Fluval Spec V Aquarium Kit Review

Whether you’re new to aquariums or are a tested fish-keeping veteran, an aquarium kit is a great way to get everything you need all in one box.

The Fluval Spec V Aquarium Kit may be just the one you need. Based on tester feedback, this kit is easy to put together, simple to maintain and clean, and compact enough to place nearly anywhere.

With that said, not everyone had such a good experience with it. Some testers found the pump was a little too strong for their fish, disliked the placement of the lighting, and would have preferred an included heater.

Are these deal breakers for you? Before you make your final decision, let’s take an in-depth look at the Fluval Spec V Aquarium Kit.

Fluval Spec V Aquarium Kit: The Details

Specs

• Weight: 16.2 lbs.
• Dimensions: 2 x 10.6 x 6.3 inches.
• Capacity: Five gallons.
• Lighting: LED lighting system.
• Glass or Acrylic: Glass.
• Accessories: Filtration media (filtration sponge block, activated carbon, Biomax filter), pump, outlet tube, outlet nozzle, aquarium lid, LED lighting system, acrylic cover, and instructions.
• Warranty: Two-year limited warranty.

Features

Capacity

The tank in the Fluval Spec V Aquarium Kit can hold up to five gallons of water, which is perfectly sufficient for a couple of small fish or multiple bettas.

This is by no means a huge tank. It’s meant to fit into small spaces a larger aquarium couldn’t handle. It will sit nicely on a table or even in a bookshelf if you are really limited on space.

Glass

The tank in this kit is made of glass, which provides it with great clarity. Furthermore, glass is rather sturdy and far more likely to hold up against discoloration than acrylic or plastic.

Barring any accidental drops or wayward bumps – where plastic would be superior – you shouldn’t have any issues with cracking, breaking, or leaks.

LED Lighting System

There is also an extensive light system included with this kit. It is a high-output 7500 K LED light system with 37 different bulbs.

This warms the water to provide your fish with a comfortable environment while allowing you to see what’s going on in your tank. It even makes the colors of your fish more vibrant. As a plus, if you have any plant life in your tank, it helps with growth as well.

To control the lights, simply use the touchpad on top of the aquarium, toggling it off, on, or in night mode. Of all the LEDs available, 35 are white, while two are blue.

In night mode, only the blue LEDs are used, while daytime mode uses all the lights.

Media

This Fluval aquarium kit also comes with three stages of media: mechanical, chemical, and biological. The mechanical is the BioMax bio rings, the activated carbon is the chemical, and the foam filter block is the biological media.

The bio rings and the activated carbon go inside the foam block and each work together to ensure the environment inside the tank is as clean and healthy as possible.

Fluval Spec V Aquarium Kit Review

The Positives

Easy to Set Up

Whether you’re new to aquariums or have owned them for years, setting up the Spec V kit is very simple.

First, you’ll rinse out the tank, the cover, and the filter media using fresh water and a damp cloth. Don’t use any soap, as this may contaminate the environment.

Place the filter media into the foam block and then place the foam block, the outlet, and the pump into the tank.

Slide the lighting system into its designated slot and tighten it into place with the locking screw. Finally, add in the water, along with the water conditioner, and you’re ready to add your fish. Et voila!

It doesn’t take much guesswork to get this aquarium up and going. It’s designed to make things easy for hobbyists and it shows from the set-up process.

Easy to Clean

The tank and accessories are also very easy to maintain and clean.

While cleaning your aquarium is usually a daunting task, there’s no need to worry with the Fluval Spec V Aquarium.  Fluval takes most of the intimidating work out of the cleaning process so you won’t have to slave in front of your tank for hours.

You just need to remove about 20% of the water once a week and replace it with clean, fresh water that is approximately the same temperature as the tank.

You also need to change the filter media regularly. Once you notice the water becoming a bit murky, it’s time to change out the media.

Do this by taking out the foam block, removing the bio balls and activated carbon, and replacing them with new ones. Et voila! There’s nothing too complicated about cleaning this Fluval aquarium.

Affordable

Aquarium kits can be wildly expensive, depending on the size of the tank and how much is included. Luckily, the price of the Spec V kit is under $100 on Amazon.

Since all necessary items are included with the package – even the media and the lighting system – that’s a great deal!

Those on a budget or those new to this hobby will be relieved by the price of this Aquarium kit, allowing aquarists to allocate their extra dollars to other fish-keeping products and accessories.

The affordable price of this aquarium doesn’t take away from the quality either. And to reassure you, Fluval has included a 2-year limited warranty to protect users against any manufacturing errors.

This means you can swap out a problematic aquarium for a better one should issues arise.

Compact

At only five gallons and with a build similar to a microwave, the Fluval Spec V Aquarium Kit is compact enough to fit almost anywhere.

Whether you live in a small apartment or just want a dainty tank, this kit is perfect for those who have shied away from larger aquariums in the past. Neither the filters nor pump stick out more than necessary, providing a streamlined appearance.

This aquarium will fit seamlessly in a variety of homes, spaces and decor styles without causing a distraction or eyesore. This is helped by its honeycomb design concealing the filtration process.

Weighing at just over 10 pounds when empty, it won’t be a hassle to move this aquarium around when need be, which really opens up a variety of places you can keep this tank.

Convenient

With the Fluval Spec V Aquarium Kit, there’s no need to go out and buy anything extra. Everything required for a fantastic tank set-up is included in the box.

You receive the media, the tank, the pump, and even the lighting system. All that’s left is to buy the fish and selective décor. It doesn’t get more convenient than that!

This is great for both beginner hobbyists and those on a budget. You won’t have to shell out extra money for other accessories and equipment, saving you time as well.

The fact that this aquarium is easy to maintain and clean makes it all the more convenient to have set-up in any space. Backed by a great customer service department, Fluval gives you little to fuss about.

Quiet and Efficient 

Testers loved how quiet this aquarium performed. Some aquariums can make an easy distraction with the whirring and gurgling coming from it, limiting the spaces you can place your tank (nobody wants to be wakened by their aquarium).

Fortunately, the Fluval Spec V Aquarium Kit performs quietly and testers even noted that it stays quiet even at higher powers.

What’s best is that even with its whisper quiet filter, this aquarium performs efficiently with strong power. Users loved how quickly the filter performed in making their aquarium clean and clear.

The Negatives

Pump A Little Too Strong

A few testers mentioned the pump and filtration system is too strong for their fish.

You will need to adjust it based on the type of fish you have and whether the current is too strong or weak for them. If you leave it at maximum strength, your fish may get caught up in the flow and are unlikely to survive.

Make sure to test this before leaving your fish to grow acquainted with their new environment. You don’t want them being hurt unnecessarily!

Light Placement

Based on the tester feedback, the lighting system’s placement might also be an issue. It’s located in an area that makes it difficult to clean the tank, change the water, and feed your fish. The process becomes a little awkward with it in the way.

This wasn’t an issue for most testers, so it doesn’t appear to be an overwhelming nuisance. However, it’s worth taking into consideration before your purchase.

No Heater

While this kit does include many necessary items, it does not come with a heater. Some kits automatically include this, as it’s key to heating the water to a comfortable range for unique species of fish.

If you feel you need one, you’ll have to purchase and install one personally. Ultimately, this is determined by the species you intend to keep within the aquarium.

This video shows what the Fluval Spec V Aquarium Kit looks like out of the box.

Overall Verdict

After combing through all the positives and negatives, we recommend the Fluval Spec V Aquarium Kit.

It comes with almost everything you could need, it’s compact, and it’s easy to set up and clean. That makes it one of the best kits on the market.

If you are new to aquariums, this is especially great for you. There’s no guesswork, it comes at a great price, and the set-up process is effortless to manage.

As long as you test the pump beforehand and don’t mind the light placement, you should have no issues with this kit.

Where to Buy the Fluval Spec V Aquarium Kit

Fluval is a known brand in the aquarist world, often seen on the shelves of pet stores around the globe.

Fluval has a number of aquariums, accessories, and fish-keeping equipment available, and the Fluval Spec V is just one example of quality products this company produces.

Thanks to their popularity and success. items like the Fluval Spec V Aquarium Kit can be found both in-store and online. To kick-start your search, you can check out the following online retailers.

• Pet Co (from $99)
• Big Al’s Pets (from $99)
• Chewy (from $99)

And of course, you can also find this aquarium kit on Amazon.

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That’s the end of our Fluval Spec V review. Curious to give this kit a try?