CYS EXCEL Large Glass Bubble Bowl (H-13.5" W-15.25", Approx. 9 Gal.) | Multiple Size Choices Fish Bowl Vase | Glass Round Bowl Terrarium | Globe Flower Vase Centerpiece

I bought this CYS EXCEL 13.5"H x 15.25"W to set up as a Low Tech Heavily Planted Walstad Bowl in which I plan to populate with Neocaridina shrimp. OK...that being said...it's a beautiful bowl...really nice size. I just want to point something out to potential buyers that may be a critical factor in decision making. If the volume in gallons is a critical factor in your purchase (which it would be if you are into aquarium tanks, bowls, etc) then I need to point out what I believe is a discrepancy. Using the Height of 13.5" and the Width of 15.25" I did a simple volumetric calculation to determine approximate gallons. The AD here says '9 Gallons' which my calculations do not support. Using inches and the Volume Formula for a sphere I calculated volume as follows: The Volume Formula is [V=2πr³/3 ](where r=radius) I divided the Width of 15.25" (which would actually be the Diameter) by 2 = a 7.6" radius. Now plug it into the V-formula! V=2π(7.6)³ /3 =2756.8/3 = 918.9 in³ volume now to convert to gallons---> multiply that by 0.004329 gal/per in³ Sooooo...we have Gallons= (918.9 in³)(0.004329 gal per in³) the in³ cancel out and you have 3.97 gallons. So it's just about right on for a 4 gallon bowl. What would it take to get to a 9 Gallon (as advertised) bowl? Doing a little reverse math I came up with a 10 inch radius in our formula to get to 9 gallons volume. That would be a bowl that is a good 20" wide across (given the same height 13.5") So...just sayin'....I do love this bowl for what I intend to use it for. But before I bought it I did the math and realized it's just a 4 gallon. Not a 9 gallon. If I am wrong (it's happened many times before!) I would like to see the seller and/or manufacturer's math on the volume calculation. In other words...HOW they arrived at 9 gallons. I'm not trying to be picky or slam the product it's a great bowl but for those of us into aquatics, bettas, shrimp, snails, & other nano fish...the difference between 4 gallons and 9 gallons is substantial in the planning of a living bowl.

I’ve had this bowl for about a year now and it hasn’t cracked or chipped. Holds 9 gallons of water if you fill to the top with nothing else in it. With all my substrate, plants and decor in it the bowl holds 7 gallons of water. I have an aquarium heater inside that keeps the water at 78 degrees, and a filter…the tank is large enough to house all necessary equipment to keep live fish.

This large glass bubble bowl vase matches the listing in terms of size and shape. However, the base is quite small, so it doesn’t sit very steadily on a flat surface. Adding water might improve the stability, but I didn’t test that. Unfortunately, mine arrived with a small chip on the inside rim and fine surface cracks around the outside rim. The cracks seem cosmetic and likely wouldn’t affect the bowl’s durability, but the chip is disappointing. The box also appeared to have been opened and retaped, which makes me think it may have been a previous return. If it had been listed as a discounted damaged item, the imperfections would have been easier to accept. I’ll be returning this one and requesting a replacement, hoping the next arrives in better condition. Update: The replacement arrived and is only slightly better. There’s no chipping or rim damage this time, which is a plus, but it does have an inch-long scratch on the outside and noticeable waves in the glass. While these are cosmetic, they’re distracting for my intended use. This bowl would work well as a centerpiece, but I’m using it as a shrimp bowl aquarium, so clarity matters when viewing the plants and shrimp. I had hoped to exchange it again, but that wasn’t offered as an option. I’ll be returning it and purchasing a similar bowl via an external website.

Great quality. Just had to return because I thought it was smaller.

Mizu tested, Mizu approved! I wanted to create a maintenance-free ecosystem bowl for my Samurai Betta Mizu, who is sadly going blind due to being a dragon scale variant. This bowl is perfect for what I needed, the glass is thick and sturdy, I see no bubbles in the glass, and I like the smoothness of the cut top (no sharp edges). Mizu enjoys his food staying in one place, and having ample room to roam.