FishProfiles.com Message Forums

The Minibow filter isn't very strong but isn't adjustable. However, jamming something in the corner won't help - given the design of the filter and of the hood, the intake's right in the middle.

On mine the 14 watt fluorescent is protected by the hood, so no corrosion worries.

A couple of the Visitherms broke "on" - I caught one but lost some Endler's in another tank. One of those started its life behaving very erratically - heating but no light, needed to be turned way up and then down to the right temperature to get the idea, etc, so I kept an eye on it (that was the one I caught before the fish broiled).

And the weird one - I came home from a trip to Europe to find that despite the tank staying filled it had shattered. Urgh.

The higher-wattage Visitherms are good heaters, though I tend toward Jagers these days (cheaper anyway, online); it's only 100 watts and down that I don't trust. Rather like Aquaclears: 300 and larger are wonderful, but the smaller ones break down all too fast IME.

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!

I'd go for the AquaClear mini, if it fits. The AC's all have adjustable flow and run very quietly. I just don't know if the hood design of a MiniBow will allow a HOB that big to fit. Like Racso, I've seen them at work. Pretty cute tank, I must say my first thought when I saw it was Nano.

Oh, and Diane...

...and lights that require more lighting...

*giggles*
[/font]

-Formerly known as the Ferretfish

Yeah, I use the Aquaclear mini on my 5gal version of that tank, and my male betta does great in it. As long as I keep it on the lowest setting, there is vertually no suface movement. And I don't even think he can feel it under the surface.

-Beefshank

You can also use the AquaClear Mini. Flow is adjustable. The mini is the unit that I used on the unit.

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

I just noticed something with the All-Glass MiniBow 7: It is either sold with just the hood, or as a kit. I saw just the tank, and the lighted hood (14w) for around $55 yesterday. The kit I think was $69.97 and contained a filter and some other stuff.

I'm thinking of using something as simple as a Whisper Mini since it has such a gentle low flowing current. It shouldn't cause too much surface agitation.

I have 6 corydoras in the 125 and I have not noticed any barbel erosion. Granule size ranges from sand to 3mm pebble. Surface does not appear sharp or splintered.

Last edited by Bob Wesolowski at 24-Dec-2004 19:08

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Do you have cories in any tanks with Eco-Complete? Have you seen barbel erosion, or do they have good, long barbels? Is it relatively smooth - the small particles in Eco-Complete?

I've not known many who have used it so I have questions.

I'll end up setting up the tank with the Eco-Complete. Let it run a few days, then check the pH to see if there was a drop. I should add that my betta tanks are closer to 8.0 due to the weekly 100% water changes. I wouldn't want to drop one of them into this tank with a lower pH unless I do a drip acclimation or something.

The pH of my tank is 7.6, about the same as the pH from my tap. The product appears neutral, adding little in terms of buffering and no noted rise in pH. I don't age water and I do frequent, large water changes.

I have also used EcoComplete for a 125 gallon tank. It's heavy enough to anchor plants and I didn't need to rinse a single ounce of the 10 20 pound bags.

Last edited by Bob Wesolowski at 21-Dec-2004 23:38

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Thanks Bob! Nice feedback and gee, the same substrate I want to use. In fact, the spiral val is something I've wanted to try.

What pH is your tank? Also, I'm wondering if the black water extract in the Eco-Complete will alter my tap pH. All my tanks are around 7.7, aged. pH in any water I let sit a few days, is 8.0. I'd like to know if the Eco-Complete might drop it down to say, 7.0. All fish stores in my area have what I have, up to 8.0 (the more frequent the water changes the higher).

out of curiousity how much do the minibow 7s go for and what do they come with when you purchase them?

price in usa dollars if you can plz

Last edited by Azrael_Darkness at 21-Dec-2004 20:49

Cory-Di,

I have a 7 mini-bow that I have set-up with EcoComplete gravel, an AC Mini and a Vistherm 50 heater. Plants in the tank are spiral val, cryptocoryne wendtii brown and chain swords. I have three german rams in the tank with a L-whatever suckermouth.

Plants have done very well with the fluorescent lamp with the chain swords and val marching around the tank. The c. wendtii has become a mother crypt. Rams have spawned 3 times but no viable fry.

The lamp does not add any appreciable heat to the tank.

__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

Rather like Aquaclears: 300 and larger are wonderful, but the smaller ones break down all too fast IME.

Couldn't agree more, I've had 4, yes 4 Aquaclear 200s give out on me in less then 18 months, I'll never buy another aquaclear filter.

I'm wanting to know if anyone has this All Glass, glass MiniBow 7? If so, do you have a heater in it? If not, what does the temperature in the tank average with the light on after several hours?

I once had an Eclipse 3, and the temp, with the light on and lid closed, would rise up quite quickly to 80F. I didn't like this as I could not control it, other than by opening the top lid to let heat out. This kept it about 77F.

I'm considering a MiniBow 7 for a planted nano tank [link=http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Getting%20Started/51607.html]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/forums/Getting%20Started/51607.html" style="COLOR: #C000C0[/link]

I need to know if the tank will experience such high temps?

Any other thoughts - pro/con?

Well, the Mini-Bow 7 comes with a filter and I'm hoping someone can tell me about the flow. Is there an adjustable flow rate so it can be set to a really low flow? Otherwise, I may jam something in the corner to keep the betta away from the intake. I've had to do this with my goldies and the Emporer 280. The fancy fins would get crimped in the intake when they would dose a little too close to it

Hey Dennis - that's interesting about them not protecting the socket. Wow, what a flaw. I guess the new one does come with a 14w florescent light according to the link I have above.

"Nano" is used often now to refer to small tanks. There is a Nano Cube now, made of all glass and curved at the corners - a real beauty. My dresser won't support the weight of a 12 gallon tank. At least, it's risky. That's the size of the Nano Cube.

http://www.jbjlighting.com/sys_nanocube_pix.html


Here's a piece of eye candy for you that is nano.

Picture this as a one gallon. I hope the link works http://showcase.aquatic-gardeners.org/2004.cgi?&Scale=258&op=showcase&category=0&vol=0&id=113


What kind of bad things happened with the 50w Visitherms? I'd like to know . I've had good luck with them.

Maybe it has something to do with the small amount that my heaters need to work. My house temp remains at about 71F during the day and 68 at night. My 72 year old mothers arthritis doesn't tolerate it much colder than that.

Last edited by Cory_Di at 17-Dec-2004 20:02

I have looked into getting this same tank to possibly use for a betta, so what filteration would you suggest and which heater do you think is the safest?

Hi Di!

Nice to talk to you in another thread!

I also have the plastic 5 gal version with a 25watt heater and a single betta. The temp stays where it should. But the one problem I have with the hood is that over time (it's been up and running for a couple years.) the light bulb has actually become frozen in it's socket. Rusted I guess. There is just a simple plastic guard to keep water drops off the bulb, but it only protects the GLASS. The part that screws in is exposed to the surface of the water. Some day I'll try to fix it, but I unplugged the light 6 months ago, and havent' messed with it since.

Your saying the new tank has floresent lights, so maybe it's totally different, but I thought I let you know.

I use a small hang on back filter that is adjustable. I have it just a little more than a dribble.

I have a question about a term. I know what a planted tank is, and I know what a betta is, whats Nano refer to?

-Dennis

I felt that way before I stumbled across the Visitherm 25w heaters. Easy to turn and I've found them quite reliable.

My favorite heater for the same reasons

[hr width='40%']

That's interesting about your Eclipse experience. I have an Eclipse 6 with a heater. The lights are on 12 hours a day and it maintains a steady 77°

My Mini-Bow 5 (acrylic) is unheated. With the incandescent light the nighttime temp is 74°, daytime 77-78°


~~~~~~~~~~~~
There is water at the bottom of the ocean

I had a Visitherm, but it still wasn't quite up to my, er, standards. That sounds silly, huh? I've had a LOT of issues with 50-watt visitherms so I gave up on trusting the 25 I had and replaced it. In any case, I think 50's a safer wattage for a 7-gal: overworked heaters are all too likely to break and broil the fish.

I think it'd make a great planted tank - just retrofit the hood with a PC and you're good to go on most plants.

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!

It seems much safer, since every 25-watt I've come across has been cheap and dangerous.

.

I felt that way before I stumbled across the Visitherm 25w heaters. Easy to turn and I've found them quite reliable. I have a few on hand for small hospital/quarantine set ups. I'm using one now on the 5 gallon my mystery rainbow baby is in. I've been very satisfied, but had horrible experiences with the cheapo ones that you didn't know if you were turning or not . Visitherm 25w are and harder to find.

[link=http://www.aquariumsystems.com/heater.htm]http://www.aquariumsystems.com/heater.htm" style="COLOR: #C000C0[/link]

[hr width='40%']

I don't have a Mini-Bow 7, I'm contemplating one for a nano planted, betta tank. I'm wanting to experiment more with planted tanks with better substrates (Eco-Complete) and lights that require more lighting (Microsword, riccia). It sounds like the smaller minibows aren't causing heat problems as I experienced with the Eclipse. I know others that had the same experience. 80F would not be good for many plants. I would shoot for about 75F. My bettas have been living at room temp (72-73F) for a good six months without incident, but I'd like to find a balance for them and the plants.

I have two of these mini-bows and I use a 50-watt heater in each. It seems much safer, since every 25-watt I've come across has been cheap and dangerous.

I haven't had problems with the tank heating up; I bought it for the flourescent light. Is yours incandescent?

Last edited by LittleMousling at 16-Dec-2004 16:28

-Molly
Visit shelldwellers.com!