Penn-Plax NuWave Betta Fish Tank Kit 1.5 Gallon

It’s a small beginner tank and is good for what it is. However, the filter is way too strong for fish as the flow pushes them all the way down to the bottom of the tank. If you have fish that don’t like moving water, it’s a real problem. I ended up removing the filter because my fish (betta) wouldn’t come out of the corner opposite while the filter was running. It should also be noted that the bottom was somewhat warped and unbalanced (tank wobbled back and forth) when I first got it and only reshaped itself after being weighed down by water for a week or so. But overall, it’s a nice cheap tank. Suction cups work fine, easy to clean, and the filter was silent when I had it running. I can’t speak to longevity because I removed it for the previously mentioned reasons.

Bad purchase. Do not buy this aquarium. The filter does not do it’s job. I’ve had it a little over a month. My fish have already died.

I would not use it for goldfish or anything larger than a guppy.

I’ve tried so many different tanks over the years, this has been the best for my bettas.

I’ve gone up to 5 gallons for a single betta before. The fish were less active because the size filters needed to keep that much water clean caused a strong current that impaired their swimming. They spent most of their time wedged in a plant and only ever swam to eat or surface breathe. Even buying larger tanks supposedly made for bettas didn’t help because they had the opposite problem. The current was so weak the water wasn’t being pulled through the filter properly and in no time I had water quality problems. Sick fish from dirty water are not happy fish.

This tank is a completely different story. I put a bit of filter floss in the intake and output of this filter. The filter is still able to keep the water clean but the current is so mild my bettas can swim. They swim regularly now and seem to rest on the plant leaves instead of using them as an anchor. Weekly partial water changes and routine cleaning are a breeze due to the size.

I like that the light and filter use one plug. That means I can use a standard extension cord with the single filter-light plug on one side and the heater plug on the other. It’s a space saver that easily fits behind the bookshelf the tank lives on. This also means the light is on the outside of the tank. Which is a great feature! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to replace lights that are on the inside of the tank. In no time they get condensation inside them and stop working. This light never gets wet and I suspect it will last the lifetime of the tank as a result.

For replacement filters, I use Top Fin Retreat 2.5g cartridges. They come in packs of two. I had them leftover from another tank. They are too tall for the filter out of the box but cutting them in half makes them fit perfectly. So you get four per box instead and it comes out to a dollar a month per tank.

The only thing I don’t like is there are cut outs near the top of the tank. I think it’s supposed to make it easier to remove the lid from the tank. It’s already easy to remove the lid so they are not needed. The cut outs lower the water level you can have in the tank and the fish could jump out if it was determined. I put a clear piece of tape over the holes as an easy fix. It would be nice if these were removed in future versions.

We bought this for our betta fish to help keep the tank clean. He loves the new tank, but I have noticed that the filter doesn’t stick a super long time, the fish will sometimes knock it off the wall and it just kinda sets there. I also noticed that if there is leftover food it will clog the entrance of the filter which is kinda a pain, especially if I just cleaned it. But all in all it is a nice fish tank. The rectangle shape makes it look nicer and fit better in our downstairs decor and it is pretty simple to clean when it comes time. Plus I love that the light and filter have 1 plug to the outlet so its not crowded with wires.