Brandon Reisig
New Member
Hey all. I have come into a biorb 60 halo and was hoping to modify it for jellyfish. ANY advice would be appreciated. Thanks!
HELP! Jellies
- Thread starter Brandon Reisig
- Start date
DreamerDash
New Member
Hey Brandon, that's a really great idea! I have a little 4 gallon biorb that I modified for a rock flower anemone garden. I just use the air stone in mine, and at that small a size it provides decent flow, but in such a way that I could definitely put jellies in it. I've actually thought trying to use a biorb to do just that!
Other than making sure you get enough flow, and I don't know how that works with that large a biorb, I think the key is going to be two-fold: Modifying the undergravel filter, and making sure they get enough light. Also, water changes will be crucial, because I don't think you'll really want to use the undergravel filter as a filter and you probably don't want a lot of live rock in there either.
I glued filter floss around the bottom of mine (the intake part which doesn't move) and stuffed it inside the media chamber, leaving the rest open for water motion sort of like a plenum. In my case I also put a sand bed down; I don't know if you'll want to do that with yours. Here are some pics:
I put filter floss in this upper chamber where the carbon had been. Then I glued it around the base as well.
Even with the sand bed I had a lot of flow. Within fifteen minutes of starting the pump it went from this:
To this:
And these days it looks like this:
With enough flow to keep this cespitularia happy and growing!
The greatest amount of flow is along the edges with mine, hence the placement of the cespitularia. I have some other corals which need a bit more flow growing on my live rock near the edges, like sympodium and cyphastrea. They don't like it towards the center as much.
Mine uses a 36w PAR38 LED. The light is actually too intense at the top for my anemones; it's very shallow. In the case of your 60, I would recommend something like a Kessil, to get maximum penetration.
Hope this helps a little bit! If nothing else it shows a reef can be done in a biorb, so I'm sure jellies can too!
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Other than making sure you get enough flow, and I don't know how that works with that large a biorb, I think the key is going to be two-fold: Modifying the undergravel filter, and making sure they get enough light. Also, water changes will be crucial, because I don't think you'll really want to use the undergravel filter as a filter and you probably don't want a lot of live rock in there either.
I glued filter floss around the bottom of mine (the intake part which doesn't move) and stuffed it inside the media chamber, leaving the rest open for water motion sort of like a plenum. In my case I also put a sand bed down; I don't know if you'll want to do that with yours. Here are some pics:
I put filter floss in this upper chamber where the carbon had been. Then I glued it around the base as well.
Even with the sand bed I had a lot of flow. Within fifteen minutes of starting the pump it went from this:
To this:
And these days it looks like this:
With enough flow to keep this cespitularia happy and growing!
The greatest amount of flow is along the edges with mine, hence the placement of the cespitularia. I have some other corals which need a bit more flow growing on my live rock near the edges, like sympodium and cyphastrea. They don't like it towards the center as much.
Mine uses a 36w PAR38 LED. The light is actually too intense at the top for my anemones; it's very shallow. In the case of your 60, I would recommend something like a Kessil, to get maximum penetration.
Hope this helps a little bit! If nothing else it shows a reef can be done in a biorb, so I'm sure jellies can too!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Brandon Reisig
New Member
Thanks for the advice! The tank looks awesome! I have been worried about flow. I'm hoping I don't need to get an external filter. I extended the bubble tube very close to the water line to avoid getting bubbles in the bells of the jellies. I bought a saltwater filter designed for the biorb. Planning on using ceramic media under marbles.
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DreamerDash
New Member
Oh man, I thought I had replied already! Tapatalk must've eaten it, grrr.
I meant to say good thinking on avoiding the bubbles in the jellies' bells! And brilliant call on using marbles over the ceramic media! Using a saltwater filter designed for the purpose will surely help and it will be easy to change, etc. The marbles will definitely protect the jellies too. What species are you looking to use? And what are you doing for light? Are you going to redo the biorb?
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I meant to say good thinking on avoiding the bubbles in the jellies' bells! And brilliant call on using marbles over the ceramic media! Using a saltwater filter designed for the purpose will surely help and it will be easy to change, etc. The marbles will definitely protect the jellies too. What species are you looking to use? And what are you doing for light? Are you going to redo the biorb?
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Brandon Reisig
New Member
I'm looking into warm water moon jellies so light shouldn't be an issue. As I understand it's not a requirement for that species. I AM starting to get nervous about the small size. I have a lot of people saying that I'll be chasing my tail with maintenance. We'll see, I suppose. Will update soon. Thanks!
Brandon Reisig
New Member
Just got the stand set up and tank cycling. Fingers crossed!
Brandon Reisig
New Member
Unfortunately having trouble posting any pics. I keep getting a message saying the images are too big. No different from the pic I posted previously...?
Brandon Reisig
New Member
Thanks, nanoreefing4fun! 
Last edited:
Brandon Reisig
New Member
This is the modified tank and stand cycling at last.
DreamerDash
New Member
That looks awesome Brandon! That whole look is very retro-sci-fi. Kind of Dr. Who-ish. I dig it. Are you using the stock lighting?
Oh wait, I just saw that lighting shouldn't be an issue. Hmmm, I don't know much about moon jellies obviously. I'm super curious now. This is going to be a great thread to follow!
Oh wait, I just saw that lighting shouldn't be an issue. Hmmm, I don't know much about moon jellies obviously. I'm super curious now. This is going to be a great thread to follow!
Brandon Reisig
New Member
Thanks, DreamerDash! I was totally going for 50's/60's sci-fi and in fact I was going to make it look like a dalek but decided to go generic instead. Super excited!
As for the lights I have the stock lights and a remote controlled submersible light glued to the top that changes color.
As for the lights I have the stock lights and a remote controlled submersible light glued to the top that changes color.
DreamerDash
New Member
Oooooooh good call with that color-changing light; that will make those jellies really pop!
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Brandon Reisig
New Member
Decided to pull the trigger and install diy filtration. Doing water tests tomorrow. Fingers crossed!
Brandon Reisig
New Member
Got my jellies and they seem happy! Flow seems good and the levels have been pretty good. Nitrates are at about 20 so I'm trying to manage that.