... He lives with his friends, Teal'c, Boony and Arthur in a palatial residence built by Reef One, the Biorb.
In a nutshell… the Biorb is a very posh, hi-tech goldfish bowl, designed to be easier to maintain than standard aquariums due to its integrated filtration system which is hidden from ... Read review
Biorb Halogen Light Bulb The 10 watt halogen bulb in the biOrb light unit should last for ... more
around 1200 hours. We recommend leaving the light on for 6-7 hours a day. The BiOrb bulb must be replaced with the correct Reef One 10 watt 12 volt bulb. Larger bulbs may kill the transformer and could have an adverse effect on the light unit and biOrb.
Postage & Packaging:£1.65 Availability:Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Advantages: Looks fantastic - very stylish, easier maintenance Disadvantages: Expensive, can only keep a few fish, not maintenance-free!
...a palatial residence built by Reef One, the Biorb.
In a nutshell… the Biorb is a very posh, hi-tech goldfish bowl, designed to be easier to maintain than standard aquariums due to its integrated filtration system which is hidden from view at the base of the unit. This means you get a 360 degree view of the fish. It holds a whopping 30 litres of water (it took ages to fill the first time!) and is made from very strong Plexiglas acrylic. ... ...diameter of 40cm, and is really heavy when full. One useful tip would be to decide exactly where you want it before filling the thing; otherwise you’ll have to lift a sloshing monster of a goldfish bowl!
Here’s the science bit… I gleaned this information from the manufacturer’s website. The filter uses a “unique systemised five-stage method combining biological, mechanical and chemical filtration” to ensure the water remains healthy ... more
Let me introduce you to Jonny, an orange and white fantail goldfish. He is my first pet in over 18 years and has just survived 119 days in my care. He lives with his friends, Teal'c, Boony and Arthur in a palatial residence built by Reef One, the Biorb.
In a nutshell… the Biorb is a very posh, hi-tech goldfish bowl, designed to be easier to maintain than standard aquariums due to its integrated filtration system which is hidden from view at the base of the unit. This means you get a 360 degree view of the fish. It holds a whopping 30 litres of water (it took ages to fill the first time!) and is made from very strong Plexiglas acrylic. The Biorb is pretty big, 43cm high with a diameter of 40cm, and is really heavy when full. One useful tip would be to decide exactly where you want it before filling the thing; otherwise you’ll have to lift a sloshing monster of a goldfish bowl!
Here’s the science bit… I gleaned this information from the manufacturer’s website. The filter uses a “unique systemised five-stage method combining biological, mechanical and chemical filtration” to ensure the water remains healthy and clear for “up to 8 weeks” (or considerably less in my experience but more on that later.) Maintenance is carried out by changing the filter cartridge which lives at the bottom of the tank and some of the water. The Biorb is supplied with ceramic media (little rocks to you and me) which is necessary for effective biological filtration as they house the filter bacteria. Being a fish keeping novice, I find all this techy information a bit baffling but anyway, it works!
My Biorb was a leaving present from colleagues so cost me nothing but if you want this great piece of kit, it will set you back £55-70 for the bowl and £25-35 for the optional light unit which I recommend as the fish look fantastic when all lit up. Prices vary so it’s worth shopping around on the web – look out for the free delivery deals. I paid £80 for a Biorb with light unit when I ordered one for my dad. Large garden/aquatic centres also stock the Biorb although prices may not be that competitive. There is a wide array of accessories you can buy for your Biorb – a heater, for instance, to turn the tank into a tropical aquarium, or plastic lids and bases in eight different colours (lime or purple?!?) if you want to match your Biorb to your Seventies décor (the colours aren’t great) or fancy a change. Mine is the standard silver which looks rather nice!
What do you get for your money? Well, a nice big box filled with an empty bowl (surprisingly light), low-voltage light unit with bulb (if you ordered one), ceramic media, base and lid, filter cartridge, air pump and tube (produces lots of pretty bubbles up the middle of the tank), fish food (Hikari staple floating pellets – lasts forever), water preparation chemicals and detailed instructions. There’s also a 12-month warranty. Like the advertising blurb says, “just add fish and water.”
My experience… I’ve had the Biorb for four months now and I can make the following observations:
- The tank was indeed easy to set up although you need to plan when to buy your fish as the water must be prepared with the chemicals 24 hours before putting fish in. Forward planning is also required when carrying out the partial water changes as the new water must also be prepared with chemicals 24 hours in advance.
- There are rules which must be followed! These include not over feeding the fish and not overstocking the tank. I have been guilty of both and this leads to the filter system struggling to cope as the fish spend the whole time poo-ing. As a result, algae starts growing and the tank turns pale green so I have to spend extra time cleaning it.
- Upkeep is quite expensive. Filter changes should be carried out every 8 weeks (more often in my case due to the fact that I failed to follow the rules) and filter change packs are expensive. I bought mine in bulk (6-pack) which works out at £4.25 each. Individual packs cost more – I’ve seen them costing up to £5.95 each. The pack includes a cleaning cloth (for getting rid of the algae growth), water chemicals and a filter. A little siphon is also recommended for hovering up the poo. All these little costs add up – my fish are getting a good deal from their landlady!
- Easy maintenance does not mean no maintenance. Cleaning the tank and changing the filter still takes time and is still quite disgusting.
- For the fish to live in comfort, there is a limited number of fish you can keep in the Biorb. I think I have reached maximum recommended capacity with four fish (they vary in size from 1 to 2 inches). If you are a serious fish keeper, then the Biorb has space limitations and you should look at alternative aquariums. However, for the casual fish fan like me, the Biorb is great.
Why I love my Biorb…. because I love my fish. I used to think fish are quite dull pets but I have found that they all have their own personalities. It’s quite therapeutic just watching them swim around. The tank is also gorgeous and attracts lots of admiring comments. Despite my gripes, I think it is a very well-designed product which does make fish keeping easier. It is not perfect, especially with the cost of the accessories (£6 for a spare lightbulb and no, you can’t just go to B&Q to get one). If you have the cash and time to invest, the Biorb is a well-recommended addition to your home.
Advantages: Stunning to look at and very relaxing to watch.. Disadvantages: The noise of the fliter can be annoying...
INTRODUCTION
I have always grown up with fish, as I kid I would win them at the fair ground and they would only last a few days before they died. This is where my interest in fish first started, although the fairground fish were non starters the pet shop bought ones lasted longer.
I first found this Biorb fish tank about three years ago and it was very expensive back then, but as the years have gone by it has rapidly dropped in price. As my old ... ...and my fish to this fantastic but futuristic looking tank.
THE BIORB
My Biorb is a 30 version which holds up to 30 liters of water, this can also be bought in a 60 version but this is substantially much bigger so displaying it is much harder than the 30 version I have got, I do have to say the bigger one looks amazing if I had the space this is one I would have gone for.
The Biorb is made with a thick clear acrylic plastic that is molded in to ...
mythdata 02.12.2008
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Reef One Biorb
Advantages: 360 Degree Vision, makes a lovely centrepiece Disadvantages: none
If you love fish-keeping, then there is the perfect tank for you. I am writing about the BiOrb 30 Litre Fish Tank.
The BiOrb is a globe shaped tank designed to prove eye-catching wherever you place it in your house. It is very low maintenance and is made from plexiglas acrylic (this is 10 times stronger than glass), so is very safe around children, being made from acrylic also means that it is a very strong construction. Its unique shape means it ... ...the conventional fish bowl. It's 360 degree viewing makes it a pure delight to sit and watch.
The globe itself measure 400mm in diameter and the base is 200mm approximately and it's capacity is 30 litres of water. It comes in 3 colours, silver, black and beech and is capable of either being a coldwater tank or a tropical tank. You can purchase the tank in 3 different ways.
Standard BiOrb - this comes with a low-voltage air-pump, airline and non-return ...
allyoxley 12.09.2006
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Reef One Biorb
Advantages: Looks Good/Modern design-Fairly easy /low maintenance Disadvantages: spares/filters etc may be a bit pricey for some ...
Remember Big Brother the tv series?? This is where I first saw The biOrb and from that time on I wanted one!! It was to be a year or so before I got my hands on one-I have had mine for just over a year now although I have only been using it for about 6/7 months. I now have one ''very lucky'' Goldfish who has the bowl all to its self. I purchased the biOrb on eBay I paid aprox £103.00 included in this price was a light unit(inc bulb) a pack of ceramic ... ...6-8 weeks maintenence) everything was included to get me started plus delivery was included in the price too-all I needed to do was buy a FISH!!
PLEASE NOTE it is recommended to ALWAYS use a RESIDUAL CURRENT BREAKER which wasn't included in my biOrb puchase-I shopped around and got a good one on eBay for around £10-£15
Getting started:
At first I wasn't sure how easy or complicated it would be to set up the aquarium so the first thing I was required ...
bobbetta 26.04.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Reef One Biorb
Advantages: Looks Fantastic Disadvantages: The guide says leave for 24 hours before adding fish
My BiOrb Review
I got a surprise last week from my kids; they decided to buy me a fish tank for Christmas. They had spent quite a bit on the set up, including two plants, a fancy ornament and a stand for the BiOrb to sit on.
The BiOrb
This was the BiOrb 30 which is the latest in the growing range from BiOrb. Made from strong clear acrylic with a capacity of 30 litres of water, when full it weight is about 60+ pounds, and is ideal for most types ... ...eight colours. The first thing we did was unpack all the extras I got in this pack; I was very impressed with all the extras which included; A Guide, Cartridge system, Air pump, Led Light, Tropical Heater pack, Water preparation chemicals, and Feng Shui pebbles, and ceramic media. The BiOrb gives you a perfect 360 degree view and it gives you a great view of the fish. Guide
A pretty good guide on how to look after your BiOrb and your fish, there ...
the_enlightened_one 18.12.2006 (03.02.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Reef One Biorb
Advantages: Stunning feature for any room, great sell on value :-) Disadvantages: Be warned: you're not gonna be able to keep any demanding fish!
...the aquarium is simply beautiful, reef one have done a good job of designing a product that works well for a novice fishkeeper, and maintenance is fairly hassle free once you know what you're doing… General overview:
New-comers to fishkeeping can find themselves on a steep learning curve whether they plan to be serious about fish or not. It can't be avoided- because if you don't spend a little time thinking about what it takes to maintain a tank ... ...month is out! There's a lot to know about choosing an appropriate set-up, maturing a newly set-up tank, choosing suitable fish, not to mention looking after said fish over time. It can be overwhelming when all you want is to go to your local fish shop, pick the most beautiful fish you can find and settle them in their new home for hours of fun viewing that lie ahead for you… I know because I've been there.!
That is why after years of experience ...
ssjw1000 28.01.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Reef One Biorb
