"I have had this tank for two weeks and I am quite pleased so far. Here is a quick run down on my pros and cons:
Pros:
-Acrylic is incredible, will never go back to glass.
-Very handsome tank, the curved front is a great addition.
-Streamlined hood and filtration system are unobtrusive and make the tank look uncluttered and very nice.
-Overall a pain free, great looking 12 gallon tank that you won't regret buying.
Cons:
-The light is on the small side, plenty to light the tank but probably not enough for someone wanting lots of light for live plants.
-Not truly "silent" but very bearable, although the water level has to be maintained rather high to reach the most silent levels.
-Filter intake piece is large for a tank this small. Marineland's standalone units have a much smaller intake piece. Also it is rather long and almost touched my gravel bed. A quick cut of the tube solved this issue.
-Opening the lid on the cover reveals a very limited access space to the tank. It is enough for feeding but forget about fitting your hand in or doing cleaning. For that the entire cover has to come off and with it the light making it hard to see what you are doing.
On the whole I am happy with this great looking tank. All my gripes with it I would consider minor design issues. However, if you have the budget I would recommend getting an acrylic tank that is compatible with their Eclipse1, Eclipse2, or Eclipse3 filtration and illumination systems. I had a chance to see one at the store. They have a much larger flourescent lamp i.e., better lighting, and the entire front quarter swings open with the lamp attached, giving you room to maneuver without taking the whole top off."