Our biube when it was first setup
This is a long article, so try to stick with it. The article has hints and tips in it that are not included in the manual and that I’ve learnt from experience.
Step 1 – The Pump
Locate the plastic airline that came in the box, plug one end in to the biUbe and the other to the pump. Now, this is an important point, the airline fits to the main tank via a one-way valve. This valve stops water getting in to the pump. If the valve should fail and there was a power cut potentially the pump could get flooded with water. Water + Electricity = Bad. Therefore make sure that your pump is located above your biUbe, this will ensure that water will never reach the pump.
Step 2 – The filter cartridge and bubble tube
Locate the plastic filter cartridge and the bubble tube. Fit the bubble tube and the cartridge together and then twist in the direction shown by the arrow on the bubble tube. In the bottom of your biUbe tank you will see where the filter cartridge and bubble tube locate. When setting up my tank I found this a little annoying. I was expecting the filter cartridge and bubble tube to fit in place securely, in reality it mainly just stops it from being pulled out vertically. Put the filter cartridge and bubble tube in place in the tank and then just give it a small turn in the direction of the arrow. In my tank it’s still able to rock slightly side to side but I can’t pull it straight out. Make sure you’re comfortable with this step – you’ll need to do it every four to six weeks.
Step 3 – The ceramic media
Open the bags of ceramic media and place them in a sieve or colander and rinse them out thoroughly. If you don’t do this all of the dust in the media will be floating around your tank for a couple of weeks making it look cloudy. Not a good look. Place the ceramic media in to the bottom of the biUbe very carefully ideally by hand. If you need to remove the ceramic media make sure you also do it by hand and not tipping up the tank. Why? Have a look at the before setting up article.
Step 4 – The heater
If you’ve bought the heater pack – to keep tropical fish – now is the time to set that up.
There is a dial on top of the heater turn this so that it is on the ’24′ mark – this is a good general temperature for tropical fish. Some fish may have more specific needs and I would recommend researching your fish before buying them.
Fit the heater to the heater stand (the transparent plastic strip with two suckers) and then fit the heater stand to the side of the biUbe. I would recommend positioning the heater so the that the top of it is about 15cm below the top of the tank – you’ll see why I suggest this later in the maintenance article. Although you do not need to use the heater stand with the biUbe I would recommend using it as it positions the heater a little further away from the walls of the tank which will allow better water circulation.
The ideal heater position
Do not turn the heater on yet. Never switch in the heater when it is out of the water.
Step 5 – Add half the water!
Now for the exciting bit, turn on the pump at the wall and slowly start to fill up the tank with tap water. The way I did it took a while… I filled mine up with a 2 litre measuring jug from a bucket that I had at the side of the biUbe. Doing it this way ensured that the ceramic media wasn’t dislodged and flung around the tank.
Step 6 – Plants
If you’ve bought some plants it is best to add these to the tank when it is half full. Create a small hole in the ceramic media, position your plant and then reposition the ceramic media around it.
Step 7 – Resume filling up with water
Keep adding the water until it’s about 50mm above the bubble tube. To check that you’ve got it right put the lid of the biUbe on – If you can’t see the top of the water you’ve got it right.
Step 8 – The thermometer
Once it is filled up with water fix the thermometer that came with the heater pack to the wall of the tank. Make sure that you position it out of main view, but in a location that you can view it when necessary. Do not position it to close to the heater this will give you a false indication of the water temperature
Step 9 – Water treatment
Add the packet of water treatment that comes in the box – (Stress Coat + fish & tap water conditioner). This will remove chemicals from the water that will be harmful to your fish.
Step 10 – Power up!
Take the electrical plug for the heater and pass it through the whole in the lid, then place the lid on top of the biUbe. Place the lighting unit in the hole on the lid. You will notice that there is a little notch in the light unit – this is for the heater cable – neat huh! If you’ve got the cable into the notch then the light unit will sit flush with the top cover. The light casing may be sitting in the water – this is fine.
You can now turn on the heater and the light.
Step 11 – The most difficult step
Now, for me, this really was the most difficult step. The manual states that you should wait 24 hours before adding fish, but I would recommend at least 48 hours to allow the water to reach the correct temperature.
During this two days keep checking the thermometer to make sure that the temperature is in the green area. If it is below the green area you need to turn up the dial on the heater, if it is above the green area turn down the dial on the thermometer.
The next article deals with introducing fish into your biUbe.
