Airpump and airstones?

[jaimaq]

Hello everyone-

I'm new to this hobby and in the process of setting up my tank. I have a 29 G freshwater tank. Filter, heater etc are set up, but I just read that an airstone and air pump are really helpful....? What do you guys think? Do I need these things? I need advice, so thanks!!

[Bantam]

hi, welcome to ac

i don't like them too much myself, mainly because of the noise. they can help with the airation and circulation of the water but not as much as you might think. if surface of your water is well 'agitated' anyway then an airpump would be of even less value.
if you like the look of the bubbles in your tank then go for it but its not necessary as such

regards

[NJ Devils Fan]

The bubbles look nice. If you want to put one, go right ahead. There is nothing bad about them.

[Bantam]

hope i didn't make it sound like they were a bad idea. i just meant that they aren't essential equipment

[jaimaq]

Thanks! I'll probably start my tank without one. I talked to my fish dealer today, and she doesn't use one but told me I can always add one later if I like. For now, it might be easier to not deal with extra equipment. Just brought home 7 zebra danios. :-)

[spannah]

jamaiq:

I am hoping you did cycle the tank before putting those 7 zebra danios in there ...

[jaimaq]

Yes, I did. I also put in that beneficial bacteria stuff that supposedly speeds up the process. I tested the water with a kit and it says everything is OK. The danios are swimming around but not really "schooling" yet. They've only been in there 15 minutes or so. Is that normal?

[Bantam]

it can be difficult to get a proper school unless the fish feel there is a threat to them ie a predator

[jaimaq]

Ah, I see. My plan is to eventually (in 3 weeks or so) add some red-eyed tetras, and a couple of julii cories. Would also love a few platies for color, but am concerned about overcrowding the tank. Any thoughts? Another question: should I have some salt in the aquarium? Some places say you should always have some seasalt in there.

[NJ Devils Fan]

Let me ask you this, how did you cycle the tank?

With the salt, it is much debated about the use of salt in tanks. I used it in my old tank for years and I believe that it helped a lot. But, there will be people that say that it helps not at all.

[EagerAqua]

I added an airstone to my tank primarily for the looks. Originally I bought an Elite pump but took it back after I plugged it in and thought my pictures were going to fall off the wall (ok, slight exaggeration but it was loud). I replaced it with a Rena #50 and it is much quieter (not silent though) and not that much more expensive (Big Als in the US lists it for $8.99 on their site).

As well, if you are just using it to drive an airstone, you can save money by buying the smallest pump available. I have a 25 gallon and the Rena #50 creates bubbles through my one airstone just fine. If you are going with more airstones or need to power other decorations etc, then you will need to consider the size of the pump.

Hope this helps,

Eager

[NJ Devils Fan]

Also, size of the pump matters on how deep your tank is.

[jaimaq]

I cycled the tank with water conditioner and bacteria. The danios look like they're adusting in there.

If you add salt, how do you do it? Can you just go ahead and mix it in with the fish already in there? Just stir it in? They sell aquarium salt at the petstore. I guess that's what I'm supposed to use.

[NJ Devils Fan]

What bacteria are you talking about?

The only way for the tank to cycle is when there is a source of ammonia. The tank will esablish bacteria that can break down the ammonia into nitrites, and establish another bacteria that will break down nitrites into nitrates. If I just put an old filter cartridge in a filter of a new tank and leave it, nothing is going to happen. The bioload will shrink until it completely goes away. Adding chemicals like Cycle and Stress Zyme will do nothing for your tank. If all you did was add some gravel, filter media from established tank, and a chemical product to speed up the cycling process and then added those zebras, then your tank is still cycling.

[jaimaq]

Okay, I see. What I did was add water conditioner and a product called BioSpira with beneficial bacteria. Fishowners I know have successfully added (hardy) fish after this process. I did it over a few days. I know ammonia has to be produced now, so the tank is indeed still cycling. I was told that zebra danios could usually survive that process ok, but to wait a few weeks before adding anything else, to make sure the cycling process is done. Does this make sense?

[jaimaq]

And I do have a new filter, heater, thermometers, gravel and plastic plants. Filled the tank with filtered water w/o chlorine in it. Did this about three days ago.

[jaimaq]

Two of the smaller danios are looking a little listless, but the rest are happily chasing each other around. The store told me I might lose a few the first week.

[JoeHemey]

i use a tetratec ap30 in my 10 gallon with a 4 inch stone and my two fantails love it they swim in it and play they seem to have a blast!!

[corvettekid82]

I've got mine hooked up to the air intake of my power head.. I only run it for a little while at a time.. the few fish that are in there now seem to enjoy playing in it.

[NJ Devils Fan]

jaimaq, do 50% water changes every other day so that ammonia/nitrite/nitrate levels do not get too high and stress out the fish. Yea, the zebras are very hardy and are used most often to cycle a tank.

[jaimaq]

thanks! as of this morning, they're all still alive. :-)

[Hebdizzle]

I have a Rena 300 air pump and I use it for one 4 inch air stone, and it powers my underground filter in my 35 gallon tank. I used to have a problem with it rattling against the stand, but I just folded a towel up and set the air pump on top of it inside the stand. As of now, it is still very reliable and quiet (3 years use).

[sunnygirl]

i found that goldfish are really good cyclers. they produce alot of amonia compared to other fish and are usually pretty hardy. they say your not supposed to put them in with tropicals, but i always have. they dont seem to care too much about the water temp. also, if you throw a few feeders in there you would only be losing about 30 cents if one happened to die.:cool:

[sunnygirl]

oh, also my goldfish and my cories LOVE to play in the bubbles, its so cute. i also have a gold mystery snail that loves to stick to the wall just above the bubbles. he sits ther for 1-2 hour sometimes. maybe its like a jaquzzi!:p