Hi. I'm going to be getting a new 55g kit tank pretty soon and would like your input. I've got two choices. A Tetra kit tank from my LFS or a... Aqua-something from Wall Mart. Same price ($155) and I'm just about positive they actually are the same tank and hood. Maybe the same filter too. Same picture on both boxes and the filters look just about identical. Probably both made in China or something and then sold under the Tetra or Wal-Mart names. Anyway, here's the rub. The Tetra comes with the name brand Whisper 30/60 HOB and heater but the Wal-Mart tank comes with what looks like the same filter and it's even called a 30/60 but it has the aqua-something name. Dunno there. OK, the important part. The heater. The Wal-Mart heater is different. It is a pre-set one. 78 degrees all the time. No setting it. And... it's got this really cool red light in it. (yes I'm easy to impress) Other then that, no different. So, is one any better then the other? Any experiences with either?

Second question: Neither of these tanks come with undergravel filters. Shouild I add them? What about upgrading to a different kind of filter? A canister maybe and why?

Thanks for any help. All opinions welcome. :)

skip on the UGF, depending on what you are keeping in there will determine what filters i would suggest. if it is only going to be community you could probably get away with the power filters that it comes with. if you want to go the cichlid route i would advise picking up a mid size cannister filter. i have always run ebo jager heaters. alot of people like the stealth visitherm heaters though.

I don't know what you are planning on doing with those tanks but i have heard that the light hoods that come in those kits are pretty useless if you plan on trying to keep any live plants. Just a heads up

yeah i agree, i think most all of the "stock" light fixtures that come with these kits are useless when it comes to plants. that's easy to get around though, you can always go to any home improvement store and buy yourself a cheap flourescent fixture that would support plant life.

Agree with you. I figure the hood intself is probably OK but the lights I've seen are pretty dim. lol Figured I'd just put some CF's in there.