Aeration

[molly girl]

I'm not sure if I'm right, but I don't think enough oxygen is moving throughout all levels of my tank (it's 5 gallons). I've noticed my fish staying at the surface of the water, kind of gulping at the surface. They seem to be better for a day or so immediately after I clean the tank and do a water change. Why is this, and how can I get better aeration? Oh, and I have live plants in the tank as well, if that makes any difference...

 

[mommyof2bettas]

what kinds of fish do you have?

 

[*Fishkies*]

You could always add an airstone to the tank.

 

[Tolak]

Gasping at the surface often means a nitrite problem. Please post the results of water tests. If your lfs does the tests for you have them write down the numbers & post them here.

When you do a water change do you add anything to the water? When you clean the filter what procedure do you follow?

 

[molly girl]

what kinds of fish do you have?

i have mollies.

 

[molly girl]

Gasping at the surface often means a nitrite problem. Please post the results of water tests. If your lfs does the tests for you have them write down the numbers & post them here.

When you do a water change do you add anything to the water? When you clean the filter what procedure do you follow?

since i live in a dorm, i only have tap water to fill the tank. i know that minerals and stuff can come off the pipes and into the water, so i bought tap water conditioner that i put in the water according to the directions each time i change the water. and i don't have a filter, because it's a 5 gallon tank and i change the water once a week.

 

[Tolak]

No filter is a problem in a 5 gallon with mollys. If you want to provide aeration as well as bio filtration a small sponge filter will work. Without a filter you are more than likely having ammonia & nitrite spikes, which are alleviated to some extent with water changes.

Water conditioners are not all the same, what exactly are you using? How many mollys are in this tank?

 

[molly girl]

No filter is a problem in a 5 gallon with mollys. If you want to provide aeration as well as bio filtration a small sponge filter will work. Without a filter you are more than likely having ammonia & nitrite spikes, which are alleviated to some extent with water changes.

Water conditioners are not all the same, what exactly are you using? How many mollys are in this tank?

3 mollies. 1 black male, a female silver, and a female balloon.

thanks for the filter advise, by the way

i'm gonna get a filter tomorrow, more than likely.

 

[molly girl]

No filter is a problem in a 5 gallon with mollys. If you want to provide aeration as well as bio filtration a small sponge filter will work. Without a filter you are more than likely having ammonia & nitrite spikes, which are alleviated to some extent with water changes.

Water conditioners are not all the same, what exactly are you using? How many mollys are in this tank?

3 mollies. 1 black male, a female silver, and a female balloon.

thanks for the filter advise, by the way

i'm gonna get a filter tomorrow, more than likely. oh, and the conditioner i'm using is by a company called aquarium pharmaceuticals. this conditioner is supposed to remove chlorine and break the chloramine bond. The water here at school tends to taste and smell like chlorine.

 

[Tolak]

Chloramine is made of chlorine and ammonia. When it breaks that chloramine bond it leaves you with ammonia, something you don't want in your tank. Here's a link to a good water conditioner comparison; http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/rev-cond.htm

The two most often used are Tetra Aqua Safe & Seachem Prime. I've been using Prime for years, some days it smells like a swimming pool coming out of my faucet, I'll double dose with Prime when it's like that.

 

[molly girl]

Chloramine is made of chlorine and ammonia. When it breaks that chloramine bond it leaves you with ammonia, something you don't want in your tank. Here's a link to a good water conditioner comparison; http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/rev-cond.htm

The two most often used are Tetra Aqua Safe & Seachem Prime. I've been using Prime for years, some days it smells like a swimming pool coming out of my faucet, I'll double dose with Prime when it's like that.

thanks a lot! i didn't know that, no wonder my little guys are uncomfortable!

the tank size is ok, right?

 

[Tolak]

A 10 gallon would be a little more suited for mollys, they can get to 3 or 4 inches. I'm probably the wrong person to ask about stocking, I breed a lot so I overstock a lot. Your best bet is to ask in the livebearer section, as many believe molly need a good amount of salt added to the water, but some get by fine without it. I haven't kept molly yet, keeping to me means at least attempting to breed.

A 10 gallon tank is generally cheaper than a 5 gallon, 10's are the most common tank made. The last auction I was at 10's were going for $2 or $3, a 5 gallon went for $11.

 

[molly girl]

yea, mine seem to be getting along just fine without any salt. other than the problem w/ oxygen in the tank, they seem happy and healthy! i have heard that adding a bit of salt can improve their chances of breeding, however.

 

[molly girl]

Chloramine is made of chlorine and ammonia. When it breaks that chloramine bond it leaves you with ammonia, something you don't want in your tank. Here's a link to a good water conditioner comparison; http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/rev-cond.htm

The two most often used are Tetra Aqua Safe & Seachem Prime. I've been using Prime for years, some days it smells like a swimming pool coming out of my faucet, I'll double dose with Prime when it's like that.

can i get seachem prime at a place like petsmart or petco?? and how much does it usually cost?