Hagen Marina Mermaid Aquarium Kit > Reviews (4)

We seem to acquire fish at an unhealthy rate, and although we already have a large fish tank, when another two additions to our family arrived, I decided to get another home. Little Miss thought she should have first choice of des res, so was given the choice of tank.

Of course, this pink tank caught her eye almost immediately, and nothing else would be suitable for the new fish.

Cunningly marketed with a small picture of the tank on the box, and a large shell backdrop and mermaid to the foreground, this is sure to be a hit with anyone on a pink fest. We even have a rather magical description of the legend of the mermaid, and even a young child who can’t yet read a full newspaper soon realises that they can now “be enchanted by the Mermaid’s underwater adventures”

~~WHO IS IT FOR?~~

Goldfish or coldwater fish; for tropical fish, a heater is required.

It’s suitable for 3 fish up to 5cm (long I presume), and when they grow, they will have to sell up and move on.

~~WHAT DO I GET?~~

17 litre glass aquarium. 29.5cm x 32cm
Plastic cover and four feet
Elite internal filter
Aqua plus 30ml water conditioner
30ml biological supplement
1.5g pink gravel
Laminated background scene
Mermaid ornament
Instructions

Really everything needed to set up an aquarium…mermaid of course being THE MOST IMPORTANT!

~~THE TANK AND ACCESSORIES~~

Naturally, the tank is pink- a rather bright Barbie pink. That’s not strictly true; the tank itself is clear but the eyes are drawn to the pink feet and the pink curved lid. The lid is useful in that the corners can be lifted for ease of feeding, so no need to lift up the whole lid.

The water filter is also pink, I assume so that it coordinates perfectly, and the gravel is a rather pretty shade of mid pink.

Mermaid is a rather beautiful mermaid with flowing blonde locks, blue eyes and extraordinarily long eyelashes. She sits on a blue shell, and does truly appeal to lovers of all things girly and pink. I remind the world that I didn’t chose it!

The instruction leaflet is written in English and French, so for anyone confused by one language just go for the other. Actually, I set it up myself, and with a series of pictures and simple step by step instructions, I was able to get it all going without any bother whatsoever.

~~SETTING IT UP~~

The instructions tell me how to do this, and a lot of it is common sense. Yes, I know to add the gravel, and the mermaid, and I do know that water is imperative for fish.

Remember to rinse the filter before setting it up, as well as all the other bits and pieces. Another point to note is that the water should be left for 3 or 4 days before introducing the fish to their home. This was useful advise, otherwise, I would have sent them home immediately.

So, I do everything correctly, add the conditioner and supplement, and there it stands complete with some extra foliage we had purchased at the shop. But wait…having followed the instructions to the letter, I still had the feet to put on the bottom of the tank. No good without feet, so I have to empty the water out and start again.

I have re read the instructions since, and am still not convinced the bit about the feet is anywhere. I know it’s common sense, but I need a step by step for idiots manual please!

A good reason to keep the instructions is the trouble shooting section, giving ideas as to what you can do if things appear to be going wrong… spotted fish, lethargic fish, green tank, and such like.

~~GUARANTEE~~

Yes, it comes with a 2 year guarantee, but actually states that it is covered only if it is standing on its four feet. Lucky mine is on its feet then.

~~PRICE ANDAVAILABILITY~~

This cost £19.99 from Pets R Us, but I think it was on special offer, and that the RRP is £24.99.

Not a bad price really, when I look at the price of the fishy ornaments; the mermaid alone would have set me back about a fiver, and then of course, there’s the gravel…

~~WEBSITE~~

www.hagen.com

Lots of information about the aquariums available, as well as the extra bits that can be purchased for the aquarium. One of the items we do like, and will probably get, are lights; rather fascinating I think to see the mermaid glow with the little fishes swimming round her.

~~WHAT WE THINK~~

Well, there’s not just me involved in this one. Little Miss thinks it’s absolutely fabulous. It’s so pink and straight out of the Little Mermaid film, we almost expect to hear those dulcet tones coming from the tank. The fish, whose names change on a daily basis, appear to like their home; we have had no complaints to date.

From my point of view, I would agree that it is rather pretty, if a tad tacky, but for those who like this kind of thing, it will be a hit.

It is very easy to set up, and once up and running, requires minimum effort. The only problem I had (apart from the feet) was setting up the filter; it took me ages to get it at optimum height in the water- too high and it was splashing water all over, too low, and it didn’t appear to be filtering. There is some noise, but once you get used to it, you don’t feel an almost constant urge to take a trip to the toilet.

The whole aquarium is, when compared to many of the aquariums, very very reasonably priced. I suppose it can’t be too expensive, because it has a limited but very persuasive market. I do think, though, that for what you get with the actual tank, it is excellent value.

For anyone with fish who want a home, and a pink mad person who wants to give them a home, this is a goody!

Thanks for reading.

Daniela x