- Self-filtering aquarium keeps water healthy and clear for months at a time
- Built-in filtration system uses 5-stage method combining biological, mechanical, and chemical filtration
- All supplies and instructions included
- Silver trim looks great in home or office
- Measures 13 x 13 x 13 inches; covered by manufacturer¿s warranty
Product Description
The baby biOrb™ combines the looks of a traditional fish bowl with the performance of a ‘hi-tech’ aquarium. The 4-gallon fish bowl incorporates a clever and easy to change filtration system that has been designed to pr… More >>
Baby biOrb Aquarium with Halogen Light, Silver, 4 Gallons
I totally recommend this aquarium kit for anyone just starting out in the fish-keeping hobby. Vitually everything you’ll need comes in the box. However, when I bought my BiOrb a year ago, there was no heater included. If you want to keep tropical fish, you will likely need to purchase BiOrb’s heater kit if they haven’t yet decided to include a heater in the package. You can purchase a small heater at any good pet store, but it’s likely to be a bit of an eyesore in the BiOrb.
I keep 3 dwarf African frogs and one dwarf puffer in the BiOrb and there is ample room. Cleaning day is about every 8 weeks and is generally only a matter of changing a few gallons of water and taking out the old filter cartridge and putting a new one in. The tank is well-aerated and you never see fish gasping for air at the top. Plus, it’s a gorgeous tank.
My only complaint is that when I bought the BiOrb, I had no idea that they would soon come out with a 16-gallon version. I definitely would have gotten the larger tank, since with the smaller one, you have to severely limit the number of fish or aquatic creatures you keep in it. With the 16 gallon tank, you can have double the number of pets. Still, I’m very happy with my BiOrb.
Rating: 5 / 5
I have owned a Baby Biorb ($69.99) for 10 months now, and I am VERY UNhappy with it. Irreconciliable personality conflicts among fishmates prompted me to purchase a second acrylic tank (10 gallons at only $49.99) within 2 months of purchasing the Biorb, so I am able to report on the comparative performance of the 2 rival tanks. The Biorb is superior to the other tank in ONLY 2 ways: 1) Its silver plastic accents are more attractive than the standard black plastic accents of the 10-gallon tank; and 2) The Biorb’s biological filtration system (the ceramic media foster bacterial growth and proliferation, unlike the plain gravel in my other tank) sped up the aquarium’s cycling process, whereby the Biorb had fully matured in exactly HALF the time required by the other tank. Now for the BAD news: The Biorb’s poorly engineered filter set-up necessitates lifting the soiled filter from the BOTTOM of the tank for replacement, at which time the disturbed filter releases appalling pollution into the tank. The replacement filter barely stands a chance of removing the residual pollution, let alone maintaining a healthy environment for the next “4 to 8 weeks.” As a result, I am finding myself replacing the filter an average of every 2 to 3 weeks, which – at $9.99 to $10.99 a pop – becomes ridiculously expensive, and the aquarium’s water is perpetually yellow and unattractive. The other tank, on the other hand, boasts a filter set-up on the SURFACE of the water. I simply lift out the soiled filter – only $6.99 a pop – and replace it. No harm done. While the makers of the Biorb claim that the 360-degree view it affords of the fish inside really places Biorb ahead of the competition, I find that my second all-clear hexagonal tank likewise boasts
a 360-degree view. If I had it to do over again, I would NOT invest in a Biorb. The long-term expense is prohibitive, and the performance is poor.
Rating: 1 / 5
Have to disagree with the other reviewer here … I purchased a Baby biOrb recently for my new Betta, after having my first betta living in an airless bowl for a couple years. I simply got tired of cleaning a stinky bowl every week. As a result, I went shoppin for a new tank with a bubbler and filter system and found the Baby biOrb.
While I agree that the maintence costs are significant at $132/ year (if you need to change a filter every 4 weeks), the costs balance with ease of maintenance. Personally, my experience with cleaning the Baby biOrb was a snap with the optional suction hose. Took me fifteen minutes to clean the tank, drain the grimey water and add new water. Couldn’t have been much easier. And, I am not sure how anyone could have a problem swapping filter cartriges unless they have motor skills issues.
I also built a noise dampening box for the air pump – my only real complaint is that the “whisper quiet” pump sounds like a mini jackhammer after about five minutes.
Great product and looks awesome.
Rating: 4 / 5
I also have the 16 gallon and I can tell you that the filter system performs very well indeed. The surface area, which is where the dissolved oxygen is exchanged (and determines the bio-load) is rather small, so don’t over populate these tanks. Aeration, bio, chemical, and mechanical filtering are all done by the lift tube in the center. Special gravel is supplied, a sponge filter+charcoal makes it very efficient…the people that designed this tank knew what they were doing. And…they are beautiful !
Rating: 5 / 5
This Baby biOrb is designed to hold exactly the configuration suggested by the promotional picture: 2 aquarium plants and 2-6 small coldwater fish. It is too small for goldfish, so that pretty much leaves minnows (or you could add a heater). They recommend you add no more than 2 minnows every four weeks, which is unfortunate since minnows prefer to school with fish they’re familiar with, but unless you have another tank to put the other minnows in, you’re going to have to buy a new batch from the pet store every so often.
It comes with its own special ceramic gravel, which is too light and shallow to root more than a couple plants in it. I find that my own plants keep drifting up to the surface because the gravel is so lightweight.
The base of the tank is round and completely flat, so I recommend putting a trivet or cork pad under it to catch any water drip and prevent slippage. I use a Le Creuset trivet which fits perfectly.
The filtration setup is pretty strange: it’s a disposable filter made of a plastic sponge and some activated carbon. They want you to buy a new filter from their particular filter brand every four weeks.
It seems like it would be well-suited for an office environment or a kitchen. Because of the hum of the filter and the quiet splash of the bubbles, it might be a bit noisy for a bedroom, though it’s really not very noisy at all.
Rating: 4 / 5