First off, let me say this tank is *gorgeous*. The curved glass corners give it a sleek, modern look that stands out on my desk. The glass is thicker than I expected—no flimsy nonsense here. It feels sturdy, and the clarity is fantastic for watching my shrimp do their tiny shrimp things.

The included foam mat was a nice surprise—definitely don’t toss it with the packaging! It protects surfaces and adds stability. The tank alone is worth the price, honestly. If you’re like me and just wanted a quality nano tank, this is a win.

Now, the filter. It’s… fine. It works, but it’s cheaply made. The flow is strong (too strong for my betta at first), and the bright blue color is *distracting*. I ended up baffling it with foam and angling the output to reduce flow. Pro tip: plug the air intake nipple—it gets way quieter. Would I buy this filter separately? No. But as a freebie with the tank, it’s serviceable.

The light? Meh. It’s dim, flimsy, and has no on/off switch (just unplug it—ugh). Fine for temporary use while scaping, but I swapped it out immediately for something brighter. Don’t expect to grow plants with this.

The lid is plasticky and slides around too easily (my cat sees it as a challenge). It’s functional but feels like an afterthought. I’d love a glass lid instead.

Final verdict? The *tank itself* is 5/5—stellar quality and design. The extras (filter, light) are 2-3/5 at best. But since the tank’s the star, I’d still buy this kit again. Just budget for upgrades!