The Marineland 5-gallon portrait was one of my first tanks.
While it averages close to five stars on Amazon, there are some annoying things you should know.
I’ve had it set up for a while and want to share my experience.
The good, bad, and the ugly.
Summary
For the price, the Marineland 5 Gallon Tank is a solid beginner-friendly aquarium. I would mainly recommend using a beta fish in this size tank. Because it was fair-priced and easy to set up, I don’t regret buying it.
Pros
- Affordable
- Easy Setup
- Don’t need a lot of space
Cons
- Glass lid has no handle
- Weak light for live plants
- Small filter cartridge
First, let me briefly go over…
My Setup
I wanted an aquarium that could fit on my work desk. I don’t have a lot of room, so this 5-gallon portrait worked perfectly.
I love its shape because it doesn’t take up too much space and is aesthetically pleasing.
I went to my local chain pet store. They recommended some live plants and four Neon Tetra. Within a few weeks, the plants (mainly bamboo) rotted away and my Neon Tetra were acting aggressively.
I didn’t know this then, but Neon Tetra are better suited in at least 10 gallons and a minimum of 6 for a colony. So, I dug in and did a lot of research on them.
I moved them to my 20-gallon setup. They are much more comfortable and don’t act aggressively anymore. The mistake I made was that I didn’t research Neon Tetra before I went to the chain Pet Store. As a result, I built an improper environment for them.
Aesthetically this tank looks awesome.
But from a functionality standpoint, some things are frustrating.
First, let’s start with…
What’s Included?
Well, it comes in this nicely packaged box.
Inside you’ll find…
- 5-gallon glass aquarium
- LED strip panel
- Bottom stand
- Filter slide
- Pump w/ tube
Pretty straightforward.
If you’re curious, I dedicated a full post detailing my setup.
Below are the pros & cons I’ve noticed after using it every day.
Pros & Cons
Starting with the pros…
Aesthetic
I love the look of this aquarium. The fact that it sits vertically and doesn’t take up as much space as a normal wider tank is so nice. I have it set up right next to my computer, and it’s a vibe.
Easy setup
Most beginners (including myself) have no idea where to start, so this was a great all-in-one setup. As I briefly mentioned above, the setup was fairly easy. This was my first aquarium, and I could figure it out without any issues.
Alright, now let’s move on to the cons.
Light
If you plan on having live plants, the light with this tank will only work with a select few, like…
- Anubias
- Java Fern
- Cryptocoryne
It killed most of my live plants because it wasn’t powerful enough. You can see in the image below that it consists of a small LED strip. Again, it’ll probably be fine if you only stock low-light plants. But I’d suggest upgrading, especially if you’re going to stick with this hobby long-term.
My solution was to replace it with this Fluval LED Nano light. That light allows you to automatically program a circadian rhythm, which is important for your live plants and the health of your fish. I’m so glad I upgraded to the Fluval; it’s a high-quality light.
Moving on to the most frustrating part about this aquarium.
Glass lid
How the heck are you going to sell a lid you need to remove daily to feed your fish WITHOUT A HANDLE?
I’m sure a handle could easily break from a shipping perspective, but come on!
It’s annoying to pull the lid off by the sides carefully. I accidentally dropped the lid a few times, making a mess.
Having no handle is probably my biggest frustration with this aquarium. You could hack something together (like buy sticky clips on Amazon), but they should already come with some.
Small Filter
After watching Aquarium Coops video on this tank, I saw that Cory added more biological filtration.
I bought this sponge from their website and have completely replaced the stock filter that comes with the tank.
You can see in the image below how tiny their filtration is. It’s a replaceable filter and small sponge. Not only do you have to keep buying the filters, but it’s also just so tiny. The more biological filtration, the better.
Pump suction cups
The suction cups for the pump are on the bottom and work well. But the annoying part is that there’s barely any space in the back to see if you suctioned the pump properly.
It’s sort of pushing it down and hope it sticks method.
Pump attachment
The pump tube at the top often detaches because algae builds up on the connectors. I wish there were a better way to secure it because I often have to go in, wipe it down and reconnect it.
Pump stopped working
After five months of letting my tank run, my pump stopped working. I read online that several people could get theirs to start working again by cleaning it.
Unfortunately, I tried everything, and nothing worked.
I now know it’s common practice to clean your pump every couple of months, which I’ll be doing.
I bought this pump (2-pack) from Amazon, which does the job nicely. Or you could buy directly from Marineland’s website.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to replace submersible pump for marineland portrait 5 gallon setup?
First, unplug your be pump so it’s off. Next, pull it up off the bottom. There are suction cups on the bottom of the pump, so it will require some force. Once out, pull the tube off the pump and put it on your new pump.
How to filter change marineland portrait aquarium kit 5 gallon?
The filter cartridges are a rip-off. Constantly changing the filter is a bad idea because you’re replacing the beneficial bacteria. This is a common sleazy business move in the aquarium industry to keep you buying new ones. Here’s a better solution…
Buy this sponge from Aquarium Coop. Once you get it, cut it to fit it in the back. And you’re golden. You never need to replace and buy new filters again. Just make sure to clean it every now and then when you’re doing tank maintenance.
Bottom Line
To put it simply, this tank has a lot of room for improvement. But mine is still going strong, and I can’t complain about the price.
It’s budget-friendly and easy to set up, so I’d recommend it for beginners.
