Proper Aeration Using Canister Filter

[redryderr]

Hi,

I have kind of a newbie question. I've had various aquariums over the years and thought I knew most of the basics, but I'm humble enough to admit that I don't know it all.....

I've recently set up a 55 gal community tank (approx three months ago), and thought I would try a canister filter on this tank. I have an Eheim 2217. I've always used HOB type filters in the past. My basic question is how do I quietly achieve proper aeration using a canister filter with a spray bar?

A bit of history: I've been running the Eheim with the spray bar submerged below the water, aiming slightly downward, I seem to have pretty good circulation - every plant in the tank sways in the current a little bit. I also have an under gravel filter and two 12" bubble wands powered by a tetra whipser 60 air pump. Water quality seems pretty good for what I've tested - 0ppm ammonia, 0ppm nitrite, 10 to 15 ppm nitrate, 7.4 PH - using API liquid tests. Also had the LFS guy test water for me to confirm my results and he said all looked well to him. I do about a 15% to 25% water change weekly.

My fish have all seemed happy and healthy until we decided to try and quiet down the noise of the bubbles in the tank a little bit. I shut off the air to the two bubble wands and diverted the full flow of the air pump to the two under gravel filter air stones, and redirected the spray bar to ripple the surface of the water slightly. My assumption was that the bubbles from the UG filter and the rippling from the spray bar would cause enough surface agitation to allow for proper O2/CO2 exchange. About 24 hours after I made this change I found one of my Gouramis dead. Not really sure, so I turned the bubblers back on and no other fish died. About a week later I tried the same thing with turning the bubblers off, sure enough, I lost Spike - my favorite Plec. Bubblers are now back on until I can figure out the best way to get enough surface agitation without using the air pump.

Any suggestions would be great!!


Tank stocked as follows:
5 3" Gouramis
1 3" Bristle Nose Plec
1 2-1/2" Clown Loach
1 3" Rainbow Shark
11 1-1/2" Danios
couple of live plants

 

[Mgamer20o0]

I have kind of a newbie question. I've had various aquariums over the years and thought I knew most of the basics, but I'm humble enough to admit that I don't know it all.....

great first step. no mater how long your into aquariums there is always something new to learn.

My basic question is how do I quietly achieve proper aeration using a canister filter with a spray bar?

just angle it up a little so you see ripples on the water.

the under ground filter is plenty. i would look for other cause. in all my tanks i have zero air pumps going. the air form the ugf should be plenty. the canister should also give plenty of o2 exchange.

 

[redryderr]

Thanks for the reply! I really would like to get to the point of little or no air pumping into the aquarium. I'll try your suggestion and watch things closely.

 

[colinsk]

I also have no air pumps. I have to make sure every day that the rippling on the surface is enough. I have not lost any fish but I have caught them gasping. Between fast plant growth and evaproating water I end up adjusting my pump output every few days.

 

[Canuck]

My understanding is that gouramis can breathe air (in fact need to) therefore I can't imagine that lack of O2 was the cause of the first fish death . The spray bar rippling the surface should provide lots of O2. I don't use air pumps in any of my tanks either.

 

[Sounguru]

I had the same problem on a way overstocked 29 with a c-160. I ended up having to put in a small powerhead aimed up at the surface to provide more circulation. Everyting in the tank was holding at the surface but once the power head was installed they all moved back down within an hour.

Used the powerhead because it was quieter that a bubble wand.

 

[SuBXeRo]

if your plants are live, they also help to create oxygen in the tank. I have a 2217 like you and have my bar mounted vertically under water to create a current. I have been using a 12 inch airstone powered by a whisper 20 and that aerates the water for the tank. You really dont need uber amounts of O2 input. I mean, your HOB creates far less bubbles and surface aggitation then the 12 inch wand.

I heard another ac member talking about aearation and what not, not a bad idea if you ask me. They have co2 input for the day and at night, incase the solenoid freezes on the co2 cannister, a powerhead kicks on just above the surface to create aeration. You could do something similar if you wanted to if you are still worried.

I am sory for your lose, the situation could have been coincidental, my gourami died just like that, the day beforehe was zooming all over, no signs of anything and he keeled the next day, still with no signs of illness or disease.

I am big on trying to have a quiet tank. I have already tried to modify my fan on my light since its the loudest piece of equipment i have. If you have live plants, they need co2 which is released when u add airbubbls and the co2 helps them grow during the day while they take in O2 at night.

 

[Hebily]

Gourami are labrynth fish. They don't have to breathe atmospheric air, but can. I can guarantee that low dissolved O2 was not the COD. Did you change anything else?

 

[redryderr]

The only other thing that changed was that I added two small plants a few days before the Gourami died. The plants are still in there, no more recent problems - everyone seems healthy and happy right now.

 

[Hebily]

how long did you have the gourami and BN before they died?
What substrate are you using?
Are you digging out the bubble curtain stones when you turn them off? (are they covered by substrate before that?)
Did they show any possible symptoms of anything when they died? (wierd spots, swelling, struggling against current, loss of color, clamped fins, wounds, 'gasping', erratic swimming, swimming unusually high [not really possible for gourami!], 'resting' on bottom, twitching)
When is the last time you added a fish?
What kind of plants did you add?