Biorb And 'heavy' Planted Tank?

[nathan01]

Hi,

I use to keep tropical fish around 4 years ago which was to me, a great hobby and 'relaxing'! Since moving house, I do not have a fish tank anymore.(my sig was what I use to keep)

A little background: I'm an architect student, who often becomes stressed due to workload etc. and my workspace is in my bedroom. I try to liven my (white, medium sized) bedroom up by placing a few plants on my desk etc. This works to some degree but my room still feels lifeless!

I've searched around and found that reef-one now do smaller, more elegant looking fish tanks. I'm quite interested int eh BiOrb flow due to it's size and appearance. (my desk is often full so a large tank wouldn't help!)

The reason that I want a tank is for the placement of 'green' near my whilst I work - what can I say, I like nature and it brings life into me...

So, the question is: Would the biobr flow be sufficient for a few coldwater fish but mainly plants? I do like tropical fish, but coldwater makes more sense because they require less effort etc.! Also, in 'general' would plants survive better in cold water rather than heated water?

Sorry for the long post and rambling, but I like to give reasons for my decisions.

Thank you for any help!

PS. I've looked at Feung Shui and it's apparently not that good to have water in the bedroom... Reading more into it, I've heard many people become stronger when they have such item in a bedroom...

 

[fluttermoth]

I don't think the Biorb is suitable for any coldwater fish. The only ones that stay small are white cloud mountain minnows, and they need more swimming space than the Biorb can provide.

I disagree that oldwater fish are less effort anyway. Their digestive system is far less efficient because of the cooler temperatures, so they're a lot messier than trops.

 

[nathan01]

I don't think the Biorb is suitable for any coldwater fish. The only ones that stay small are white cloud mountain minnows, and they need more swimming space than the Biorb can provide.

I disagree that oldwater fish are less effort anyway. Their digestive system is far less efficient because of the cooler temperatures, so they're a lot messier than trops.

Thanks for your reply. I didn't realise the digestive systems of cold water fish... I just (wrongly) assumed that most people keep c/water because they require less maintenance.

On that note, do you think the biorb is suitable for tropical fish? the flow range which is 15L is approx. 30cm tall, 30cm deep and 20dm wide, so it's not huge at all.

My past experience with plant's hasn't been great. They often became brown and died fairly quickly, though admittedly I didn't keep the light on for that many hours, and the tank was perhaps overstocked.

In 'general' would the biorb be a good little tank, for a bedroom occupied more as an office than for sleeping?

Thanks for your help

 

[fluttermoth]

I think most people keep c/w fish because they think they're easier!

A lot of people hate Biorbs; I actually quite like them, but you need to accept their limitations.

First of all, at 15l, you're going to be very limited on stocking. You only real options are; a single male betta or two or three male Endler's or guppies. All the other 'micro' fish are shoalers that need to be in groups of 6+, which the biorb doesn't have room for. You could have freshwater shrimps as well as or instead of fish, as they produce very little waste.

Second; plants. The Biorb has an undergravel filter, which plants don't like, so you'll need to look at things like Java fern and anubias which don't like being planted in the substrate anyway; they need to be attached to rocks or wood (you can use super glue -cyanoacrylate or cotton to tie it on).

I'm hoping to pick one up second hand at some point, and my idea is to have a nice piece of wood with some anubias on it, wrap the middle tube with an aquatic moss and stock it with some shrimps; I think it'll look lovely, and you might want to consider doing something similar

 

[nathan01]

I think most people keep c/w fish because they think they're easier!

A lot of people hate Biorbs; I actually quite like them, but you need to accept their limitations.

First of all, at 15l, you're going to be very limited on stocking. You only real options are; a single male betta or two or three male Endler's or guppies. All the other 'micro' fish are shoalers that need to be in groups of 6+, which the biorb doesn't have room for. You could have freshwater shrimps as well as or instead of fish, as they produce very little waste.

Second; plants. The Biorb has an undergravel filter, which plants don't like, so you'll need to look at things like Java fern and anubias which don't like being planted in the substrate anyway; they need to be attached to rocks or wood (you can use super glue -cyanoacrylate or cotton to tie it on).

I'm hoping to pick one up second hand at some point, and my idea is to have a nice piece of wood with some anubias on it, wrap the middle tube with an aquatic moss and stock it with some shrimps; I think it'll look lovely, and you might want to consider doing something similar

Very helpful, thanks.

Yeah, I realise the my stock will be limited and initially I was just going to plant it but then there's no point buying a fish tank (the flow is around £80)! And, as you say, plants don't like the Biorb's substrate.

I use to have a log of wood and what looked like a type of lettuce in my old tank but it ended up dying on me

I like guppies very much and I really like the atmosphere that the Biorb flow would create but I probably need to look at it realistically. I'm just looking for some tranquility whilst I work haha. (Plus I'm a designer and I visualize things very well...)

 

[fluttermoth]

Well, Java fern and anubias are both as tough as old boots; I can't see either of them dying on you! Personally, in a tank that small, I'd stick with just shrimp; maybe a couple of the smaller snails too (so no apple snails; something like zebra nerites).

I don't find guppies very restful; they're busy little fish, but then, I'm not a fan of livebearers in general. I find my son's shrimps very relaxing to watch; and they're so beautiful and graceful.

 

[nathan01]

Well, Java fern and anubias are both as tough as old boots; I can't see either of them dying on you! Personally, in a tank that small, I'd stick with just shrimp; maybe a couple of the smaller snails too (so no apple snails; something like zebra nerites).

I don't find guppies very restful; they're busy little fish, but then, I'm not a fan of livebearers in general. I find my son's shrimps very relaxing to watch; and they're so beautiful and graceful.

When you put it like that, guess guppies are not restful, I guess it's just the form and colour that I like... I use to have a shrimp in my old tank but then it was eaten alive by a crab I was stupidly recommended to put in

Are any small fish restful? I guess betta's are in some ways but again, it's probably due to colour and form.

Thanks for your help.

PS. After initial costs, it wouldn't cost a great deal per month to maintain the tank would it? I mean unless plant die or something breaks, there's only really food to buy. Also, how long should a plant last? I know that's very vague but I remember my plants lasting less than 2 months which became expensive.

 

[nathan01]

I've been on the reef-one website today and saw an article about converting to tropical.

Here's the article:Biorb Flow

Basically it says that they do not recommend bottom-feeders as the ceramic media may hurt their mouth when feeding and that sinking food is not recommended.... Perhaps it's better to stick with some small fish after all? Do your son's shrimp cope with the media? Are there any suitable shrimp that can deal with the rough edged of the ceramic media?

Also, do you know how the heater pack works on the biorb flow? Are there specially created holes for the cables to exit etc. as I want a silet tank... (looking at making a housing for the noisy filter too.

Thank you

 

[fluttermoth]

They're talking about bottom feeding fish, like corydoras or plecs, not shrimp; I'm sure they'd be fine in there. Shrimp don't feed directly from the substrate with their mouths, you see; unlike fish they pick up the food with tiny pincers and eat like that.

You could certainly put two or three male guppies in there if you like them

It would be a very cheap tank to run, even if you heat it. If you stick to the hardier plants, like the Java fern and anubias, they'll go on practically forever.

I don't actually own any of the Biorbs; my son has Fluval Edge, so I can't make any comment on the technical details of the tank!

 

[nathan01]

They're talking about bottom feeding fish, like corydoras or plecs, not shrimp; I'm sure they'd be fine in there. Shrimp don't feed directly from the substrate with their mouths, you see; unlike fish they pick up the food with tiny pincers and eat like that.

You could certainly put two or three male guppies in there if you like them

It would be a very cheap tank to run, even if you heat it. If you stick to the hardier plants, like the Java fern and anubias, they'll go on practically forever.

I don't actually own any of the Biorbs; my son has Fluval Edge, so I can't make any comment on the technical details of the tank!

Ahh I see - I'm out of practice now! I'm sure this question gets asked a lot but are fish/shrimp 'happy' in a biorb type tank? Are they perfectly safe for the suggested stock? I don't want it because it a somewhat design symbol, I generally feel that a tank with plant will help me concentrate. (not sure why, I just like nature around me whist I work!)

I had a better in my old tank - it was a deep blue colour if that means anything. Looking briefly at other suggestions for Biorb stock, I see that Bettas are quite popular. Excuse my lack of knowledge but would one betta be happy on it's own? Won't it get bored or something?

I've emailed reef-one regarding the heater/tank conversion...

Fluval Edge... nice tank! (I want a closed top one though to reduce noise whilst I sleep.)

Thank you

 

[fluttermoth]

Bettas are happy on their own, yes. My only worry would be that bettas are labyrinth fish and need to be able to get the the water surface, as they partly breathe air, so make sure you don't fill it completely to the top.