| p>There are a number of factors that determine | | | | does not cope well with the coarse ceramic media. |
| what fish and how many you can keep in any | | | | What sort of fish feed from the bottom? |
| aquarium, and there is much conflicting information on | | | | In general loaches and catfish feed from the bottom. |
| the internet. Some sources state that it's the volume | | | | If you're in a pet store, and there are no labels on |
| of the tank, some say it's the surface area of the | | | | the tanks, it's quite easy to identify fish that feed |
| water, some say it's the physical dimensions of the | | | | from the bottom - even if they are not on the |
| tank and some say it's dependent on the filter | | | | bottom. The vast majority of fish that feed from |
| system. To a certain extent all of these factors have | | | | the bottom will have their mouths angled down. Even |
| a bearing on how many and what type of fish you | | | | if a fish is stuck to the side of the aquarium they |
| can keep in an aquarium. | | | | would still be classified as bottom feeding fish and are |
| The biOrb and biUbe have one other factor that | | | | not suitable for a biUbe or biOrb. If the reason for |
| should be considered. In place of the standard gravel | | | | you wanting to keep a catfish or loach in your tank |
| used in the bottom of fish tanks, these aquariums | | | | was to add something different to the 'normal' fish |
| have 'ceramic media'. This ceramic media looks like | | | | then perhaps you could consider getting some shrimp. |
| gravel and ranges between 10mm and 18mm in | | | | There are many different types; cherry shrimp, |
| diameter. It is very porous which allows the bacteria | | | | ghost shrimp, amano shrimp... They are fascinating |
| needed for the biological element of the filter system | | | | watch, do a lot of cleaning and make an excellent |
| to develop. It is critical to the function of the biOrb | | | | addition to any aquarium. |
| and biUbe tank and should not be removed. | | | | Is there anything else I can't keep? |
| Why does this affect what fish I can keep? | | | | Even the largest biOrb is not big by normal standards |
| The ceramic media, compared to standard aquarium | | | | so to keep any fish in it that will eventually grow to |
| gravel, is very sharp, and this makes it unsuitable for | | | | over 1.5 inches (approximately 38mm) is not going to |
| fish that feed off the bottom. The vast majority of | | | | have a particularly happy life. |
| bottom feeding fish have a soft underbelly, which | | | | |