biOrb Halo 30 Aquarium Review

Fish-keeping is a delightful hobby – but when you lack the space for a mega-tank that dominates the room, your options for quality are limited… right? To help your search, today we’ve evaluating the biOrb Halo 30 Aquarium.

While it’s true that smaller tanks are often cheaper (in price and material), with enough hunting, you can find a downsized aquarium that will still enhance a room, keep your perfect number of fish, and stand the test of time.

According to our observations, this aquarium is easy to set up, comes with an extensive lighting system, and offers both a compact and durable design. It’s perfect, right?

Well, no tank is without flaw and not everyone is after the same thing when it comes to aquariums. For example, some users struggled to view their fish from all angles of this tank. Was this a rare issue or the overall verdict?

Let’s take an in-depth look at the biOrb Halo 30 Aquarium and find out.

biOrb Halo 30 Aquarium: The Details

Specs

• Weight: 12 lbs.
• Dimensions: 15.8 x 15.8 x 18 inches.
• Capacity: Eight gallons.
• Lighting: LED multi-color lighting.
• Glass or Acrylic: Acrylic.
• Accessories: Ceramic media, air stone, filter cartridge, 12v transformer, evaporation lid, low voltage air pump, water conditioner and beneficial bacteria liquid, fish food, and instructions.
• Warranty: Two-year warranty.

Features

Capacity/Construction

The biOrb Halo 30 Aquarium is composed of acrylic, which is much stronger than glass and enhances its resistance to leaks, cracks, or other damage.

It holds eight gallons (or thirty liters) of water, ensuring that two or three fish (depending on their size) have ample space to explore, while still comfortably fitting on a table or bookshelf.

Filtration

This aquarium has a five-stage filtration system, using biological, mechanical, chemical media, as well as water stabilization and oxygenation. Most aquariums of this size only boast of a three-stage system at the most.

Air drives the water through the filter, constantly changing the water’s surface to maintain a high degree of oxygen saturation. The flow of water also collects the waste and then draws it through the ceramic media, where the biological filtration absorbs the toxins.

The oxygenated water also feeds the ‘good’ bacteria. Any waste that’s left is trapped by the sponge cartridge. The water then passes through resin particles and stabilizers to remove any other toxic substances, so the pH levels remain stable.

The water is then oxygenated a second time as it flows through the bubble tube and into the tank.

Lighting

For such a compact aquarium, the lights are impressively complex. The LED lighting system is contained in the lid of the tank, consisting of bulbs that can cycle through multiple unique colors.

This tank also includes a remote control to manually alter the lighting. With sixteen different preset colors, as well as brightness control, you can make it as bright or dim as needed, maintaining an accurate daytime and nighttime routine.

Design

The biOrb Halo 30 Aquarium has a unique design. Instead of a square or rectangular build, like most aquariums these days, it boasts of a classic fishbowl shape.

The tank is capped off with either white or black lids. This allows for the waterline to completely disappear, which is great for aesthetic purposes. The very modern design helps it fit in nicely with any decor.

biOrb Halo 30 Aquarium Review

The Positives

Super Easy to Use

The biOrb Halo 30 Aquarium could not be easier to set up and use. First, remove the lid from the filtration unit and take out the evaporation tray. Release the air column from the filter, turning it counterclockwise and then lifting it out.

Place the column onto the filter cartridge and fasten it securely. Then, place the air column into the tank and tighten it down. Next, wash the ceramic substrate and place it into the aquarium, arranging it around the filter housing.

Now, you can attach the pump. Connect the air hose in the tank to the air connector on the pump. Place the pump above the designated water level and link the connection cable to the socket of the transformer. Next, connect the lighting cable to the transformer.

Do not plug in the transformer just yet. Fill the tank with water, pour in the water conditioner, and switch on the pump. Once the pump has run for 24 hours, you can add the biological booster. Next, plug in the transformer and flip the “on/off” switch for the lighting.

You can then program the LED lighting system by pulling the strip from the remote control and then choosing your desired lighting settings. Place your fish inside, and you’re all set!

Amazingly Easy to Clean

This aquarium is easy to set up – but it’s even easier to clean. We all know how daunting cleaning an aquarium can be, but biOrb takes the fuss out of a once time-consuming task.

Just wipe down the lighting system with a cloth to remove dust or water spots. To replace the filter cartridge, simply reverse the installation steps and then reattach everything to the new filter cartridge. The same is true for replacing the aerator, if necessary.

It doesn’t take much to keep this aquarium looking great both on the inside and out. For that reason, this makes this aquarium a great choice for busy hobbyists who don’t have a lot of time to put towards tank maintenance.

You’ll be able to keep your fish happy and your tank clean with little effort thanks to the smart design of the biOrb aquarium.

Conveniently Compact

One of the bigger reasons people don’t get an aquarium is due to lack of space. Fortunately, biOrb makes it easy for hobbyists to get in on the action thanks to the compact design of this tank.

This is one of the most compact aquariums on the market. At only 15.8 x 15.8 x 18 inches and holding eight gallons, you can place this tank nearly anywhere.

It can comfortably fit on a small table or shelf, without requiring an advanced stand or designated area in your home. The round shape also means it can squeeze into places a rectangular tank couldn’t fit.

Thanks to its modern, sleek design, it will also fit seamlessly into a variety of decors. While some aquariums can be an eyesore, the biOrb Halo will help to add a cool yet functional conversational piece.

Incredibly Durable

Regardless of how good your tank looks, you don’t want it to be flimsy. There’s no need to worry here! Based on our observations, this tank is very durable.

The acrylic design lasts far longer and is less prone to cracks than glass. There’s no danger of a wayward toy, rowdy pet, or bumps during the moving process shattering your investment.

Nearly every tester noted this aquarium as well-built and strong. This is a great positive for you – but also your fish. Not only will the build of this aquarium ensure your tank lasts longer against the test of time, but the included two-year warranty will ease any other worries.

This warranty is in place to protect against damages caused in the manufacturing process. Should you notice something, biOrb promises to repair or replace your aquarium. This also shows this company stands behind their products and customers.

Effortless Feeding

We enjoyed how this aquarium makes feeding your tank inhabitants effortless. The hinged lid simply lifts up; underneath, the evaporation lid has a small opening covered with a silicone plug.

Just remove the plug, drop the feed through the hole, and let it spread into the tank. You don’t have to remove the entire lid! Not only does this make would could be a complex process incredibly easy, but it keeps messes and accidents at bay.

This also means you’ll have fewer chances of curious fingers prying about your aquarium. That makes this tank a safer choice for family homes.

The Negatives

Distorted View

A couple of testers found they could only view the fish when peering into the aquarium at certain angles. While this may be annoying, it’s a necessary byproduct of the tank’s shape.

The round design helps it fit into smaller areas and enhances its aesthetic; however, the bending acrylic may obscure your view at times.

You can always angle the tank to an optimal position or simply lean to a new angle if your fish swim into a blind spot.

Iffy Customer Support

Some testers contacted customer support to receive a replacement part or to ask a question – and had a poor experience. They were told to email instead of calling, and when they emailed, they were told to call.

They were given the runaround when it could have been an easy transaction. It’s unclear if this is how biOrb’s customer support operates on a regular basis, or if this was a rare problem with their system.

While the included 2-year warranty shows that the company does care about its customers, we hope they can back it up by providing quality customer care.

Here’s a video showing an example of what the biOrb Halo 30 looks like out of the box.

Overall Verdict

After going over all the positives and negatives, we do recommend the biOrb Halo 30 Aquarium.

With its easy set up and maintenance, compact size, and durable construction, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better product.

While the tank may have blind spots, there are only a couple of other points to complain about. Since the pros far outweigh the cons here, it could be the next best addition to your home!

Where to Buy the biOrb Halo 30 Aquarium

biOrb has certainly been turning heads with their stylish line of aquariums. They vary in sizes and styles but stay true to the modern and sleek look of the entire brand. As such, this is a brand that’s steadily growing in popularity.

Thanks to this company’s success it won’t be too hard to find items like the biOrb Halo 30 Aquarium available both in-store and online.

While it’s usually best to check pet, fish and home department stores you can kick-start your search with the following online retailers.

• Oase (from $169)
• Wal Mart (from $169)
• Wayfair (from $123)

And of course, you can also find this acrylic aquarium on Amazon.

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That’s the end of our biOrb Halo 30 review. Curious to give this aquarium a try?