EDIT: this tank is NOT appropriate for bettas, the filter is too strong.
the tank was really simple to set up, if you follow the instructions there should be no issues
There are several things that you need to know about this tank.
This tank can hold either one beta, or 4-6 (really) small fish
the upkeep of this tank if done the way suggested is EXTREMELY expensive. It runs around 145$ a year.
However you can bring it down to less than 50$ if you follow these guidelines:
(I've added links to the products I mention on amazon, but if you want to save money buy them at the pet store)
a) DO NOT BUY MORE THAN ONE EXTRA FILTER AT A TIME. The filter for the biorb is pretty simple, it is a plastic canister filled with a blend of activated carbon and zeolite cristals topped with a foam ring. Instead of buying a new filter, the old one can easily be reused by washing out or replacing the foam insert and replacing the crystals with a generic blend from petco (the 10$ bottle should last at least year)PETCO Activated Carbon and Zeolite Crystals
b) replacement cartriges come with two different packages of chemicals, one is to make tap water safe for fish, and the other is to cultivate the bacteria needed to keep your tank clean.The first can be replaced by a bottle of tetra aqua safe plus (you can buy this for around $8)Tetra 8-4/9-Ounce AquaSafe Water Conditioner with BioExtract. The company that makes the biorb buys alot of their supplies from a company called API. you can buy a bottle of the bacteria booster at petco for around 10 15$ (it's called stress zymeAquarium Pharmaceuticals Stress Zyme 16oz)
c) if your bulb and the replacemment both die, the halogen bulbs are generic and can easily be purchased from third party vendors
THE GOOD
1) this tank is great for beginners
2) It looks AWESOME
3) fast setup
4) It looks AWESOME
5) easy to clean
6) the 5 step filtration system keeps water clear for several weeks
THE BAD
1) the tank does not come with enough ceramic media (the stuff at the bottom of the tank) You need to buy more. it also doesn't include any plants
2) older models of this tank came with a noisy air filter, this filter has been replaced with a much quieter one in newer models.
3) the bubbles from the air filter cause water to splash all over the top of the tank, this forms water droplets all around the tank above the water, this looks really unappealing and short of removing the air filter, I have not yet found a way to solve this issue.
4) the curved bowl acts as a magnifying glass, enlarging everything in your tank. it also creates blind spots.
5) If you leave the tank in direct sunlight the shape of the tank could act as a magnifying glass and set your desk on fire. =)
6) some people claim that fish get sucked into the filter, as there is no suction in this tank period, I believe their fish swam in. There is an optional air filter guard to prevent this from happening
Have to disagree with the other reviewer here ... I purchased a Baby biOrb recently for my new Betta, after having my first betta living in an airless bowl for a couple years. I simply got tired of cleaning a stinky bowl every week. As a result, I went shoppin for a new tank with a bubbler and filter system and found the Baby biOrb.
While I agree that the maintence costs are significant at $132/ year (if you need to change a filter every 4 weeks), the costs balance with ease of maintenance. Personally, my experience with cleaning the Baby biOrb was a snap with the optional suction hose. Took me fifteen minutes to clean the tank, drain the grimey water and add new water. Couldn't have been much easier. And, I am not sure how anyone could have a problem swapping filter cartriges unless they have motor skills issues.
I also built a noise dampening box for the air pump my only real complaint is that the "whisper quiet" pump sounds like a mini jackhammer after about five minutes.
Great product and looks awesome.
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I totally recommend this aquarium kit for anyone just starting out in the fish-keeping hobby. Vitually everything you'll need comes in the box. However, when I bought my BiOrb a year ago, there was no heater included. If you want to keep tropical fish, you will likely need to purchase BiOrb's heater kit if they haven't yet decided to include a heater in the package. You can purchase a small heater at any good pet store, but it's likely to be a bit of an eyesore in the BiOrb.
I keep 3 dwarf African frogs and one dwarf puffer in the BiOrb and there is ample room. Cleaning day is about every 8 weeks and is generally only a matter of changing a few gallons of water and taking out the old filter cartridge and putting a new one in. The tank is well-aerated and you never see fish gasping for air at the top. Plus, it's a gorgeous tank.
My only complaint is that when I bought the BiOrb, I had no idea that they would soon come out with a 16-gallon version. I definitely would have gotten the larger tank, since with the smaller one, you have to severely limit the number of fish or aquatic creatures you keep in it. With the 16 gallon tank, you can have double the number of pets. Still, I'm very happy with my BiOrb.
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I have owned a Baby Biorb ($69.99) for 10 months now, and I am VERY UNhappy with it. Irreconciliable personality conflicts among fishmates prompted me to purchase a second acrylic tank (10 gallons at only $49.99) within 2 months of purchasing the Biorb, so I am able to report on the comparative performance of the 2 rival tanks. The Biorb is superior to the other tank in ONLY 2 ways: 1) Its silver plastic accents are more attractive than the standard black plastic accents of the 10-gallon tank; and 2) The Biorb's biological filtration system (the ceramic media foster bacterial growth and proliferation, unlike the plain gravel in my other tank) sped up the aquarium's cycling process, whereby the Biorb had fully matured in exactly HALF the time required by the other tank. Now for the BAD news: The Biorb's poorly engineered filter set-up necessitates lifting the soiled filter from the BOTTOM of the tank for replacement, at which time the disturbed filter releases appalling pollution into the tank. The replacement filter barely stands a chance of removing the residual pollution, let alone maintaining a healthy environment for the next "4 to 8 weeks." As a result, I am finding myself replacing the filter an average of every 2 to 3 weeks, which at $9.99 to $10.99 a pop becomes ridiculously expensive, and the aquarium's water is perpetually yellow and unattractive. The other tank, on the other hand, boasts a filter set-up on the SURFACE of the water. I simply lift out the soiled filter only $6.99 a pop and replace it. No harm done. While the makers of the Biorb claim that the 360-degree view it affords of the fish inside really places Biorb ahead of the competition, I find that my second all-clear hexagonal tank likewise boasts
a 360-degree view. If I had it to do over again, I would NOT invest in a Biorb. The long-term expense is prohibitive, and the performance is poor.
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Okay, the people that are writing bad reviews for this product obviously have not followed the directions for the BiOrb tank. This is an awesome product! Yes, there is a limit to the number of fish that you can keep in this environment, but the amount of time that one would usually spend cleaning a fishtank is greatly reduced by the ease of the filter cartridges in the BiOrb tanks. If you understand the process and how the filtration system works, and you have the appropriate number of fish in the tank, and you do not overfeed the fish, you will have great success with this tank. In addition, it is such a beautiful tank. I have three of these tanks, one in each size (Baby BiOrb, BiOrb-8 gallon, and a Mega BiOrb) with two at home, and one in my office at work, and people have always complimented me on the tanks and want to know where they can get one themselves. Also, I would just like to note that I keep tropical fish in my tanks, swordtails, neon tetras and platys, and I have NEVER used the heater in either of my tanks. The fish do just fine in water that is room temperature and I live in the very seasonal northeast. I would only recommend using a BiOrb heater if the room you are keeping the BiOrb tank in is cold (unheated or if you keep your thermostat very low), otherwise, it is completely unnecessary.
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I bought the Petco version of this aquarium. It is small. It was able to house 1 goldfish and 2 african dwarf frogs. The included filter is not very good, as this was expected for a very inexpensive kit.
