Is this complete kit ok?

C

Captain Hook

Looking for ideas
Aug 21, 2003
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Toronto, ON
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I was looking at a kit at Big Al's here in Canada that pretty much came with everything for a 10 gallon beginner's setup. It had a bio-wheel filter, gravel, various bottles, and some other stuff. I'm not sure if had a heater or any plants but it is pretty much a complete kit.

It had a 2 incadescent bulb hood but I've heard these aren't very good because of heat. It costs $20 more for fluorescents, do you think this is a necessary upgrade? I was thinking about buying the tank for my girlfriend so no live plants will be grown. It will probably hold dwarf gouramies or maybe a betta. What do you guys think of these kits? It was only $70 Canadian.
 
Thats not a bad price, however I am more concerned about the lighting. When I was a newbie, I did the same thing as you and in the end, I wound up kicking myself for not spenting a few extra bucks so I could get a good lighting system.
 
I never really liked the "complete" kits, since they are never complete and you can usually piece it together separately for less money; completely.
You kit costs 70$ or 90$ with lighting. It comes with gravel, the aquarium, an incandescent/flourescent hood, some conditioner etc., and a bio-wheel filter.
If you pieced it all together seperately you would pay about $20 for a heater (which you don't get in the kit), ~$13 for the aquarium, $25-$30 for the filter, [~$25-$30 for a hood or ~$30 for a DIY hood with a canopy], and a few bucks for gravel at BigAl's. That's a basic, low-circulation setup that could cost you around $110-$120 plus GST/PST and maybe estimation error.
Personally, I wouldn't even consider incandescent, even if I wasn't growing plants, I think it's too dim and yellow.
So $20-$30 more than the kit but you get what you want and it includes the heater.
I have a habit of trying to save as much money as possible on small aquariums and guessing at prices, so don't take what I said too seriously; it's a possibility.
I suppose the only advantages would be that you get to customize the tank a little more.
Maybe this will give you an idea of the price range without the kit. In this case, I would probably take the kit and get some white clouds or something.
Sorry if I semed like I was rambling.

Graeme
 
A 10 gallon bginner tank is I think to small for any beginner. The bigger the better as far as tank goes. If you want some deals I would look in your classified.

Also if you bought all the parts at big als without the tank it would be cheaper.
 
Hmm, I'm still thinking about it. I may decide to pay the extra and get the fluorescents and buy a heater.

Really she won't be a beginner because I will either be helping or take care of it or pretty much doing everything for it anyway. Either way I will be there to help her so I'm not worried about the tank size. She also doesn't have much room so something small will be perfect.

I'm still not sure if I will end up getting her this or not. I was thinking of it as a birthday gift but am not sure if I like the idea enough. I think she would really like but am not sure if it is the greatest gift. Thanks for the opinions guys as always they are appreciated so keep em comin!
 
Music Jewlery Box will give more points then the fish tank.
 
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