90 Gallon Tank Set-Up Questions....

[elliott78]

Hello! I've just set up a new 90 gallon tank with a Marineland C-530 external canister filter. I'm wondering if I should also provide a pump with an airstone in the tank for additional aeration...

My overall plans for this tank are to have some Angelfish, German Blue Rams, Clown Loaches, Corys, etc... The tank will have pool sand, drift wood, bog wood and LOTS OF PLANTS as well !!!! Any further recommendations? Thank you all very much for your time and assistance!!!!!

 

[waterdrop]

Hi Elliot78 and welcome to the beginners section,

Air pumps and their dispersion devices like airstones or decorative divers are almost entirely for human entertainment. The filter outlet, often a "spaybar" with external cannisters like you have, can be set up to create surface water movement (it doesn't have to actually disturb the surface in a noisy way.) When the tank water is not allowed to be stagnant but is "turned over" near the surface, a healthy gas exchange will be promoted. Oxygen and CO2 will independently be able to seek equilibrium with the air.

Airstones do provide a small amount of water lift from the tank bottom but this can be done much more effectively with small motor-driven fans called powerheads. A very popular line of powerheads currently with the "planted tank" enthusiasts is the Hydor Koralia line. These have more "spread" of the water jet than traditional powerheads. Large, heavily planted tanks often have more than one of these.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[elliott78]

As always, thank you waterdrop!