karin
Fish Herder
Okay, I know that many of you say that supplemental air is unnecessary and only for aesthetics. I know you all say that all you need is surface disturbance and filter output should be able to sufficiently disturb the surface. I know many of you say that the supplemental areation does nothing for increasing O2 in the tank. BUT I would highly recommend having an air pump and bubble wand or something similar on hand. Here is short version of my story. Longer version in Tropical discussions.
Recently cycled tank following the forum carefully, fishless cycled according to all your recommendations.. Water stats (with liquid test) double zeros, 26 C steady etc for two weeks. Not over stocked. Have a spray bar that was positioned just below the surface (Eheim 2215 in a 60 gal tank), lost an angel after it was sucking air at the top and I didn't know what to do. Several days later (last Sunday night), all other fish sucking air at the top, freaked out. Stats perfect. Threw 10 inch bubble wand in tank and all fish back to normal in 15 minutes and normal since.
So... there could be many reasons that my fish were sucking air (new tank, tall tank, new plants, etc), but for me the fact is that bubble wand saved my fish. So what is so wrong with having one on hand? I hear that many of you don't use supplemental air. Great! I'll be experimenting too. But sometimes it may come in real handy.
PS Is there more info out there on supplemental air issue? Who really says that you never need it? Where is that coming from?
Recently cycled tank following the forum carefully, fishless cycled according to all your recommendations.. Water stats (with liquid test) double zeros, 26 C steady etc for two weeks. Not over stocked. Have a spray bar that was positioned just below the surface (Eheim 2215 in a 60 gal tank), lost an angel after it was sucking air at the top and I didn't know what to do. Several days later (last Sunday night), all other fish sucking air at the top, freaked out. Stats perfect. Threw 10 inch bubble wand in tank and all fish back to normal in 15 minutes and normal since.
So... there could be many reasons that my fish were sucking air (new tank, tall tank, new plants, etc), but for me the fact is that bubble wand saved my fish. So what is so wrong with having one on hand? I hear that many of you don't use supplemental air. Great! I'll be experimenting too. But sometimes it may come in real handy.
PS Is there more info out there on supplemental air issue? Who really says that you never need it? Where is that coming from?
