IceCap Glass Bookshelf Aquarium, 1.5-Gallon
SKU: IC-AQBS1
MSRP: $ 57,74
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Available Through Authorized Retailer
- Optically Pure Low-Iron Glass: Assembled utilizing 5mm high-clarity low-iron glass sheets (5mm) on all four side-viewing panels to eliminate the standard green hue distortion.
- Invisible Clear German Silicone: Seams are cleanly bonded using a high-tensile structural clear silicone formula, achieving flat, minimalist seams with minimal over-bleed.
- Elongated Panoramic Footprint: Nearly 12 inches of linear length provides an expanded canvas for creating dramatic scale and horizontal movement in a true desktop micro footprint.
- Pre-Polished Non-Tempered Panels: Fully non-tempered glass walls feature beautifully finished, high-polish diamond-cut edges, allowing safely executed custom bulkhead drilling.
- Factory Protective Leveling Mat: Includes a pre-installed, high-density black foam under-pad to cushion structural pressure points and absorb minor cabinet surface unevenness.
- Versatile Aquatic Application: The ultra-shallow depth maximizes light penetration, making it ideal for freshwater carpeting plants, micro shrimp, or shallow pico biomes.
IceCap
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IceCap 1.5 Gallon Trimless Bookshelf Glass Aquarium
The IceCap 1.5 Gallon Long Trimless Bookshelf Aquarium (SKU: IC-AQBS1) is an authentic, artisan-crafted glass enclosure distributed by CoralVue to redefine standard pico aquarium dimensions. Traditional small tanks are often configured as vertical rectangles or tall cubes; while space-efficient, these tall layouts restrict horizontal swimming room and choke off natural lighting angles, creating compressed visual fields. The IC-AQBS1 circumvents these structural limits entirely by stretching 1.5 gallons of water volume across an elongated 11.8-inch linear footprint. This panoramic ratio gives freshwater aquascapers and micro pico-reef builders an exceptional canvas to establish complex geological scale and rolling horizontal movement that standard small tanks cannot match.
Every aspect of this rimless profile is designed to minimize visual distraction. All four primary viewing faces are engineered from premium 5mm low-iron glass. By removing the heavy iron-oxide impurities found in standard float glass, the panels remain visually transparent, showcasing the true color values of your livestock, plants, and shrimp. The seams are joined using high-performance clear German silicone, creating a clean, borderless appearance. Because the tank is shallow, it allows standard-output desktop LED fixtures to provide intense, unobstructed par-value lighting right down to the substrate level. This makes it a perfect foundational platform for growing demanding dwarf hairgrass carpeting fields, maintaining high-energy nano planted layouts, or creating specialized moss habitats for ornamental shrimp.
Key Features:
Maximized Gas Exchange Surface: Elongated open-top architecture dramatically increases the water-to-air contact boundary, promoting natural oxygenation and cooling throughout the column.
Safe For Sensitive Micro-Shifting: The rimless design allows effortless positioning of emergent hardscape elements like driftwood branches, mini bamboo poles, or tiny volcanic stones breaking out past the water line.
Integrated Structural Stress Relief: Arrives with a factory-bonded, dense foam base mat that prevents microscopic glass imperfections from developing stress fractures over time.
Note: This open-top aquarium includes the standalone low-iron glass tank frame and a pre-installed self-leveling mat. Filter pumps, lighting fixtures, lids, and cabinetry stands are sold under separate product categories.
What’s Included:
(1) IceCap 1.5 Gallon Long Rimless Low-Iron Glass Bookshelf Aquarium Tank
(1) Factory-Bonded Protective Foam Self-Leveling Base Under-Mat
Technical Specs:
Official Manufacturing Title: IceCap 1.5 Gallon Trimless Bookshelf Aquarium
SKU / Factory Part Identifier: IC-AQBS1
Universal UPC Product Barcode: 810127680654
Total Exterior Dimensions: 11.8 Inches x 4.8 Inches x 6.3 Inches (30 cm x 12 cm x 16 cm)
Structural Glass Thickness Configuration: 5mm Pure Low-Iron Non-Tempered Glass
Primary System Water Volume Capacity: 1.5 Standard Liquid Gallons (5.7 Liters)
Seam Construction Matrix: High-Tensile Clear German Silicone Bonded Joints
Warranty
CoralVue, Inc. hereby guarantees this product to be free from defects in material and workmanship for a period of:
- 1 Year
Warranty is activated on the date of purchase.
This Standard Limited Warranty applies and is limited as follows:
- To the product only as long as it remains in the possession of the original purchaser.
- To the product that has not been subject to accident, misuse or abuse.
- To the product that has not been modified, altered, defaced, or had repairs made or attempted by other than CoralVue, Inc.
- That CoralVue be immediately notified in writing within ten (10) days of first knowledge of defect by owner or his agent.
- That CoralVue, Inc. shall be given first opportunity to make any repairs, replacements or corrections to the defective construction within a reasonable period of time.
- Under no circumstances shall CoralVue and/or the Manufacturer be liable by virtue of this warranty or otherwise for damage to any person or property whatsoever for any special, indirect, secondary or consequential damages of any nature however arising out of the use or inability to use because of the product defect.
Instructions:
- Carefully unbox your IC-AQBS1 tank on a completely flat, clear workspace. Do not remove the black self-leveling foam mat permanently bonded to the bottom glass panel.
- Position the aquarium in its final location on a dedicated, level, sturdy desk, counter, or shelf. Warning: Filled with water and hardscape, this long-footprint setup weighs nearly 20 lbs and must sit on a surface that provides continuous, unbroken support across its entire 11.8-inch frame length.
- If utilizing a mini hang-on-back or internal corner filter, install your equipment at one far edge of the tank to establish a unidirectional river-flow circulation path across the long axis.
- Arrange your soil, stones, and driftwood carefully inside the dry tank. Pro Tip: Because the glass is rimless, use plastic tools or place cardboard protectors over the panels to prevent accidental scratches during hardscape positioning.
- Place a small sheet of plastic wrap or a clean paper towel directly over your substrate to diffuse the water stream, then slowly siphon or pour in your water to avoid disturbing your design.
- Fill the water level to within 0.5 inches of the polished upper rim, install your rim-clamping desktop LED light fixture, turn on your filtration system, and check all seams to ensure smooth operation.
Pro Tips:
- Utilize an End-to-End Filtration Path to Prevent Stagnant Flow Dead Zones. Because a 1.5-gallon bookshelf tank is nearly a foot long but less than five inches wide, standard filters discharging from the back center will create poor circulation at the far left and right edges. To ensure proper nutrient distribution and clear surface film buildup, always run your filtration across the long axis. Position your filter intake or internal sponge at one far edge and place your return water outlet pointing down the long axis. This pushes water smoothly down the length of the tank, ensuring a clean sweep of the entire substrate area.
- Always Ensure the Support Surface is Perfectly Level Across the Entire Length. Long, shallow rimless aquariums are vulnerable to twisting stress if their placement surface is even slightly uneven. If one end of your desk dips just a few millimeters lower than the other, gravity will concentrate uneven shear force directly on the clear silicone corners. Before adding a single drop of water, verify with a precise level flat across the top rim from left to right. If the surface is off-center, adjust your furniture or utilize shims beneath the tank's placement structure to level the frame before filling the aquarium.
- Stick to Micro Invertebrates and Nano Flora to Protect the Ecosystem. A 1.5-gallon tank evaporates water volume quickly, which can cause minor shifts in water parameters. Because of its tiny footprint, it is not suitable for active swimming fish like tetras or bettas, which require more vertical space and total swimming volume. Instead, design the bookshelf layout around beautiful ornamental shrimp (such as Neocaridina cherry shrimp) or small aquatic snails. This allows you to create a high-impact, low-bioload living piece of art that remains stable and easy to clean.