EcoQubeC Aquarium

Product Description

Features

• Best aquarium on amazon ✅ handmade beautiful living decor for office desk, cubicle, or home
• Low maintenance ✅ aquaponics techn makes your betta fish tank a clean self-sustained ecosystem
• 1 year warranty ✅ we've got your back, if anything breaks contact us & we'll replace it for free
• Aquarium starter kit ✅ includes: Remote for led lights, plant medium, integrated aquaponics filter
• Easy setup ✅ add seeds or green onion, add water, plug in & watch your shrimp or fish tank thrive

Top Reviews

Fabulous! I've included lots of info, tips, and tricks:
by S. W. (5 out of 5 stars)
September 6, 2016

UPDATE 9/19/16: Ok, so I struggled a bit to get my basil sprouted. I made the mistaken assumption that if the majority of the growing medium sponge was wet, all of the sponge would be wet, because it's a sponge. Nope! Found out the hard way to ENSURE that the whole sponge is moistened. I simply pushed mine down into the basket until the water level was almost even with the top of the sponge (as the roots grow, I will eventually carefully move it so the sponge once again fills up the whole basket). Sure enough, within a few days my seeds went from black and hard to white-ish clear and now I've got 3 sprouted basils and 1 is about 1/4" tall! FYI, it also helps to ensure you haven't lost a bunch of water through evaporation. Make sure you're keeping the water topped off as well.

UPDATE 9/7/16: 1 day later, the bubbles mat on the walls is all gone. =)

Ok, so I love aquaponics. Like, I used to think hydroponics was cool until I learned about aquaponics. One of my dreams is to have at least semi-self-sufficiency with my tilapia/rabbit/chicken supported garden. I also love keeping fish and bettas (as pets), but I hate cleaning and changing out the water...so it's been over 10 years since I last had a fresh water fish aquarium or even a betta. Cue my nigh unbridled excitement at this aquarium. Disclaimer: I've only had this aquarium for 2 days, so my review will be based off that experience. I'll try to update it later, but if there's no update, just assume I'm crazy in love and too busy fawning over my new aquarium to update it.
** FOR YOUR INFORMATION, my excitement was halted (I really should have thought it through but I didn't) when I received the aquarium and it said to wait 3 weeks or until the basil is one inch tall (!!) before putting in any fish. I already bought my fish. D'oh! As far as I can see, this factoid isn't mentioned anywhere in the description. So you know, don't run out to buy your fish as soon as you buy this...or be forced to find temporary housing. And no, I don't recommend sticking your fish in the EcoQube anyway if you make this mistake. The solid, permanently attached acrylic lip on the top of the aquarium (about 1-2" all the way around the top) will make it very, very frustrating to have to clean it the good old-fashioned way. Save the headache, wait.

Ok, onward! I bought my EcoQube from Aqua Design Innovations (not the Amazon listing! Although I imagine they sell the same kit), here's what's included (since it's not terribly clear):
1. Clear acrylic aquarium with filter and activated carbon bag (already inside the aquarium).
2. The hydroponic growing medium sponge (with basket) for ya basil with basil seeds.
3. LED color changing light (3 button control is on the power cord - don't worry, you can have both steady white light and colors at the same time) on an acrylic "slide" that lets you adjust the height of the light.
4. Power cord + adapter for all of the above.

THAT'S IT, THAT'S ALL YOU GET. Yes, pictures are misleading. Yes, their website shows you getting a remote, sand, decor, and glass cover (that price is also higher than this one), no you don't get any of that here. Their website (getecoqube) has more info and setup videos if you need it.

Alright, all that aside, here's my pros/cons/observations thus far:
+ Super easy to unbox and set up, minus the time it took to fill the 1.5 gallon tank with water, it probably only took me 10 minutes from opening the box to fully ready to go, seeds and all.
- The inside of the aquarium had what appeared to be tiny bits of acrylic. So I rinsed it out. This is how I know you don't want to clean this manually, the rinsed water was a real chore to get back out.
* The box itself is 8" long, 8" wide, and 9" tall. However, the filter et all in the back (the black part inside the aquarium), take up about 3" of depth on the majority of the back wall, so your usable space drops to about 8" long x 5" wide, not a lot! Keep this in mind when deciding on fish/plants/decor.
+ For about 10 minutes, my water was cloudy but it cleared up quickly (I did use filtered water from my refrigerator though).
* Initially, all the inside walls were completely covered in little bubbles! I mean, it was like a mat of bubbles. After around 40 hours, they have largely cleared up and the bubbles are now mostly concentrated on the top 2 inches. I suspect they'll continue clearing up.
* The light is bright. I don't suggest putting it in a bedroom if you're going to have the light on at night.
* I'm obviously impatient, so just FYI, 2 days in and there's no activity yet from my basil seeds.

My set up:
* One male betta. Don't house multiple male bettas together or you're asking for trouble. Betta enthusiasts will tell you they need minimum 5 gallons of space. As this is 1.5 gallons, I really don't recommend getting him a "companion" at all in this aquarium as it will probably only stress him out to share his somewhat small space. Don't worry, they are solitary in the wild (except for when mating). You can get "cleaner" fish to assist in keeping the aquarium spotless (yes algae can and probably will still grow in this, but not like in a normal aquarium). Amano shrimps or nerite snails are probably the best choices. More than 4 of either would likely be overkill as even though they clean, they still make waste. Once my betta is established in the aquarium (and making messes), I'm probably going to start with 1, maybe 2, snails and add more as needed.
* Rocks leftover from landscaping project. If you're going to use "found" rocks, do a few things first: test! - if a steel blade scratches and/or a cap-full of muratic acid on the rock bubbles, this rock is unsafe to use in an aquarium! If your rocks are safe, scrub them with hard bristle brush in hot water and then either boil them (very carefully, use the low and slow approach until they boil! Rocks can explode when boiled!) or pour boiling water all over them - preferably outside, for safety. I also recommend doing a final soaking post boiling - I did 24 hours - and a final rinse before putting them in your aquarium, just to be safe. You should also be adding the decor when you set up the aquarium and while you're waiting on the basil to grow, this way the aquarium can cycle with all objects in it to hopefully bring everything to neutral before adding the fish.
* Found wood. Again, if you're using a "found" object, precautions need to be taken. Ensure to remove ALL bark. Once you've done that, scrub it clean again, boil it or pour boiling water over it, and then let it soak in water for 2-3 weeks (I recommend changing the water a couple times). Yes it's all necessary. It's all about the chemistry of the objects and not messing up your aquarium or killing your fish accidentally.
* Riccia fluitans (also known as crystalwort). Bettas like shady aquariums with floating bits, and this is exactly what crystalwort does (crystalwort also loves light, which is great for this setup!). You can also go more advanced and secure it to wood/rocks/decor in the aquarium so it won't float. I won't get into how to do this (more so falls under the title of "aquascaping"), but you can google it (be careful, this is a rabbit hole if there ever was one - amazing things have been accomplished here).
* Anubis plant - bettas like to rest on leaves and this plant is great for that, if your betta chooses to use it. This is a low to moderate light plant, and the crystalwort will help the anubis in this setup by blocking some of the light.
* I also have a few marimo moss balls, so 1 or 2 will probably end up in here as well, space pending.

Basil tips:
* Seeds should sprout in 5-10 days.
* (Bottom) heat will help it germinate faster. As will covering them to maintain high humidity until they germinate, then remove the cover.
* If you sow more than one seed, once the plantlets have 3 pairs of leaves, (gently) destroy all but the strongest, most upright plant - this is also called thinning.
* After it's 6" tall, pinching off the growing tips will encourage bushy, as opposed to straight up, growth.
* Pinching off flower buds will get you more basil leaves.
* Frequent harvesting will allow your basil to live longer.
* If you're adding chemicals or conditioners to your water, I do NOT recommend consuming the basil.
* Aqua Design Innovations doesn't encourage consuming the basil. I'm no expert, but, I'm going to be consuming my basil. That's what traditional aquaponics is all about, fish waste feeds the plants and you eat the plants.
* When consuming, tear, don't chop the leaves.
* Up to half the plant can be harvested at one time.
* Plant can live for around 3 years.

So this has probably been my longest review ever. Thank you if you're still with me!

Do I recommend this? So far, absolutely yes! I'm so biased, and I probably should dock a star for it but I know I won't, but I do wish they would clear up some descriptions and pictures, it would have avoided some of my own confusion (and I wouldn't have a fish without a "home"). However, everything else so far has gone pretty...swimmingly. =)
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What's Actually Included - First Impressions
by Ludlum (4 out of 5 stars)
April 25, 2017

I found the listing a little confusing. So if you're reading this, here's what you'll get with the EcoQube C + Accessories.
1) Aquarium (1.5 gallons? felt like 1.25 when I was pouring water in) with wired light (be careful, this wire comes unattached very easily)
2) Styrofoam-looking grow medium and seeds (I've read this grow medium is sub-par)
3) Remote for the lights, (timer is either on/off, you can't adjust the length of time)
4) Mountain (allot of people say this is too big, I'm still on the fence till I get a fish in there)
5) Aquarium gravel
6) Glass cover
7) Wiring (of course)

It is easy to put together. They have instructions that make it fairly simple. I just wanted to list exactly what you're getting, because I started to get confused based on what they'd offered during kickstarter and what some of the tutorial videos seemed to imply would be included (but most likely these were made for kickstarter and never redone).

It's a really nice and clean looking aquarium. There are elements that seem a little cheap, like the wiring to the grow light. It's a bit disappointing to spend so much on a 1.25ish gallon tank and have any obvious flaws like that. I'm not unhappy with the purchase though. It does seem to be working and I'm looking forward to getting the basil growing and adding fish.
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Long Term Issues Plague A Stylish Tank
by Geoffrey Kleinman (3 out of 5 stars)
December 7, 2016

This tank makes 3 Betta fish in our household, and each of the tanks we have are different. We started with a Back to the Roots Water Garden and found that we liked the tank part of the equation more than the garden part. We then went with a non-garden tank from Pet Smart which has been mediocre at best (the pump was horrible). Our third tank is Aqua Design EcoQubeC Aquarium. The truth is, you don't need to have a huge garden to filter the water, and EcoQubeC handles this elegantly with a single plant.

The tank is notably smaller than the Back to The Roots Water Garden, but that also makes it a lot more ideal for a desktop tank. One of the stand out features is the tank's pump, which is well integrated into the tank and whisper quiet. Another key feature are the built in LED lights which help illuminate the tank as well as provide light for growing the seeds. The LED's have a number of different color settings as well as a 7 hour timer for the plants.

It has only been a week since we got the tank so it's too early to report on the plants, I'll update my review when they grow. Overall set up with the tank was easy and the tank has been performing excellently. The EcoQuebc has been a fantastic addition to our Betta fish family.
***Update March 29, 2017***

The first couple of weeks with the EcoQuebC were great, our beta fish loved it and our son loved it. But the long term hasn't been as good. The tank often develops some sort of weird foam/skin on the top of the water. The plant just isn't growing, it has been in the mini sprout phase for months. Even with a snail, the tank has gotten a ton of algae, and we've found that if the water level dips, the pump is unbearably loud. It's a shame, this aquarium looks amazing, but in the long term, it's not good.
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Great system and easy to keep
by Sigrid Hart (5 out of 5 stars)
March 24, 2017

I love this product and so far (three weeks after set up), everything is working great. I had some trouble sprouting the seeds and used a basil plant from the store. I cut a hole into the white sponge and inserted the plant with the roots. It started growing and is doing well.

The tank is populated with a betta fish, one ghost shrimp and two snail. There is also a water heater, which they sell separately, but neatly fits into the back compartment. Most of all I'm very impressed with their customer service. I was new to aquariums and they responded very quickly to my emails and had great suggestions.

The only negative there aren't any bigger sizes available of the ecocube. I'd love to have a bigger version!
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Fantastic little tank
by Spender (4 out of 5 stars)
January 3, 2019

First I have to say the customer service is great, had a little issue and it was taken care of quickly.

After setting this up and letting it run for two weeks I finally got the new kids. I decided on one Beta and two African Frogs. It took a few days but they are all doing well and getting used to the new accommodations. I planted a basil stem for my plant and it is also doing well. I really like the numurous light settings and timer. I have no idea what type of motor is being used in this system but it is totally silent. I knocked off one star because the literature does not provide enough information. relating to the system. It has a filter and a bag of what appears to be charcoal but there is noting explaining about that. All in all I really like this system and look forward to its continued operation. Hoping all keeps well only time will tell. UPDATE 1/04: I just love this product I added an Nerite Snale and she seems to be really happy, as does the others in the tank. Can't wait to get another one.
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Do not buy
by 1Saint (1 out of 5 stars)
July 12, 2017

Plant did not grow. When I contacted them they suggested that I try a green onion. It did not grow. I read online that someone used ivy and it is living. Now the pump has stopped working. It has been a problem from the moment I got it
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So quiet :)
by Kai (5 out of 5 stars)
December 23, 2016

I always looking for a full function desk top tank for my betta. Best part it has a filter that runs silently I can't hear any sound. Extra nice with the aquaponic system will keep the tank clean and my betta happy ;)))
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Cool Product but Bad Experience with Aqua Design Innovations.
by Ray and Erika (2 out of 5 stars)
August 29, 2019

I'll start off by saying that once I get this system up and running, I have much confidence that it will be beautiful and maybe even worth the effort. The only thing is that some may not have the same patience that I had in order to figure out how to make this thing work. I have been an Amazon customer for many many years (we're talking decades) while placing orders pretty much every week. I never write reviews but the experience that I have had doing business with this company (Aqua Design Innovations) is so bad that I felt the need to help others that may come across an experience with buying their Ecoqube C as I have.

Upon inspecting the contents of the package, it was apparent to me that the aquarium may have been used and left out on display for quite some time. I believe this because the tank was covered with dust and the basil seeds were missing. I emailed the company and they never got back to me. I figured that I'll just deal with it and just buy the seeds online. The second problem occurred when I realized that the timer button on the wired remote was not working. According to the instructions, there is supposed to be an indicator LED that comes on to let me know once the timer was working. Where is the indicator light? I emailed the company again to get some answers and...you guessed it.... No response again.

I had to search the internet to find the number to the company which I eventually came across. I call the number and no one ever picks up during business hours (and I'm assuming during non-business hours also). Instead, I go straight to "Kevin's" voicemail.

Once again I try to figure out a way to do this myself. Under the sticker they use to cover the buttons on the wired remote, I feel a little nub that I'm suspecting may be the LED for the timer. Sure enough, after lifting the sticker, there it was. Very cheap manufacturing Aqua Design Innovations! You can see the result of how I uncovered it in the pictures that I included by cutting out a portion of the sticker to reveal the LED. Additionally, the timer button had to be pressed down for about 15 seconds to make it work as opposed to the three seconds that the instructions claim. I would not have known this without discovering the LED.

Overall I can say that the product has potential if you have the patience and the luck to come across my review in order to know what to do because the company will not help you otherwise. Amazon was great on their part and even refunded me a portion of what I had spent for the aquarium because of my troubles. I think it says a lot if you consider how much I order from Amazon and the fact that Aqua Design Innovations has been the number one worst company I have ever done business with. Very poor quality control and absent customer support. It's as if everyone is just sleeping at the office of that company, if they're even there to begin with. For those who have already shelled out the money for this aquarium and are encountering the same problems that I had, I hope my review helps you so that you don't have to go through the same headaches that I had.
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Filter is too strong for a betta fish!
by Catherine Alexandra Carter (1 out of 5 stars)
April 7, 2019

Our betta fish is named Mr. Freeze, yes he's a villain. I bought this tank for my 17 year old and Mr. Freeze as a bday gift. Unfortunately the filter was sucking his fins to the filter grate, making him stressed and so we were unable to turn it on. I don't recommend it for a betta fish.
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False advertisement, it does require maintenance and it's a pain to clean
by Alex V. (2 out of 5 stars)
September 30, 2019

I bought this because of its size which I thought it'd be great for a male Betta.

First of, it DOES require to be cleaned at least each 3 weeks. With just a Betta inside, rocks and the only on leaf ornament I have on it, start to get dirty stains on them. It is not easy to get cleaned because the top of it has an edge where you're supposed to place the tank glass cover. In addition, it's kind of hard to get the Betta off the tank with a fish tank net, because of those edges. After a year of being used, water changes and tank cleaning began to be needed as frequent as each 2 weeks. This is something that claims it requires the lowest maintenance, is completely false.

I'm going to help my poor Betta and get him a brand new home, a regular aquarium that it'll be more easy to clean, that will have more room for him and that won't claim false features like this expensive plastic box.

And don't even get me started with the "plant growing" that this thing supposedly has, it's a freaking joke.

The only 2 things I like is that it is very quiet and fits in small places, that's it.

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