2.5 or Spec: Which is better for RCS?
 

Hi all,
I have a Spec currently for my RCS but I've been tossing around the idea of moving to a 2.5g and buying a filter and light.
Which do you prefer and why?

Been having this discussion in my head for some time now (the voices, THE VOICES!) :)

The 2.5 is a great size and shape (long instead of tall) but I can't build one with a decent light & filter for any better price than the spec - and the spec looks "put together" for my desk at work, know what I mean? The Spec V looks fantastic, but might be a little big and get a little too much attention at the office.

That's exactly my dilemma! I don't mind buying all the pieces is need but it would look a little sloppy. I just love the wide shape, it makes it so much easier to decorate and I'd be able to fit quite a few more shrimp in there! Suh a hard choice.

JBJ Picotpe would be my vote in the price range. I owned the Spec, and while I loved it was an all in one unit, I did not like that it isn't a true rimless (metal strips on the front glass) and I did have to upgrade the light. The space isn't as useable as the picotope either, I prefer a wide rather than tall tank.

Saw this yesterday for the first time. Very slick:

http://www.amazon.com/Aquatic-Suppli...keywords=glass

Spec has a bunch better filter (huge surface area), unless you decide to get a bulky HOB for the 2.5g.

If I were you I'd get the new Spec V, but if it's going on the corner of a small desk get the regular 2g.

I like the new Spec but I don't know if my desk could sustain the weight of it, that's why I was hoping to stay smaller than 5g

As far as filtration goes, I have a spare 10g filter I was thinking of using. All I'd need would be a light

Wow, I always thought Penn-Pax = crappy little plastic stuff for the most part, but these look very clean:
http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&rh=i...0radius&page=1
Their distribution must really suck for the better stuff, never saw them before.


That 3 gallon JBJ is very cool looking, the HOB not so much :)
EDIT: Cheapest I could find it, especially if you add another item to get over the free shipping mark:
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=15493

Exactly where I ordered from. They also have a 6500K replacement lamp you will want to use instead of the 50/50 bulb supplied. Should get you to free shipping. The HOB, while a bad color (purple), actually does a very good job for its size. I would probably run an AC20 on it though if it wasnt a simple betta tank for me.

Any idea what the 6500k bulb's item number is? (or the pin type) It's not on the tank page.

Any of these should work. I have the 6700K bulb.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=11382

very cool, is the litle hob pretty quiet or do you get the waterfall effect?

It's super quiet. I have it on my desk at work and you can't even tell its running.

Well dammit the credit card is coming out then :) Was lusting after the Spec V but that seemed just a little to long for the office, this should make a nice shrimp/plant tank! (the light is probably a little more suited to plants to - going for low light anubis and what-not)

DONE! order placed, I'll be looking for shrimp in the trading room in a month or 2 :)

Walmart sells this tank for $35 if I remember correctly.