Wall of Shame!
I will be developing miniature product reviews on fish products I own in this section. If it makes it here, I'm giving a big thumbs-down! Products that don't do what they say, are faulty, don't work, or are just plain bad will be tacked to the wall of shame!
I am, in no way, affiliated with any distributors or companies, both including and excluding any products under review here.
Tetra Submersible Heaters
Photo: arcatapet.com
Claims: To work from 2-10 gallons, "pre-set" to maintain 78'F, fully submersible, warranty.
Truth:
Does not work in any of the mentioned tank sizes.
Does not, at all, maintain a temperature of 78'F.
Does not keep a steady temperature.
Is fully submersible.
Warranty requires YOU to pay for shipping and expenses to get a new product.
My experiences:
I bought this product and wish I hadn't. This heater does not do its job, frankly. In a 2 gallon tank, the heater rarely turned on and kept the temperature at 72'F. In a 5 gallon tank, it rarely turned on and kept it only at 74'F. The tank would have wild temperature swings and would remain very hot to the touch even after the recommended time to "cool off" before removing. To get a replacement from Tetra, you are required to pay shipping and other expenses, which equate to almost the cost of a new heater.
Verdict:
HUGE thumbs down. Shame on Tetra for such a faulty, bad product. The heater is weak, unreliable and keeps the water cold. Stay away or return this product, if you can. Don't bother with sending it back to Tetra-- it really isn't worth the trouble.
Truth:
Does not work in any of the mentioned tank sizes.
Does not, at all, maintain a temperature of 78'F.
Does not keep a steady temperature.
Is fully submersible.
Warranty requires YOU to pay for shipping and expenses to get a new product.
My experiences:
I bought this product and wish I hadn't. This heater does not do its job, frankly. In a 2 gallon tank, the heater rarely turned on and kept the temperature at 72'F. In a 5 gallon tank, it rarely turned on and kept it only at 74'F. The tank would have wild temperature swings and would remain very hot to the touch even after the recommended time to "cool off" before removing. To get a replacement from Tetra, you are required to pay shipping and other expenses, which equate to almost the cost of a new heater.
Verdict:
HUGE thumbs down. Shame on Tetra for such a faulty, bad product. The heater is weak, unreliable and keeps the water cold. Stay away or return this product, if you can. Don't bother with sending it back to Tetra-- it really isn't worth the trouble.
Petco "Betta Water"
Petco's "betta water" is nothing but a ploy to get people to buy something they don't need!
Claims: No chlorine, "super oxygenated", "one step water change"
Truth:
- No chlorine or chloramine, though it's just distilled water!
- Bettas do not need oxygenated water, nor could this product be so without bubbles
- No water change is one-step, this is misleading!
Verdict: This awful product is a way to get fish keepers to not only spend extra money on something useless, but it also makes people more apt to change their water less. At $4 a bottle, this product means that to change the water in just a gallon, it would be about $8 a change! This is a rip off- if you really need bottled water, just get any old brand's. There is no difference.
Do it right: Get a bottle of conditioner (or dechlorinator) for a few bucks, add it to the tap water, and ta-da! Your water has been changed quickly and easily and for $4 or less your water will be safe for gallons and gallons!
Claims: No chlorine, "super oxygenated", "one step water change"
Truth:
- No chlorine or chloramine, though it's just distilled water!
- Bettas do not need oxygenated water, nor could this product be so without bubbles
- No water change is one-step, this is misleading!
Verdict: This awful product is a way to get fish keepers to not only spend extra money on something useless, but it also makes people more apt to change their water less. At $4 a bottle, this product means that to change the water in just a gallon, it would be about $8 a change! This is a rip off- if you really need bottled water, just get any old brand's. There is no difference.
Do it right: Get a bottle of conditioner (or dechlorinator) for a few bucks, add it to the tap water, and ta-da! Your water has been changed quickly and easily and for $4 or less your water will be safe for gallons and gallons!
Tetra Water Wonders 1.5g Tank
Claims: Comes with free plants, "virtually unbreakable", 1.5g, comes with filter
Truth:
- I have bought two and none came with plants!
- Breaks easily and the acrylic scratches easily
- Comes with a filter
- HIGHLY reflective= your fish can see itself constantly
My Experiences: I liked this tank, at first. It was a nice upgrade from a .5g. However, not long into owning it I found that I'd been ripped off. The tank itself is poorly made. The lining on the top can easily be ripped off on accident and the bottom holds all the electrical components- which can easily get wet! The jack to plug the light in gets wet and corrodes to the point of danger. It was not worth $25/ For that, I got a bigger and better quality tank.
Verdict: Avoid at all costs! Don't get ripped off. For this price, there are nicer and even larger tanks. The wiring is faulty and exposed, the tank is cheap and made very poorly. I don't even use this as a QT tank, since at this point of just gentle use it is too decrepit and unsafe.
Truth:
- I have bought two and none came with plants!
- Breaks easily and the acrylic scratches easily
- Comes with a filter
- HIGHLY reflective= your fish can see itself constantly
My Experiences: I liked this tank, at first. It was a nice upgrade from a .5g. However, not long into owning it I found that I'd been ripped off. The tank itself is poorly made. The lining on the top can easily be ripped off on accident and the bottom holds all the electrical components- which can easily get wet! The jack to plug the light in gets wet and corrodes to the point of danger. It was not worth $25/ For that, I got a bigger and better quality tank.
Verdict: Avoid at all costs! Don't get ripped off. For this price, there are nicer and even larger tanks. The wiring is faulty and exposed, the tank is cheap and made very poorly. I don't even use this as a QT tank, since at this point of just gentle use it is too decrepit and unsafe.
Marina "Betta Waste Remover"
Aka, an over priced turkey baster!
Claims: Can be used to "completely change the water" as well as waste
Truth:
- If you can change all the water with this thing, your tank is too small!
- Does suck up waste
- Horrendously overpriced
- Does not say if water/food safe
Verdict: Stay away- there's no need to get ripped off just because it's "for bettas"! Instead, save yourself a bit of cash and buy a food-safe standard turkey baster. They are inexpensive and will be safe for you and your food, and therefore safe for your fish. Turkey basters are a good alternative to gravel vacs or siphons in a small tank.
Claims: Can be used to "completely change the water" as well as waste
Truth:
- If you can change all the water with this thing, your tank is too small!
- Does suck up waste
- Horrendously overpriced
- Does not say if water/food safe
Verdict: Stay away- there's no need to get ripped off just because it's "for bettas"! Instead, save yourself a bit of cash and buy a food-safe standard turkey baster. They are inexpensive and will be safe for you and your food, and therefore safe for your fish. Turkey basters are a good alternative to gravel vacs or siphons in a small tank.
TopFin "Crazy Pink" (and other colors) gravel
Verdict: This gravel is colorful and bright- but be warned! It has a very high tendency to leech color.
Leeching color will stain your water, tank walls, and leave your tank a hazy and cloudy. It is also not particularly good for the fish to be exposed to this sort of experience.
What to do: If you have this gravel or really want it- please make sure you do not, like for any gravel, use hot water on it while washing or rinsing. Doing so will cloud the tank and make it leech. While rinsing for the first time, make sure you rinse until the water runs clear.
Leeching color will stain your water, tank walls, and leave your tank a hazy and cloudy. It is also not particularly good for the fish to be exposed to this sort of experience.
What to do: If you have this gravel or really want it- please make sure you do not, like for any gravel, use hot water on it while washing or rinsing. Doing so will cloud the tank and make it leech. While rinsing for the first time, make sure you rinse until the water runs clear.
Top Fin® Assorted Natural Seashells (and any* sea shell)
Verdict: Sea shells of any sort are dangerous to a fish tank. Shells alter your tank's pH, which means that adding them in can cause a stressful pH swing. This swing will hurt your betta, leaving it open to disease from stress. This type is also sharp- which can snag long fins or be painfully bonked into at night.
What to do: If you have shells in your tank, please remove them immediately.
What to do: If you have shells in your tank, please remove them immediately.
