Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Biorb Fish Tanks - Advice for the newbie

By Steven Green


There is a lot of bad information on the Internet concerning Biorb fish tanks. We aim to clear up some of the confusion.

Various people will say that Gold fish are suitable for small tanks. This is totally not true. Adult goldfish can grow to ten inches in size, hardly suitable for a nano fish tank. Another comment I have heard is that fish only grow to the size of their aquarium. Again, this is an untrue statement. A fish will keep on growing and may well outgrow the suitable size for it's current tank. More to the truth, is the sad fact that the fish may not be well nourished in a small tank which means their grow is stunted. This certainly is not natural in any sense of the word.

Biorb fish tanks are not suitable for beginners is a statement I sometimes read on forums. It is a ridiculous statement really. At the end of the day, these types of tanks are ideal for the home. Unfortunately, people have been known to stock fish that are suitable for the slightly smaller tank size. There are still plenty of suitable species that would suit a Biorb. Possibly this could also be down to mis-advice by fish stores.

I have heard old school fish keepers state that tank filters are not needed. This statement couldn't be further from the truth. Filters are a valuable addition to any aquarium. In fact, I would say they are an essential component for the health of your livestock. Of course, on the flip side, having a filter means you don't need to do anything else either. Nothing negates the fact that you still are required to do regular water changes even with a filter fitted. Filters also need to be replaced at regular intervals. Yes, the Biorb fish tanks have an advanced filtration system, but you still need to do your bit.

I have been told previously that normal tap water is fine for marine fish and corals. Well, it is if you want to kill them. Fish and coral keeping science has evolved. People may have in the older days kept fish in tap water, but there are several elements in water that are lethal to corals and invertebrates - Copper for one. Also, chlorine is bad news for aquatic life. At least use water conditioner if nothing else. If you are keeping marine fish, then you could save a lot of money long time by investing in a reverse osmosis unit.

Have you ever wondered what causes sudden plagues of undesirable algae in your fish tank? Well, one factor could be if the temperature in your tank does not remain the same. Having a heater should help keep a constant temperature. The correct water temperature is very important for some fish too. Don't let anyone tell you that aquariums need no form of heating as a rule.

Fish test kits are affordable for almost anyone. You can even get all in one test kits that combine multiple tests in one. For the sake of your fish, its important that you make time each week to check the water is safe. Ammonia is deadly to aquatic life even in small quantities. Of course, if you are implementing regular water changes and swapping the filter as per the instructions, you hopefully will never detect this in a normal cycled tank. I would recommend individual test kits for marine tanks as you need a little better accuracy. Cheaper test strips are find for tropical and cold water setups.




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