Bubbles Or Plants?

[nikkifro8994]

Hello. I am setting up a 10 gallon tank either tonight or tomorrow. I have a good filter (the same one used on my other 10 gal), gravel, and a cave. I am going to the store tonight to browse their selection of fish. Since all fish need oxygen, and most get it from the water (except for bettas), I need to have some source of oxygen.

Should I buy a $20 bubbler? Or would 2-4 live plants do the same thing? Live plants are cheaper then a bubbler, and they look nicer than bubbles imo.

Which should I get? If I get plants, do I add them before or after I cycle the tank?

Thanks!
Nikki

 

[laura120381]

hi nikki,

you could have both if you wanted but a few plants would be sufficient. a 10g tank should have an adequate surface area for oxygenation and so long as you do not overstock, everything should be fine. remember to do a fishless cycle before you add any fish. (see beginners guide if you have not done this before). what type of filter do you have?? as long as it is an adequate size for the tank and creates some surface movement you'll be fine. you really don't need an air stone or pump. bubbles look nice and can't do any harm but its really not necessary. hope that helps.

L

 

[nikkifro8994]

I have an aqua clear power filter. It says is can filter up to 20 gallons. I am going to start a cycle using some media from the already established and thriving 10 gallon with the same filter.

Do I add plants before or after I cycle the tank? I don't want the ammonia from the cycle to kill my plants!

 

[waterdrop]

It is ideal to add the plants around the same time you add fish (shortly before or shortly after is fine) rather than during the fishless cycle. Since plants can take up ammonia, it just helps you interpret your test results better if you are working with a plain tank that only has the substrate and filter.

Surface are and surface water movement are by far the most important factors in maintaining enough oxygen for your fish. Your AquaClear will do an adequate job of keeping the surface moving. Bubbles are just decoration, they don't oxygenate the tank (the bubble surface area is not present long enough for the gaseous exchange to take place.) Like all things in a tank, surface movement is a trade-off: more is better for fish, less is sometimes better for plants! It's not really a worry though as long as it seems reasonable.

~~waterdrop~~