Suitable Tankmates For A Betta In A Biorb

[TheChards]

Hi guys.

I am hoping to get a 30-litre "biOrb" (http/www.reef-one.com/aquariums/biorb.htm) at some point in the nearish future and intend to use it to house my first Betta. However, I'm stuggling a bit to decide on suitable tankmates that should get along well with each other and will do well in a relatively small tank. Obviously I want to avoid over-stocking it as well!

My current thinking is something like the following:

- 1 male Betta
- 3 White Cloud Minnows

and either (in order of preference)...

1 Apple Snail or,
2 Ottos or,
2 Pygmy Cories

If possible, I'd quite like to go with the Apple Snail and the Ottos but I think this is going to be stretching the capacity too far so I'm most likely to go with just the snail (and the Betta and Minnows). Does anyone else have any advice/ suggestions?

Many thanks,
Dan

 

[Truck]

please dont get a biorb. they obstruct your view and a normal rectangular tank can look much more effective. and wiht any biorb you have to use there cermaic filter media as a substrate so you cant keep any type of catfish. and the biorb isnt really that good with plants and bettas love plants. even the plastic ones arent good enough as they can tear fins. the silk ones could work.

and if you get WCMM's get a small shoal of 6 as they are a shoaling species

as a guide for stocking, its 1cm of fish to 1 litre of water. and a WCMM max size is about 4cm so

4*6 = 24cm

30-24=6 the 6cm for the betta. and also WCMM's are can fin nip although they are not as bad as tetras

 

[TheChards]

...but apart from that biOrbs are really good and I should get one right? ;-)

OK, thanks for that. Think I might have to reconsider!

 

[Blainejam]

dont get a biorb i had 1. big waste of money

 

[Truck]

biorbs arent the best starting tank. i wouldnt advise one. i have a biorb 60 converted to marine and its a pain to change the filter cartridges. i strongly advise you get a rectangular aquarium as they are easeir to maintain and have alot better lighting

 

[TheChards]

Well, my wife and I have a 60-litre tank at the moment but it's fully stocked now and we thought the biOrbs looked cool and would be good for a Betta. Evidently we were wrong! We don't really have enough space for another tank though (as the biOrb would have fitted neatly into a corner which is too small for anything else) so I guess we'll just have to leave it...

 

[Truck]

you could get a 5 gallon tank instead of a biorb, which would fit in a corner and that way you could have some cat fish some corys or something. the birob is quite big its something like 40cm from side to side. which is large and a nano 5 gallon only need be 30cm wide 30cm tall and 30 cm long a nano cube there brilliant

 

[TheChards]

Thanks for the suggestion Truckasaurus, I shall have to keep a look out for something fitting that description.

 

[Truck]

are you in america. but the if not similar tanks are available

http/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2752372

http/www.aquaone.co.uk/52016SVb.jpg

http/www.aquaone.co.uk/UFO_aquarium.php

http/www.aquaone.co.uk/aquatrend.php

http/www.aquaone.co.uk/aquarium_aquaStart.php


5 examples i used to have the half round tank. its brilliant

 

[TheChards]

Excellent, thanks so much for those links, you are a star!

No I'm not in America, I'm in the UK so those links should be ideal.

Thanks again.

Just a sideline - are biOrbs actually recommended for anything or are they purely to appeal to uninformed people who don't know better (i.e. myself)?

 

[Truck]

well i think there only there to look nice. but yo cant put catfish or living plants in them. i think there made purely for looks and not for the fish or consumer needs. i would never have bought my biorb if i new what a pain it would be. i cant stand it. i would never recomned a biorb to any one. not even a goldfish.

 

[Connor Rimmer]

Right, i know this isnt my thread but I too have a bi-orb ( ididnt buy it was my dads) and am planning to use it for my Betta...
Is it actually like TOTALLY out of bounds to keep a betta in it? because if so ill probably buy another tank, but if its useable, just more hard work then maybe ill perserviere?

Also, are there any tanks that come with the stands? or, in those links, do you but a stand seperate?

 

[Truck]

it is still usable and if you have one use it. but if your planning on buying one i would suggest you dont as there not practical

for the reasons stated above

 

[nosoup4you]

I have known people to remove the filter, change out the substrate, and attach a small external filter...kind of defeats the purpose of having it all-in-one but a better bet if you 'have to have' a Biorb.

 

[Davo86]

A biorb is perfectly suitable for something like a single male betta or a pair of dwarf puffers but not for much else.