Coralife Fish Tank LED BioCube Aquarium Review

You’ve always wanted to have your own aquarium – a real one with vibrant coral, live plants, and stunning fish that would love to call the place home. But as any aquarium enthusiast will tell you, it’s a lot of work to start and maintain one.

The water must remain at the right temperature and pH levels, the lighting has to be just so, the filter needs to work efficiently, and the fish need to be happy, healthy, and compatible (you don’t want to come home to one less fish in your tank).

For a beginner, this can all be overwhelming…and overwhelmingly expensive. Luckily there’s the Coralife LED BioCube Aquarium for those of you out there who want to get their feet wet when it comes to maintaining your own aquarium.

With LED lighting, an integrated timer, an easily adjustable filter, a canopy design, and a temperature control feature, this aquarium comes with everything you’ll need to get started.

Is it right for you? Here we’ve broken down all the good and the bad, so you can make the best decision.

Coralife LED BioCube Aquarium: The Details

Specs

• Weight: 56 lbs
• Dimensions: 15 x 16.75 x 17.5 in. (16 gal.), 20.2 x 21.9 x 21.5 in. (32 gal)
  Capacity: 16 and 32 gal.
• Lighting: LED (blue, white, and color enhancing)
• Glass of Acrylic: Glass
• Accessories: LED light bar, filter pump

Features

LED Lighting

When you think about aquariums, chances are you don’t think about the lighting. You’re probably used to a small glass fish tank that you put on a counter, where the only lighting is the lamp four feet away from it.

True aquariums thrive with adequate lighting, which is a feature that the BioCube comes with. The BioCube has built-in LED color enhancing lighting that not only makes the inside of the tank look spectacular – it simulates natural lighting that your inhabitants will enjoy.

There’s white LED light for sunrise/sunset simulation, and blue LED light for moonrise/moonset simulation.

An aquarium needs to be as close to natural as it can be, and this lighting is sure to provide that feeling.

Integrated Timer

At the top of the aquarium’s hood is an integrated timing feature that helps time the lighting in your tank.

You can set the time to your liking, which then allows the lighting to change accordingly.

This takes the hassle away from having to manually change the light to reflect the time of day. Just set your timer and let the BioCube do all the rest.

Built-In Filtration

One of the most daunting things about aquariums are their filters, and there are plenty out there that’ll make you scratch your head.

There’s a lot of adjusting, maintaining, and cleaning involved that can turn even the most hopeful of beginners away. Thankfully, the Coralife BioCube comes with its own built-in filtration system designed for ease of use.

The filter is compact and customizable (with your choice of filtration media), has a submersible pump, has dual intakes, and an adjustable return nozzle so you can control whether or not the water trickles into the tank or cascades into it.

Quiet 

For those of you who aren’t too keen on having a bigger tank thanks to the common whirring noise that comes with them, you want have to fret too much wih the BioCube.

The BioCube advertises that it includes a quiet submersible pump, and they’re being honest.

Both the fan and the pump operate smoothly and quietly so you don’t have to be distracted by the odd sounds coming from your aquarium.

Those with sensitive ears will be thankful.

Coralife LED BioCube Aquarium Review

The Positives

Design

Form not only facilitates function – it facilitates style. When it comes to aquariums, the tank should look just as good as the environment inside it, which is a positive aspect of the BioCube.

With its sleek hood and canopy design, the tank looks good wherever you choose to put it. It’s viewable from three sides, so no matter which way you look at it, your aquatic wonderland is in full view.

The filter is hidden in the back, which eliminates the need to alter your living space around the tank and all its parts; and you won’t have to concern yourself with having to look at a not-so-beautiful appendage.

The BioCube is perfect for those who don’t want to compromise on style.

Temperature Control

A big threat to the health of an aquarium is water temperature. The water can’t be too hot or too cold, or else the life within it will die (every fish-lover’s worst nightmare).

The BioCube comes with temperature control so that the water stays at the right temperature all the time. Nobody wants to have their fish boiled or frozen, and this tank prevents that from happening.

It also does away with the need to constantly check the temperature, which leaves one less thing for you to do.

Low Maintenance

Other than caring for your fish, plants, and coral, the BioCube does most of the work for you.

It maintains its own temperature, it has timed LED lighting, and the filter will function properly with regular maintenance.

This tank is built for those who aren’t the most confident at fish-keeping, so you can ease your way into the finer details of aquarium life.

And for those of us who are busybodies, less maintenance gives you one less thing to do on you ever-growing list.

Salt and Freshwater Friendly

Whether you want your tank to resemble the bed of a flowing river or a magnificent coral reef, this tank can accommodate your preference.

Both the 12- and 32-gallon tanks are large enough to house your choice of corals, plants, and fish.

Customize your tank to your liking and let the BioCube do the rest!

Price

Aquariums may be a hobby, but they are an expensive hobby. Each part must be bought individually, and for a beginner, the check can come out to be surprisingly massive.

At around $300, the BioCube is a reasonably-priced tank, especially since it’s easy to use and comes with everything you need. This takes out the first bit of guesswork and frustration that comes with getting into a new hobby.

With proper care, it’ll prove to be a worthwhile investment.

Durable

The look of the BioCube Aquarium might seem sleek and fragile to the touch, but the tank is actually pretty heavy duty and durable.

The glass and parts included with the BioCube are all made of high-quality materials taking the worry out of leaving your pets in a flimsy, cheaply made tank.

Here’s what the Coralife BioCube Aquarium looks like out of the box.

Customer Service

Not only does the BioCube Aquarium deliver, but its backed by an excellent customer service team who are helpful in aiding with any questions or concerns.

Having to deal with lacklustre customer service, especially when trying to get a new item up and running, can be daunting and in the case of beginners, even deterring.

It’s nice to know this is one less thing you have to worry about.

The Negatives

Weight

Once you fill your tank with water, corals, plants, and fish don’t expect to move it easily.

The 32-gallon tank weighs 56 pounds alone, so wherever you decide to put it should ideally be its forever-home.

Of course, aquariums are pretty large, which comes as no surprise; but for a beginner, the weight of it can come as a bit of a shock. Be careful where you put it and make sure it’s there to stay.

Nano Protein Skimmer Not Included

DOCs (dissolved organic carbon) is a huge threat to aquarium life. DOC is a pollutant caused by fish, invertebrates, algae, and natural processes that release the carbons into the water.

If left untreated, the organics will decompose and be recycled into ammonia, nitrate, phosphate, and other harmful stuff you don’t want in your aquarium. Organic waste not only leads to a dirty tank but can lead to diseases that will attack your invertebrates and fish.

Unfortunately, the BioCube doesn’t come with a nano protein skimmer to strip away the dissolved organics. You’d have to find one and buy it separately.

If you’re really concerned about the harmful waste, then you’d have to shell out a little extra cash.

Might be Overwhelming

Despite the BioCube being equipped with almost everything you need, it still may be too much for the timid beginner.

The filter still requires maintenance, you may have to do the occasional deep clean, and without a protein skimmer, your fish (especially saltwater fish and corals) may contract an illness.

If you find the task of owning an aquarium to be daunting, it’s best to stick with your standard bowl with a few fish inside.

Warranty

Whether you’re a beginner or a regular hobbyist, making an investment always feels a little better when there’s a warranty included.

This shows that the company is willing to step in should their product fail. In the case of the Corallife LED BioCube Aquarium, there doesn’t seem to be a mention of warranty which can cause some people to skip over this tank.

Thankfully, with a great customer service, it will be easy to find out just what you can do should an issue or problem arise.

Overall Verdict

The Coralife LED BioCube Aquarium is great for beginners who are adamant about taking the leap into owning their own aquarium.

Easy to use, with a sleek design, and helpful features will have your space looking like an underwater paradise.

It includes most of the things you need to give you a boost into the world of aquatics, and for those who are already pet owners, this tank will be easy to switch to should you be in the market for an upgrade.

Where to Buy the Corallife LED BioCube Aquarium

Coralife is far from new to the world of pet products, known for their well-rounded line of aquatic tanks and accessories.

To find Coralife products you can check local pet stores and specialty aquatic shops, while the Coralife LED BioCube Aquarium can be found both in-store and online.

To start, check out the following online retailers.

• Petco (from $370)
• Drs Foster and Smith (from $339)
• Pet Solutions (from $349)

And of course, it’s also available on Amazon.

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That’s it for our review on the Coralife LED BioCube Aquarium. Curious to try it out?