Everything you need to know before you buy LEGO Icons 10366 Tropical Aquarium

The LEGO Group's second release of the month is just around the corner, so here's a reminder of all things 10366 Tropical Aquarium.

LEGO Icons 10366 Tropical Aquarium is the ultimate model for anyone who's ever wanted fish but hasn't trusted themselves not to kill off an entire shoal. These brick-built underwater creatures won't die, even if you don't secure the fish food GWP.

With the reveal a little while back (and plenty happening since then), we've rounded up everything you need to know about 10366 Tropical Aquarium if you're still on the fence about purchasing.

10366 Tropical Aquarium price and details

Price: £399.99 / $479.99 / €449.99 Pieces: 4,154 Release date: November 13 (for LEGO Insiders), November 16 (general release) Link: Head to LEGO.com

10366 Tropical Aquarium is a riot of colour, designed with the express purpose of showing off just how colourful a LEGO set can be. It includes four model fish (including a LEGO creation of the elusive brick fish), a variety of plants and coral, seaworms, an oyster shell containing a pearl, sea snails, a crab and air bubbles.

While the tank itself is open, it includes a black tank 'frame' to give the illusion of a contained tank, while still allowing access to the interior. A wavy blue background mimics an underwater effect.

Illusions and mimicry are the name of the game in 10366 Tropical Aquarium. It's not trying to be a realistic fish tank, and indeed likely wouldn't be big enough to support this amount of wildlife. Fish keepers expecting an authentic tank experience might be disappointed, but part of the beauty of tackling this in LEGO bricks is that you don't need to be confined by little things like your tank's inhabitants trying to eat one another.

5009823 Fish Tank Filter & Fish Food GWP

Like the other two LEGO November releases, 10366 Tropical Aquarium comes with its own exclusive GWP. 5009823 Fish Tank Filter & Fish Food is a must-have addition for anyone who is after that authentic tank look, as a filter is a necessary component of any watery setup.

It also goes a long way in helping the tank frame feel less empty, fleshing out the build as a whole. You can certainly see it tempting in a lot of early adopters, especially with the nifty build techniques that go into creating the adorable fish food container. If you are among those tempted, 5009823 Fish Tank Filter & Fish Food will be available between November 13 and 19, or while stocks last.

What people are saying about 10366 Tropical Aquarium

As much as we can applaud the vivid colours and ambition of 10366 Tropical Aquarium, it's hard to look past the area we've not expressly mentioned yet: the price. Retailing for an eye-watering £399.99 in the UK, $479.99 in the US, and from €449.99 in Europe, that's a hefty price for a set where most of the footprint is empty space.

There's no denying that the LEGO Icons team has taken on a Botanicals level of detail in recreating marine creatures and plants, but many are left feeling like the price tag is simply not worth the end result, even at over 4,000 pieces. That's made especially noticeable when the GWP feels like such an integral part of the set, yet not available for very long, leaving fans feeling pressured to buy early.

Some onlookers also criticised the black frame, arguing that, rather than creating the illusion of a tank, it simply gets in the way of the best part of the build: the colourful life within. Perhaps a design closer to a diorama would have proved more popular – as well as presumably bring down the piece count and hopefully the price.

"There's no doubt that this is an exceptionally attractive and desirable display model, one that would brighten up any home or workplace. It's bursting with detail and colour. The only complaint about its design that one could reasonably make is that the black frame obfuscates parts of it when it's viewed at an angle. However, it does not take much effort to remove it if you'd prefer it to look more like a diorama than an aquarium.

"One thing that has attracted considerable complaint is the price...However, it is a large model and when the amount of 'stuff' it contains is assessed, it might not seem so bad. If you have deep pockets and are looking for an absorbing and challenging building experience that results in a unique model that's both eye-catching and eye-candy, you will find it all in this set."

Brickset

Our verdict: While there's a lot to love about 10366 Tropical Aquarium, the only reason not to wait for a discount is the temptingly crucial GWP.

10366 Tropical Aquarium gallery

Thank you for supporting the work that Brick Fanatics does by buying your LEGO sets using our affiliate links!