I wanted to buy a small aquarium for my bedroom so after doing some research, I decided on a Reef One Aquarium. I really wanted the biOrb Life 45 for the extra gallons and the fact that it doesn't distort the fish, but decided against it because I thought it wasn't worth the price. So, I got the biUbe and I am very satisfied.
I have had aquariums since I was young, and though I am no expert by any means, I know that the bigger the tank, the easier it is to maintain. The problem is, I really couldn't fit anything too big in my little bedroom so I thought this aquarium would be perfect and it is. When doing my research, some people advised against these kinds of aquariums, but the people who actually have the tank don't really have too many complaints about them. As long as you're patient and follow directions, you shouldn't have a problem.
I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because of:
1.) The pump that comes with the aquarium is very loud and annoying. If you are putting your tank in a room with lots of white noise, then this shouldn't be a problem, but in a bedroom all I hear is a loud buzzing noise coming from the pump. I immediately replaced the pump with a different brand that produced less noise. Although most air pumps do submit some noise, compared to the one by Reef One, the new one is way better.
2.) The pump that comes with the tank is not known to last very long and requires a replacement within 6 months to a year (some people say less, they even tell you to keep a spare pump for this reason in the book). Do yourself a favor and just purchase the Tetra Whisper 10 gallon air pump here on amazon for $9.99. It's cheaper than biOrb's pump, last longer, and not as noisy. I bought 2 for that price.
3.) Reef One wants you to replace the filter too often and this can be pricey. Talk to some people who have had their biOrb for a while and they will tell you how to prolong the filter pad life.
4.) The aquarium is made of acrylic. While acrylic is much stronger than glass, it scratches so easily. Just be careful not to use anything to rough like paper towels or a rag. I brought a few microfiber clothes to clean the aquarium.
The above things are miner and can definitely be worked around. Just keep in mind that pretty much any aquarium smaller than a 20 or 30 gallon requires a little more time and effort.
Having known all this before I purchased my biUbe, I absolutely love my tank! It is very beautiful and doesn't take up too much room in my small bedroom because of its shape.
P.S. The title for the biUbe from amazon.com wrong. It actually comes with the biOrb Intelligent LED light not the halogen light.
UPDATE: Well, I have been having the tank for a few months now and I love it even more everyday. I actually prefer it over the biOrb Life 60, which I also have. I am up to 4 fish now (please follow the directions in only adding 1 or 2 small fish per month, otherwise your tank can crash, killing the fish, and go through a mini cycle if the bio-load gets too overwhelmed). I added a small internal filter behind my bubble tube cover just for some added filtration. If you are worried about the fish being distorted, it's really not that bad at all. You still get a very good view of the fish when they come swimming around. Remember, small tanks take a little more patience, so don't be in a hurry to get a full stock right after your tank is done cycling. Take your time and enjoy!
Most little tanks look like they belong on a 9 year old's night stand. This one, thankfully, does not. It is artistic in it's design but it does not hinder you from actually keeping fish. I have it on a little table in my office and it's just the right amount of size for that space.
Simple to put to together, and very low-maintenance. It takes about 5-10 minutes a week to do a water change. Changing the filter is a snap -just pull out the tube and twist off the filter. Put the new one on and put it back. That's it.
I have a heater in mine so i can keep tropical fish. Doesn't take too big of one to heat this baby.
The vertical configuration makes it slightly tricky to get decor to work right, but i've found that the smaller stuff works just fine if you plan it right.
The LED lights that come with this are awesome. You can set it to many different settings of timing for your sunrise/sunset routine. The weirdest thing is that it goes from 8 hrs to 14 hrs of daylight for a choice with nothing in between. But the light really enhances the fish -and the pure clear outside allows them to really show up well.
I've seen a few reviews on amazon (for other colors) that were so negative it's hard to believe it's the same item. People blaming the Biube for killing their fish? Really? It's a plastic tube with a pump and rocks. The only issues i've had were smaller fish trying to dig into the rocks for food and getting stuck as the rocks are like volcanic rock and not small smooth pebbles. This is to enhance the natural bio filter.
Anyway I highly recommend this tank. I want to get another one.
Buy biUbe Pure Aquarium with Halogen Light, Clear, 9 Gallons Now
The clear plexiglass of this tank makes it almost transparent, so you can see the fish really well. Since it has less filtering (out of the box) than a regular tank, it is important not to overload it with too many (or too large) fish. I modified it by using smaller gravel over the rocks that come with it, because the rocks (which are necessary for the biological filter) are quite ugly and excess food gets trapped in it. I also added a small Tom filter (the smallest one, it's only
Read Best Reviews of biUbe Pure Aquarium with Halogen Light, Clear, 9 Gallons Here
Works well and is cheap. According to the package, this one can not be removed and re-applied without braking it. For the same price, get this one from ATI instead: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000633PU8/ref=oss_product
