Marineland 5 Gallon Portrait Aquarium Review

Are you a long-time fish owner looking for a new small aquarium to brighten up your home?

The Marineland 5 Gallon Portrait Aquarium is a small-sized, aesthetically-pleasing addition to any fish-keeping enthusiast’s repertoire.

This aquarium’s filter comes with adjustable settings, making it flexible enough to fit the needs of many different kinds of fish, though some users have had difficulty finding a setting on the filter that supports betta fish.

Still wondering whether this Marineland Portrait Aquarium is the best small, nano aquarium for you?

Here we lay out its features, both positive and negative, so that you can make the best decision for yourself.

Marineland 5 Gallon Portrait Aquarium: The Details

Specs

• Weight: 12 pounds
• Dimensions: 11.8 x 11.6 x 17 inches
• Capacity: 5 gallons
• Lighting: Blue and white LED lighting
• Glass or Acrylic: Glass
• Accessories: Advanced three-stage hidden back panel filtration, adjustable flow filter pump, Rite-Size Z Cartridge, Marineland Bio-Foam, hinged light, sliding glass canopy, blue nighttime LEDs, white daytime LEDs, base
• Warranty: Two-year limited warranty; United Pet Group, Inc. will repair or replace any Portrait Aquarium kit deemed defective in workmanship or materials, including the 5g pump/tube, bio-foam insert, nozzle and elbows, LED light, and sliding glass canopy.

Features

Three-Stage Hidden Filtration System

This fish tank kit includes Marineland’s three-stage hidden filtration system.

This system is positioned in the aquarium in a way that keeps it from blocking owners’ view of the fish while still keeping the water crystal clear and maintaining a safe and healthy environment for the fish.

The Rite-Size Z Cartridge that the filter uses is simple to replace when necessary, and the filter also has an adjustable flow filter pump, allowing you to change the settings based on personal preference or the needs of a particular kind of fish.

Energy-Efficient Three-Setting Hinged LED Light

This fish tank comes with an energy efficient LED light, which is hinged to allow for easy access to cleaning the tank, and also includes a three-way switch to adjust its settings.

The three options are white and blue, off, and blue-only settings, each fitting a different moment or fish owner’s unique preferences.

The white LEDs create a shimmering light effect in the water, akin to the way sunlight appears when viewed from underwater, providing a nice, bright, daytime feeling.

The blue LEDs produce a more relaxing moonlight glow, perfect for nighttime fish-keeping.

Those who prefer no light in the fish tank at all have that option as well, but for everyone else, the LED lighting can help bring this fish tank to life.

Rounded Corners for Easy Fish Viewing and Aesthetic Appeal

The Marineland 5 Gallon Portrait Aquarium has curved glass, allowing users to easily view all five gallons of its capacity without getting trapped looking at corners.

This makes it simpler for fish owners to view their beautiful pets from any angle and, in general, creates a sleek, modern, aesthetically pleasing look for the fish tank.

This feature helps in turning this aquarium into a great feature piece and decorative conversation topic for any home.

Sliding Glass Canopy for Easy Feeding and Cleaning

This fish tank is completely covered and therefore able to effectively protect the fish inside from any falling objects or any four-legged pets that might be wandering around your house.

However, this does not mean that the tank is difficult to open for feeding or cleaning purposes.

The Marineland Portrait Aquarium features a unique glass canopy that can be slid to the back of the aquarium, allowing users to easily feed their fish and clean the tank.

Marineland 5 Gallon Portrait Aquarium Review

The Positives

Adjustable and Unobtrusive Three-Stage Hidden Filtration System

The Marineland’s three-stage hidden filtration system included in this portrait aquarium is completely contained in the rear compartment, easy to access when necessary but kept out of view the rest of the time.

It allows users to alter the flow of the pump for different fish needs. For example, betta fish prefer weaker currents and so require a lower setting on the pump.

This aquarium is consequently flexible enough to support the needs of many different small fish.

An Aesthetically Pleasing Small Decorative Piece

This aquarium is overall a pleasant addition to any room in your home.

Its curved tank results in minimal distortion of the fish inside, and whether you choose to have that effect work together with the blue and white LED options or without it (the light is removable if you so desire), the aquarium provides a beautiful, natural view of your fish.

Its portrait orientation allows users to place tall ornaments or plants in the tank if they so desire while still having plenty of room for the fish to swim around.

The vertical alignment of this 5-gallon aquarium also means that the aquarium does not take up much space, making it the best nano aquarium to place in any part of the home.

It’s small footprint also makes it easily portable if your fish require a change of scenery.

Sturdy Build

Though the base is made of plastic, it is sturdy, and therefore the Marineland 5 Gallon Portrait Aquarium is unlikely to wobble or fall over.

This is especially useful for users who are concerned about accidentally knocking the aquarium down because of its small size.

Quiet Pump Motor

The filter pump on this fish tank is submerged in water and consequently makes next to no noise as it operates.

No need to be annoyed by being drowned out by the whirring or bubbling of your tank.

As a bonus, the cartridges that the filter uses are easy to find at almost any pet store that has fish supplies, and the motor has four small suction cup feet for additional stability.

Warranty

We’re always thankful when a warranty is included with a new product because let’s face it – you never know.

In the event that you notice any manufacturing errors or defects on your new aquarium, contact Marineland and they will repair or replace your portrait aquarium at no additional cost.

As always, be sure to handle your aquarium with care during your warranty so none of the damages will be no fault of your own – which could void the warranty.

Easy To Use

No need to stress yourself out with this tank – it’s ease of use makes it a great option for beginners and those just starting out. It also makes it easy for professionals to switch to.

You’ll be able to quickly and easily get your tank operational without any headaches. If you do need a push in the right direction, the portrait aquarium comes with instructions that are sometimes helpful even if they are lacking.

The tank is additionally easy to maintain. Marineland has designed the portrait aquarium to have easy access to everything you need to keep your tank maintained and flowing.

No need to fret; you can expect this tank to be super low maintenance thanks to the above mentioned points.

Here’s a video showing what the Marineland Portrait Aquarium looks like out of the box.

Customer Service

Nothing is more frustrating than waiting for hours on hold, only to be met with less than helpful advice, or even worse, a click.

Thankfully, in the event that you do get flustered, stuck, or just have some questions about your Portrait 5 Gallon Aquarium you won’t be left to fend for yourself.

Customers have raved about Marineland’s friendly and helpful customer service which is a huge bonus for those that may need some extra advice right from the source.

Price

A smaller tank obviously means a smaller price tag, but given the features, efficiency and ease of design included with this aquarium, its clear it is a bargain.

Marineland’s Portrait Aquarium stands up against other tanks of its size with a beautiful design that makes other tanks look like old news.

The Portrait Aquarium isn’t only super sturdy for its price, but the included warranty allows you to stretch your dollar even further.

The Negatives

Open Filter Can Trap Smaller Fish

Although this aquarium is an ideal size for small fish, in some cases, smaller fish have a tendency to swim in through the opening of the filter and become trapped inside.

This is potentially dangerous for the fish and frustrating for the pet owners.

Leaky Bottom Seams

Some owners of the Marineland 5 Gallon Portrait Aquarium have found that the seams at the bottom of the tank begin to leak after some time of use.

Though the leaks are easy to fix with some silicon sealer (if you are experienced with repairing glass materials), it is inconvenient and a potentially expensive problem for users who do not have that kind of craft experience.

Comes Without a Heater

This won’t be a large issue for experienced fish-keeping hobbyists who expect to have to purchase a heater in addition to their aquarium.

But, the lack of a heater in this Marineland Aquarium might prove inconvenient and costly for beginners who find that their fish requires a warmer environment.

Filter Pump Current Potentially Too Strong for Bettas

Although the filter pump has an adjustable flow, some fish owners have found that even the lowest setting on the filter is still too strong of a current for their betta fish to be comfortable.

Some users have devised solutions to this problem by altering the pump, but this might not be a viable solution for people without this kind of technical experience.

Owners of betta fish uncertain about this filter pump might be better off finding a fish tank made specifically to fit betta fish’s needs.

Overall Verdict

We recommend this small aquarium to any fish owners looking for a new, nice-looking, petite aquarium for their home.

However, given the strength of current in the pump, we would recommend caution for betta fish owners who do not feel they have sufficient technical knowledge to adjust the pump themselves.

That being said the Marineland 5 Gallon Portrait Aquarium is a solid choice for those looking for a durable, easy-to-use, beautifully styled tank.

Where to Buy the Marineland 5 Gallon Portrait Aquarium

The Marineland brand has an array of aquatic products available on the market from a variety of tanks and aquariums to decorations.

The Marineland 5 Gallon Portrait aquarium has become a popular find thanks to its sleek design and durability and can be found both in-store and online.

To start, check out the following online locations below.

• Petco (from $60)
• Aquatics Plus (from $55)
• Pets Warehouse (from $76)

As expected, it’s also available for purchase on Amazon.

---

That’s it for our review on the Marineland 5 Gallon Portrait Aquarium. Curious to give it a try?