One of the things that make Top Fin aquariums so popular is their affordability. Top Fin also sells a lot of “all-in-one” kits. For instance, you can pick up a Top Fin LED Bubble Wall, a 37-gallon tank for $75 bucks. It includes pretty much everything you need to get started, except the water.
Now that’s a hard deal to argue with. Some newbies to the aquarium life may wonder if one of the glass walls is going to fall off. However, Top Fin products are relatively well made. Where they cut corners are in places where cutting corners won’t detract front the capabilities of the product.
Once you unbox a Top Fin Bubble Wall Tank, one of the first things you will notice is that it’s a rimless tank, meaning that there is no black rim around the top. The glass just ends abruptly where the lid rests. It also includes an in-water filtration system and everything you need to get started.
Top Fin Bubble Wall Aquarium Setup
The box speaks for itself, openly listing everything that comes with the aquarium. The box is designed with a bright aesthetic all on its own, which is designed to pull consumer eyes towards it.
On the outside of a Top Fin Bubble Wall Aquarium, regardless of size, you’ll see a list of what the kit includes. Pet Smart lists the aforementioned, 35-gallon, bubble wall aquarium for $169 but, as you will learn if you shop at Pet Smart a lot, they overprice everything by a lot.
The fact is, you can find that aquarium for as low as $75 elsewhere. Even at $169, you’re getting a heck of a deal. The aquarium alone is worth more than $75 before you add anything else to it. Speaking of adding, the tank comes with a number of things.
- Hood and feeding door
- Air hose connector accessory
- Internal Filter, manufactured by Top Fin
- Bubble wand cleaning tool
- Bubble wand that includes LED lights
- LED lights display seven, different colors
- On/off switch
- Cord and tubing cover
- Air-4000 air pump manufactured by Top Fin
- Ceramic Rings
Everything sets up really easily. Unbox the tank and you will see that everything is ready and waiting, with the components in their own little white, cardboard boxes. The filter hangs on the back, inside the tank and it’s already in place.
The power cord and airline tubing are already running along the inside, encased in soft but durable plastic. The first thing you need to do is get all of the boxed components out of the tank.
- Go ahead and place your substrate of choice in the bottom
- Add nutrients to the substrate if you’re going to have plants
- Add your hardscape in, rocks, branches, driftwood, etc
- Add smaller elements (if any) to your tank
- Add plants (if any) according to low light conditions
- Add water to ten inches, along with pea gravel
- Treat water with dechlorinator as the water is filling
- Add your API Quick Start and allow it to cycle for a minimum of 5 days
- Turn your bubble tank on
That’s all there is to it because the Top Fin Bubble Wall Aquarium comes with everything set up and ready to go. The only thing you need to do after setting up your tank is pull the power brick and cables out of the cardboard boxes and plug them in.
Is a Top Fin Bubble Wall Good for Bettas?
It might be okay, depending on the degree of water movement in the tank. Betta don’t prefer tanks with a heavy water current, though they will play in a current from time to time if it suits them.
While bubble walls are good for extra aeration of the water column, most aquarium owners choose them because they look nice and have a cool aesthetic background. That doesn’t mean that all fish like to exist in that type of water tank.
Fortunately, it’s okay for a Betta, so long as it can seek solace from moving water columns and bubbles in a relatively quiet and still section of the tank.
How do You Clean Top Fin Bubble Walls?
Bubble walls are surprisingly maintenance-free. There is very little that you need to do about them except for the occasional wipe-down. You will need an acrylic cleaner and a toothbrush, along with a soft towel, preferably microfiber.
You only need to clean your bubble wall about once every three months, unless you are having a problem with algae growth, which is a symptom of something else entirely. The toothbrush is only for the hard-to-reach areas but the microfiber cloth will be fine most of the time.
Top Fin Bubble Wall Aquarium Filter Replacement
The filter replacement is relatively cheap—only around $8. Each replacement cartridge purchase lasts for three months. It’s not like an air conditioner filter change, where you can let things slide for a few weeks.
Your fish are living beings and depend on you to keep their environment clean for them. You should make it a matter of routine to pull your filter every three months, on the dot, and replace them with brand new ones.
Top Fin Bubble Wall Aquarium Ceramic Rings
The tank you purchase comes with ceramic rings, so you don’t have to worry about purchasing any right off the bat. Ceramic rings are responsible for supporting good bacteria growth in your tank.
Most aquarium manufacturers advise customers to change the ceramic rings in their tanks once every six months or so. It’s not as crucial as keeping the filters changed, but it’s a good idea to keep that good bacteria flowing well. Fortunately, they’re very affordable and very effective.
All Things Considered
Top Fin Bubble Wall Aquariums are very affordable options, especially for those who are just getting started with one of their first aquarium setups. They’re also very easy to put together, coming out of the box almost ready to go. All you need to do is add your substrate and additional media to put together a pretty nice setup.
