Marina LED Aquarium Kit Review

Are you in the market for an aquarium? Maybe for some new fish or ones you’ve had for a while? Well, the Marina LED Aquarium Kit may be just the product you’re seeking.

It includes everything necessary to get your aquarium started, is easy to set up, and is compact enough for small spaces.

Unfortunately, not everyone speaks of a great experience with this aquarium kit. Some users have found that it leaks, that the filter was loud and malfunctioned, and quite a few users had their aquarium arrive completely shattered (Yikes!).

Nonetheless, before you make the final decision about whether this product is for you, let’s take a more in-depth look at the Marine LED Aquarium Kit.

Marine LED Aquarium Kit: The Details

Specs

• Weight: 35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 24 x 12.5 x 16.5 inches.
• Capacity: 20 gallons.
• Lighting: LED lighting.
• Glass or Acrylic:
• Accessories: Net, fish food, care guide, lighting, and filter.
• Warranty: One-year warranty.

Features

Glass

This Marina Aquarium is made of glass, lined with a special substance that ensures the glass won’t oxidize as time goes by. This glass is also tempered for scratch resistance and durability.

The non-oxidizing substance also allows you to put saltwater in this tank, and while normal glass aquariums would corrode, this Marine one will not!

Filter

The filter included with this aquarium is a Slim S20 clip-on power filter, which arrives with one cartridge as well.

The filter works to remove all alkaline residue and chlorides from the water, and while it’s quite small, this ensures you won’t need to worry about dealing with a big, clunky filter that takes up space on the aquarium.

Lighting

This aquarium kit includes an LED natural daylight effect light that is connected to the hood of the tank.

Don’t worry about the light being too bright; Marina has calibrated it to ensure it’s just right, so as not to disturb your fish.

The bulb is specifically created to imitate the natural sunlight, which is then operated with a simple “on” and “off” switch. The light also creates perfect conditions for any plant life you desire to place in the aquarium.

Conditioner

The conditioner included in this aquarium kit ensures the water inside remains clean and healthy for your fish.

It converts normal tap water into water that is balanced and perfectly suited for your collection of species, as it removes toxic substances which usually build up when using tap.

You also get a few supplements in this kit, and those will help your fish feel as though they’re in their natural habitat.

Accessories

• Marina Slim S20 clip-on filter with quick-change filter cartridges.
• Daylight effect LED lighting.
• Fluval Max fish food.
• Fluval Aqua Plus water conditioner.
• Fluval cycle biological supplement.
• Fishnet.
• Aquarium care guide.

Marine LED Aquarium Kit Review

The Positives

Good for Beginners

The Marina LED Aquarium Kit is ideal for beginners owning fish for the first time.

The kit arrives with everything you need, so there is no second-guessing when it comes to different products to buy or having to spend extra money when you discover you’re lacking in supplies.

The kit even includes some more advanced components, like the water conditioner, and a few bonus items, like the fishnet and food, making the process easy.

Additionally, if you’re worried you’ll have to check on things or remove the hood of the aquarium often, that won’t be an issue. There is a space for food to be administered, and the lighting can be operated from the outside. You’ll be an expert in no time!

Easy to Set Up

The aquarium is also super easy to set up. The kit arrives with an easy instruction booklet to help you put it all together, but it doesn’t take much.

Really, it’s as simple as clipping on the filter, making sure the light works, attaching the water conditioner, plugging everything in, adding water and the fish, and you’re ready to go.

The maintenance involved is just changing out the cartridges in the filter. It really can’t be much easier than that!

This makes this aquarium a great option for beginners or busy hobbyists, as it won’t steal too much time away from you to set up and maintain.

Quiet

This was one of the positives that users mentioned in several of their reviews. The whole aquarium, the filter especially, is very quiet. You might not even know that it’s on!

The fish won’t be disturbed by any noise or vibrations, and if you put your new aquarium in a quiet place, you won’t be disturbed either. Even the lid opens and shuts quietly.

This gives you the option of placing your aquarium in calmer environments like the bedroom without worry that it will ruin your zen.

Compact

Aquariums are no longer just for mansions and large spaces anymore. With the Marina LED Aquarium Kit, you can put an aquarium wherever you want.

Whether you live in a small apartment or want the calming presence of fish in your little office, this tank will fit wherever you put it. With its compact design, that’s just about anywhere!

Good Lighting

The lighting on this aquarium is also pretty great. It’s not too bright, but also not so dim that you can’t locate your fish.

There aren’t any special settings, but it’s a light that imitates daylight and is bright enough to help your fish thrive, as well as any vegetation you add.

It’s always great when LED lights are already included in your aquarium, it acts as an additional light source not only for your pets, but for dim spaces too, and it saves for you having to go out in search of your own.

Inexpensive

The Marina LED Aquarium won’t break the bank. At under $100 on Amazon, this tank is quite a deal, especially considering all that is included.

You won’t find many other aquariums that offer a 20-gallon capacity and all the extras (food, supplements, filter, etc.) for such a low price.

This price point is great for those just starting out, or those on a budget who don’t want to shell out a ton of cash on a new hobby right away.

This aquarium will get you set-up and accustomed without going broke. You’re getting quite a lot for what you’re paying.

Sturdy

Those who want to forego acrylic for the glossier look of glass won’t have to worry about this aquarium being an issue.

If you’ve ever owned a glass aquarium before, you know they’re prone to scratches and nicks if they’re not carefully handled. The glass on the Marina LED Aquarium Kit is scratch-resistant, making owning this aquarium less of a hassle for you.

The glass used in the design of this aquarium is built to stand up against the test of time. Marina has chosen to use a coated glass to help protect against oxidization, increasing the lifespan of your tank.

By tempering the glass, they’ve made this aquarium much more durable than other tanks of the same material, allowing it to withstand pressure and reduce the chances of shattering or breaking.

The Negatives

Wonky Components

Unfortunately, just because something comes with everything you need, doesn’t mean it works perfectly.

Some reviewers mentioned that some components of their aquarium stopped working sooner than they expected.

Sometimes the light proved faulty or there was an issue with the filter. This may be a result of the product reflecting the price but it’s still a disappointing find nonetheless.

Leaks

Quite a few users also had issues with leaks. They had the aquarium all set up and assumed it was working fine, only to come home and find water on the floor.

This is definitely a concern. You want any aquarium you buy to be sturdy and well-built. While not all users have had this problem, there are many who have, so it’s something to take note of.

Shipping Woes

A number of users also mentioned that when they received their aquarium, once they opened the box, things were not as expected. All some found was a pile of shattered glass.

This may not be the company’s fault, it could just be a rough shipping process, but clearly, they need to be safeguarding their product better than they already are.

If you decide to purchase a Marina aquarium, make sure you keep the return policy handy.

Weak Filter

A few users also mentioned that they found the filter was not up to par. It either broke after a short time, or wasn’t as powerful as some users would have liked.

Some users still uncovered dirt and debris in the water, meaning the filter was not strong enough to sift out the particles.

That being said, other users have raved about the filter included with this aquarium, so this could all be chalked up to human error, though if its due to manufacturing issues, it can be a cause for worry.

Here’s a video showing what the 10 gallon version of the Marina LED Aquarium Kit looks like out of the box.

Overall Verdict

After going over all the positives and negatives, we do recommend the Marina LED Aquarium Kit. It’s a great starting point for beginners on a budget, and will allow your fish to shine.

With the issues users have had, including leaks, filter issues, and the trouble with some people receiving a completely shattered aquarium, it does have a few risks.

However, the majority of the issues seem to be a manufacturing or shipping defects, which can be solved with an exchange for a new kit.

There are still a large number of customers who have been thrilled with their purchase, so should your kit arrive in perfect condition, then it’ll certainly live up to your needs!

Where to Buy the Marina LED Aquarium Kit

This isn’t Marina’s first attempt at making an affordable aquarium, they have a wide variety of aquatic items in their product line including filtration, water care, and aquariums of varying types and sizes.

The Marina LED Aquarium Kit is just one example of this company’s success, with a number of their products recommended by experts and enthusiasts.

Thanks to their success, products like this one can be found stocked both in-store and online. While it’s always best to check pet, fish, and specialty stores, you can kick-start your search with the following online retailers.

• Target (from $99)
• Chewy (from $96)

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

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That’s it for our Marina LED Aquarium Kit review. Are you tempted to give it a try?