Honeythorn, you seem very confident when you tell Adamanicole that the only reason her betta is okay is that her tank is on an unlevel surface and has a large air bubble.
How then, do you explain the contradictions to what you are saying? I have an Edge with a betta and a few other fish (panda corys, black veil tetra). My tank is perfectly level and has no air bubbles. My betta is doing fantastic. Someone said a betta might panic if it could not find the airspace. Mine did, for the first half hour or less. But fish DO learn, and he learned quickly. Since the first day, he has no trouble at all and quickly goes to the surface hole when he sees me with the box of food too.
As I have a few fish in there, I've been doing regular chemical tests for oxygen levels and so far they have been consistently in the safe level (something users on here say is not possible so am I making this up, or is my test faulty?). I'm also testing my water daily for nitrates, nitrites, ph, etc. All are excellent (ok, we have hard water here, so it's a bit on the hard side, but I'm working on that). The filtration system IS designed to oxygenate well. Perhaps fluval has made adjustments that not everyone is aware of?
I know you will argue that I'm just a second person with a second fish, but your statement did not leave room for even a single anomoly. Hmm. Sorry, but it seems that those who hate the tank are as partisan as many who love it, and empiricism has flown out the window -- yet it's exactly what we need here. Real experiences, carefully weighed, and well tested and compared. That's how you ensure your animals a good life.
Yes, I bought the tank because it is beautiful (and most fish tanks are ugly has hell -- why someone hasn't come up with a nicer lid set up is beyond me). It allows me to keep my fish right on my breakfast bar where I see them many times a day and am very aware of how they are doing. I believe that being able to see and check on my fish very often gives me very good information on how they are doing. So in my case, I DID buy the tank with both my fish and myself in mind.
By the way, I've had many bettas, and while people say they hate current, I've noticed that they are as individual as people (partly why many love them) and some seem to go out of their way to play in the current. The betta I have now does. I'm surprised by how many "experts" feel that they are all the same. Bettas are loopy fish! They have such distinct personalities. In any case, the current on the sides of the tank is very low because my light silk plants do not move there. In the middle, it's strong. My betta goes into the high current and swims back and forth like he's playing, several times a day (I just know someone is going to insist that he's panicking to find the surface
He finds that just fine, as noted ).
It's funny that people are so quick to believe that Fluval has no idea what they are doing (I happen to have selected this in part BECAUSE fluval makes it -- I'm pretty sure they are still considered a great company). You may be surprised at how well the supplied filter oxygenates. The Edge heater is also fantastic with no exposed glass and an unbreakable cover. They have done a nice job on this.
No, I would not put goldfish in here because they would create wayyyy too much bioload. Nor would I put fish who love lots of room to swim. My panda corys, though, are doing fantastic.
All argument about who is right aside, I wanted to point out that this "absolute" statement just does not hold up and that it's more important to find out how the fish are doing, not who has the morally "correct" attitude toward this tank.
Now, if I can hear some arguments from people who own the tank and have had trouble, or who allow for the fact that nothing can be said to be true for certain without question, I truly would love to hear that. I respect the dedication of everyone who loves fish and wants to ensure they are kept in the best conditions. Perhaps there is something to this tank setup that not everyone is aware of yet?
Why are my fish doing so well? (I've had several other tanks and these fish are some of the healthiest I have had -- not one loss, and everyone is bright, shiny, active, and without signs of trouble. My betta had velvet when I bought him, but we isolated him, treated him, and he's great now).
