Acrylic is much lighter than glass, but at the same time less breakable. Carrying your Biorb or Biube tank full of water is actually possible. Even the 16 gallon tank full of water is only 132 pounds, a weight that can be carried by most men.

The Biorb or Biube tank comes with filter, air pump, halogen light, water conditioner, ceramic media and fish food all included. Check to make sure that, as listed in the instructions, all pieces are there. Start by treating the water. It usually needs to sit overnight.

Put the air stone where the instructions indicate and gently press it in. Then, the filtration unit needs to be placed over the air stone. Tighten this by turning it counter-clockwise until it is firmly placed.

Then, make sure the ceramic media has been rinsed and place that around the filter on the bottom. Place some of the treated water into the tank, just above the bottom, so you can still place your decorations.

Pour in the bottom decoration you have chosen, like stones or pebbles. But gravel and sand are not appropriate for the bottom filter, in a Biorb or Biube, as they could clog it. Now you can place your decorations and finish pouring in the water. After about 24 hours running, you can test the pH and see if it is safe to add your fish.

First of all, found objects are usually not clean. Bacteria is not the only problem as chemicals like cleansers, petroleum products, or other toxins may have been used on the object and still be present. It may be difficult to fully cleanse the item from potentially hazardous residues.

Secondly, certain objects may degrade or dissolve slowly, in the water. If an object softens in the water, the fish could nibble at it, making them sick, or it could release toxins into the tank. Plastics, for example, generally release chemicals ever-so-slowly into the water.

A third concern is the pH level of objects one might place inside a tank. Maintaining the proper pH level is very important for the health of your fish. Surprisingly, even objects that seem natural to a fish environment, like shells, wood, or coral skeletons can negatively affect the pH of the tank. The concentrated environment of a tank does not allow for some items that may not affect fish living in streams, lakes, or the ocean.

Finally, items that are found can have rough edges, sharp points, or potential trap-hazards for your fish. A rough item may be fine for a while, until something startles one of the fish and it injures itself against a rough edge. Items that are manufactured specifically for decorating fish aquariums are the safest choice, when creating the environment inside your Biube or Biorb fish tank.

With its aesthetic qualities being so important to a fish owner, decorating your Biorb or Biube fish tank can either be the pinnacle of your new visual centerpiece, or look like a decorating disaster, depending on your choices. Start with the basic look you are going for.

Keep this plan in mind when you select plants for the tank. What color scheme would you like for your substrate? You could choose natural colors like browns, blues, and greens, or perhaps monochromatic decorations with black and white.
One thing to remember is that even decorating isn’t just about beauty. Using gravel as a substrate, for example, can help maintain healthy bacteria in the water. Fish thrive in a well-decorated tank because their environment feels more natural. Lower stress and more comfort lead to healthier fish. Fish feel exposed and in danger when they dwell in a sparsely decorated tank.

Real plants can add natural filtration while colorful pre-made decorations can add personality. Avoid using real shells, as they can slowly raise the pH level of the water. It is recommended that you only use items manufactured especially for aquarium use.

As long as you provide sufficient cover for your fish (with about one 1/2 to 3/4 of the tank floor providing shelter) the color choices are up to you. And once you have placed the decorations, remember to treat the water and let it sit for 24 hours before introducing any fish.

There are different types of lighting you can choose from, for your fish tank. Starting with LED lighting, these bulbs rarely require replacement. The light from an LED lamp is usually dim enough that it can be used overnight. Nocturnal fish will feel at home with the night-like atmosphere. Lunar LED lights mimic the look of moonlight over the water.

Fluorescent bulbs are perhaps the most common lighting used in fish tanks. They will not generally cause a problem with heat, and can be found readily when replacement is required. Fluorescent lights, like LEDs, save energy over other types of bulbs.

However, fluorescent lights can encourage algae growth. Those tank owners who leave their aquarium lights on may be surprised that only days after cleaning, they are noticing algae spots and murkier water. It is recommended that this type of lighting be turned on only for the periods of time it is used and left off most of the day.

Finally, specialty lighting is available for those who want to actually house a miniature reef inside their aquarium. Metal halide aquarium lighting provides superior intensity for maintaining coral, than LED or fluorescent lights. Coral requires so much light, that owners should plan on one bulb for every 4 square feet of tank water.

With metal halide aquarium lights, the heat produced can significantly raise the temperature of the water. So, using a fan system designed for tanks with this lighting will help. Also, turning the lights off for the recommended 12 hours per day (or night) can help keep the tank from overheating. Planning the right lights for your tank can save you a great deal of cleaning, frustration, and expense.

It probably will not come as a surprise, therefore, that overfeeding is the number one cause of aquarium problems in the United States. Overfeeding can not only make the fish sick, but it can dirty a tank incredibly fast.

When feeding your fish, keep in mind that fish do not need to keep their bodies warm, like we do. They live in and with the temperature of their tank and thus do not need the energy it takes to produce internal heat.

Fish eat much less than most people realize. So, start by putting in several flakes, not a pinch, which probably contains too many flakes. Just put in several and watch the fish eat.

After they finish the first several flakes, you can add several more. If they eat those greedily, you can add a third portion. When they lose interest or eat and spit the food back out, that should signal you that your fish have had enough to eat.

Watch for these signs of overfeeding: 1) The tank has a “fishy smell.” 2) Uneaten food is left in deposits around the tank. 3) Algae growth is reddish or brown/black, rather than green, 4) The water tests positive for ammonia content, 5) The water is cloudy instead of clear, and 6) The filter needs changing more frequently than is customary.

You will need a bucket or a small spare aquarium for the job. Make sure you start with temperature adjusted and treated water. The last thing a struggling fish needs is a temperature shock or untreated tap water.

Follow the directions for adding aquarium salt to complete the water conditioning process. Also, use a clean filter for the bucket or aquarium. Your fish may need an antibacterial or antifungal solution. Consider using a natural treatment like Melafix, which is made from tealeaves.

You can use 2-3 times the recommended amount of the antibacterial solution and taper it down as your fish begins to recover. Try not feeding your fish for a couple days. Digesting takes a great deal of energy, detracting from the healing process.

If your fish really begins to struggle, and if it is a fish you really care about, you can help it around the water for a while by gently moving him through the water with your hands. This will give your fish a break from trying to swim, while keeping it oxygenated. This process has helped save some fish, but obviously it is a time-consuming task and is only worthwhile for someone who is really invested in saving a fish.

You can soak fish food pellets in some olive oil and an antibacterial gel or powder, designed for that purpose. Just make sure you dry off the pellets with a napkin or other absorbent material, before you drop it into the water.

As long as your fish is isolated for healing, change the water every day. Make sure, of course, to provide it with properly heated and treated water. Be very gentle during the water changes, to avoid stressing the fish. Once the fish is acting normally again, and any visible wounds are healed, you can return it to its original tank.

Most fish have a relatively small range of temperatures they can thrive in. While room temperature may, at times, be the perfect temperature, at other times it may be just a little too cool or slightly to warm for less hardy fish.

Start with learning about the temperature range recommended for your type of fish. This will help you identify what kind of tank heater you should get. Heaters can be set to different levels, to help you get the temperature right.

Some heaters are submersible and others hang on the side of the tank. Perhaps the most efficient solution is a heater filter, which actually heats the water as it passes through the filter, helping to keep the temperature constant throughout the water of the tank.

In order to measure the heat on a daily basis, you can purchase an inexpensive tank thermometer that has a range guide for basic types of fish. For example, tropical fish are the most common fish purchased for in-home aquariums. These fish tolerate only temperate waters of 74-80 degrees Fahrenheit. And a good tank thermometer will indicate that acceptable range by a shade of green.

If the water is getting too hot or too cold, the thermometer will indicate that with first a yellow warning range and then a red range, showing that the fish are in peril if the tank water is not brought back to proper temperature in time.

If you are still unsure about regulating the temperature of your tank, speak to a knowledgeable salesperson in the fish department at the pet store. They should be able to point out to you which heaters would work for your tank and help you find a thermometer that fits your needs.

Furthermore, algae buildup is a problem for maintaining a healthy aquarium system. Much of the algae produced in fish tanks is eliminated through filtration, before it can attach to the surfaces inside the aquarium.

The most effective filtration system involves more than one type of filtration in one aquarium. For example, bio filtration is the use of live plants and/or rocks to help filter the water naturally. As long as proper current is maintained around live rock, it can be a helpful means of purifying the water.

To provide the extra current, another aid for filtration is an air pump, one that releases air at the bottom of the tank, causing bubbles to rise continually to the surface. This helps move the water for filtration systems and re-oxygenates the water because of the gas exchange that occurs at the surface.

Finally, the last and most important type of filtration is mechanical filtration, involving the use of an actual plug-in filter, attached to the side of the tank. It is best to change the filter cartridge every month or more, depending on recommendations for the type and size of tank. An additional consideration is to look for one with battery backup, in case of a power failure.

Combining two or more of these forms of filtration is not only beneficial for the fish, but is also very helpful for the owner of the aquarium. This is because the better the filtration is, the less frequently the tank will require manual cleaning.

A design meant for beauty and function, the Biorb fish bowl helps clean itself. Sophisticated and technically superior to a standard bowl or aquarium, the original Biorb is shaped like a large, clear Christmas ball ornament.

Round with a flat bottom and a circular lid on top, the Biorb contains a clear central tube that continually passes water through it, a filtration process that gives Biorb owners more time between cleanings. Since the original round bowl, rectangular and other shaped Biorb bowls have become popular as well.

4-60 gallons of water are held in the bowl, allowing for a variety of fish to live in the Biorb environment. The Biorb has a filter that needs to be changed every 4-6 weeks. And a third of the water needs to be changed out every few weeks. This involves siphoning out 30% of the water and replacing it with new treated water.

The Biorb fish bowl is considered very Feng Shui, as the smooth rounded shape, the flowing water, and the beautiful fish create peace in the home or office environment. While it may not be a good choice for bottom-dwelling fish, surface-feeder fish in many varieties would be quite content in a Biorb environment. A Biorb bowl can add interest and beauty to almost any space.

First of all, the bowl was designed for beauty. The original, shaped like a Christmas ball ornament, is round and clear with a small lid for access on the top. But, now Biorb fish bowls also come in square and rectangular shapes with rounded edges. The designer look has helped make them as popular as they are today.

But looks are only skin deep, and discriminating fish owners want more than just an eye-pleasing container. The Biorb offers a superior system that actually partially self-cleans. The environment for the fish is generally healthier and cleaner for the fish that live in it.

A clear tube, located in the center of the tank, continually cycles the water, helping the filter to catch debris that might otherwise just sit on the bottom and increasing oxygenation of the water, for the fish. This feature may be the best feature of the Biorb bowl, because it makes it easier for owners, with more time between cleanings and a simplified cleaning process.

The Biorb bowl uses mechanical, biological, and chemical filtration, in concert with water treatment, to maintain water optimization and healthy oxygen levels for the fish. This also keeps the water clearer longer, making the Biorb fish bowl more attractive than aquariums that quickly buildup algae and debris. The Biorb fish bowl is an obvious choice for owners who want the most attractive look, the healthiest water environment, and the easiest maintenance.