Ultra Bowl 500

[kaycee]

Hello all,
I have just purchased a used ultra bowl 500 aquarium but have no instructions. I have assembled it OK but I do not know in which order the filter pads go in. I'm guessing (from top down) white, black, blue. Any advice on gravel or sand, water preparation and the best fish to purchase for a beginner would be very much appreciated.
Cheers Kev.

 

[Tizer]

beginners forum linked in my signature best place to start, have a read up about cycling the filter, it could be a month or more before your filter is capable of sustaining life in your tank. Gluck.

 

[kaycee]

Thanks for replying, will have a good look at the beginners forum. I have searched the web for instructions for the Ultra Bowl but have had no joy. Could you or anyone else help me with this. There is one other thing i am not too sure about, this tank has no air stone, does anyone know if it needs one please.
Cheers Kev.

 

[Tizer]

I have no idea what this tank looks like, i cant even find a picture on google images, if its a bowl or globe/ball shape aquarium, they have very little surface area and therefore will suffer problems with oxygen in the water. If you find a link to the product on the internet, post it back here and we will be able to advise you more.


Ah, found it now, i see its all built into the hood of the aquarium. Sorry i cant really help, but i can tell you that you couldnt pay me to keep fish in something like that. Sorry that might sound a little rude, but you are way better off buying a decent sized rectangular aquarium if you want to keep tropical fish. If you have a chance of returning it for something else, i strongly suggest doing it.

 

[Jinty McGinty]

My link

This is all I found.

 

[laura120381]

hi tizer,

i found a pic on a site called sweet knowle aquatics (UK). It appears to be a bio orb type bowl, 60l. hope that helps.

L

great minds jinty!!!

 

[fluttermoth]

The UltraBowl 500 will hold around 30 (1") tropical fish eg. Neons, Cardinals etc or 5 goldfish/fancy goldfish.

 

[kaycee]

Thanks everyone, the lady that gave us this kept 'sharks'? and neons and said she had no problems. I am thinking that neons is all we will put in. If all goes ok I will upgrade to a proper tank and better fish. I have only spent £8 on chemicals and gravel. I obviously don't want the fish to die so will start off small and see how it goes.

Cheers, Kev.

ps tank only cost me £20, so not spent loads.. Yet..

 

[Tizer]

sharks are not suitable for that tank, they probably grew deformed and she didnt realise. neons are not a terrible option, but they dont do very well in newly setup tanks. Remember a lot of fish like the company of their own kind, so its often suggested that no less that 6 are purchased. This of course does not apply to all fish. Ask here first before you buy anything.

Remember, you will have to cycle the filter using household ammonia for several weeks before you can put fish in the tank. Your filter needs to build up a bacterial colony that will act as the "life support" system for your fish. Fish produce ammonia and can die in their own mess. Do have a propper read of the beginners section, also linked in my signature and work out a plan of action to cycle the filter. First investment needs to be a water testing kit for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. The API freshwater masterkit on eBay is around £18 delivered.

"bacteria in a bottle" "add fish safely straight away" chemicals, do not work.

 

[kaycee]

Thanks Tizer, the bloke in the store is a knob.
Cheers Kev

 

[kaycee]

Hi Tizer, I have been reading the 'fishless cycling' in the beginners section as you suggested.I have purchased the test kit and ammonia. This is probably a stupid question, can I use bacteria from a goldfish tank? If so would a handful of gravel work if placed in the filter. Thanks again for your help, will not be asking the bloke in the store for any advice again lol.

Cheers, Kev.

 

[CezzaXV]

If your goldfish tank is cycled, then media from it will help. Best if you can get something from the filter though. While gravel and the like will help speed it up, the effect will be minimal compared to filter media.

 

[kaycee]

Thanks Cezza, possibly another stupid question. If I don't add bacteria from another source, where does it come from.

Cheers Kev.

 

[fluttermoth]

There are bacterial spores all around you, all the time; millions of them.

Cycling a filter is just a case of waiting for the right ones to turn up and then cultivating a colony of them, until there are enough to support your fish.

 

[kaycee]

Thanks for that, nature is a marvellous thing