RolyMo
Member
Hi and thanks for reading this post.
Background
I started this hobby 2 years ago and got my first ever tank and Rio 180l after getting over my desire to have a BiOrb. Since then I have learned a lot from the great people on this forum and 1 year later I added a Nano CRS tank which this too appears to be thriving. The hobby of fishkeeping and planted tanks is great and rewarding.
This has prompted friends to admire my planted tanks and the fish inside them. So much so that an 8yr son of a very good friend recently bought a BiOrb Flow 15l to start with.
Not wanting the little guy to be disappointed and wanted to part some knowledge to help make sure his fish will survive etc. I have read the instructions for the BiOrb Flow online and was somewhat shocked to see that you could add fish after what looks like 24hrs of starting the tank and adding the conditioner and then the biological booster. This is currently not a planted tank. Not sure you can even put plants in there.
Questions
So I just wanted to check and confirm a few things with the community, which I think I know the answers to but am sure you guys know better. They are:-
Regards
R
Background
I started this hobby 2 years ago and got my first ever tank and Rio 180l after getting over my desire to have a BiOrb. Since then I have learned a lot from the great people on this forum and 1 year later I added a Nano CRS tank which this too appears to be thriving. The hobby of fishkeeping and planted tanks is great and rewarding.
This has prompted friends to admire my planted tanks and the fish inside them. So much so that an 8yr son of a very good friend recently bought a BiOrb Flow 15l to start with.
Not wanting the little guy to be disappointed and wanted to part some knowledge to help make sure his fish will survive etc. I have read the instructions for the BiOrb Flow online and was somewhat shocked to see that you could add fish after what looks like 24hrs of starting the tank and adding the conditioner and then the biological booster. This is currently not a planted tank. Not sure you can even put plants in there.
Questions
So I just wanted to check and confirm a few things with the community, which I think I know the answers to but am sure you guys know better. They are:-
- You need to cycle the tank for 4-6 weeks without fish? Especially as this is not a planted tank.
- I understand the gravel that comes with the BiOrb acts as filter media and bacteria colonise this too. Can I take a sponge from my established Rio 180l and squeeze out into his tank to help kick start the cycling?
- Doing number 2 will reduce the time to cycle. But monitor with an inaccurate test kit to at least get some sense of are the Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate levels coming down?
- Can they get away without a heater or should they get one to boost it up to 24+ degrees Celcius (clearly it depends on the fish and temp of house)
- Looks like the filter is also a cartridge. Does this mean no squeezing of sponges to save money?
- 15l Is not much volume and rules out a lot fish varieties as well as volume of fish. The kid wanted Neon Tetras or Zebra Danio's. But I am wondering are these really too big for 15l?
- I was thinking Chilli Rasboras? Amano Shrimp (although what are they going to feed on). Thoughts on small, beginner (hardy), not needing big space fish welcome?
Regards
R