aquarium guy. I have owned a System 3, 5 Gallon Hex, System 2 Hood, and Penguin Filters for years. I own 2 of these Marineland Portrait tanks for around 2 years. 1. This tank has an adjustable filer up to 85 GPH, which usually means one can put more fish in it, except a Cube or Hex has less surface area than a rectangle shape, so a rectangle has more oxygen at the surface, due to more area. 2. There are a few flaws after a couple years, yet still useable. The biggest problem is I can still get Replacement parts for my very, very old Eclipse Tanks, yet the manufacturer has NO replacement parts for their newer Contour or Portrait tanks. 3. I like these tanks very much for the price. 4. Well, you still get algae, except it is easier to clean the algae off of glass than thin acrylic. I use the “Z” filter cartridges from Marineland, which are the same ones for the Old System 3 and 5 Gallon Hex. 5. I have used tanks w/o the lids like he is doing. One has to add water more due to evaporation, frankly that is good. Marineland is owned Spectrum Brands, which is also Tetra. They are good quality. I am tempted with spending $60-$70 more for the Hagen up-brand, a Fluval Flex 9 Gallon, which I see a drawback of the filter only going 61 GPH, yet that one looks good overall too.
hello there! new subscriber here! could I ask where you got those driftwood and your plants?:)
Hi and thanks for the sub!! I collected the driftwood myself out on a hike. It’s manzanita wood and if you can’t collect it, I think you can order it online. The plants in the tank I got from petco and Amazon 👍
I was actually kind of sad when this video was over
Oh no 😂 I’m going to make an update video for this tank soon, so stay tuned!
Great video! I’m getting my first betta fish and this was so perfect for a noob like myself lol. Subbed! Thank you
I love taht acutium i alreadi have a 3 gallons tank whit 4 goldfi 2 snails and a loach fish but teres not enout spase for them so i was thinking if i coul buy taht acuarium it have beautyful desing in it
u from kindergarten?
Great video :-) how often do you find you clean/do water changes in this tank?
Why don't you use any biomedia?
Is the tank actually 5 Gallons or is that including the filter inside of it?
It is around 4 1/2 gallons due to the back filter area.
i was thinking about getting this tank as well as a pea puffer, what plants do you have in it?
Bacopa, pogostemon, rotala, and ludwigia repens
Thx man
is there any way to turn off the filter? i’m planning on having sponge filters for my shrimp tank
Ya, you can just unplug the pump and take it out if needed. You could even take out the whole back section of the tank if you wanted
I’m not sure if you’ll see this comment but can you please give us an update of this tank? Thank u in advance!!
Yes! I will be making an update on the tank soon!
Heyo nice tank dude what light did you use and did it work well for your plants
Thank you! I used a Nicrew light from Amazon. Sadly I don’t think they sell the version that I have anymore.
I have had this aquarium for about 2 weeks now and the water in the back compartment is lower than the front could that be because my filter is getting clogged
Yes, that might be because the part that lets water into the back of the tank is clogged. If you have a sponge in the back you might have to clean it out. If you have any more questions let me know!
Is it 5 gallon or 5 1/2 gallon? Cause on amazon it saids 5 gallon
Hey thanks for such an informative video, I just set this in line for purchasing next week, (although I'm not able to have fish due to family) I plan to make it for plants what beginner plants would you recommend for this tank?
I would definitely recommend some rotala, pogostemon, dwarf sag, and some java moss. Good luck with your tank!
I know you mentioned that the back of the tank is black but is it glass? Tia
No, it’s plastic
Where did u buy the plants ?
Amazon and petco
does the pump make loud humming noise or is it subtle?
It’s surprisingly quite
how loud is the pump? can you sleep next to it?
The pump is surprisingly quiet but makes a low hum. I have it across the room from my bed and don’t hear it at all at night
wish you had the birghtness test
Are you referring to a PAR meter?
Could i keep Guppies in this?
I literally just gutted the filtration system with a razor blade, the design of it is so flawed and I’ve lost so many guppy fry and shrimp in the back of that thing. It’s held by silicone so a razor blade will too. I used a more than capable hang on the back filter and a LED lamp and it looks ten folds better than what came in the box.
Oscar Parrilla That’s good to know! If I end up keeping any shrimp or fry in the tank I’ll definitely consider doing that
Barry's Aquarium The openings on the top left and right and the circular intake are too big for fry. They’ll easily slip in and get stuck in back. It’s happened to me countless times.👍🏻
Definitely not a tank for shrimp. I lost $100 worth of shrimp. Turned it into a betta tank instead.
Rene Picota I bought some gorgeous guppies from Guppy Train and they died in the tank I felt like shit. There was $150 down the drain. I feel your pain !
If you don’t need the lid, I would like to buy it from you. I accidentally broke mine when I was changing the filter. :(
what is dimension?
Hey bro what’s the light you used?
A Nicrew light from Amazon
Is that gravel safe for fish?
Yes!
@@BarrysAquarium I’m trying to setup a 10 gallon freshwater tank and wanted live plants but I wasn’t sure if that gravel was safe for fish, so thank you! Do you know what filter would be best for it?
The best filter I would recommend is an AquaClear, but they are kind of pricey
what size and type of light was used?
A Nicrew light from Amazon. I believe it is 6 inches
Hello, how much did it cost you?
*editing*. I saw the price !
hey bro what light is that the original tank
pooponmyhead Nicrew led
Can you do an update on this tank
Yes! I’m planning on one in the next month or two
Cool Video Bro :D
Thanks!
What light are you using?
A Nicrew light from Amazon
I love the regular aquariums it has safer no electricity flowing in the water it’s safer lol I love your old fashion tank I found one for 30 dollars like wow Craigslist’s is the best too
NICE!
Where is the Peapuffer?
Nice
It’s an “okay” first timer tank. Perfect for an office or for the casual hobbiest. I had a really hard time keeping the filtering system clean because it’s difficult to access. And the included light is just way too dim, especially for a planted setup. There are a lot of better options out there but for the price, it’s “okay” at best ✌🏾
2:11 yeah, it is pretty cool isn’t it? Government sanctioned monopoly. 🤦♂️🤒😷💀 humanity is essential!
You paid $55? Eikes, it's $80 now!
If you get pest snail in that tank ... you will never be able to get rid of them
I know what you mean, I have them in all of my tanks including this one 😂
Sweeeet
What light are you using ?