Tom's Deco 3 Aquarium Review: A Tiny But Mighty 3-Gallon Reef Tank

This review dives into the Tom's Deco 3 (potentially misidentified as Tom's Pico Taupe), a compact 3-gallon saltwater aquarium that punches above its weight. Despite its diminutive size, this surprisingly versatile system successfully houses a diverse ecosystem including a fish, various corals (mushrooms, button polyps, watermelon polyps, and even a bird's nest coral!), macroalgae, snails, and an emerald crab. The review explores its suitability for beginners, highlighting its affordability and ease of maintenance, while also acknowledging its appeal to experienced aquarists looking for a manageable, aesthetically pleasing setup.The Tom's Deco 3 features an impressive 18-watt 5050 Compaq LED light, providing bright illumination sufficient for even demanding corals. Its built-in filter maintains excellent water quality, and despite being constructed from acrylic instead of glass, the overall design and functionality are praised. This review will detail the performance of this tiny but mighty aquarium, covering its lighting, filtration, ease of use, and overall value, considering both its strengths and minor drawbacks.

Pros And Cons

Read more: Top 5 Green Aquarium Corals

Tank Overview and Inhabitants

This review focuses on the Tom's Deco 3 (possibly misidentified as Tom's Pico Taupe in the original video), a compact 3-gallon saltwater aquarium. Despite its size, it houses a surprising array of life. This includes a single fish (currently experiencing some eating issues, per the video), several types of macroalgae, various corals such as mushrooms, button polyps, and watermelon polyps, plus a few snails and an emerald crab. The tank also contains some unwanted algae, but these are deemed aesthetically pleasing and beneficial to water quality.

The small size makes it ideal for beginners with a small budget and limited space. Though the fish is currently underweight, this small setup is manageable for an experienced aquarist.

Equipment and Features

The Tom's Deco 3 boasts an 18-watt 5050 Compaq LED light, which provides surprisingly bright illumination for such a small tank. This is sufficient for even demanding corals like SPS, as evidenced by the presence of a bird's nest coral. The included filter is effective for maintaining water quality in this small environment, delivering good flow despite the minimal space.

While the tank itself is made of acrylic rather than glass, which is a minor drawback according to the reviewer, the overall package is well-designed and functional.

Performance and Overall Impression

The Tom's Deco 3 aquarium has proven to be a surprisingly versatile system, having been used initially for freshwater shrimp before its conversion to saltwater. Despite its small size, it successfully supports various life forms with sufficient lighting, filtration, and flow. The reviewer expresses satisfaction with the overall quality and performance of the tank.

For those seeking a compact, easy-to-manage saltwater aquarium that doesn’t break the bank, the Tom's Deco 3 provides a great entry point into the hobby. The bright light is a significant advantage, suitable for many types of corals.

Conclusion and Recommendation

The Tom's Deco 3 is a surprisingly capable and aesthetically pleasing 3-gallon aquarium. Despite being small, it's functional, easy to maintain, and well-suited for those new to saltwater aquariums or those looking for a compact setup. The bright LED lighting and effective filtration are standout features. While the acrylic construction might be a slight drawback for some, the overall package makes it a worthwhile option for its price.

Although the reviewer initially noted some issues with their fish, this doesn't necessarily reflect the quality of the tank itself. Overall, this aquarium is recommended for its easy-to-use nature, adequate features, and reasonable price point.