Diffusing Oxygen?

[enchanted]

This may sound wierd, but it seems my tank neds more oxygen.

Now, from what I understand the reason you don't run Airstones in Planted tanks is because they add to much surface disturbance. So, could oxygen be diffused into the water? And if so, how?

Thanks,
Larry

 

[CathyG]

Surface disturbance is necessary to allow for the gases to exchange. If you have your filter outflow creating surface disturbance, this could be enough. If not, an airstone (with a flow regulator if necessary) is essential IMO.

I have seen oxygenating tablets, but since I use my filter and airstones to create surface disturbance I cannot vouch for the effectiveness of these tablets.

How do you know your tank needs more oxygen? Do you test the levels? A well planted tank should provide oxygen, but like I said you need the surface movement for the gas exchange...

Overstocking and high water temperature can decrease the oxygen amounts in the water.

 

[enchanted]

Well, I found one of my guppys dead with no apparent signs of illness except for a little red around the gills. So I researched and found this could be a sign of Oxygen Deprevation. Which would also explain the more activity, to an extent, after removing six fish.

So, I then redid my airstone a bit (I have a big one, but I'm using a little UG airstone) and turned it up full bore.

Activity increase ten fold.

 

[CathyG]

Have you tested your other water parameters? Red gills can also be an indication of Ammonia poisoning - for instance.

I run a small bubble wall and two very small airstones in my planted tank. I had slightly directed the outflow of the filter down. A couple of weeks ago, during a water change, I failed to notice my air pump had dropped below water level of course, without the non-return valve, some water syphoned back into the pump. Fearful of leaving an electrical product running with water in it, I turned it off for the night, intending to buy a new one the next day.

The next morning, nearly every fish was gasping at the surface, and I lost my three Boesemans Rainbow

(bear in mind my tank is overstocked waiting for a new home) but having left the air pump off beofre had not had the same results..but on that previous occasion, my filter outflow was directed right on the surface.

 

[enchanted]

I'm sorry to hear about that.

Ammonia = 0
Nitrite = .1 or so (lower than .25 higher than 0 went up a little today was 0)
Ntriate = 0 (tested multiple times and LFS confirmed)
PH 7.8

 

[Plan-B]

I got a question that I hope isn't too far off topic. How do you test your oxygen and co2 levels with out waiting to see which struggles first, your plants or your fish.

 

[enchanted]

There are a variety of CO2 tests on the market, both liquid and intank versions.

As for O2, I'm looking for something that isn't electronic now. All the ones I have found so far are electronic.

I'm not adding CO2 to the tank so I'm not too worried about this level yet.

 

[CFC]

My guess (having read this topic after i replied to the first) is that your problems are a combination of over stocking and nitrite poisoning. I suggest not adding ANY more fish until you have your new larger tank.

What test kit are you and your lfs using? I find a nitrate reading of 0 very difficult to believe especially in a over stocked tank, i suggest the test kits used are either out of date (over 3 months old) or inadequate. Nitrate is one of the hardiest tests to get right and results from cheaper or out of date test kits can be wildly incorrect.

 

[enchanted]

55 Gallon
5x Guppy
8x Cory
3x Oto
1x Pleco

Is Overstocked?

Edit: For tanks you may have me confused with someone else. I have:
2x 55 Gallon
1x 45 Gallon Long
1x 30 Gallon Long
1x 29 Gallon
1x 10 Gallon

3 of these tanks are currently setup and if I had to I could bring up another tank, but the numbers do not match for overstocking on a 55 Gallon from what I understand. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong.

Also, I use an Aquarium Pharmacuticals FreshWater Master Test Kit and my LFS uses some High end Electronic Test Kit that I want. But it costs more than I can afford.

Edit: From what I understand it is from the time you open the kit and this kit has been open less than a month.

 

[CFC]

For tanks you may have me confused with someone else.

Ooops, so i have, thats what you get for not checking the names next to posts

If its the 55 that you are worring about low O2 levels in then with that light stocking of small fish the water would have to be near enough devoid of oxygen.

The 0 reading on the nitrate still worries me, even tapwater has a higher reading than 0.

 

[enchanted]

My tap water has read 0 for Nitrates since day 1 even when my 30 Gallon had artificial plants and was reading a miniscule amount of nitrates during the cycle my tap water still read 0.

My LFS confirmed that our tap water around here is:
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 0
Hardness 120
PH 7.8

That is straight out of the tap. I'm doing the second 55 as a Discus tank, but I'm going to have to buy an RO unit for it.


It is the 55G that is giving me problems. I put the 30 Gallon Long back together in order to cycle it for a puffer tank and put 14 Danios in it. It isn't having problems, even without filtration on it right now.

From what I was told on plantgeek.net and some other sites, and here. The plants are probably sucking it all down. The hygros especially along with the primrose which are fast growers.