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I want to get 2 bettas but i am not sure which tank is better, the Mini-bow(either the 2.5 or 5g[but where can i find a divider for the 5g]) vs. the Eclipse Exlporer (I or II)(what is the difference between these 2?) or the Eclipse System 3?(is there a divider for this one?)I could also get two 2.5g tanks so that each one can have its own tank so that way i would be more into buying the minibow 2.5g one.


SO which one do you guys think is best?

And also being that these tanks are so small, what do you use to clean them? I have yet to see a small enough gravel cleaner for such a small tank. All i have are larger ones for my 10g and 55g tank. So what do you recommand?

Last edited by fishlover89 at 02-Oct-2005 13:52

I have an Eclipse 6 and Mini-bow 5g.

The Eclipse has a bio-wheel filter if that makes any difference to you. When I bought my Mini-bow it had a hob filter; now I've heard it comes with an internal filter. Neither have heaters included. My Eclipse has a flourescent bulb, the mini-bow is incandescent.

I personally wouldn't buy either again but not because I've had trouble with them. One reason is personal taste: I've yet to aquascape either in a way I really like...I seem to have a problem with bow-front tanks that way

The other is cost. I recently wanted to setup a grow-out tank for guppy fry and ended up spending quite a bit less on a regular glass 5g, including heater. It has a sponge filter on it which I think creates less water movement that bettas prefer. Just something to think about

edit: I use the same gravel vac on these tanks that I use for my others, all the way up to 75g. It's ~10" long, 1.75" in diameter.

Last edited by Theresa_M at 02-Oct-2005 13:58

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

have yet to see a small enough gravel cleaner for such a small tank.

I have the same problem with one of my tanks being too small for my regular gravelvac....it has to be suckstarted as the tank is simply too narrow. I do know that they make smaller gravel vacs, I saw them ages ago in petsmart, I just cant justify the purchase ......good thing that tank isn't currently active.

^_^[hr width='40%']
"in any case, chocolate is hardly a rare comodity." said Chaos. "There are planets covered in the stuff"
REALLY?
"Indeed."
IT MIGHT BE BEST, said Death, IF NEWS LIKE THAT DID NOT GET ABOUT. ~ Theif of Time [link=Terry Pratchett]http://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link]

I was just browsing Big Al's...they have a [link=mini gravel vac]http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=19133;category_id=2001;pcid1=3347;pcid2=" style="COLOR: #993333[/link] that's recommended for tanks up to 10g. Not too expensive, maybe a lfs in your area carries it.

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There is water at the bottom of the ocean

And if the one Theresa found is still too large you could always cut enough off to use it properly.
My problem is that it's impossible to tip the tube part up to get the water running down the hose :%).

^_^[hr width='40%']
"in any case, chocolate is hardly a rare comodity." said Chaos. "There are planets covered in the stuff"
REALLY?
"Indeed."
IT MIGHT BE BEST, said Death, IF NEWS LIKE THAT DID NOT GET ABOUT. ~ Theif of Time [link=Terry Pratchett]http://www.terrypratchettbooks.com/" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link]