Fish Jacuzzi

[Netherways]

Hi!

As one of my smaller tanks I've bought one of these "eye candy" BiOrb's from reef one to go in to the study at home. (Mainly 'cuz it works well with the decor)

I've put my little baby angelfish in there until it gets too big because its my favorite fish and I spend most my time in the study.

My only problem is the velocity of the bubbles that come out of it.

For those of you not familiar with the BiOrb its a 30L tank with a central tube stemming up the middle or the Orb shape that comes to a stop about 2 inches below where the water line should be. On top of the tank there is a lid that encompases a halogen light unit, feeding hatch and cable tidy etc.

All the bubbles rise through the main tube and release at the top, as i said, about 2 inches from the waterline. These bubbles come out of there like a bat out of hell and cause the top of the water to become incredibly agitated. The result is a surface that is entirely broken with bubbles causing all food to be almost impossible for the fish to take from the top.

The fish whenever more than 50% the way up the tank is constantly being bobbed around sort of like this.... its not violent but just enough to rock the fish.

Is this a problem at all? Its not my tank specifically, it happens on all the other BiOrb's i've seen.

Is there anything I can do to stem it? I have tried squeezing the air line from the pump to see if that helped but it made no change leading me to assume that it must be from the build up of air pressure behind the air stone. Could it just be the fact that the air stone has only been in use 3 or 4 weeks?

Would it be wise for me to try and slow the flow?

Sorry for all my questions but you guys are such a fountain of knowledge!

Many thanks,

Alex

 

[kev]

Saw Biorb and got scared - Then saw angel fish and paniced

Put the fish in a proper tank!!

if you haven't got room for a proper tank with proper light and filtration in your study then just use a Tropical fish screen saver like the rest of use

If you insist on keeping your Biorb - People will try and disourage you!!!
Then just stick with small fish - Tetra, Guppies, Platys (no bigger than 1"-1.5")

Watch the platies are the same sex other wise you'll have your self a little platy farm

 

[Netherways]

Kev,

Thank you for your reply...I think.

Would you mind justifying yourself a little more, I am all willing to accept constructive remarks but Without reasoning its hard to see where you are coming from.

The BiOrb is a very attractive tank, I bought it because it goes exactly with the room it is in and I have no intention of getting rid of the tank without justified reasoning.

The Angelfish is still young, it is no larger than the size of a 50 pence peice all in. It swims quite happily around and now it is settled is showing no sign of distress.

My definition of a "proper tank" is something that my fish are happy with and I am happy with, that is what I am trying to create with the material I have chosen. If you can answer any of my previously asked questions then please feel free to do so.

Replies of "Put the fish in a proper tank" answer none of my questions. I would encourage all other people who reply to do so in a manner I can use.

Alex

 

[kev]

http/www.reef-one.com/aquarium-care/choosing-and-buying.htm[/URL]]There is a good choice of cold water fish available, tropical fish can be kept if an aquarium heater is fitted inside the aquarium. The suitability of fish depends largely on their adult size, behaviour and  requirements.  Hardy varieties of fantail goldfish are a good choice for Reef One aquariums. Avoid fancier varieties such as celestials, bubble eyes and pearl scales which can be harder to care for and  Oranda which can grow too big. Common goldfish are fast swimming and boisterous, they shouldn’t  really be mixed with fantail goldfish, they are better suited to very large aquariums or ponds.

Common goldfish, such as comets and shubunkins usually have a single flat tail and cigar shaped bodies. Fantail goldfish have long tails which look like two tails joined together. Their bodies are shorter and rounder.

Smaller cold water fish such as white cloud mountain minnows are very hardy fish, a shoal of six (three at a time) can be mixed with fantail goldfish.

Small ‘cool water’ fish can be kept providing you use an aquarium thermometer to check that the temperature in the aquarium does not drop below 190C (170C at night). These type of fish include danios, some guppies and platys amongst others. These shouldn’t be mixed with goldfish.

Justification?? - I think so !!

My definition of a "proper tank" is something that my fish are happy with and I am happy with.

If you had a tank that your fish was happy with - Why would you be posting problems?? Angels like a calm tank with lots of places to hide and move around

If you turn down the bubble (which I'm not sure you can) then you will reduce the efficiency of your filter

Just a few questions

How did you cycle your tank??
Whats your ammonia, and Nit... Levels like

Whats the PH - I think Angels are only suitable for a specific range.

 

[Netherways]

Kev,

My fish appears to be perfectly happy, I am just mildly concerned that the bubbles may be disturbing the water more than is comfortable for the fish leading to more problems long term.

Unfortunately I am away from home at the moment and shall not be returning until tomorrow Evening and so do not have ready access to the figures of the last test. I shall be sure to post them when I do.

Alex

 

[Rich T]

Is this an air driven pump/filter system ?

If it is you can put a valve after the pump which will allow you to slow down the flow rate of the bubbles.

The valve is a straight piece of tubing which goes between two sections of airline and has a screw in the top to allow more or less bubbles through

Like this :

 

[Netherways]

Rich T,

What a good suggestion, I have a couple of those I bought from an aquatic store a few months ago for use on my aircraft to regulate the air being given to the static instruments.

Hopefully I may still have a few packaged. I may try that for a day or so, Will have to make sure I test daily to see if it is having any adverse effects first though.

Thanks alot!

Alex

 

[jacblades]

My fish appears to be perfectly happy, I am just mildly concerned that the bubbles may be disturbing the water more than is comfortable for the fish leading to more problems long term.

i think it is interesting when people say that their fish are prefectly happy. i think you can know when the fish is sick, but im not sure there is a way to measure fish happiness. (maybe with the exception of bettas and bubblenests...)

there is no way of being sure that our fish are happy but we have to try our best to put them in tanks that we know suit their needs.

i once kept goldfish in bowls and overstocked all of my tanks when i was a beginner and i wouldnt listen when people told me differently. "the bowl company says its ok to do and they should know, right? theyre the ones that make the bowls!" is what i thought.

i doubt that netherways is going to get rid of his tank because it is not suitable for the fish. most people buy that giant bowl because it is pretty, not because they want a good home for their fish.
he is asking for help on how to improve it so i guess we should do our best to help.
im not sure how i biorb works but i would also suggest the valve if it is possible to put one on there.

 

[The-Wolf]

For those of you not familiar with the BiOrb its a 30L tank with a central tube stemming up the middle or the Orb shape that comes to a stop about 2 inches below where the water line should be.

The main problem with Bi-Orbs is the lack
of surface area compared to volume of water held.
This can lead to a dangerouse build up of natural gasses and
eventual toxic tank syndrom.
Of course regular water changes will prevent this.

IMHO Bi-Orbs are just another fashion thing for the
home and should never be used to keep any fish in!
Say no To Bi-Orbs!

 

[Netherways]

All,

Please I HAVE stated that the fish can be moved if need be. I have a 46 Gal tank thats going to come off a fishless cycle soon. I am not adverse to moving the fish I was just asking for advice that would make it more comfortable at the moment.

Are you guys seriously saying you have never put young fish in a 8-10gal tank for a few months while it was growing?!

I joined the forum to meet like-minded people and exchange advice on our mutual hobby. Yet there are hundreds upon hundreds of posts on here where people (Less experienced than many, granted) Have legitimately asked for advice and immediately been shot down with remarks on how they have chosen to do things.

Only later is other advice given that proves useful. Could this not just have been given in the first place or, like fish, do you feel you have to mark yourself as the dominant before giving slack?

Many of the people asking the advice will be newcomers to the hobby who have asked their local store or other friends for advice and simply gone for what they saw as best for the budget and conditions at the time.

Would you have preferred that these people came to this site first and asked what exactly to buy? Of course you wouldnt, you would be forever bombarded with posts asking what to buy for £50 for a kids room so he could keep some fish.

I am fully aware that this is an open international forum and that everyone is entitled to their oppinions. But please do not feel you have to impose them on other people.

On the flip side the advice given can be used or ignored, there is no pressure to do either, all you have to do is turn the PC off and its gone, no problem. But I and many others like me would like to join in the forum as active members and try to give back as much, if not more, valuable tips etc as is freely given by the considerate members.

[RANT OVER]

Alex

 

[kev]

Strange - You ask for advise - You get advise - You criticise the advice given and the members who gave it??

It was genuine advise given with the best intentions - And I'm pretty sure members who do ask BEFORE stepping into buying thing are widely admired for doing the research before hand!!! Thats the way we should all do it - But many don't!!

Your problem was that the bubbles were disturbing the water alot and you thought this might affect your fish and wanted to know what you could do about it

You could have recieved the answer - Your fish doesn't like it and you can use an inline valve to reduce the pressure

You might have gone away and done that with no more knowledge

Now you know the following extra bits of information

Its not advisable to keep Angels in such a small tank - I didn't know you would move it as soon as your 46G was available

Bi-orbs should only be used for small hardy fish - It says that on the manufactures website

Turning the pressure down may have an adverse affect on your filtration.

So now you have a lot more information and as you say you can just turn your computer off and ignore the information - but its your decision and now you have more knowledge you can make the right decision

 

[gaya]

Netherways,

don't let anyone hurt your feelings. some people have a kind way with words and others do not. I've learned a lot from this board so far (even if it somes with alittle attitude). I just take that stuff with a grain of salt.

cheers!
gina

 

[Rich T]

Rich T,

What a good suggestion, I have a couple of those I bought from an aquatic store a few months ago for use on my aircraft to regulate the air being given to the static instruments.

Hopefully I may still have a few packaged. I may try that for a day or so, Will have to make sure I test daily to see if it is having any adverse effects first though.

Thanks alot!

Alex

No probs bud......from one n00b to another n00b

 

[Erised]

Strange - You ask for advise - You get advise - You criticise the advice given and the members who gave it??

I seriously dont think he was criticing the advice he had gotten ... however, he asked for advise on the bubbles in question, not about if he did the right thing buying a bio-orb.

*sigh* dont know why I'm even replying to this, and know I really should keep myself out of it

I say, follow Rich T's advice, I think that should help you a bit. However, it is true that the filter might not work as well after that and you'll have to do more water changes, though I'm sure you dont mind =)

About the 46Gallon which is still fish less right now ... concidering you will have to move the angel in there sooner or later I advice looking up what fish can go with a fully grown angel, seeing as most smaller fishs tend to get eaten by them =)

Hope you have fun with your angel! and your 46Gallon as well

 

[Gill]

Hi

We have a Bio-orb Set up @ Work and It does produce alot of Surface movement.

I don't hink it was Fair to Shoot you Down about your choice in tank.

If PPl think the Bio-orb is a Fashion Item then So Be It.

It is a Nice Tank, and Does Not Require Maintenance Like A Standard Tank.

We Currently have been Doing Water Changes Every 5-8 Weeks with NO ADVERSE affects on the Fish In it.


The Bubbles can be Adjusted but it will Decrease the Level Of Filtration.
So i would Avoid Addding a Valve to it.

Once the Other Tank Has Cycled, It would be best to place the Angel in there. And Go with Tetras, as These are Most Suited to the Bio-Orb Design.

But in the Meantime he should be Fine.