10 Jun 2007

JEBO R338 aquarium fish stock

My JEBO R338
aquarium is currently stocked with:

- 5 White clouds
- 1 Otocinclus catfish
- 3 Clown loaches
- 1 loan Neon tetra :(

The White clouds were the first fish that went into my tank to cycle it after it had been left running for about a week with no fish. The tank cycle is the process by which nitrifying bacteria establishes itself in the filter to facilitate waste removal. White clouds make excellent cycling fish as I didn't lose a single one in the process. The tank cycle had completed and was ready for more fish within 3 weeks.

The oto cat is an excellent little algae eater - busy and small and not as unsightly as a plecostomas - quite cute in fact. The Clown loaches have proved to be the most difficult fish to cultivate in my aquarium but they seem to cope well with a temperature of about 29 degrees C and addition of non-iodated salt with water changes. The Neon tetra is the sole survivor of his school, shame.

I feed all my fish on TetraPrima and the Clown loaches love it especially.

JEBO R338 aquarium light maintenance

Recently (after about a year of use), the plastic light mounts perished and almost allowed the aquarium light to drop into the tank - but this is the only real trouble I have experienced with my JEBO R338 aquarium.
At the same time I noticed for the first time that one of the bulbs had blown, but replacement was very straight forward.

I "repaired" the problem by making 4 holes in the grey plastic sides of the light chamber and using cable ties to hold the light in place. It's a good idea to cover the globe contacts with insulation tape before you replace the plastic cover.

The plastic light mounts must have worn and become brittle as a result of heat from the light. It's probably not a good idea to put anything on top of your JEBO that will limit ventilation as this could contribute to weakening of the light mounts. I will also have to watch that the cable ties do not become brittle and break.

JEBO R338 aquarium


When I bought my JEBO R338 aquarium it did not come with any instructions. Assembling it was not difficult but this post covers my cleaning routine and could be useful in aiding with assembly. I have had this fish tank for about a year now and so far I have been very impressed by its low maintenance requirements and excellent water quality.

Basic specifications:
- Range of colours available.
- Silent operation
- Curved edges for panoramic viewing
- Integrated light and power filter
- 40 Litre capacity
- 400 Litres/hour FLMax.
- 380mm x 270mm x 440mm
- Bio-Chemical Filtration system

Cleaning Routine

Every week I replace approximately 25% of the water with tap water that has been left standing in a soap free bucket for at least 24 hours to allow for chlorine evaporation. Once a month clean the gravel using the following procedure.

Unplug the heater, light and filter at the wall. Place the front part of the cover with the light on top of the back part of the cover to allow for easy access to the inside of the tank.

Remove the plants and decor and clean the gravel using a gravel vacuum. Detach the powerhead from the pump to make vacuuming easier.

Vacuum until the water level drops just below the body of the pump.

Clean algae off the glass using a sponge on a stick. Leave some algae behind to discourage new algae growth. I never clean the back panel because it is difficult to get to and the dark back hides the algae (though it has shown up very well in the pictures with the flash). Of course a plecostomas or group of otto cats will also help keep your tank looking clean.

Reposition your plants and decor and reconnect the powerhead.

Fill the tank (with water that has been left standing for at least a day in a soap free bucket) so that the water level is at the level of the bottom of the rim. This will allow the filter to run quieter and for the tank to look prettier.

It is a good idea to rinse the filter sponge in some aquarium water. The sponge sits on top of the grid, on top of the porcelain blocks. If the trickling noise from your filter becomes loud or louder than usual or the water flows over the side of the filter chamber, then it's a good idea to actually clean the outlet holes of the filter to allow for easier flow. My elbow does not "click" onto the filter chamber because if I click it on, then the pump cannot attach to the glass with its suction cups and the vibration is noisy. You can also see my heater power cord in this picture feeding across the top to the right side.

This picture shows the trickle filter in action.

Turn on the heater, pump and light. Your tank may look a little murky directly after cleaning. I usually do a water test at this point. You can also add about a table spoon of non-iodated salt now.

Within an hour or two, the water will clear and your tank will look nice and clean again and your fish will be happy!

Update: see my Siamese Fighter (betta) / Jebo R338 related post as well! Or my more recent Comet Goldfish setup