Air Pumps

[Fifi]

Hi, I have just gone from an internal filter to an external filter for my juwel vision 180l tank.

I have just put the external filter in yesterday when the internal filter was taken out and the fish weren't too happy. So now I have the external filter plus a small internal filter running until I get something else to provide oxygen.


Can anyone advise me on one of the better air pumps to get?

Thanks.

 

[Bloo]

What brand and model external Filter did you get ?
How did you do the switch over? Straight away by just removing the Juwel Filter and fitting the new external with some of your Juwel Filter sponges in conjunction with the new filter media? If so, that "may" be your problem if the tank isn't well mature to handle such a big change. It also depends how much of your old filter media you brought across.

But for now, I would suggest daily small 10% water changes and getting an airpump (as elsewhere you said you've lost some fish already, which I'm sorry to hear about).
An airpump may also help for the short term to provide extra aeration and oxygen (relieving some stress).
I just have a small one that cost about £15 or so from the lfs (with an airwand), but it really helps in times when I need extra aeration (during summer when it's too hot or when treating the tank). So it's a useful piece of equipment to have handy anyway.

 

[PaulasPets]

One way to provide more oxygen is by using a spraybar on the external filters return. Also real plants will produce oxygen. What are you keeping in your tank?

Paula

 

[kev350d]

Im no expert but all ive done is faced the return from my fluval 405 to face the surface, this supplies an abundance of air caused by the disturbance on the waters surface, is this not another option for you instead of spending more dosh.

 

[keepsfalling]

How did you do the switch over? Straight away by just removing the Juwel Filter and fitting the new external with some of your Juwel Filter sponges in conjunction with the new filter media? If so, that "may" be your problem if the tank isn't well mature to handle such a big change. It also depends how much of your old filter media you brought across.

But for now, I would suggest daily small 10% water changes and getting an airpump (as elsewhere you said you've lost some fish already, which I'm sorry to hear about).

I agree - this may be the problem, when starting a new filter you should ideally run both at the same time for a while in order for the bacteria from the old filter to transfer to the new filter (or use some of the old filter's media in the new filter). If the new filter doesn't have enough bacteria in it this can cause problems that are similar to New Tank Syndrome.

Not sure how you feel about such things but I know when a friend made this error our LFS (who is *VERY* good) suggested using "BacterLife" which is a liquid that you put in the tank to increase the bacteria count in the filter and "inhibit New Tank Syndrome" - it also says it replenishes bacteria after filter maintenance. You can also get similar things in pill forms but these take longer to work so I've heard.

Im no expert but all ive done is faced the return from my fluval 405 to face the surface, this supplies an abundance of air caused by the disturbance on the waters surface, is this not another option for you instead of spending more dosh.

This is also a way of getting more oxygen into the water via, like kev350d said; the disturbance on the water's surface.

I always recommend having an air pump - my fish love it, they play in it all day long!! You can get them on eBay for quite cheap, or alternatively like Bloo said, at you LFS - they are a brilliant piece of equipment to have - none of my tanks are without one!

 

[Fifi]

Thanks for all your replies

The juwel internal filter that was part of the tank was on the way out so I got the fluval 205 filter, I used most of the media from my old filter and put it in new filter.
I didn't empty the tank of water when I changed filters, I have been doing a daily 10% water change.

I have now sorted the problem. I went out and got an air pump this morning and as soon as it was put in the tank the fish were much happier and swimming about as normal.

I will leave the air pump in as I have zebra danios who love swimming in the bubbles but in general is an air pump needed?

Thanks.

 

[andywg]

An air pump is not needed and is fairly superfluous. the bubbles are not in the water column anywhere near long enough for any effective gas exchange to take place, and they tend not to agitate the surface any thing like as much as a well placed powerhead or filter outlet.

 

[Bloo]

I have always noted a marked and almost immediate improvement / difference when adding an airpump with airwand curtain during hot weather and when medicating a tank (in addition to already providing extra agitation / aeration with the spray bar and a powerhead).
That said, it's not a standard piece of equipment I use in my tanks. But useful for the above.