Review: 10366 Tropical Aquarium

Another set that is not well received because expensive.
And then it's 20% under MSRP everywhere two months after release.
It looks like a $300 to $350 set because that is what it will sell as.

Would buy this to make a Payakan / Avatar way of water diorama.

Besides being a very attractive looking and colorful set, it is also a nice parts pack (just not for the listed price). It also seems like a good "template" for creating your own aquarium or terrarium. I'll consider adding it to my collection when I see a decent discount for the set.

Thanks for the great review, as always (though you misspelled "anemone" several times).

I love the coral/anemone builds, great colors and techniques you would expect from a botanical. Fish builds I'm less interested in.

I predict this will reach $100+ clearance soon enough. Too big and expensive.

@MeganL said:
"Love the look, but holy cats, that's expensive.

Also, I think the anemone should have a clown fish."

If you have 31122 "Fish Tank" already, you can use the clown fish there, either as a model to make your own, or to MOC it further to match the scale of the ones in this new tropical aquarium. Just a thought...

Like many have said here, I love the look, and my non-AFOL wife would actually love it too (she enjoys sea life, shells, sea turtles, etc., for decorative purposes), but that price is just way too high. I'll wait for the (hopefully) inevitable 40% discount, before getting it.

As someone who actually used to keep tropical fish, I was very interested… Until I saw the price.

For my needs, the most interesting part I have seen on this review is the 2x4 transclear plate used to hold the models for the pictures - is this included in the set? - because this part has not been made in transclear for quite a while (in 1986 for 5540-1 ).

When the Display box with background picture come around, this will make sense (mostly to avoid the dust). But then you will have to remove all the framing and the background - which is an awful lot of parts that you are paying for and finally do not display (probably half the set). I also wonder if said display box will allow for the controls to be extended outside the box.

It is not for me but, as always, I wish this set good luck because (1) it brings new parts, (2) it brings new recolours and I'm all for that. And for those who don't mind the price, I'm sure it'll look fantastic in a display box with a background and no framing - and potentially lighting.

Back in my day, NPU meant "Novel Part Usage".
(shakes fist at cloud)

Great review and even though it's not a set most people will buy, it's nice to see how it works and goes together. Thank you brickset for showing these sets off

I'm not a fan of the fish or the frame (or the price), but the rest looks absolutely excellent!

Now I'm wondering if this set will hit general distribution, if it does, maybe we'll see this show up eventually for €200. If not, I suspect very few people will buy it directly from Lego at full price.

@DekoPuma said:
"I don't know if it's just the photos not doing it justice, but every time I look at this set I can't help but be surprised that the fish aren't more colorful. Or perhaps I should say, more vibrant. Particularly the top two. I think the dark red used is a bit of a mistake. They look fine in isolation, but as part of the diorama the fish just don't "pop" the way I would expect them too."

Here looks to me the photography, the lighting is washing out the tones.

Fantastic review, thanks! This set is neat to look at. I suppose it really is fun to build. But it is only a great sources for parts, that’s it. I am still laughing at the price of the thing.

Fantastic build and review! This may not be for me, but it does make me want one thing even more than I did before: a Felucia diorama!

I hope they’ll do a Dogger Bank aquarium next year. But then bigger and with less color and even more expensive and as gwp a herring and two pebbles

@MeganL said:
"Love the look, but holy cats, that's expensive.

Also, I think the anemone should have a clown fish."

Needs a blue tang, too.

Once again, LEGO trying to milk adults of every last penny, combined with GWP dlc. Feels like it really doesn't matter theme licensed or not. The adult tax applies. I love star wars, but had i been able to go back in time, Ninjago would be best pick. Lot of cheap sets, and collector sets not crazy overpriced

Kids, fetch the old newspapers, the coloured card, the poster paints, the wretched pva and the scissors that barely cut. We’re gonna make an aquarium!

It would be nice to see it submerged in a real fish tank full of water.

@AustinPowers said:
" @Klontjes said:
""There's no doubt that this is an exceptionally attractive and desirable display model, one that would brighten up any home or workplace."

I disagree... The more I see it, the more I don't like it. The colours are tacky (I particularly dislike the background and colour) and it does look a bit thrown together. The fish are mêh too.

A more natural environment with better fish and less colour would float my personal boat a lot more."
Absolutely agree.
To me it looks almost comically garish. No real life home aquarium I have ever seen seen looks even remotely like it.
And as for the price, that's beyond ridiculous imho.
I predict that this will turn up next year at the 30 to 40% discount mark like all the other undesirable sets of the recent sale at LEGO online. "

I don't know, it looks very similar to the plastic ornaments you can buy to put in an aquarium. I doubt many people, especially in Europe, have tropical marine tanks with live coral. But yucky neon coloured plastic ornaments, judging by the number stocked on fish store shelves, they must sell.

It looks a lot smaller than it is at first glance. Once you notice that the background is made of 20 8x16 plates, that gives a much better sense of scale. It must be massive when seen in person.

That being said, the price is a huge turn off. This does not feel like 2 modulars at all, as beautiful as it can be.

@zanthrax said:
"Another set that is not well received because expensive.
And then it's 20% under MSRP everywhere two months after release.
It looks like a $300 to $350 set because that is what it will sell as."
Not in the U.S.

I don't think it's a bad set purely based on its own merits. But not only is it massively overpriced for what you get (and that GWP that should have been included only adds insult to injury), but even if that was, say, €300, I still think it would be a though sell.

Yesterday I already mentioned I see this as a missed opportunity for a modular aquarium theme consisting of much smaller base sets and add ons. But if it had to be one set, I think it would have made more sense to make it a lot less deep, and a lot cheaper in the process. More like an art set.

And one more thing: I can't hep but feel that new fin piece looks very familiar, I just can't put the finger on it. Am I confusing it with a different Lego piece with similar characteristics, or have I seen it from some other brand?
EDIT: The more I think about it, the more I get the feeling that what it reminds me of is a Fischertechnik piece. Which is an entirely different construction system so it would by no means be an exact copy. Still can't think of the exact piece, it's driving me nuts....

Thanks for the review and your remarks regarding price and value @Huw. I'm more impressed than I initially was, the functions look decent and were unexpected. Overall though I stand by my comments on the prior article - the price is absurd. I don't know how many of these TLG expect to sell but I suspect this will flop. It's nice to look at, but doesn't have the pull that an established IP does and £400 is a lot of money. If I had that burning a hole in my wallet and had to buy lego with it, there are many obvious contenders that would come ahead of this, starting with Rivendell and Barad-dur.

Anyway. At least next year's Speed Champs are off to a flyer; I'm hoping that there will be some (any) Technic sets worth buying as lord knows this year's been a bust..

I like a lot about it. But like most folks here, I will not likely ever get the opportunity to own it as it is simply too expensive for what it is and what you get. Also, it feels they put all their efforts into everything but the fish.

This might have been a fun modular exercise where the primary set comes with just the basics and then LEGO sells different fish, coral, crabs, anemonies separately. This way you could always be adding to it and customizing it.

Additionally, it doesn't appear that LEGO put any thought into motorizing the functions which is a bummer.

P.S. I like the backdrop color and don't have a great issue with the frame.

There would be no reviews of this set if LEGO did not give it away for free. Strange choice by LEGO here, who is going to buy this?

@ramnicros said:
"It would be nice to see it submerged in a real fish tank full of water."
Someone on YouTube did submerge it in what looks like a private swimming or plunge pool. And it looks weirdly good underwater :~S

@followsclosely said:
"There would be no reviews of this set if LEGO did not give it away for free. Strange choice by LEGO here, who is going to buy this?"

Yep. Ridiculous. Also consider that this joke losing money will raise prices on the future sets people actually want.

@WizardOfOss said:
"I don't think it's a bad set purely based on its own merits. But not only is it massively overpriced for what you get (and that GWP that should have been included only adds insult to injury), but even if that was, say, €300, I still think it would be a though sell.

Yesterday I already mentioned I see this as a missed opportunity for a modular aquarium theme consisting of much smaller base sets and add ons. But if it had to be one set, I think it would have made more sense to make it a lot less deep, and a lot cheaper in the process. More like an art set.

And one more thing: I can't hep but feel that new fin piece looks very familiar, I just can't put the finger on it. Am I confusing it with a different Lego piece with similar characteristics, or have I seen it from some other brand?
EDIT: The more I think about it, the more I get the feeling that what it reminds me of is a Fischertechnik piece. Which is an entirely different construction system so it would by no means be an exact copy. Still can't think of the exact piece, it's driving me nuts...."

Oh man, having it be more shallow and flatter like the Gotham City set would've been so cool! Scale down the fish too so you could have many more types would be awesome! Sounds like a cool MOC idea.

@ScholtzTKO said:
" @followsclosely said:
"There would be no reviews of this set if LEGO did not give it away for free. Strange choice by LEGO here, who is going to buy this?"

Yep. Ridiculous. Also consider that this joke losing money will raise prices on the future sets people actually want."

This set, like the Death Star, probably doesn't need to make a profit. The attention it brings to LEGO will offset poor sales.

@Huw said:
" @drewtstew said:
"You guys need to buy these big sets yourselves and not get them sent gratis by Lego if you really want to review them properly. How much they cost is a big factor in whether a set is 'good' or not these days "

Would I personally spend 400 quid on it? Definitely not.

But that does not make it a bad set. We should remember that there are people with larger disposable incomes than us, so to dismiss it solely due to its price in our review would be doing some of our readers a disservice."

I agree with the rationale but I think it would be quite nice if the reviewer stated at the end of the review if they'd personally buy it at list price, just for another point for consideration. It would also be a real stamp of approval for the ones you would buy!

I could see this get a 25% discount ($360) which is more in line with a non-licensed set containing zero minifigures. Any reduction bigger than this would be an outstanding value. Will keep an eye out just in case.

@skypilot22 said:
"I just cannot for the life of me understand a person who would spend $480 for this. More power to you if you have that kind of disposable income, I guess. "

There's literally millions of afols globally that do have that disposable income. Lego is already premium luxury toy maker and will increase their prices again next year just to slow down global demand. They know you can afford it along with dozens of similar sets. if you could only have access to their real numbers you'd understand. expect $1,500-2,000 sets within few years and those will be sold out as well. people are hypocrites, that's the problem, Lego is smart

@ACubeInABox said:
"I think that we can officially retire all the theories about licenses, Disney tax, new pieces, big bricks, stickers, minifigures, printed pieces, etc... everything we always say to justify LEGO as the premiest of premiums. Those things are factors, yes, but sometimes LEGO is overpriced just because LEGO thinks they can get away with it. "

So true and sad. Lego is getting more and more greedy

@KyloBen1012 said:
"Get ready for massive lego sets that are only 95% complete unless you get it day 1 to get the GWP, that's two sets now, this and the Death Slice, with the feeder/purifier thing and TIE fighter respectively"

I think there's much more than the two you mention. Search the GWP tag here on Brickset and you'll see a bunch of them, here's a few from the last few years:

5009157
5009422
5009823
6535735
5008076
6373603
6322501

Sooooo,......

this is worth one-half of a Death Slice?!!

(StyleCounselor's head explodes in a thousand points of gleaming light).

Thanks, @Huw, for reminding me that Brickset is still cool: "Fish won't die."

Having just bought Ninjago Gardens with 150% more pieces (including some big ones) for 80% of the price does make me wonder what they're thinking. If it was priced similarly it would be £220 which would be far more palatable.

"Goldfish shoals, nibbling at my toes..."

No vibrant coral? I think LEGO did this to seem ironic and “edgy”. My favourite colour from the current pallet too . :( But I do find this set to be very attractive, just not day-one purchase attractive.

@Rare_White_Ape said:
" @KyloBen1012 said:
"Get ready for massive lego sets that are only 95% complete unless you get it day 1 to get the GWP, that's two sets now, this and the Death Slice, with the feeder/purifier thing and TIE fighter respectively"

I think there's much more than the two you mention. Search the GWP tag here on Brickset and you'll see a bunch of them, here's a few from the last few years:

5009157
5009422
5009823
6535735
5008076
6373603
6322501"

I'd question the idea that any of those are "essential" elements that were fiendishly omitted from the set to force you to get the GWP. But then again, I also think that's a questionable complaint about the TIE to begin with.

@Andrusi said:
" @Rare_White_Ape said:
" @KyloBen1012 said:
"Get ready for massive lego sets that are only 95% complete unless you get it day 1 to get the GWP, that's two sets now, this and the Death Slice, with the feeder/purifier thing and TIE fighter respectively"

I think there's much more than the two you mention. Search the GWP tag here on Brickset and you'll see a bunch of them, here's a few from the last few years:

5009157
5009422
5009823
6535735
5008076
6373603
6322501"

I'd question the idea that any of those are "essential" elements that were fiendishly omitted from the set to force you to get the GWP. But then again, I also think that's a questionable complaint about the TIE to begin with."

Stuff like the United Trinity are minifigures and not at the scale of the Old Trafford set, which actually includes the statue as part of the set, so definitely not a missing part of the set.

Whereas the TIE Fighter has all over its packaging that it is to be matched with the Death Star. Making it very clear that it is part of the larger set.

@Andrusi said:
" @Rare_White_Ape said:
" @KyloBen1012 said:
"Get ready for massive lego sets that are only 95% complete unless you get it day 1 to get the GWP, that's two sets now, this and the Death Slice, with the feeder/purifier thing and TIE fighter respectively"

I think there's much more than the two you mention. Search the GWP tag here on Brickset and you'll see a bunch of them, here's a few from the last few years:

5009157
5009422
5009823
6535735
5008076
6373603
6322501"

I'd question the idea that any of those are "essential" elements that were fiendishly omitted from the set to force you to get the GWP. But then again, I also think that's a questionable complaint about the TIE to begin with."

It’s kind of fascinating because there were a couple of big sets this year that didn’t get specialised GWPs and there were people complaining in the comments about that, too. Lego really can’t win.

None of them have seemed particularly essential - the closest is, at least to me and off the top of my head, the Botanical Garden entrance gate just because it’s really cute and I like it a lot, but I’d be hard pressed to argue the set is actually incomplete without it.

Tank for the review.
I think it’s much better with the frame.
The display value seems a lot dependent on the lighting, surrounding, height, etc. See on the official images: lighting on the set but dark around (not easy to achieve).
I’m wondering what would be the effect of having background in the two sides (maybe bad unless we can only see it from the front).

If I was setting prices at Lego, I would make this set very expensive so we would make the most money out of STANs day 1.
And then after a few weeks, I would let the online store offer a nice discount, say 25%, so the set is sold ant its real price but everyone thinks they got a good discount.
Luckily I am not working for LEGO ^^

@Brickeric said:"Tank for the review."

That pun seems a bit fishy.

@Brickeric said: "The display value seems a lot dependent on the lighting, surrounding, height, etc. See on the official images: lighting on the set but dark around (not easy to achieve)"

I believe the display value of many sets could be enhanced with the right lighting, which is a bit frustrating given the lack of official lighting options and how many would greatly prefer that over third-party solutions (which often cost like 2/3 of the set itself) or screwing around with soldering etc. One of the worst offenders was that recent X-files Ideas contest winner (hinging too much on realistic daylight in the office and special light sources for the flashlights and the UFO beam to create the right eerie mood).

The artwork for the modulars also cheats quite a bit - they put the camera on a stand and first take a picture with just the ground floor, then a second picture with the second floor added, a third with the third floor and finally a fourth complete with the roof. Then they photoshop them all together, the sidewalk and the first floor from the first picture, second floor from the second picture and so on. That way each floor is shown with nothing above it and their interiors nicely light up, as opposed to the murky darkness you'd normally get when viewing the completed model.

@TheOtherMike said:
" @Brickeric said:"Tank for the review."

That pun seems a bit fishy."
"I'm gonna eat you little fishy..."

@MegaBlocks said:
" @Andrusi said:
" @Rare_White_Ape said:
" @KyloBen1012 said:
"Get ready for massive lego sets that are only 95% complete unless you get it day 1 to get the GWP, that's two sets now, this and the Death Slice, with the feeder/purifier thing and TIE fighter respectively"

I think there's much more than the two you mention. Search the GWP tag here on Brickset and you'll see a bunch of them, here's a few from the last few years:

5009157
5009422
5009823
6535735
5008076
6373603
6322501"

I'd question the idea that any of those are "essential" elements that were fiendishly omitted from the set to force you to get the GWP. But then again, I also think that's a questionable complaint about the TIE to begin with."

Stuff like the United Trinity are minifigures and not at the scale of the Old Trafford set, which actually includes the statue as part of the set, so definitely not a missing part of the set.

Whereas the TIE Fighter has all over its packaging that it is to be matched with the Death Star. Making it very clear that it is part of the larger set."

Seems to me that works the opposite way around: The Death Star looks complete by itself, but the TIE Fighter doesn’t make any sense at all without the Death Star.

The filter add-on GWP is pretty cool but yeah a bit of a kick in the teeth if you'd spend that much and not get it. This one is just a bit... too much.

Yet another giant dust collector that nobody asked for. Quantity over quality is TLG's answer to suck in new customers because long time AFOL's are starting to lose interest.
One thing that was again not mentioned in a review is the fact that this is yet another high priced 18+ set, where part of it was deliberately taken out to be offered as a 1st week GWP (similar to Shackleton's boat from the Endurance, TIE Fighter from the Death Slice, Market Van from the Italian Riviera, Taxi / Moving Van from the Modulars etc.).
This is a concerning trend that needs to stop asap. This FOMO tactic is anti-consumer and only drives more fans away from LEGO. A GWP should never complement a set, but be a nice bonus that customers can leave out freely. Or at least be able to buy with Insiders Points at a later time.

@MegaBlocks said:
"It amazes me that the review states that the price is high and "exceedingly expensive" and then people moan that the review is not overwhelmingly negative due to the price.

Are people expecting 1 star reviews purely because of the price?

The users of this website are supposed to be adults, yet they're acting like entitled children."

Afols ARE entitled children. They don't hate Lego for putting high price, they hate Lego for not being able to afford EVERY single set they want. Lego is smart, using their addiction to milk them out of all of their money. Watch those 2025 profits soar to new heights once again. Lego managers would love to thank each and one of you for allowing them to drive the most expensive electric cars on the market lol, someone's got to pay for that as well you know

@R0Sch said:
"Yet another giant dust collector that nobody asked for. Quantity over quality is TLG's answer to suck in new customers because long time AFOL's are starting to lose interest.
One thing that was again not mentioned in a review is the fact that this is yet another high priced 18+ set, where part of it was deliberately taken out to be offered as a 1st week GWP (similar to Shackleton's boat from the Endurance, TIE Fighter from the Death Slice, Market Van from the Italian Riviera, Taxi / Moving Van from the Modulars etc.).
This is a concerning trend that needs to stop asap. This FOMO tactic is anti-consumer and only drives more fans away from LEGO. A GWP should never complement a set, but be a nice bonus that customers can leave out freely. Or at least be able to buy with Insiders Points at a later time."

Interestingly, I would argue that to fulfill its premise, a GWP should be extremely tied to a set and appeal to the FOMO mentality to the highest possible degree. A GWP primary goal is to 'INDUCE' immediate buying. If nobody cares having the gift or not, it is not doing what it is supposed to do. Do I like that? not one bit but the primary goal of running a business is to maximize profits (emphasis on 'maximize' - not just making a decent profit but maximize profits).

In the case of the aquarium the GWP is completely irrelevant though. If I had been part of the development team on this, all functions would be linked together (but at different speeds - just different gear sizes really) and the GWP would have been a motor and battery box - which would be a great value GWP for this set - and would make the MRSP more palatable. That way, the functions would still be usable in a clear plastic display case. Anyhow, I'm not working there and judging by their latest profit numbers, they are doing just fine without me!

@GBP_Chris said:
" @Amik said:
" @MegaBlocks said:
"It amazes me that the review states that the price is high and "exceedingly expensive" and then people moan that the review is not overwhelmingly negative due to the price.

Are people expecting 1 star reviews purely because of the price?

The users of this website are supposed to be adults, yet they're acting like entitled children."

Afols ARE entitled children. They don't hate Lego for putting high price, they hate Lego for not being able to afford EVERY single set they want. Lego is smart, using their addiction to milk them out of all of their money. Watch those 2025 profits soar to new heights once again. Lego managers would love to thank each and one of you for allowing them to drive the most expensive electric cars on the market lol, someone's got to pay for that as well you know"

Overgeneralization makes for poor reasoning.

There is a correlation between vocal AFOLs and entitlement, such as on fan sites, but there are enough AFOLs who speak with their wallets first (and maybe comments second). With less people willing to sink massive amounts of money into LEGO upon each release, those who bother with the conversation are more likely to skew towards toxic positivity or entitled complaining. Personally, I have bought far less LEGO this year, and I don't often bother to vote on the "will you buy this set?" polls.

It would be nice to see more and more AFOLs putting their money where it matters and letting LEGO reconsider how they approach an unsustainable market, but we won't be hearing about that until the profits drop and the silent fans get their say."

"It would be nice" ... and that's where it all ends right there. You leave out the most important thing that exist currently within afol community - Lego addiction. You just got to own that newest, shiniest set. And if you don't, you get mad, like a little child. Lego can afford and WILL produce more and more expensive sets because people simply buy them, it doesn't matter whether YOU no longer buy anything. You simply no longer matter, there are 10 others (globally) waiting in line to buy those sets instead of you. I'll ask you again when Lego releases their profits for full 2025

@AustinPowers said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @Brickeric said:"Tank for the review."

That pun seems a bit fishy."
"I'm gonna eat you little fishy..." "

Fish are friends, not food!

@HOBBES said:
" @R0Sch said:
"Yet another giant dust collector that nobody asked for. Quantity over quality is TLG's answer to suck in new customers because long time AFOL's are starting to lose interest.
One thing that was again not mentioned in a review is the fact that this is yet another high priced 18+ set, where part of it was deliberately taken out to be offered as a 1st week GWP (similar to Shackleton's boat from the Endurance, TIE Fighter from the Death Slice, Market Van from the Italian Riviera, Taxi / Moving Van from the Modulars etc.).
This is a concerning trend that needs to stop asap. This FOMO tactic is anti-consumer and only drives more fans away from LEGO. A GWP should never complement a set, but be a nice bonus that customers can leave out freely. Or at least be able to buy with Insiders Points at a later time."

Interestingly, I would argue that to fulfill its premise, a GWP should be extremely tied to a set and appeal to the FOMO mentality to the highest possible degree. A GWP primary goal is to 'INDUCE' immediate buying. If nobody cares having the gift or not, it is not doing what it is supposed to do. Do I like that? not one bit but the primary goal of running a business is to maximize profits (emphasis on 'maximize' - not just making a decent profit but maximize profits).

In the case of the aquarium the GWP is completely irrelevant though. If I had been part of the development team on this, all functions would be linked together (but at different speeds - just different gear sizes really) and the GWP would have been a motor and battery box - which would be a great value GWP for this set - and would make the MRSP more palatable. That way, the functions would still be usable in a clear plastic display case. Anyhow, I'm not working there and judging by their latest profit numbers, they are doing just fine without me!"

Well, I can only speak about my purchase habits, but I rarely buy sets at full price from Lego and even then it's only exclusives that don't make it to retail much cheaper AND if there is a "min. threshold" GWP as a bonus that is completely unrelated. I absolutely hate having to buy a new set on day one just because there is an artificially limited GWP tied to it. So I rather buy that GWP from secondary market for 20-30€ and wait 1-2 years until the large "exclusive" set is at a 25-30% discount IF I have the money and feel like it's worth to spend it. I am not falling for TLG's FOMO marketing schemes with cheaply made add-ons with artificial scarcity.
And to be honest, these high cadence GWP's every 2 weeks and monthly set releases just make them less interesting and desirable overall. Time, money and space are limited and the construction toy market is over-flooded.

@TheOtherMike said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @Brickeric said:"Tank for the review."

That pun seems a bit fishy."
"I'm gonna eat you little fishy..." "

Fish are friends, not food!"

And certainly avoid the green ones. They're not ripe yet.

@WizardOfOss said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @TheOtherMike said:
" @Brickeric said:"Tank for the review."

That pun seems a bit fishy."
"I'm gonna eat you little fishy..." "

Fish are friends, not food!"

And certainly avoid the green ones. They're not ripe yet."

1 fish, 2 fish,
Red fish, blue fish,
(Green fish was supposed to be be here but he was feeling a little green around the gills, so he stayed home today.)

@AustinPowers said:
""Goldfish shoals, nibbling at my toes..." "

Fun
Fun
Fun