Reddit mentions of Aqueon Submersible Aquarium Heater

Best advice is to take your time and buy what will make you happy. You'll only spend more money in the long run if you compromise now. Luckily, not everything needs bought at once. Tank, filter, and heater are necessary purchases now. Lighting and decor can be figured out more slowly.

I can recommend what I'd get in your position.

If you're going to buy a kit, this is a good one. Personally, I like this heater, but they do sell a cheaper version. So, about $100 for the tank, heater, filter, and light.

If you want to buy the parts separately, you can get a 10 gallon tank for $10-$15 or cheaper checking craigslist. You'll also need some kind of lid to cover the tank. You can buy glass ones or some people get a piece of glass or acrylic cut to cover it. Tank + lid: $25-$30

Aquaclears are my favorite filters for my tanks, but you could use a sponge filter. You'd need an air pump for the sponge one. So, $20-$25 for a filter.

Real plants are nice, but not necessary. You can do fine with fake ones, just make sure the edges aren't sharp. If you do want plants, the Spec V light should be plenty for low light plants. If you want to buy the light separately, this or this would be fine. I've had a Nicrew one on my larger tank before and it's enough for low light plants.

Or you could just get a clamp on lamp from the store and a daylight bulb. That whole set up would be about $10.

Until you get a new set up, I would recommend water changes at least once a day, if not more. I would also strongly recommend buying a water testing kit.

You DO need a heater. I have a betta in a temporary 2 gallon hospital tank and I use this heater. 50W is plenty, just make sure the heater can be completely submersed.

5g - Personally have many Chi IIs since they were very cheap when I found them and I just bought the store's stock. After around 6mo of running them I've decided I don't like them. The stock light is horrible, the stock filter is horrible. I had at first modified the filters to include ceramic biomedia from a cycled tank and I am glad I did because I found that the media that comes with the tank will quite actually fall apart when you try to clean it. Filter flow isn't strong enough to kick off debris from the bottom of the tank so you have to vac. I hate having to vac. If you want plants, you'll have to modify the light too. I ended up ditching the stock filter/light on all of them and hanging some Aquaclears on them with clip lights. Tip: You can baffle the flow of the Aquaclear by leaving the stock filter on the tank and just not running it. I've always put those cheapo adjustable Aqueon 50w heaters in these, this one. Just have to set it a little lower for the 5g.

I have a friend with a Fluval Spec V that I helped set up and his is doing well. We set it up with low light plants (lotsa java fern and water sprite) and just pointed the outflow at the glass. The water sprite baffles most of the flow that isn't baffled by the glass, but you can also put a sponge on the tip if you don't wanna get water sprite. For this tank, he went with a 25w Cobalt Neotherm which stays true to temp.

For HOB filters on every tank I have (up to 60 gallons!) I run Aquaclears. You do have to baffle it if you're putting it on a smaller tank but I promise it's really easy and takes like 10mins the first time. For heaters, I've done the aqueon one I listed above, this weird thing that is really cheap and I honestly have no complaints about or the Cobalt.

As far as lighting on a bare tank, that really depends what you want to do with the tank. Do you want a basic setup? Couple low light plants? Full carpet? Are you going to run CO2?

Lights: One cheap, one expensive. I have the nicrew, it does fine for my 10g (in my post history)

NICREW DeluxeLED Aquarium Light, Full Spectrum LED Light for Planted Tanks, 20 to 24-inch, 18-Watt, 1200 LM, 7500K https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071LJKNWS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_xqXQAb6EVJ4YC

Finnex Planted+ 24/7 Fully Automated Aquarium LED, Controller, 20 Inch https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00U0HMWHW/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_dsXQAbP4XB4J


Filter: One cheap option, one more expensive. You could probably downgrade the first filter for less gph (under 100) is probably better.

Marineland Penguin 200, Power Filter, 30 to 50-Gallon, 200 GPH https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009IODZG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_XsXQAb35KHD23

Finnex PX-360 Compact Canister Aquarium Filter https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002VFF8U4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_UuXQAbQFZ3NTZ


Heater: Get two of these so you can heat up water for your water changes.

Aqueon Adjustable Submersible Aquarium Heater, 50W https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000YAJJZS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_ZvXQAbGD1J83W

There's this one for about $10 but I would add a couple $$ to get one that is adjustable in case of ich and other stuff. Maybe this one.

As for the filter, if the current from the output is too strong, just baffle it with sponge.

I like this one and I also use this one. But really it's up to you. 50 watts should be good enough in a 5.5

I've got two of these in there.

Im not trying to berate you, sorry if you feel like that... but regular weekly or maybe even 2weeks since you one have one fish are a must. Its not something a "professional" says, Its a fact and I can prove it to you, if you got a master test kit and tested your water you would see your nitrates build up as time with out a water change, nitrates are less harmful for fish then ammonia but still harmful and the only way to remove nitrates is by water change. Thats why I recommended at least 1 a week water changes, you can test this your self, You may discover you only need to do it once every 2 weeks since its only one fish, but a month seems extreme.... like i said keep testing your water and you will know for sure.

unless the ornaments are covered in algae you don't have to scrub them.

yes change 25% out weekly thats 2.5 gallons. you can let new water sit with the chemical in it if you wish just make sure its similar in temp as the tank water when you re fill.

you can leave the fish in the tank when you clean it no point stressing him out more by moving him(people clean fish tanks with fish all the time, just dont leave the siphon in un attended)

leave the bio wheel alone if it gets clogged then you can rinse with tank water, you should only rinse filter media with old tank water as chlorine from tap water will kill of your good bacteria and then you will get ammonia and nitrite spikes because there is no good bacteria to help break it down.

Cleaning a 10 gallon tank should take you 5-10 minutes once you get the hang of it.

as for heater I am assuming you are using a heater similar to this: http://www.petsmart.com/fish/heaters-thermometers/top-fin-betta-aquarium-heater-zid36-27538/cat-36-catid-300016?var_id=36-27538

Those types are not adjustable most other heaters are based on thermometer readings....

http://www.amazon.com/Aqueon-Submersible-Aquarium-Heaters-50-Watt/dp/B000YAJJZS/ref=sr_1_5?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1458515465&sr=1-5&keywords=aquarium+heater&refinements=p_n_feature_keywords_two_browse-bin%3A7043859011

I think you need around 50 watts for a 10 gallon tank, try aqueon as they are adjustable and will only come on when their internal thermometer drops. 25-28 is good.


good luck if you need any more help or clarification feel free to ask. :)

I have used this one and keep it in the section that has the pump mechanism, shielding it from the main tank..

Aqueon Submersible Aquarium Heaters 50W https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000YAJJZS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_YnE5EVFDf2qqh