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Availability:
12 left in stock
Arrives
Tuesday, Sep 29
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Size: 5 Gal.
Color: Black
Features
- SPEC Series Aquariums: The newly redesigned SPEC series now features an impressive high output 7000K LED, which generates 20% brighter lighting performance for noticeably bolder fish colors and plant growth.
- Tank Construction: SPEC adds style and design to your aquarium set. Constructed with etched glass with high-quality aluminum trim.
- Filtration Capability: SPEC boasts a powerful 3-stage system with oversized mechanical, chemical and biological media for unparalleled water clarity. Includes foam block, activated carbon, and BioMax bio rings.
- Lighting System: The powerful LED lighting system has 37 LED bulbs with a total output of 821 lumens and 7000K color temperature.
- Capacity: 5-gallon tank capacity with a water pump output of 55-80 US Gal/h (210-300 L/h).
Description
Fluval Spec is a contemporary looking aquarium designed for small areas such as desktops and countertops. This 5 gallon etched glass aquarium with aluminum trim combines style and functionality in one small package. Though small in stature, Fluval Spec is big on features. It comes with a sleekly designed overhanging lighting system, consisting of 37 powerful LED lamps, that arches above the aquarium to provide brilliant illumination for plants and decor. The aquarium includes a powerful circulation pump with adjustable output nozzle and a large 3 stage filtration system that provides more than enough filtration for ultra clean and clear water. It also comes with all the necessary filter media: a porous foam block with convenient handle, activated carbon and BioMax, bio rings for effective and thorough mechanical, chemical and biological filtration. The pump and filtration system are conveniently located in a separate chamber at one end of the aquarium to simplify maintenance.
Brand: Fluval
Material: Glass
Tank Volume: 5 gallons
Special Feature: Stylish honeycomb design conceals back filtration area while looking ultra modern. 7000 K high-output LED appropriate for healthy plant growth. Powerful 3-stage oversized mechanical, chemical and biological filtration See more
Product Dimensions: 20.5"L x 7.5"W x 11.6"H
Item Weight: 5 kg
Shape: Rectangular
Specific Uses For Product: Indoor
Style: Modern
Color: Black
Product Dimensions : 15.5 x 11.5 x 24.5 inches; 11.02 pounds
Item model number : 10516
Date First Available : June 6, 2012
Manufacturer : Rolf C. Hagen (USA) Corp.
Best Sellers Rank: #41,814 in Pet Supplies (See Top 100 in Pet Supplies) #38 in Aquarium Starter Kits
#38 in Aquarium Starter Kits:
Customer Reviews: 4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars (3,067)
Brand Name: Fluval
Included Components: Aquarium
Model Number: 10516
UPC: 015561105163
Number of Items: 1
Number of Packs: 1
Manufacturer: Rolf C. Hagen (USA) Corp.
Set Name: Aquarium Starter Kit
Item Highlight: Aquarium with LED Lighting and 3-Stage Filtration System
Unit Count: 1 Count
Item Type Name: Fluval Spec V Aquarium Kit, 5-Gallon, Black
Manufacturer Part Number: 10516
Warranty Description: Manufacturer Warranty
Additional Features: Stylish honeycomb design conceals back filtration area while looking ultra modern. 7000 K high-output LED appropriate for healthy plant growth. Powerful 3-stage oversized mechanical, chemical and biological filtration
Specific Uses For Product: Indoor
Vivarium Type: Aquarium
Pet Type: Fish
Target Species: Fish
Tank Volume: 5 gallons
Item Dimensions L x W x H: 20.5"L x 7.5"W x 11.6"H
Item Weight: 5 kg
Item Shape: Rectangular
Product Style: Modern
Color: Black
Material Type: Glass
Frequently asked questions
If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is:
Tuesday, Sep 29
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Top Amazon Reviews
Size: 2.6 Gal.
Color: White
Received my Spec III this morning. First, let me say that I was more than pleasantly surprised to find that these are now shipping with a new and brighter 7000K LED light. This is huge! I bought the Spec III with the understanding that the stock light it was shipping with is not bright enough to grow two of the plants SubstrateSource Staurogyne repens "Low Grow" Potted Live Aquatic Freshwater Aquarium Plant and SubstrateSource Hemianthus callitrichoides "Dwarf Baby Tears" Live Aquatic Aquarium Plant I have on order, and have been researching aftermarket nano aquarium LED lights for a week. However, I like the sleek look of the stock LED light, and found nothing aftermarket that looked good or performed reliably. I am EXTREMELY concerned with both aesthetics and functionality. I had resigned myself to leaving the stock light on and buying a tall swing arm desk lamp and a CFL grow bulb and directing the light down into the aquarium. The aquarium is going on my desk at work, so this wouldn't have looked bad. However, I no longer have to do this as the new LED is the correct color temperature (7000K) and claims to be high-output. Not sure what the wattage is, but it's bright. So long as it's reliable, I am very happy. It mounts ridiculously easy and is very simple and sturdy in its construction - consisting of not much more than a one-piece aluminum arm and shade, and the LED light board. I was also very pleasantly surprised when I realized that the black square on top the light is a three-way touch switch (1. full-strength, 2. just the four blue lights, and 3. off). The Spec III's design is modern and clean (if Ikea designed an aquarium, it would look like this) and the filtration system is hidden well in the reservoir at the rear of the tank. I love the fact that none of the aquarium's filtration components (with the exception of the small, angle-adjustable outlet nozzle) are in the aquarium itself. In fact, there is room in the filtration reservoir for a small heater and I have a Neo-Therm Heater, 25 watt on order. The only thing I would change are the aluminum trim pieces at the corners. I would prefer rounded glass edges (at least on the front) like those on the Penn Plax Vertex Shrimp Tank, 2.7-Gallon by Penn Plax, INC.. Finally, the Spec III's dimensions make the aquarium look deceptively larger than it is. At the moment, it sits next to my Penn Plax Vertex Shrimp Tank, 2.7-Gallon by Penn Plax, INC., and while the Penn-Plax is a tenth of a gallon larger, the Spec III looks to be significantly larger. I am very impressed with this aquarium, and think it's a bargain at this price. Update: 17 July 2016. So far, I think that the 7000K light that the Spec III is now shipping with will be adequate to grow any plants that I choose, and I finally pulled the trigger and installed a DIY CO2 Aquarium Plant System. This system is designed to use two 2-liter soda bottles with baking soda and citric acid. However, I like to keep things as simple and inexpensive as possible, so I went with one 2-liter bottle and a mix of: 1/2 tsp of yeast (that my wife already had in the fridge), 1 tsp of baking soda (again, my wife already had this on hand), 2 cups of sugar (again, well you know), and 1 and 3/4-liters of lukewarm water. Check out the following link for full instructions. http://www.aquatic-eden.com/2006/09/diy-co2-recipe-duration-vs-intensity.html This setup should provide a steady stream of CO2 for two to three weeks and I am astounded at the amount of CO2 that a 1/2 tsp of yeast can produce! Removing the filter sponge, I ran the tubing from the yeast bottle so that the end is pressed flat toward the bottom of the power head, and reinstalled the filter media holding the tubing securely in place. You have to fiddle with it a bit to get the power head to suck the CO2 bubbles in. Again, the end of the tube must be situated flat against the lower portion of the power head, or the bubbles won't get sucked in. The power head does an excellent job of dissolving the CO2 into the water as its impeller rips the CO2 bubble into hundreds of tiny bubbles and spits them into the aquarium. The key to efficient CO2 dissolution into the water column is increasing the amount of time that the CO2 bubble is submerged. With this setup, the CO2 bubbles are submerged for a long time. First, they spend some time in the power head and the tube connecting the power head to the outlet nozzle. Then, due to their very small size, they spend a lengthy amount of time in the aquarium's water column circulating around the entire aquarium. Be sure to angle the adjustable outlet nozzle down to minimize surface water agitation and to blow the bubbles down to increase their submersion time. Another key to keeping CO2 in the water column is minimal water surface agitation. I am no expert, and this is my first CO2 system, however, this setup is working ridiculously well. I am getting a CO2 bubble approximately every two seconds, and the outlet nozzle pushes the CO2 bubbles down to the substrate. At any given moment, there are hundreds of tiny bubbles floating around in the water column and sticking to the plants, especially under the leaves. In the photos below, it looks as though the water is filled with floating debris, however, the water is crystal clear - what look like debris are all bubbles. The aquarium is literally brimming with CO2. Again, I am no expert and don't have a test kit, however, I think there may be too much CO2 in the water to keep fish. But, at the moment my concern is the plants. I've read that SubstrateSource Staurogyne repens "Low Grow" Potted Live Aquatic Freshwater Aquarium Plant and SubstrateSource Hemianthus callitrichoides "Dwarf Baby Tears" Live Aquatic Aquarium Plant do best in a very high-light and CO2 environment. This being my first serious attempt at aquatic plants, I want to do everything (within reason) to succeed! So far, so good - I think. Update: 23 July 2016. I received the rest of my plants yesterday and executed my first attempt at a planted aquarium. At this point I have, 4 SubstrateSource Staurogyne repens "Low Grow" Potted Live Aquatic Freshwater Aquarium Plant, 4 SubstrateSource Hemianthus callitrichoides "Dwarf Baby Tears" Live Aquatic Aquarium Plant, and 2 SubstrateSource Anubias barteri "Petite" Live Aquatic Aquarium Plant. Still waiting for the water to clear, but I am happy with the results thus far. UPS is due to deliver my Rhinox Glass Drop Checker - 3 Seconds to Read CO2 levels: 3 Minutes to Setup: Fastest way to ensure sufficient CO2 in Planted Aquarium today, so I should have a good idea as to the water's CO2 content shortly thereafter. More to come.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2016 by Koda
Size: 5 Gal.
Color: Black
I bought this tank to house dwarf shrimp and micro-crabs. This tank is perfect for micro/nano environments. Do not house fish that produce large amounts of waste. 6 inches front to back glass, 7 1/2 inches for the base front to back. 11 1/2 inches bottom with base to top of lid, about 13 1/2 top of light bar. 19 1/2 inches from side to side glass. 20 1/2 inches side to side base. The glass side to side measure may be off 1/2 inch because there are metal sleeves over each corner, looks to be the same material as the light bar. The sleeves are capped with small plastic clips that also have the grooves for the lid pegs. I actually like the metal sleeves on the corners, I have never been a huge fan of looking at silicone joints. The base is slightly tapered so I measured the widest points at the very bottom. I did not try to take the base off because I liked it, but it looks like it can be removed if you are very careful. The silicone work was beautiful. very clean, no smearing. It looks like machine silicone work, very precise. The pump is very small, but powerful enough to move water in the entire tank with a decent current. The pump itself fits easily one way, but that puts the intake against the glass. Fitting the pump to face the filter to get maximum intake was a very snug fit. I had to use a long bbq skewer to push the pump to the bottom of the well. Do not expect to use your hands, the well is only a fraction larger than the pump. Unfortunately, to remove the pump you will have to pull it up by the power cord. Big no-no in my book but no other options unless you put a retrieval line on it before pushing it into the tank. Fishing string would work fine. The pump outflow is on the wrong side, but the flexible hose to the nozzle still fits and did not have any issues being on the far side of the well. I highly recommend the pump be installed this way, the intake will be severely crippled if you put the pump in any other direction. I did not receive any instructions for installation of the pump. The filter was self explanatory. Just remove the plastic bags, rinse the packets, put them back where you found them in the filter sponge, the handle faces up(obvious). The carbon will run out after a week or two, but I run a different system and will eventually replace it with more material for bio-colonies. The carbon is good for starting the tank but useless once the tank is established. I have the tank 1ft from my head and the only time I hear the pump is when the room is dead silent, even then it is hardly a hum and it gets completely lost in the background. If you fill the water above the nozzle you will not hear water movement either.. On that note, you cannot fill this tank to the top. The separator between the pump well and the filter compartment is shorter than the rest of the tank walls about 1/2 inch. Raising the water above this will prevent the water from being filtered. I currently have the water about 3/4 inch from the glass top edge. Just above the nozzle and just below the pump wall. I turned the nozzle to point along the glass and down toward the far corner. It creates a large amount of water movement but leaves a very big area in the center and on the filter wall side that is calm enough not to bother the tiny shrimps. Sensitive fish like Betta would be happy in the current if it was properly angled out of the nozzle away from the center of the tank. The filter is a nice large size which will allow the tank to run for a long time with a big bio-system. The majority of the water flows into the filter through a grate at the top, this is fine for a very light waste load, but with heavier waste the bottom will need to be vacuumed occasionally. This grate is wide enough for babies to swim through, the filter foam does not reach the top. I recommend adding an extra piece of foam snug against the grate if you plan to have anything giving birth in this tank. The filter housing has a small slit opening into the tank a few inches from the bottom, I suspect this has something to do with making sure the pump doesn't burn out if the water somehow dropped really low. This is fine for adult size fish, but babies and the micro-crabs can crawl through the slit and become residents of the filter housing, or sucked into the pump. I recommend filling the slit with a small piece of foam. The slit itself is very small, i would say half an inch long and maybe wide enough for a stick of spaghetti to fit in. Normally not an issue, but in my case from a breeder/nano standpoint the tiny hole can be a big problem. The black part of the filter housing outside the tank is not solid black, It is a honeycomb pattern on tinted glass. Dark enough to not notice the inner guts from normal distances, but transparent enough up close that you can see the pump in case it gets clogged, and you can tell if the filter needs to be rinsed. My tank sits where light can pass through here, but I don't notice it because it is such a small area. Putting this tank with the pump against the wall will shadow it enough that you should not be able to see through it. The tank itself is roomier than the picture suggests. In the pic it looks very slim. I was happy to find the floor space front to back was not as slim. I have 5 fist-sized mossballs, a 6 inch crystal cluster, a 10 inch mopani wood, a 6 inch petrified stone, a 3-tube stack shrimp house and about 20 micro-plants. Also have 2x 12 inch strands of red ludwigia. All said the tank still looks very open and spacious. I used a 3lb bag of aragonite sand and it covered the entire floor about 1 1/2 inches deep. Perfect for micro plants and deep enough to look nice. The light bar is very slim, very lightweight. It feels like aluminum, but I didn't check the manufacturer. The lights are tiny squares with a silicone type gel poured on top of them. looks like they will be waterproof for about a thousand years. The lights are bright enough to make the tank stand out, but not so bright that it is glaring. I put my tank in a window for the live plants because the light itself is not sufficient for high-light plants. Any low-light plants should be more than happy. The light puts out a very small amount of heat which is mostly dissipated by the movement of air in the room. I only had the tank warm up on me once when the house itself got too warm and I forgot to turn off the light while the sun was blaring on the tank. Even then it took all day to go from 68 to 80. I would not trust the light bar to stand up to a cat landing on it, it may bend at the elbow... it is strong enough for its purpose, but it is a little springy to the touch.The switch for the light is a small square touch-pad sensor on top of the bar. 1 touch for all lights, 2 for blue lights(1 blue light at each end of the bar.) 3 to turn it off. The lid is a thin but stiff clear plastic. It looks much nicer than the traditional big plastic hoods. It rests on top of the tank with little peg legs to line it up to grooves in the corners. The lid also has a long hole in the center below the light that is just a bit wider than the light. This makes adding food or fishing around with plant tools easier, but if you really need to get in there the lid is super easy to put on and take off, even in a tight space with limited clearance. The light and pump are on separate cords. Both are only a couple feet long. The light has a small box on the plug end like a cell phone. Cord length is fine for a short distance from an outlet, otherwise I have to use a multi-outlet extension to reach the plug from the shelf. The light has a safety cord, so it came in 2 pieces. I suspect this is also to replace the outlet box without replacing the entire light bar. I like that option! So far this tank has exceeded my expectations. With a proper biological system I feel this tank could run for months with limited maintenance. With nothing but my filter compartment and live plants the water is crystal clear and the chemical parameters stay constant. I have not had to use any sort of additives or treatments. I do not know how the filter would function in a non-planted tank with a heavy fish load. The filter is larger than you find in most tanks this size. A small school of nano-fish, maybe 15-20 cardinal tetras or something in that range, would fair well in my planted tank, but not sure about a non-planted tank. I would probably not house more than 4-5 nano-fish until the system had been running for at least 6 months and the bio-colonies had fully established throughout the tank. I am not one to do the constant water changes, chemical treatments, etc. This tank has worked very well for my form of fish keeping. I will be buying a couple more of these in the future for my nano tanks. I included a couple pictures to show how much space this tank has.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 24, 2016 by Wendy Grimes
First of all, I will say it is beautiful. I love it that the "business" parts are hidden. I originally purchased it from Amazon because it was so much cheaper than Petco and I love Fluval products in my 2 other aquariums. However, after I received it and took it out of the box I noticed the glass was chipped at one end and the plastic corner piece was broken off. I realized too late that the product box and the shipping box had a slight ding in the same corners. In my enthusiasm I took it out before inspecting and let me tell you it was a booger to repackage to ship back. Fluval responded immediately to my return request. They would have been HAPPY to send me a new one-at the end of August or September. This was mid-July and the reason for this purchase was for a summer activity with my granddaughter, Moving her Betta to better living quarters. So I opted cancel the order outright and Amazon very quickly processed my refund. Whew. Anyway, I instead made the trip to Petco, paid more than I wanted, but at least I got it. I made them open it up in the store to make sure it was ok. Now, about the Fluval Spec V. I really do like it and so does the Betta. I want to address some things that I noticed in other reviews, which are the strong flow of the nozzle pushing Bettas around and Bettas getting their flowy fins caught in the grid near the top. Upon first setting it up I had turned the outflow to the lowest setting thinking that would be fine for a Betta. But no, as soon as I placed the little guy in he blew around like a tilt-a-whirl. It didn't matter which way I pointed the adjustable nozzle. Then I remembered I had a prefilter sponge nearby and quickly popped it on. Bliss.... Later I did take a scissors and cut an X at the closed end to permit more flow, yet keeping it in check. Some reviews reported that their Bettas got their fins shredded in the intake grid. My Betta is a Half Moon and doesn't have any trouble. I could see how this might happen with a Crown Tail's fin "spikes" working their way into the slots. This can be remedied by not pushing the filter sponge all the way to the bottom. The water will still flow through the sponge but it should block fins from coming through. My fish seems to enjoy being there occasionally. I was alarmed one day to find him "plastered" against it, but he leisurely left it to explore the rest of his little kingdom. The light is ok for low light plants. But really, would you want the noon-day sun glaring down for 8-10 hours a day in such a small space on your little critters? So I think the brightness is fine for a 5 gallon. I don't like having to remove the light to clean the tank, but I can live with it. It removes easily and pops back in without a problem. Some reviews complain that the light "droops". Mine did, too, but oops, I realized I wasn't pushing it all the way into the slot. Problem solved. The pump is so absolutely quiet that when I first started it up, I had to put my finger in front of the nozzle to make sure it was working! I did take a star off because of the shipping issues and because you have to take measures to make it Betta safe. I would recommend this tank because it's a Fluval and I just love their products. Keep in mind it's only 5 gallons. If you want a schooling fish you might want to go for a larger size. With the right preventative measures, it's perfect for a solitary Betta.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 31, 2014 by Lily H
Size: 5 Gal.
Color: Black
i love my Spec. absolutely adore it. i almost didn't buy this one because i had read it needed a lot of modifications to make it suitable for a betta. and that's correct, it does. but after doing a lot of research on tanks i decided to take the plunge. i'm so glad i did! it has been an absolute joy! what actually prompted my confidence in purchasing this tank for my betta was reading through the Amazon reviews. one review in particular, the one with purple and pink sand (or maybe just purple but i'm pretty sure it's bright purple and pink) laid out everything i needed to know. so thank you to that person for blazing the trail. i ordered this tank with the prefilter sponge, also by Fluval but you can find generic/other brand prefilter sponges. and that was basically it! the vast majority of people recommend the Hydro Theo heater, also available on Amazon for around $15...the heater is a bit finicky but you will soon discover that all aquarium heaters are finicky. that was actually the hardest part of this tank...figuring out where exactly to set the dial....for example, my heater is set on like 75 to keep the tank at 80...but this isn't a review on the tanks heater...you'll figure it out. also, i do have 2-3 small pin holes in the outflow tube....to circulate water around the heater...which, by the way, the hydro theo heater fits perfectly in there. i honestly don't see why fluval didn't design this....where else exactly would you install a heater in this tank? especially considering if you didn't keep a heater in the pump compartment....but in the main tank...the lid wouldn't close flush to the tank...the wire would prevent that. so it seems like fluval intended for users to put the tank in the pump compartment...but probably for legal reasons didn't suggest so because technically all heater manufacturers say not to let anything touch the heater....but everyone i have come across does in fact ignore this to put the heater in the pump compartment. with the prefilter sponge over the outflow...i kept the pump on high. a lot of people recommend keeping it on low but with the prefilter sponge i kept it on high and it worked out. i will say keeping the tank at an equal temperature was a challenge with the sponge. the bottom half of the tank stayed 4-5 degrees cooler than the top...a problem that really bothered me. now i have built a DIY spray bar like device over the outflow (see my picture) that works GREAT! the tank has a current...isn't too strong for my betta....more detritus makes it way to the inflow.....and the tank is the same temp all the way through. it cost about $14 bucks through ZooMed, 50% of which was shipping. i highly recommend doing this if for a betta...simply google 'fluval spec spray bar.' you will find the part numbers and a tutorial. the pump is now on low. also, if you are keeping this for a betta....and have a prefilter sponge....you must install an air stone. otherwise you are going to really reduce the flow and be prone to serious biofilm.....it goes away but it comes back. now that i have the DIY spray bar the flow is much better, still betta friendly....but i do still keep an air stone on low in there. i love this tank. and i have completely fallen in love with the aquarist hobby. also, the auxiliary slit towards the bottom of the false wall....it doesn't prevent all the flow to be redirected from the main filter....but some. i solved this problem by buying a silicone laptop USB plug designed for a macbook on eBay. it costs less than 99 cents...fits so perfect. like it was designed for that purpose. this may be an easier way to plug that hole up instead of silicone.... my betta parks himself right on the intake grate...at first it freaked me out....he enjoys that spot better than his betta hammock. even with the flow on high it was not enough to suck his fins through the slits....every morning when i turn on the light there he is, asleep. it's super cute actually. even my snail goes across the intake grate to feed on detritus and he isn't sucked in. keep in mind, this may not be the case for your inhabitants. so be careful. i do believe every betta in this tank does the same. if you're worried, take the handle on the sponge filter....lift it up and tie a bread-tie or even better the black one that are wrapped around the pumps cord from the packaging to hoist it up over the slits. i didnt bother... this tank does require modification....which i stated earlier almost deterred me from purchasing it. however, i think you'll find that every tank is going to be far superior to some DIY modifications. there is so much information regarding this tank online you should have absolutely no problem making it work for you. this tank is a bit more expensive...but you will be glad you got this one. it is high, high quality....the Cadillac of nano tanks so to speak. fluval is also amazing for customer service...i accidentally ripped my outflow tube trying to get the elbow off of it...they shipped me out another one for free, no questions asked, for warranty...they didn't even ask for proof of purchase.... i love this tank. i truly do. and i can't wait to get another Fluval, this time the Fluval Flex 15 gallon. also, ordering a tank online comes with risk of damage in the process of shipping. i was worried. this arrived very well insulated...and it's $20 cheaper than at PetCo or Petsmart. everything you need to get this tank up off the ground and running smoothly is right here on Amazon....don't waste more money than you need to at a major pet store. please get yourself this tank! don't be afraid of the modifications.....DO IT! UPDATE 8 October 2018: my aquarium sprung a very small leak....it has been leaking water out from under the base....i assume this leak is on the seals holding the bottom glass into the tank. i contacted Hagen Fluval, sent them pictures, explained my situation and they have shipped me out a new tank/glass only portion of the Spec V. They had absolutely lovely customer service.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2018 by Kodee
Size: 5 Gal.
Color: Black
While there seem to be a number of reviews that cite some of the well-documented shortcomings of this tank I think it remains a top contender in it's size for a aesthetically pleasing tank. Size While only being ~5 gallons it offers a nice 17" swim lane, making it more roomy for horizontally moving fish (most of them) than just about any other 5 gallon tank. Will it ever be as roomy as a 20 gal? No, but for what it is I think this offers one of the best 5 gallon tanks out there. It's definitely viable for a betta, a nano fish tank (I've got Celestial Pearl Danios), or a Red Cherry Shrimp tank. There's a lot of possibility with it. Design This is where the Spec shines - The design is a great starting point and usable as it comes out of the box but I really see it more along the lines of a modular, upgradable platform. The filtration isn't great (the sponge kinda sucks) but there are fantastic plastic baskets that have been designed to fit in the filter slot allowing for 3 stages of filtration. When upgraded, I've never had clearer water. The pump isn't great but still produces a lot of current for fish like Bettas, sometimes too much, and is serviceable for most tanks. There is no heater out of the box but many small heaters can fit unobtrusively in the pump stage and, if you poke holes in the hose, you can get nice heat and flow from it without it hanging ugly in the tank. The LED lights are nice looking but not strong enough to grow much however they are easily upgraded with aftermarket grow lights that can fit right on the tank or lid. The long, thin design of the tank also maximizes it for viewing from either side giving you more view than a traditional rectangular tank. The one design "flaw" is the lower inlet for the pump. As many other reviews have pointed out, this is where the majority of suction comes from and it's generally fish/shrimp height near the bottom and can easily snare any unsuspecting critter. It's easy enough to plug with Silicone before adding water or planting in front or to reduce some of the current but it's still not idea. The purpose is to prevent your pump from running dry in the event you don't top off the water for a few days and it falls below the top flow section so it's smart in theory but only in theory. Price It's expensive for what you get. The lighting isn't powerful, the filtration is not great and the pump leaves much to be desired but what you are paying for is the design and the upgradable platform that the Spec offers. No other tank can be upgraded and still look this clean so, for someone for whom design is an important element, the Spec still wins. Overall a great tank for those willing to spend the dollars to upgrade it to what can be the finest 5 gallon tank around.
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Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2016 by Michael
Size: 5 Gal.
Color: Black
After reading so many reviews online, I decided to purchase this tank despite its slightly hefty price tag. I will say the set up was very easy and the instructions were pretty straightforward. My problem with this tank is that the filtration system is too strong. The currents that it creates in the water is too rough for certain fish. I lost a total of one betta, two goldfish, and two guppies at separate times because of the tank. After having all water parameters, trouble shot with an expert at an aquatic center, the only thing that I could not rule out was the stress of the strong current created by the filter on the fish. None of the fish wanted to swim around the tank and they would always collect themselves in a far corner at the bottom of the tank. It was very hard for them to feed because the current of water push the food around very quickly. And when the fish would try to swim, you could see them struggling against the current from the filter. I am extremely disappointed as I had high hopes for this tank based on some reviews. However, when I did more research on blogs and such many people complained about the strength of the filtration system and offered modifications that may help. I did try these and they were able to no avail, as I still lost all of my fish. I even reached out to the fluval customer service, and they were not very helpful. I will not recommend this tank and I will not buy it again.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2025 by Anja Jones
Size: 2.6 Gal.
Color: Black
This is a great desktop tank. It is a little small for anything but a betta, but mine seems to do fine in it. Lots of websites say a minimum of 5 gallons for a betta, but when mine was in a bigger tank, he hung out in one spot mostly (he was causing problems with his tank mates so got moved). In this little tank, he is always on the move and I do wish I would have gone for the 5 gallon Spec. The tank is great, it looks nice, the filter is almost completely silent, and the filter wall hides all the equipment. As others suggested, I added a 50 watt heater that fits in the back. The light is bright enough to grow some low light plants without any trouble (and algae if you leave it on too much or over feed). My only complaint about the light is that I wish it would slowly brighten to full power after you turn it on, instead of full light as soon as you turn it on, which sometimes scares the fish. I did not modify the filter for the betta as others suggested. Mostly I use a “foam pre-filter sponge for the Fluval Edge” over the output. This stops pretty much all current from the filter and it provides a place for the betta to go sit when he wants to. I do occasionally remove the sponge though and the betta is fine. At its lowest setting, aimed straight out it gets the water moving, at the top, but not too much for him swim in. He actually seems to like swimming against the current sometimes. That said I also have a lot of floating plants that buffer the current at the top of the tank and some rocks he can hide in if needed. I highly recommend the aquarium, but if you can afford it and have the room, the bigger Spec is probably the better option.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2017 by Lee Abraham
Size: 5 Gal.
Color: Black
I purchased the spec 5 a couple of months ago to separate my murderous female betta from the 20 gallon tank she was in. It's a lovely tank, visually appealing and also Fluval which I trust. It's the perfect size for a single betta fish. The only things that bug me about this tank are the light and lid. The bracket that you slide the light arm into separated from the tank almost immediately and clearly wasn't adhered properly. I simply glued it back onto the unit, annoying but it was fine. The lid and light basically have to be taken completely off if you want to feed your fish or fo a water change, which gets old fast but the quality of the leds and filter are really top notch. I would recommend it regardless. Edit 7 months after purchase: After 7 months the heater broke on my unit. I found out after several days of my betta fish refusing to eat and sitting on the bottom of the tank. After having it as long as I have I wouldn't buy this again. The light unit is overpowered, leading to chronic algae issues that never go away. With other major components like the heater failure and just how obnoxious the design of the light is, I wonder how many others noticed these design flaws.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 23, 2026 by H Larsen