Instapark Betta review

[Bam Bam]

So uh, I haven’t seen it move once. It’s currently sitting in the pool with the red LEDs flashing really quickly. I’ve never seen that one before. Anyone know what fast-flashing LEDs mean, as opposed to regular blinking red LEDs?

Try turning it on and off. Sometimes that has caused a change of state!

 

[grunky_peep]

Try turning it on and off. Sometimes that has caused a change of state!

Thanks, will do!

And of course we have a couple rainy days ahead, so it’ll probably be in the pool a week before I get to see it move, haha.

 

[Bam Bam]

I dropped my replacement Betta in the pool yesterday. I didn’t inspect it until today when I cleaned it out. By golly I think they sent me a Betta 2. So many differences - two handles; propeller protectors; new on/off switch; green blinking lights; covered paddle wheel sprocket; sleeker design…I’m hoping the failure feature was removed as well!

 

[DanF]

I’m hoping the failure feature was removed as well!

LOL! Hoping you have good luck with your replacement.

 

[Orion7319]

I dropped my replacement Betta in the pool yesterday. I didn’t inspect it until today when I cleaned it out. By golly I think they sent me a Betta 2. So many differences - two handles; propeller protectors; new on/off switch; green blinking lights; covered paddle wheel sprocket; sleeker design…I’m hoping the failure feature was removed as well!View attachment 464438View attachment 464439View attachment 464440View attachment 464440

Yep that’s a beta 2. They must have run out of parts or something to repair your original. Lol, you upgraded for $60.00. That’s why I keep telling folks to get the warranty (get the 3 year warranty on that one BTW). It still has the failure feature, it just fails less often than the original.

 

[grunky_peep]

I reallllllly wish there was some way these would charge without the switch having to be ON. I'd really like to be able to take this inside on cloudy/rainy days for it to soak up some light without the motors running the whole time.

 

[gvc]

I reallllllly wish there was some way these would charge without the switch having to be ON. I'd really like to be able to take this inside on cloudy/rainy days for it to soak up some light without the motors running the whole time.

I always have it off when charging in the sun on my patio. charges up fine without it being on

 

[DanF]

I always have it off when charging in the sun on my patio. charges up fine without it being on

When I bought my Betta (v1), there was a note in the instructions saying to NOT charge the unit out of the water (i.e. in the sun) as it may overheat. I haven't tested that though.

 

[grunky_peep]

I always have it off when charging in the sun on my patio. charges up fine without it being on

That's actually super weird. The Betta 2 manual says it only charges while it's ON, page 3:

Note: Betta ONLY takes solar charge when power switch is ON

When I bought my Betta (v1), there was a note in the instructions saying to NOT charge the unit out of the water (i.e. in the sun) as it may overheat. I haven't tested that though.

Yep, the 2 manual also says this, but I assume it's more directed at the summer months. I'm pretty sure mine would melt to a puddle during my 115'+ days.

 

[DanF]

I'm pretty sure mine would melt to a puddle during my 115'+ days.

Oh mine too . Thanks for posting the manual.

 

[Bam Bam]

I really wish the sun would come out! First day in was partly sunny. Subsequent days cloudy and rain. Future cast shows no sun for the next 10 days. If it’s not windy the pool will stay clean. “IF”!

 

[Orion7319]

That's actually super weird. The Betta 2 manual says it only charges while it's ON, page 3:

It says that, but they seem to be able to charge while off. Mine charges while off. I’m assuming a lot of them must have been overheating while charging out of the water during the summer.

 

[grunky_peep]

It says that, but they seem to be able to charge while off. Mine charges while off. I’m assuming a lot of them must have been overheating while charging out of the water during the summer.

Yep, I'm now 100% convinced that they actually do charge when the switch is off. I took mine out of the pool yesterday (completely dead, no flashing red lights) and turned it off. Let it sit in the sun all day and half of today. I put it back in the pool and it's been running for 90 minutes straight now. So yay for that I guess. Not charging while off would have been an incredibly dumb design decision.

 

[Orion7319]

Yep, I'm now 100% convinced that they actually do charge when the switch is off. I took mine out of the pool yesterday (completely dead, no flashing red lights) and turned it off. Let it sit in the sun all day and half of today. I put it back in the pool and it's been running for 90 minutes straight now. So yay for that I guess. Not charging while off would have been an incredibly dumb design decision.

Yep I found out by taking mine out of the pool. I wasn’t trying to charge it, had it turned off. I think they want it to charge in the water.

 

[DanF]

Does anyone know whether Bettas (especially V1s) will charge inside, say under a light?

 

[Katodude]

It would need to be a very bright light. They dont charge well on cloudy days.

 

[Orion7319]

Does anyone know whether Bettas (especially V1s) will charge inside, say under a light?

I could never get mine to charge like that.

 

[tcat]

I set mine in the sun (running) to charge until about noon. Then I let it do it's thing. Anyone know what the small grain-like balls are from oak trees? Seems big for pollen. Betta 2 does great at sweeping them all up (until the wind blows).

 

[Bam Bam]

I set mine in the sun (running) to charge until about noon. Then I let it do it's thing. Anyone know what the small grain-like balls are from oak trees? Seems big for pollen. Betta 2 does great at sweeping them all up (until the wind blows).

Those are NOT (edited) called catkins.

 

[tcat]

Yes, the long wormy things are catkins. My oaks don't have any yet. But it's dropping lots of small balls (like 1/32-1/16 dia), maybe growing in leaves.