British aquarium manufacturer Reef One has launched its new biOrb Life Collection of aquariums at the GLEE trade show at Birmingham's NEC.
The biOrb Life Collection, which Practical Fishkeeping first covered at the Interzoo trade show in Germany earlier this year, are made from high quality acrylic, which Reef One claims is ten times stronger than glass, and much lighter in weight.
John Wright, who works as a product designer for Reef One, told Practical Fishkeeping that the company wanted to make a design orientated aquarium that made a good introduction into fishkeeping, as well as a stylish introduction to the home.
LightingWright said that the range were all fitted with Reef One's Intelligent Light system, which is LED-based and runs from a low voltage power supply, making it very safe: The aquarium itself is constructed from acrylic, with a coloured band going around the outside. We're using LED lighting system to illuminate the system. This has got a 24-hour light profile in there, which simulates sunrise, full daylight and then goes into a sunset.
Overnight you get a blue light, which illuminates the tank extremely well; something that isn't really seen on aquariums of this size, but a technology that we think is very important.
The LED lighting gives a very white output; a very, very bright light. Also, from a design point of view, it is very, very slimline, which allows us to create a very sleek looking aquarium.
FiltrationLike the biOrb and biUbe that Reef One also produces, the biOrb Life Collection use an air-powered filtration system which combines a mechanical and chemical filter in the centre of the aquarium with a biologically active substrate of highly-porous ceramic filter media.
The uplift tube in the centre of the tanks creates a downward flow of water into the filter, drawing in debris and keeping the beneficial bacteria that colonise the substrate supplied with a plentiful supply of oxygen rich water.
Wright, who was a keen fishkeeper himself before becoming a product designer, said that many fishkeepers held misconceptions about the filter. Said Wright: In the centre of the aquarium is a filter cartridge system. This takes care of your chemical and mechanical filtration. This is a replaceable item - it's very easy to remove by removing the bubble tube.
We treat this like a waste bin. Effectively, once it's full of waste from the fish you throw it away and you start again. This creates a very, very healthy environment for the fish because you're not washing out filter sponges.
There's some concern about the fact that you're throwing away the biological aspect of your filter; this is a misunderstanding " all of that is taken care of in the ceramic media at the bottom. That never needs disturbing.
Sizes and coloursThe biOrb Life Collection range come in three sizes: 30 litre square (40cm x 23.5cm x 42cm) 209 RSP; 45 litre portrait (37.5cm x 25.5cm x 56cm) 239 RSP; and 60 litre portrait (42cm x 28cm x 62cm) 269 RSP.
Each tank is accessible via a flush fitting square opening in the top which gives increased access to the aquarium. The tanks are available in three colours, Piano Black, Chilli Red and Ice White, and will be on sale shortly.