biOrb FLOW 30 Aquarium with LED Light - 8 gallon, black (45919)

This is a lovely beginner tank, I love this for my room because I LOVE minimal futuristic looks. This tank is so SEXY! Easy to put together also. I’m still in the middle of decorating! LOVE IT

I had my hopes set pretty high for this tank after having my BiOrb Halo for a while.And honestly I’d say it’s lived I up to expectations so far,,I would however recommend using the rocks that came with it as just a cover for the filtration system,,and then putting gravel/pebbles over that to prevent smaller rocks from getting into the filtrations system,,and covering it to prevent fish and other critters from getting into it and being hurt or killed,,it’s overall a pretty nice tank for a nano community,,and since it’s a tall tank there’s plenty room for top dwelling fish and y’all growing plants to thrive in,,the only things I’d really wish were changed would be the opening be a bit bigger,,and they have the option for the multi color led like there other tanks...Other then that,,it’s well worth the purchase

I purchased this aquarium at a discount from Warehouse Sales (used like new, damaged packaging) and I'm basing this review on that price. I'd deduct a star at the usual "new" price. I've uploaded several photos because there's so little information anywhere on what you actually get in a BiOrb kit; most photos show them outfitted with lots of expensive decorations.You get a 30 liter (7.93 gallon) black and clear tank with about four feet of airline tubing attached to the bottom of the outside of the tank. The airline tube feeds out toward the back through a notch in the base. On the inside of the tank, the airline tube attaches to an air stone.The inside of the tank base has a round plate that locks to the round, clear filter media cartridge with a twist. The cartridge is refillable and/or disposable and has another twist lock on top for the cap and uplift tube, which are not disposable.The matching black cover has two very bright white LEDs with a 4-foot cord, a switch, and a proprietary plug on the end that attaches to the included transformer. There's a small notch in the cover that could accommodate a submersible heater cord, but not much else.The included air pump has a similar cord and plug, minus the switch. A check valve is included in the airline tube. The kit comes with two bags of ceramic media that fills the bottom of the tank to a depth of 1-1/2" to 2".I was disappointed unpacking this kit. The substrate media isn't nearly as consistent in size, shape, texture, or color as the substrate shown in the advertising photos. It appears to be coarse ground scrap or by-product, nothing like the ceramic media made specifically for aquariums that you may have seen elsewhere. It has a rough, sharp texture that you wouldn't want your fish to contact, and it has none of the evenly blended appearance one expects of a material called "ceramic". Most of the pieces are an inch in diameter or larger, not suitable for use with a gravel cleaner.The filter cartridge has no fence or grate around it, so every time you change or clean it, the substrate will have to be pulled away a little. This could create a major design flaw if you don't plan your decoration scheme with this in mind. The air pump and stone provided seem to have the filter working briskly, but I have yet to add any fish. Bubbles from the filter surface directly under the light, causing a lot of shimmering that some fish won't like.Here's the bottom line. If you're looking for an aquarium as decor, this may be the tank for you. The BiOrb accessories are beautiful but can be very pricey in larger sizes and quantities. If you'd like to create a gorgeous display with one or two small fish, this would work. On the other hand, a beginning hobbyist who wants four or five fish probably won't be happy with the under-gravel filter. This filter has a better chance of working in the spherical BiOrbs where waste will fall closer to it. This tank will need regular vacuuming beyond the draw of the filter.

I love the beauty and ease of the biorb line, but potential buyers need to do their research. The substrate only suits specific kinds of plants and critters and isn’t an ideal bottom. I have been most successful with larger snails and two goldfish (max). Shrimp and bottom dwellers like corys will die. These are also not good tanks for bettas as the air bubbles disturb the surface too much. But again, if customers do their research, this tank could be a beautiful addition to their home with the right kinds of fish and plants.

Love this fish tank. It looks great, it's super quiet and I love the biorb decor. I like the way the bubbles make the light move and reflect like an outside pond would..I have it in my office and helps me relax.

I've been waiting to write a review until after a few months of use. 1) I was concerned the substrate would be too hard for my fish, but they've been fine. The amount of substrate included doesn't quite cover the filter but it doesn't bother me. If you're unhappy with the substrate you can always buy a cheap substitute. 2) The opening to the aquarium is smaller, but cleaning hasn't been difficult. 3) I was disappointed the light is very bright and doesn't have brightness settings. The chord pops out prominently from the top, and I wish it was more conspicuous and build into the tank. Additionally, for my tank environment, the light gets covered in algae and requires regular cleaning. 3) The equipment for the aquarium isn't that expensive, especially if you buy something compatible that isn't biOrb brand.Overall I would recommend the tank, especially if you enjoy the design like I do.

After 3 months the LED light cord covering is separating from the electrical wire. I contacted biOrb and before they will do anything they want all manner of information, pictures etc. Then they will decide what they will do.I only noticed the plastic/vinyl covering peeling off because I saw a spark jump between the exposed wires. This is a fire hazard and I told them this. I probably should report this to the proper consumer protection agencies before someone really get's hurt.Update - The air pump cord is doing the same thing. I contacted biOrb and they stated that they would send replacement cord in 5-7 days. That was 12 days ago. No response from them. I contacted the Product Consumer Safety Commission on this condition. This is a very dangerous condition. I'm sure that these are low voltage components but since it sparks the possibility of fire is just waiting to happen.