When it comes to choosing the perfect aquarium, the Juwel Rio Aquarium often comes highly recommended. I’ve spent a good amount of time with this fish tank, and I have to say, I absolutely love it. It’s beautifully designed, practical, and provides an excellent home for aquatic life. However, like any product, it’s not entirely perfect. In this article, I want to share some small but noteworthy points that could be improved to make the Juwel Rio Aquarium even better. These are minor issues—nothing that would make me dislike the tank—but things I've noticed while working with it and enjoying my setup.
Table of Contents
- The Lid: Light and Practical but a Bit Flexible
- The Filter: A Surprising Design and a Small Limitation
- Conclusion: A Fabulous Aquarium with Minor Quibbles
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The Lid: Light and Practical but a Bit Flexible
One of the first things you notice about the Juwel Rio Aquarium is its lid. I really like how the lid fits neatly on the tank and the fact that it comes in two halves—the front and the back—with a center support. This design makes maintenance very easy, and the lid itself is very light, which I appreciate. Heavy lids can be a pain to handle, so this is a definite plus.
That said, the plastic used for the lid is quite flexible. While this flexibility isn’t a problem when the lid is on, it does make replacing the lid a little tricky if you take it off for cleaning or maintenance. You have to slot the two ends into place and then close it over carefully. If you don’t line it up perfectly, the middle section can droop slightly and may press against the center support.
This isn’t a fault of the tank itself but rather a user error when fitting the lid back on. However, I can’t help but wonder if the back edge of the lid could be reinforced to make it more rigid without compromising the lightness. The challenge is that the lid has very small flaps that hold it in place, and putting too much pressure on the middle when closing could risk snapping these flaps off. While snapping doesn’t destroy the tank, it’s definitely something to avoid.
Condensation and Water Collection in the Lid Groove
My second minor gripe also involves the lid. There is a small groove where the edge of the lid sits, and this groove is deep enough to collect quite a bit of water. When you open the lid, condensation runs down and pools in this groove. Over time, if any food particles or plant matter find their way into this groove, they can decay and even start to mould, which is obviously something we want to avoid.
To prevent this, regular cleaning of the groove is necessary. I also wonder if a few small holes molded into the groove—perhaps one on each side of the center and one at each end—would allow the water to drain back into the tank. This would be a simple but effective design tweak that wouldn’t weaken the lid and would help keep it cleaner and more hygienic.
The Filter: A Surprising Design and a Small Limitation
Moving on to the filter, I must confess I initially misunderstood how it worked. In my earlier setup, I placed a sponge pad between the two filter chambers to stop water moving from front to back. It turns out this was a mistake, and I’ve since removed that sponge to allow the filter to operate as intended.
To explain why, I dug out a second filter from my fish cupboard to show the internal workings. The filter has a part that runs back to the tank, and at the bottom of the filter, there is an impeller motor that draws water through. The intake pipe is molded as one piece with the front chamber, and the water is pulled through a hole located quite deep down into the media chamber.
This means that all the water drawn through the filter passes through the media, including water entering through vents at the back of the filter. This design is far more effective than I initially gave it credit for, as it ensures thorough filtration through the sponge and bio media, capturing debris and helping maintain water quality.
In fact, dropping a bit of flake food into the tank shows how debris is pulled into the front chamber of the filter, swirled around, and then passes through the media as the flake becomes waterlogged. This process is very efficient, and I have to apologise for my earlier criticism of the filter. It’s well-designed and effective.
Filter Position: Fixed to the Right Side
So, if the filter itself isn’t the problem, what is? Well, one thing that does annoy me is that the filter can only be positioned on the right-hand side of the tank. The return pipe only fits on the left side of the filter unit, and there’s no way to move it to the other side.
This means the filter must always be installed on the right side of the aquarium. The tank comes prebuilt this way, and you can’t swap the filter to the left-hand side. For some setups, including mine, this is less than ideal.
Cleaning Challenges Due to Filter Position
Because the filter sits neatly but not flush against the side and back of the tank, it leaves a small gap where detritus and gunk can collect. This area is too tight to easily clean, making it tricky to remove debris properly without putting in some effort.
Now, I’m in two minds about this because this gunk might be home to beneficial bacteria that help maintain water quality. However, the problem arises because the filter is positioned in a way that makes this buildup visible and hard to ignore. In my case, the tank sits with a wall on the left side, so having the filter on the right means it’s in my direct line of sight as I walk past, and I constantly see the gunk accumulating.
If the filter could be placed on the left side, it would be out of my eye line and less of a visual distraction. It would also mean visitors would focus on the beauty of the tank rather than the less attractive filter area. While this isn’t a deal breaker, it would be a nice option to have.
Conclusion: A Fabulous Aquarium with Minor Quibbles
To wrap things up, the Juwel Rio Aquarium is a fantastic fish tank. Despite the minor points I’ve raised—about the flexible lid, the water-collecting groove, and the fixed filter position—these are small issues that don’t overshadow the overall quality and enjoyment the aquarium provides.
Nothing is perfect, and aquariums are no exception. But with a bit of care and attention, these minor inconveniences can easily be managed or even improved upon. The tank itself, combined with the accessories and cabinet, offers an excellent foundation for building a beautiful underwater world to enjoy.
If you’re considering purchasing a Juwel Rio Aquarium, I hope this balanced perspective helps. I’m really pleased with mine and look forward to many more happy hours of fishkeeping.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Is the lid of the Juwel Rio Aquarium easy to handle?
A: Yes, the lid is light and comes in two halves with a center support, making maintenance easy. However, the plastic is flexible, so care is needed when removing and replacing it to avoid bending or snapping small flaps.
Q: Does the lid collect water or condensation?
A: Yes, condensation tends to collect in the groove where the lid edges sit, which can trap water and debris. Regular cleaning is necessary to prevent mould and decay. Some design adjustments, like drainage holes, could help.
Q: How effective is the filter in the Juwel Rio Aquarium?
A: The filter is well-designed and highly effective. Water is drawn through the media chamber thoroughly, ensuring good filtration. Initial misunderstandings about the filter’s operation have been corrected, and it performs excellently.
Q: Can the filter be positioned on either side of the tank?
A: No, the filter can only be installed on the right-hand side due to the design of the return pipe. This fixed position may not suit all aquarium setups.
Q: Is it easy to clean behind the filter?
A: Cleaning behind the filter can be tricky due to the tight gap where debris accumulates. While beneficial bacteria may reside there, the buildup can be visually distracting depending on the tank placement.
This article was inspired from the video JUWEL RIO AQUARIUM WHAT'S NOT TO LIKE? | Drop a like and subscribe to show your support!
