Just Had A Thought! Shall I Set Up An Old Biorb!?

[lil-x-me...x]

Hi!

just had a thought, we have a biorb, think about a 15ltr aqaurium in the bathroom, hasnt been in use for a year. could i set it up and decorate today and add fish...im prosuming it needs to be cycled first, even though it has been used before?

thanks x

ps i now they usually have them wierd big rocks in at the bottom, do they have to have them in with it? havent gt any just normal multicoloured gravel. Or i could get a little sand out of my current aqaurium? thanks x

id also be keeping coldwater in i think, maybe white minnows...how many would go in?

wish me look x

 

[Truck]

you have to use the ceramic media unless you modify it, theres nothing you could keep in there, except a betta, so in my opinion theres no point

its too small for minnows

 

[lil-x-me...x]

i dont understand? nothing but a betta would be suitable for the tank?

 

[Truck]

its too small for anything

 

[lil-x-me...x]

oh rite too small .... errm well im guessing its a 15ltr ill double check is there defo nothing suitable other than 1 betta? is that tropical or coldwater?

 

[Truck]

cold water or tropical no, you could get away with shrimps, but theyll probably be crushed by the ceramic media

 

[lil-x-me...x]

no i mean if you say its ok for one betta is that a coldwater or tropical water fish?

and yes it is a 15l... oh dear, well ill reserch on bettas n see what i think. the tanks missing its plug and lid, how much would i be able to order some for?

thanks x

also i want to get some use out of it, it is a tank after all, and i dont want it to be kept in the coubard for the rest of its life really...

thanks x


the ceramic media ... whats this?

 

[Truck]

bettas are tropical

 

[lil-x-me...x]

omg! i love them, they are also siamese fighting fish arnt they. oh wow! iv alsways loved them fish just never dared get them due to fin nipping, now i can have an exuse!

 

[Truck]

just remeber keep it on its own

 

[lil-x-me...x]

yes, think i might go for the royal blue colour. love them

am adding if anyone has a hood for 15ltr biorb and plug and a thermometre suitable for 15ltr biorb now on buy or sell xD i feel silly but i am looking forward to it

 

[Miah002]

You should really modify the tank.

Ask Jennybugs, she helped me modify my 30 litre.

It now has sand instead of ceramic media and an ehiem aqauball 2208 as it's filter.

 

[jennybugs]

I wouldn't put a betta in a baby biorb personally. Having tried several times in the past, I now feel they prefer more room to swim around in, but at least the tank would be filtered so better than an unfiltered bowl imo.

If you set it up you would indeed have to cycle it fully first before adding fish. You do not have to stick to the ceramic media that comes with it. Pea gravel can be easily used as long as it is the size of a garden pea or a bit bigger. I have had biorbs and a biube running successfully without issues like this for some time.

As Miah says, I also have biorbs converted to run with sand and am happy to tell you how to go about it if you are interested.

Have a look at my tank thread in my siggy to give you ideas of what you can do. Shrimp is a good idea. I had cherry reds in mine with green neon tetra, but the tank needs to be 5-6 months matured in order for them to thrive well after addition imho.

 

[rocknurworld2006]

i wouldnt suggest a betta really for a bioorb as i dont feel the surface area is big enough as they obviously breathe with larynth organ

 

[Truck]

besides the betta, i wouldnt reccomend adding anything else, any shoaling species are simply too active same for livebearers etc