HA! Okay...I can actually address this. Me and my friend tested this because he had monies and I didn't. I didn't buy the bioorb and he did. We are both biochemistry grad students. I know seriously nerdy, but oh well.
Basically the orb does have more oxygen...but...this is how. It generates a upward/in current which allows more surface movement. It is a subtle, slow current...It basically does what we buy airstones and such for. This current pushes the water up and across the top of the surface allowing a higher exchange of gases in the air, thus a higher rate of oxygenation. I could not say for sure that the oxygen saturation is really higher for sure. But, you can measure the dissolved oxygen or the conductivity of the water, especially for SW setups.
Basically though, I agree with Severum and so would my friend. They are nice setups to be sure, but you could basically generate the same efficiently oxygenated tank setup with any old tank and a good filtration system, airstone, or powerheads, or your choice of water movement device.
Basically all the gadgets we add to our tanks to improve the overall quality of the water typically also circulates the water adding to the dissolved gases in that water, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen and so forth. It isn't really a gimmick, but it isn't completely compelling either. I think their comparison for oxygen levels must have been compared to a standard capacity filtration in a matched standard tank size. A fair comparison, but who only uses a filter alone and never adjusts anything and has a healthy tank ....no one. We all adjust water level, add contraptions, even do regular water changes, which all also oxygenate the water.
To be sure, you can spend less money and get an equivelant or better tank
. That's my two cents
