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
97 comments:
very thorough and detailed description of cleaning a tank. loved the photo shots along with descriptions :) took the link on boronia forums and found your blog.
hey thanx for the tips!
Nice tank! Clown Loaches are some of my favorite fish! How did you stubble upon my blog?
Yeah, Clown loaches are pretty special :) I found your blog through google - can't remember the keywords exactly, but I was just looking for other fishtank stuff :)
Nice tanks you have there. Are those plants real?
Not many fishes in the tank it seems.
I also do about 25% water changes along with cleaning of filter and tank every week. Keeps the tank clean and the fishes happy.(At least I think so.)
Thanks Kunal :) The Plants aren't real :( I'm lazy that way... but yeah, not too many fish in the tank, don't want to overstock such a small tank - gotta be carefull with the bigger clown loaches in there too...
thanks for all the info Rich. I have just set up my Jebo 338 after a 2 year break. I can't remember what attaches to the small t shaped spout to the side of the pump, can you help? Also I didn't know about the porcelain pieces under the filter foam - is there a spec for this? I bought my tank in South Africa and am now in the UK where my local aquarists have never heard of Jebo!
in what order and direction do you place the filters? our tank came with a white foam block, a plastic grate, and a charcoal filter. does the blue material in the charcoal filter face up or down?
@anonymous - sorry, the best answer I can give you is I'm not sure that it matters which side of that filter faces up. Mine just came with ceramic blocks...
Of course, this tank comes with NO INSTRUCTIONS, but have set it up so that it is functioning and filtering. I have a white foam block, a plastic grate, and a blue colored activated carbon filter in use. The water is still murky. The carbon media filter is difficult to find on sale and quite expensive. What type of cleaning media(foam block, carbon filter, ceramic,...) do you use in your filter? In what order do you place these things inside the hood?
Also, any suggestions on better bulbs for this thing?...VERY dark for such a small tank.
PLEASE HELP.
Your water will probably be murky for about a week or so, when it clears you can put a few white clouds or other hardy fish in to start the tank cycle. My tank came with the ceramic filter media and I put the media in first, then the grate and then the filter wool. Maybe try a similar bulb with a higher wattage? Or just new bulbs? My tank is really bright when both bulbs are functioning... Hope that helps?
Thanks for the info re the T piece. My tank has been set up for about 2 months now and is looking good. I started with a couple of bettas - unfortunately both died after being left in the care of a young friend who overfed them despite my warnigs of how bettas can beg just like dogs! I now have a pair of angels (hoping they will self limit on size) a small group of neons and a pair of corys.
Question 1- I see you have your heater on the opposite wall to the power head - is this better than on the same wall?
Question 2- does anything go into the bottom chamber of the power head 'stalk'
thanks
Kath
Kath - Sorry about your Bettas :( I hope you have better luck with your new fish :) About the heater - I placed mine in the position it is in so that water is pumped past it and the heat can circulate nicely in the tank. I guess it is a small tank though, so not really sure how much difference heater position makes in a tank this size. And nope - nothing goes in that 'chamber' at the bottom of the powerhead you're talking about :)
Any idea where to order replacement parts online, specifically the little 8 watt T5 bulbs and the activated carbon media filter. Found one website and they are "not accepting orders at this time" if you can belive that.
Hmm I'm not sure about online. But both of those parts you are asking about are pretty generic - so any local fish shop should stock them...
wow, ive sat and read about clown loaches and people online say you can only have them in a massive tank. I live in england and got my little clown loach from pets at home where they will sell u a fish even if u dont have a tank. I have a 17L tank with a clown loach and it has lived there fine for 6 months!!! i think you have proved and i have proved its a hype. my partner has a 55L tank and his clown loach is 5 years old...
Hey there Rich,
I bought myself one of these tanks today and very proud that I got it up and running on my own. I'm hoping you can help me with just one (possibly blonde) question: How high should the water level be?
There is a power cable leaving the back of the waterpump and I'm not sure whether it's ok to cover the cable with water or not.
I see this post dates back to 2007,which leaves me curious as to whether you still have this tank up and running. Great blog btw!
Hey Stiletto Girl, thanks for the compliments :)
The pump is fully submersible, so it's fine for the power cable to be in the water, fill up the water level to just below the plastic lip for the best visuals.
Also, I do still have my tank :) It's great! I'll post some new pics of my fish in a month or two hopefully :)
I've been running a Jebo 338 for about two years with saltwater fish. I had an exquisite blue eel until it crawled out of the aquarium through the small space where the filter enters the water. Had I known of this possibility, I would have plugged the space with clear plastic (as I have since).
Lately I've had trouble with aeration. I don't use a stone. I just let a stream of bubbles flow directly out of the pump into the aquarium. But the aeration has lately been unreliable, and seems now to have stopped altogether. There's nothing blocking the line for air from the outside. (I can blow through the line and produce bubbles.) So I suspect a malfunction of the filter pump. And yet the filter works just fine. Anyone else familiar with this problem?
Hi Doug, my pump totally packed up recently so maybe yours is on its way out? Sounds like a most frustrating problem. It may well be the pump, I can't imagine what else it could be if you can get bubbles by blowing manually. This is a good tank, but unfortunately nothing lasts forever. I hope you figure it out / come right soon...
Hi Rich
I have just bought a tank very similar to this in the UK, same capacity of 17L - have got it for my son for his birthday and at the moment I havn't a clue what to put it in ... because the tank is quite small should I stick to coldwater fish? Or could I get a small 25W heater and use as a tropical tank? I think he would be happy with just the one fish and maybe some sort of loach or something, any ideas I can use and how to set up, instructions in pack say to fill it and leave standing with filter/pump on for a week before adding fish?
Hi Caroline. You could put a few male guppies in - they are pretty, fairly hardy and low maintenance fish - don't require a heater. If you are thinking along the lines of one fish, you could go for a Siamese fighter as well - your son might find find this sort of fish very cool. Siamese fighters are also very hardy and don't require a heater either, though might do better if you do have a heater. You should leave the tank running for at least a week before you add fish and you should read up about 'tank cycling' (getting the necessary micro-organisms established). I have just recently cycled my tank with a siamese fighter (going to post new pics eventually).
Hi, Rich. Just bought a new Jebo 338 today and set it up without any major problem.
Thanks for the blog and detailed descriptions.
Just a few clarifications:
1. Do I need to connect anything from the side hole of the pump? (I saw the clear plastic tubing in the box). I feel a waterjet coming out from that side hole.
2. The water 'fountain' coming from the filter back into the tank is quite noisy, are there anyway to reduce the sound?
3. I got some small cherry shrimps in the tank, apart fromusing the cotton filter to wrap around the intake basket, are there any good way to avoid sucking those small shrimps into the filter?
Thanks.
Michael
Thanks for the quick response Rich.
My Jebo 338 is now up and running.
I have put some cotton wool filter + some activated charcoal in the filter compartment.
I found that the current is pretty strong in the tank and my moss has been floating round and round. I actually need to add a huge ornament at the opposite side of the suction tube in order to keep my moss from moving around and give the shrimp a place to hide and stay. Are there any way to tackle this "current" problem. I also managed to get some bubbles coming out fromthe side jet once I connect the plastic tubing to the top part of the outlet from the pump.
Hey Michael, I recall 'hearing' people discussing the current in this Jebo tank before... I think what they did is jam a piece of gravel into the outlet to restrict the flow and decrease the current a bit. Just make sure that whatever you use to restrict the flow is in their securely so it won't get blown out and injure your fish... All the best with your new setup otherwise.
Hi Rich, Good to see so many R338 owners here. Nice Blog. I Just go tone seccond hand with some fish. I have changed the discusting filter that was there before and i think i need to wait to change the gravel and start making the tank my own so i keep the cycle intact. is this correct?
Also are you 100% sure i can fully submerge the pump? I do hate house fires. Im scared to fill the tank.
To everyone, the issue of water current making fish sit one spot can be overcome by attaching a hose with an air stone and having it at the bottom. Although the water pressure still flows, it is dispersed and less directional. The air will also spend more time floating up and be more effective for providing oxygen.
Nothing is required to be put in the "cage" at the bottom on the pump tube/water intake but I found that rolling up white fluffy filter and putting it in does not slow the pump at all. Also, I cut a circular piece to make sure water has to go through the white stuff. Works well ro prevent objects clogging the pump by course filtering the water before it gets there:)
Aslo, is th hole in the right side of the back pannel meant for the heater?
Hey Tommy, thanks for the tips! Yeah you need to get the cycle well established before you add lots of fish. If you were given the tank in working order then it's probably cycled already. But changing filter media etc puts it a step back... The old gravel should help though. I would suggest you get your water tested so that you know exactly where you stand. Then you can know if all is well or you can make adjustments as necessary.
Yep, the pump is 100% submersible... you can see it underwater in the pics above. And yes, the hole on the opposite side of the pump at the back is for the heater :)
Cool Rich,
But i need to back track on one of my tips i made.
The idea of putting some filter foam into the chamber at the bottom of the pump water inlet pipe was a BAD idea.
See, I noticed the water flow was slow a few days later and its because the chamber is clogged.
Fish poos and debre/slime blocked it.
to be honest, it was a stupid idea if you think about it. The idea is to get the dirties out of the tank, not trap them in there.
They belong outside the tank in the filter above. I was just worried that larger objects will travel up the tube into the pump and damage it but maybe it is designed to allow anything that fits through the chamer to also fit through the pump.
That makes alot more sense or they would have put the main filter before the pump.
Keep the tips coming guys. This is the best JEBO R338 blog in the known universe right now....
Thanks for the feedback Tommy :)
I was moving things around in there and forgot to turn off the pump first. SAND GOT IN THE PUMP!! its works ok but its much louder than before. Let this be a lesson to the rest of you...
You can open the pump for cleaning... perhaps there is some gravel still in there that's making noise? The bottom clip part of the pump comes off and you can gain access to the inside bits.
HELP!! My pump stopped working!!!
What do I do?
My fishes lives are in your guys hands.
Tommy, you'll need to order a new one from your local fish shop (or wherever you bought your tank from).
In the mean time you can do daily water changes or ask your fish shop if they will look after your fish for you until your pump arrives.
All the best with getting sorted soon.
I have ordered one of the net and the thing is that I need to put the money in the bank but they are closed for a few more days.
Ill sort it out. it was $25NZD plus freight for the pump unit if anyone wants to know....
I have been doing the water changes and all that but what behavior should I look for if there are any issues with the fish?
They seem happy enough though.
@Tommy I think your biggest concern is potential lack of oxygen for your fish.
You can improve aeration of the water by keeping it moving, one way of doing this is by adding an airstone on an external pump to your tank if you want to as your fish tank water is aerated at the surface where it comes into contact with air - It's probably a good idea to leave the front section of the light hood open as well.
I'm sure your fish will be fine as long as you aren't overstocked and you keep up the water changes though. Hope your new pump arrives soon.
Thanks for pictures and comments.
I have set the tank up and was about to install the heater when I noticed the temp was already about 28C. It has not changed despite cold rainy weather so I assume the submerged pump is heating the water? or is it due to lights on during day? (or faulty thermometer)
Is there a need for a heater?
Hi Pahza. I have heard of other people mentioning that the temperature in their tanks was fine without a heater, with just the heat generated by the lights. (The pump may generate a small amount of heat too). But the fish that you plan to put in the tank are actually what will determine whether you need a heater or not... Do some research and find out what sort of environment the fish that you plan to keep do well in.
Heaters have a thermostat and will help to keep your tank temperature constant, preventing your water temperature from dropping during the evenings or on colder days. This won't be as much of a concern if your tank is in a room that does not experience large temperature fluctuations.
But again it all really depends on the fish you want to keep. Some will require a very specific temperature range, which may require that you install a heater, while other fish are not as fussy.
Hey everyone :) Be sure to check out my Siamese fighter / betta post as well http://richelectron.blogspot.com/2010/01/tank-cycle-betta-siamese-fighter.html
Hello Every one I have R338 and I want know that Cichlids is good for this tank and how would I make my tank beautiful.
Regards
Nadeem
Hello everyone I have R338 and I have 6 12 pieces of African Cichlids is tank is good for cichlids I love cichlids and how would I make my tank beautiful awaiting your precious advise.
Regards
Nadeem
Hello Every one can I use R338 as a salt water aquarium.
REGARDS
NADEEM
Hi Nadeem, you can use the Jebo R338 as a salt water aquarium, though I have no experience with this. I think you need to insert a sheet of glass to protect the light though or it will corrode.
Hi there thanks for the tips!I really need your help please. I have recently bought a Jebo R338 and placed it in my room but its far from silent operation..my pump makes this loud humming sound similar to a electric fan..is this sound normal? or is my pump broken? it has sounded like this since i first set it up..any idea of how i could make the pump queiter so i can get a peaceful sleep without having to remove my tank(looks great in my room)..thanks in advance for your help:)
Hi there, i really need your help please.. I just brought a new jebo R338 tank but its far farom silent operation..the pump makes a loud humming noise similar to a electric fan..It has sounded like this since i first set it up.is this sound normal? or is my pump broken? would you have any idea of how to make it queiter..your help would be much appreciated:):) as i have this tank in my room would be greatful for a peaceful nights sleep. Cheers!
There may be something wrong with your pump while I won't say it runs completely silently, it should be no more than a gentle hummm. I know that sometimes the pump vibrations can make other parts of the tank vibrate which can lead to quite a lot of noise. Sometimes it requires tweaking that is difficult to explain to make it run quiet. Try with different suction cup configurations. Sometimes not clipping the elbow of the outlet pipe onto the filter media area can help too. But basically it's down to fiddling... Good luck!
Hi yeah I have one of these tanks and I have had for about two years intill the other day the filter caught on fire and nearly burnt down my house. Did I do somthing wrong with the fliter that came with the tank?
Hi I have heard about the fire hazard before - I posted an article on it here: http://richelectron.blogspot.com/2008/04/jebo-r338-fire-hazard-recalled.html I don't think it's because of anything that you did but I had heard that the fire hazard only applied to these tanks that had been sold in Asia. Where did you buy your tank anonymous?
Hi could somebody tell me wich pump could replace the one I have for my r760-r388 pump!It broke down and since I am not really god in the matter and that I cannot find the same pump near my area...It could help me big time! Thank you
Your best bet would be to try the place where you bought the tank. Otherwise take the pump out and take it along with you to a pet shop. Maybe they can order it for you if they don't have it in stock. But if you've tried all that already then maybe you could replace the pump section with a similar one, depending on what's available (ask your local fish shop). As a last resort you could strip out the Jebo pump entirely and replace it with any generic pump system. The tank is so small that most pump/filter systems are probably suitable. Your options are only limited by what's available really. You could also try online though I'm not sure how much luck you will have - I only found a second hand pump for sale in New Zealand (there is no official jebo parts site that I'm aware of).
I just purchased a Jebo R338 for the purpose of A live reef tank...I live in Southern California and have access to very nice varieties of corals and polups and what not...is it necessary to have an air stone attached to the end of the clear air hose hanging from the pump? I thought air pumps weren't needed when there is a power head...any advice would be greatly appreciated...just set it up a couple days ago and got the salt and heat nicely balanced with 7 lbs of live rock...figured I'd let it sit for a month or so before adding anything other than maybe a small Damsel...
Hi Nick, sounds like an awesome setup you have - I have no experience with salt water systems. But in terms of aeration, you don't need an airstone. The power head moves the water more than adequately by itself in this tank. You only 'need' and airstone if you want the bubbly visual effect.
Hi, I cant seem to get any air out of the horisontal pipe even though i have an air intake at the top of vertical pipe. Both just pump water, any advice? (It was second hand in Hastings NZ and came with air stones and tubing)
cheers
I've never actually tried to use an air stone with this tank myself. But I have seen functioning air stones in this tank before. There should be a tap on the air intake pipe that you can adjust to set the air intake level. Fiddle with the tap and maybe check to see that the air intake part of the T connector is not blocked as well?
Hi Rich. Just wanted to thank you for your info you have taken the time to put onto the internet.
Couple of years ago (well few more than that actually) I brought 2nd hand a Jebo R331 but never got it set-up because of always moving.
Did find your informative info back then but getting a new computer along the way lost it.
I'm am so pleased to have found you again as I finally got it set up but couldn't get the filter working till I read your instructions & looked at your photos.
I've bookmarked your page for future reference.
Again many thanks :-)
Thanks for the feedback landseers :) Glad to be of service again. All the best with your new setup.
excellent post....very informative and was pivotal in setting up my Jebo R338...Thanks!
Hi there, loving your blog! So helpful for those of us with this Jebo tank!
Just wondered, do you leave your filter/heater etc running 24h a day? And do you think it's possible to run the filter for a shorter period each day (say 8-10 hours?)
Thanks so much in advance!
Thanks for the feedback Tayla. This tank's heater is regulated by a thermostat, so it gets turned on and off automatically as required. You could leave the heater off for a while on a warm day though, but I wouldn't recommed it on a cold day. It depends on your fish, but your temp probably shouldn't drop below 25 degrees for too long. The filter is less serious though, you should be able to turn it off for 8-10 hours while you sleep every day. But this also depends on how fully stocked your tank is. More fish need more oxygen and the water is not aerated as well when it is not moving... Should be fine to be off for a few hours either way though.
Thanks so much for your quick response! :) So excited to put some fish in the tank, at the moment it's just cycling empty. What are you keeping in yours at the moment?
I have glass catfish in my aquarium at the moment :)
Hi guys,
Great and informative blog!
We started our tank with 5 Black windows after some cycling, only problem I have is the current and the power of the suction into the pump inlet. Its way to stong, the black widows needs to constantly swim in an attempt to stay in one place. One of the smaller ones got sucked up against the inlet. Lucikly I saw it in time and turned the pump of to set the little one free. Any advise on how I can reduse the suction effect? I'm planning to get a air stone this morning as mentioned in the blog.
I discovered this weekend that you need to get an air pump to power an airstone separately of the built in water filter/pump system.
There is an air inlet pipe (with a tap on it)supplied with the jebo tank that connects to the upright section of the t connector outlet on the pump that you can use to suck air in to the outlet stream - this might weaken the current that it creates, marginally. However, I recall hearing about people making other modifications to the outlet to slow down the flow. I haven't tried it myself but jamming a piece of gravel into the outlet pipe was one example (just make sure it's lodged in securely so it won't get blown out and damage your fish).
I guess you could try to attach some pipe to the outlet as well and divert the flow a bit this way - I'm almost sure I have seen a tank setup that actually had an airstone powered by the outlet pipe (with the air inlet attachment connected as well) on display in a pet shop window. But I was advised against this (and to get the separate air pump by my local fish shop) so it may have been my imagination. You may need to use your imagination / creativity but it seems like there are several fish species that are not suited to an unmodified JEBO setup due to the current created by the very enthusiastic filter system. All the best though!
Hi
Really nice Blog but dont know if its still valid. Anyways I would like to know how the jebo R338 can be converted into a marine tank for reef keeping. I've heard rumours that it can be converted but dont really know how to go about doing it.
Hi, I don't have any experience with converting this tank for salt water. I've also heard it's possible though. I know you need to put a glass separator in to prevent the salt from corroding the hood, I'm not sure what other modifications are required...
For info on the R338 and its use for salt water fish and/or reefkeeping, you might want to try MASA (Marine Aquariums South Africa). Their forum has a great deal of info on this particular tank.
I've set up my R338 and adter a week I put in some guppies and neons. The problem I have is that the fish get suck against the "cage" at the bottom and at the top where the pipe goes into the pump and they cant get away and die. Seems as if the pump is sucking to strong. Any ideas please Rich.
Hey there Bennie, sorry to hear about your problems... I have heard people mentioning similar problems before and one person actually stuck a piece of gravel into the outlet pipe to stop the pump from working as well as it does.
I have never had guppies in this tank but I have had neons before and they seemed fine with the pump - if your fish aren't doing too well and are weak then the pump well cause problems for them, they may have been a bad batch from the fish shop?
If all else fails and your fish are still having trouble then it may be better to not leave the pump on all of the time? Perhaps get one of those timers that works at the plug and set your pump to come on at alternating hours?
Thanx Rich.
I think I will get another aquarium for the guppies and neons and put one of those beautiful bettas in my R338. Read your post on it and seems like a good idea to me. Also think that the suction wont be a problem for the Siamese.
Yeah, my betta had no problem in this tank in terms of the pump and lived very happily while he was by himself...
Doug wrote, "Lately I've had trouble with aeration. I don't use a stone. I just let a stream of bubbles flow directly out of the pump into the aquarium. But the aeration has lately been unreliable, and seems now to have stopped altogether. There's nothing blocking the line for air from the outside. (I can blow through the line and produce bubbles.) So I suspect a malfunction of the filter pump. And yet the filter works just fine. Anyone else familiar with this problem?:
I had this problem too. Problem solved
Took the pump out of the tank took off the top pipe that leads to the clear tube and the bottom internal plastic filtering appartus
Ran water through it under a faucet
Low and behold, gravel and plant debris stuck in side
Afterwards reassembled and the aeration is like brand new. The aeration mechanism is simple. If the flow of water out the side spout is impeded by anything (internal or external) you will lose the aeration. Most of the time its internal junk and that's why people can't figure it out
btw this was not a pump disassembly, rather a removal of the top and bottom spouts
Thanks for the helpful insight Eli :)
Hi there, Happy New Year to you. I have just purchased this tank of a friend and I currently have in it, 2 neon tetra's; a chain loach and also 2 Pleco or sucker fish as well. Can I add any more tetra's or other fish? I used to have them all in a R331 Jebo tank and never had any problems. Thank you. Christine from New Zealand.
Hi there,
You should be fine adding 2 or 3 more small fish (like tetras). I have found that this tank can actually be overstocked very easily. So I wouldn't replace any extra fish that you try to add if they die off. Fish have generally done better in mine in smaller numbers - I only have 2 angels in mine at the moment...
All the best with your new tank!
hi,i have set up my "jebo r338 aquarium,and afterleaving it overnight the waterlooks like weak tea ! it is a new set up and i washed and soaked the wood and gravel in a bucket. please can you help,steff
Hi Stefan
You will need to leave your tank running for a week or two before the water clears, you should investigate something called 'cycling' a new tank - particularly before you add any fish to your setup.
Hi,
This is the most informative site I could find on the Jebo R338.
Thanks so much for all the effort.
I've recently set up my tank with a couple of swords and shrimps. Absolutely love watching them play in the current for hours.
One of my shrimps is pregnant, do you think the current will be strong enough to suck up the eggs? Would hate for her to loose her babies. This I should keep her out the tank for a while?
Thanks again Rich, you really doing a brilliant job.
Hey Trisha, thanks for the feedback :) I honestly don't know much about shrimps, but the current in this tank is quite significant so I would err on the side of caution, I am pretty certain that the filter would suck up just about anything that isn't tied down / can't swim.
Are you still using this tank after 7 years. This blog was started in 2007 and still going on. :)
Looks like a very good tank then.
I have 2 locally made glass tanks and maybe i should get this kind of tank with support for filter and aeration included. I have goldfishes, tetra and molly in my tanks
Cheers
Kunal
Hey Kunal
Yes, I still have this tank after all these years and I currently have 2 Angel Fish in it. I am on my 3rd pump though, but otherwise all good!
MY TANK IS LEAKING!!! HELP!!! I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO :, (
Yes, it all depends on where the leak is in your tank - It's not as serious if is near the top, but very bad if it's somewhere close to the bottom. You can repair leaks with Marine Silicon for fish tanks (it must say this on it specifically) as suggested above.
But you will most likely need to re-home your fish for a wile to make the repair. Perhaps your local fish shop can look after them for you if you don't have a spare tank?
It reminds me that I have had a small 'leak' issue with this tank, but not from the glass area. I think I let the filter foam at the top get too clogged up and then water started pouring out of the top. I replaced the foam but also cut down the side of the filter tray area at the top to allow water to flow straight back into the tank if it gets too high.
Hope you can make a plan and that your fish are fine!
Hi
So "false alarm" I think.
The tank was definitely leaking alot but maybe it was the filter overflowing because i emptied the tank.filled it with water over night and not a single drop leaked.
Thanks for your help
hi there, dont know if this blog is still opperational but thanks so much for the tips! i just got a r338 and its sooooo confusing compared to my 200l tank with external filters etc. i have 2 parts missing and want to comfirm they are needed... my tank came with a book and it shows a little attachment peice on filter that needs to be connected between pump and tube to cage. (also had a picture of same piece inside cage)... what is it?.. is it a filter medium or actual important piece?... all other pieces are lablled except this piece so unsure of its impotrtance... been to pet shop and they had no idea either lol. also can you give me some ideas for filter medium layering?... mentions wool, sponge but only came with noodles?...
I'm not exactly sure about a piece that is meant to connect between the pump and tube to the cage - It doesn't ring any bells, sorry. It sounds like it must be a filter medium of sorts as you suggested. I've got my noodles in the box at the top with a plastic grid above them and then a piece of filter wool at the very top.
Hello Rick,
I am an expat living in Amman, Jordan, and have just gotten an r338 from a local fish store. I am currently cycleing it with a few danios and some live plants, and would like to know if you think it is big enough for a small school of neon tetras and a betta fish to live together. Would it be possible to also have a small catfish too? I think it's weirdly awesome that an 8 year old post is now the definitive source for information on a popular aquarium.
-Sawyer (age 16)
p.s. When I first started up my tank, water started coming out of the back of the hood. After a minute of raw panic, I found that the water tube in the filter was tilted up and was hitting the lid, then coming out the back. If anyone has water start pouring out the back, they might want to try twisting the tube.
Hi Sawyer, thanks for stopping by, glad my post can still be helpful after all these years :)
Anyway on your first question, I can't recommend that you put a betta and tetras together. I have seen posts on the Internet that suggest this might be okay but from my experience this is a bad idea. I actually have another post that touches on this year http://richelectron.blogspot.com/2010/01/tank-cycle-betta-siamese-fighter.html from when I had a betta in this very tank. In general, the fish I have had in this tank have done better when there are fewer of them - I think it's easy to over stock this tank. But it's great for a school of small fish (like tetras) or a few larger fish like 2 or 3 angels. Most of the fish I have had in this tank have done best when there are fewer of them.
Apart from that yes, you need to keep an eye on what's happening up in the hood with respect to leaks as you mentioned. I also had a scenario where some of the wires at the back where picking up water and channeling it out of the tank - So best to make sure that there is nothing the water can run off on out of the top.
It's a great little tank though. I am still running this same one after all these years, with an angel fish in it most recently. (I have replaced the pump 3 times though I think).
Anyway, all the best with your setup!
Hello Rich,
Thank you for the time you've put into this blog.
I just got one of these tanks for my son today. It's a second hand tank that I got from a friend.
The comments regarding fires are somewhat concerning.
Hopefully the ones sold here in South Africa don't have the issue.
Thanks again.
Regards
Rakesh
As far as I know it was only stock in the East that was recalled for risk of fires. I also have a tank that was bought in South Africa and it's still going strong (almost 10 years later) with no issues (though I have replaced the pump a few times - no fires though).
Wow, it looks like I've found the defacto R338 expert on the internet! I currently have a single cory catfish in mine and will be adding a couple more soon. I was wondering you had an experience with sand substrate in your aquarium? I am concerned about about the strong currents and sand getting sucked into the filter.
I also have a rescue betta that I'm thinking of adding to the tank. I know you had a betta in the tank, but I'm concerned about the strong currents and surface movement bothering her fins. This was not an issue for you?
Thank you!
Hi there Eileen
I have no experience with sand substrate in this tank so can't really help you out on that one.
The betta we had was very happy in this tank though - no problem with currents at all.
I put a specific betta post up here if you'd like more details on that:
http://richelectron.blogspot.co.za/2010/01/tank-cycle-betta-siamese-fighter.html
Hi Rich,
Thanks for this blog. A week ago, I just got 2 new Jebo R338 aquarium for my 2 Bettas but have each community of 4 small silver flat fishes.
1. I was wondering if there are controls for the pump since it flows too much air/water that my bettas are hiding at the back of the pump.
2. I would like to ask if what is that transparent plastic tube in the water pump just above the power head? I cant figure what is it for. it has a rounded nossle.
Thanks and this post is lit!
Hi Henspark
Thanks for the feedback ...
1. There are no controls for the pump, though I have heard of people jamming bits of gravel into the outlet to stem the output, but I'm not so sure I can recommend this.
2. I think this plastic tube can be used to introduce air into the pump output though I have never used or tried it - useful for powering air stones I think.
I also had a betta in this tank for a while and put up another separate post about it here:
http://richelectron.blogspot.co.uk/2010/01/tank-cycle-betta-siamese-fighter.html
i just bought this tank today and got it all set up. I have what seems like more air bubbles/current flow in the tank than is necessary. Any way to chill that down a bit?? Also, there is a short clear tube with what appears to be a dial on the end off it attached parallel to the suction tube/ perpendicular to flow from the pump. What is it for??
There are no controls for the pump, though I have heard of people jamming bits of gravel into the outlet to stem the output, but I'm not so sure I can recommend this.
I think the plastic tube can be used to introduce air into the flow though I have never used or tried it - You could potentially break the flow by attaching the tube to the upwards pointing t connector and so introduce air into the flow that can be controlled with the tap I think? (also untried myself, you would need to play around)
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