power filter issues - too much air?

[mistermog]

Hi guys, having an issue... (in a never ending stream of issues it seems)

I have a weipro TC-3000 power filter and its not adjustable in any way. It has a tube coming off for air, but last night i cleaned out the sponges and its flowing WAY too much air. This is not the main filter for the tank, I have an eheim canister. The power filter is just to keep the water moving and provide some air into the water.

my entire tank is covered with bubbles.

1) is that bad?

2) it looks dumb, i put a screw in the rubber hose to limit the air, but the tube stretched i guess and its just going crazy. how can i limit the air intake?

3) would would the difference be with a power head vs a power filter? other than filtering with sponges?

[krytan]

I would just remove the tube.

[mistermog]

How would I be sure the tank is properly oxygenated? It is 60" x 18" x 24" , and the Eheim spraybar is pointed to ripple the surface, but being my first tank i dont know all the tricks and tips.

[krytan]

It will be fine, gasses exchange at the water surface and with a tank 60"x18" you won't need to worry that the tank isn't properly oxygenated as long as there is movement on the water surface.

[CWO4GUNNER]

Not having to worry if you have enough dissolved O2 in the water based on tank surface area alone is not necessarily true or the end all to a potential problem. Allot depends on your tank fish load (how many fish), how much O2 in your tap water (usually low), and your tank temperature as warmer water holds less O2. During major water changes O2 can drop below 5 PPM which is the bare minimum. I finally tested my water for O2 and found out that my norm was barley 6 PPM and between 4-5 PPM during water changes. I have since installed a power head with the constant stream of bubbles directed against the back glass underwater so as not to cloud the tank and minimize strong currents. Now my measured dissolved O2 is a constant 8.8 PPM at 80F. I can tell you it made a big difference compared to just rippling the water surface. My fish are much more active now and never breathing hard on occasion like before.

What I recommend since your new and to keep things simple is to use what you already have. Instead of removing the air hose place a small cheap single air valve ($0.99) on the intake end so you can regulate how much air is getting injected into the water and try and see if there is a way you can direct or deflect the bubble stream down or back. But I would definitely not turn it off, the aquatic engineers that designed it didn't come up with the idea because they were board or misinformed, they were trying to provide more dissolved O2 in the water.

[mistermog]

yes, that is exactly what i want to do but i cant find a valve for that anywhere. online or local... do you have a source for that?

[CWO4GUNNER]

http://www.petsolutions.com/Air-Control-Kit+I77209548+C10.aspx

[Star_Rider]

I was just going to suggest that.. I have some marine land powerheads that come with a valve (similar to airline valve) that allows you to adjust air flow