Does this annoy anyone else?

Question

So today I was at walmart looking at a 55 gallon aquarium starter kit (more about that later) and I got really annoyed because has anyone ever noticed how on aqaurium starter kit boxes they always show the tank like 3-4x overstocked. I mean I was looking at a 5 gallon that had 5 Opaline Gouramis in it!!! No wonder why people think they can put that many fish in that size tank! Does this annoy anyone else?

Also I was wondering the 55 gallon aquarium I was looking at was $166.00 it came with heater, air pump, HOB filter, and flourscent lighting I believe it was made by Top Fin is this a good deal?

Answer 1

yeds, it annoys me SO much, and i point it out every time. some of the stuff i have seen before is unbelievable. imagine, a 5g hexagonal fishtank with 15 cardinal tetras, 2... umm, it's a little hard to see, i think they're some sort of killifish, 1 angelfish, 2 fish that appear to be some sort of barb, 1 black-tailed shark, 1 red fancy goldfish, 1 calico comet goldfish and a lemon cichlid. now THAT'S rediculous.

yes, to me that sounds like an unbelievable deal! however i think the value of fishtanks varies vastly in america compared to australia, and not just because of the currency differences. for example, i recently bought a 9g tank (Aqua One AR-380... one of those fancy 'modern' ones... acrylic glass, curved corners, base and in-build foam like you would normally have your aquarium sitting on top of that is covered up by a sleek base, inbuild light and filter in the hood with a place to sit your heater so only the bottom bit is sticking in the water... all designed to look neat-and-tidy with no cords or other ugly things showing) that only came with a flourescant bulb and the media for the wet-dry filter (and of course all the parts for the filter etc). i had to buy the heater separately. that tank cost me AU$150. pretty expensive, that's almost the same as this 55g of yours! don't forget you still need the gravel/sand, any live plants, driftwood or decorations you might like in there, filter media (if it doesn't come with any), thermometer, water dechlorinator etc.

good luck :)

Answer 2

Yes!!!! Sometyms it really pisses me off but other tyms its okay!

Answer 3

that annoys me

and thats a good deal

Answer 4

Well considering I bought my 55 gallon top fin starter kit from walmart for 151.00 I would say you're getting ripped off at your store...

But even so it is still a better deal and the quality of the stuff is not bad, and if you feel it nessacary at a later date to add or change out the filter then you can.

I have mine set up with the filter it came with and an emperor.

Answer 5

good deal but the filter sucks. the fifty five offered at petco and petsmart is like 10-20 bucks more but the filter is way better.

Answer 6

Sounds like a pretty good deal. Sure you might be able to get something $10 cheaper, but if it takes 1/2 a day and $20 of gas to find it, it's not really a saving is it?

The stuff you get for that price will be pretty basic. But it will work as long as you are aware of it's limits.

You can spend that sort of money on JUST a filter, or JUST a light hood. But the basic stuff in the kit will work and let you get a simple tank up and running fine. If you want it heavily stocked or large fish you will want to upgrade the filter, or add a 2nd one. If you want to grow fancy plants you will want a better set of lights etc. But all that stuff can be upgraded later as needed.

And yes the picture of Discus in a 5gal tank annoys me too. They could show a pretty betta or killifish just as easily, and it would even be accurate then.

Ian

Answer 7

no, not really

Answer 8

It's, unfortunately, more appealing if there are more colors, more fish, and more variety.  That's why you see things like African Cichlids with Angelfish and Goldfish in 5 gallon tanks.  It is a pathetic sales pitch, but apparently it works.  We could all protest by DIY-ing our own tanks, but I don't think people want to build their own 5 gallon tank... :^(

That's a pretty good deal, but realize that all of that equipment is going to be the bare minimum, so you might look into supplementary filters and heaters.  In the end, I spent around $350 on my 55 gallon tank before fish (another $300ish)... :^O

Answer 9

yes it annoys me too

and they always overstock the tanks where they keep the fish,

and the tank is a good tank

Answer 10

Sounds good.

Answer 11

Not a bad deal, but have you considered investing into each component seperate?

You could get a used tank with lighting on craigslist, buy a better heater, a better hob filter with higher water turnover, skip the air pump, unless you want bubbles in the tank and get a nice set up for $100.

Check dr fosters and smiths website or big al's online. They have filters and heaters that are better and shipped for less than what you'd pay in a pet store.