Buy the Reef One biUbe 35L Silver at Amazon

On arrival the box contained all the promised components and looked easy to assemble and the instructions were good. The BiUbe I bought was 9 gallons but you can find them in larger sizes if required. I chose the silver BiUbe but they also come in black. Plants are available in a wide range of colors including green, pink, blue and purple. Once assembled, which proved to be super easy it was time to fill it. The pack comes with water treatment which also includes nitrifying bacteria to start the cycling process. As the instructions say, the biUbe contains everything you need to get started except fish and water!

The ceramic media supplied acts as a biological filter so you need to make sure bacteria are growing in this media before you add any fish. They advise you to take out any too small pieces of this media then wash carefully and place in the tank. The bacteria added from the water treatment package will start to grow in the media and process the toxic ammonia produced by your fish. The process takes about 2 weeks to establish enough bacteria to safely add more fish. You should add one small fish, a goldfish or minnow for example after about 24 hours to give th bacteria something to feed on as they become established. In addition to the biological system the BiUbe also uses mechanical amd chemical filtration using the filtration system built into the base of the tank. The cartridge supplied lasts around eight weeks before needing replacement and the filtration system itself is concealed in the base so is not visible.

Setting up the BiUbe Reef One 35L

Setting up is simple and involves fitting the filtration system to the base and the air pump which is attached to the middle of the fitration system. The halogen light is fitted into the lid which is hinged to allow you to feed the fish. We also added some arrticial plants that we purchased separately. Now all that we needed to do was add the water. We placed the BiUbe in its position in my daughters bedroom before carefully filling with water. It is going to be heavy when filled so place it on an appropriate stand or shelf that can take the weight. We let it stand for a day after turning on the pump then added a small goldfish to start off the biological filtration system.

After about a month we slowly added a few more fish. This tank is quite small so we only added a total of 4 fish.

The cylindrical tank looks good and has been easy to maintain. The Plexiglass acrylic construction material is tough and easy to clean and the water stays crystal clear as long as you change the filter cartridge regularly. My daughter made a chart for her wall to remind her to change the filter every 8 weeks! The halogen lamp is great for seeing the fish any time. We are pleased with the tank and are considering buying a larger tank for out dining room.

Although this is a cold water tank (no heater is supplied) it can be converted to a tropical tank quite easily. Changing the filter cartridge is easy just take off the lid and the air tube with the filter system attached. Replace the with the new kit, wash off any attached algae and replace int he tank. It’s also a good idea to do a partial water change (around 30%) each time you replace the filter. Always make sure you don’t replace all of the water as this will get rid of the good bacteria. Using a new sponge (not one you used for washing up!) wipe the inside of the glass before replacing the water.

Feeding the fish in the BiUbe Reef One 35L

The food supplied with the BiUbe tank is a floating kind and we liked this as it doesn’t get trapped int he ceramic material on the base and the fish don’t root around in the material amd disturb it. If you do use other types of fish food use a syphon regularly to remove any uneaten food accumulating on the bottom.

If you have problems with cloudy water after you initially set up the tank leave it for a day or two and it should clear on it’s own. One cause if the cloudiness persists is adding too many fish too fast. One small goldfish is all that you should be adding until the tank is cycled (after about 28 days). Don’t panic and change the water as this will do more harm than good. Follow the instructions carefully and you shouldn’t have any problems.

Is the BiUbe Reef One 35L best for you?

After nearly a year of using the BiUbe tank my daughter is still very pleased with it and it has stayed clear as promised. The triple fitration system works well as long as you maintain it properly. I would recommend this tank as an easy to maintain aquarium that is ideal as a first tank for a child.

Where to buy the BiUbe Reef One 35L

You can find a good price on the Reef One biUbe 35L Silver at Amazon

Guest posting by Diane Fellow