Newbie With Silly Questions!

[Loopy Lynda]

Hi everyone! Another newbie here (with probably a million questions to come!)

I have recently purchased an established tropical aquarium, complete with plants, fish & a pile of stuff I'm still trying to get my head around! (I have kept a much smaller tank before but that was 12 years ago & I've forgotten a lot in that time!) One such piece is an Interpet Airvolution pump. My question re this is how long should I run it? The person I bought from reckons he ran it just half an hour a day (but then he also the lights for just 4 hours & even then they were programmed to come on & off throughout the day! ) When its going the fish become very lively & the bubbles swirl all the rubbish about, which doesn't look very nice I'm thinking about trying a longer one across the back of the tank, which I hope will be a bit gentler. Any thoughts/recommendations? BTW the tank is a Fluval Roma 200, 1 metre wide, 160 litres. Thanks!!

 

[Gilli]

They are not silly questions at all! Its nice to see people actually doing research when keeping fish and caring that they are providing the best possible home for their well being.


You really don't need an air pump at all - they just use extra electricity! As long as you have your filter outlet aimed towards the surface so that it gently moves the water you will have enough oxygen in the tank. People think you need loads of bubbles or waves but as long as there is some movement all will be fine! I have a 250 litre tank and thats all I use and i've never had any problems even in a heatwave! Some people like them to see the bubbles - I personally just think its unecessary and extra expense and clutter!

As for the lights depends if you have live plants. If you have live plants I would have the lights on for around 8-10 hours a day for them to get enough light. If you have all plastic its up to you really. I tend to have mine on during the afternoon /evening because thats the time i'm in the living room and obviously want to watch the fish!.

 

[littlenemo]

hello and welcome i have a 300 ltr tank and a sump with 120 ltr and i have no air bubbles gilli is right as long as there is movement its fine. i have a power head on a timer to come on for ten mins every hour just to move the surfaface around a bit more as well as my filter out let. this also stirs up all the poor etc and which inturns goes into my sump meaning clean tank and as it comes on every hour never really gets that dirty so water stays clean. i have a planted tank and leave my light on for 10 hours then at night i have a blue light on for an hour.

plus we were all newbees once and we all asked questions no question is a silly question
lee

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum Lynda. One thing you might not remember is that we never toss parts from our filters and replace them. Instead we rinse the filter pads out in used tank water and put them right back into the filter. As Gilli has said, an air pump is purely optional as long as you get decent water circulation from your filter pump. In tanks that I have, I run lights from 4 to 8 hours a day depending on the plants in the tank. My timers are set up so that lights are always on in the evening when I am home to enjoy the fish and go off around my bed time. The variation is in when those lights come on.

 

[Loopy Lynda]

Thanks everyone for your very helpful replies! (And stunning photos too!). I did a water change a couple of days ago & am really pleased with the clearness of the tank now. The fishies seem happy too

Now for the next question - the plants I have inherited look rather drab & unwell. Is it ok to re-plant the whole lot at once? And would it be better to move the fish out beforehand? Thanks!

Instead we rinse the filter pads out in used tank water and put them right back into the filter

Thanks - yes I did give the filter pads a jolly good rinse through (they were minging!) & replaced 2 out of the 4. I think that really has helped as the water looks good now.

 

[This Old Spouse]

You're doing great so far! The next step is to get yourself a liquid test kit, such as API Master Test Kit, Nutrafin or Salifert. I prefer Nutrafin as it's easier to figure out the test results.

If you ever have problems with your fish, the first thing we'll ask you is what your water stats are, as this helps us determine a course of action.

And

 

[Jammiedodger]

Just as a 'by the way' a Roma 200 is not 160 litres, it's 200 - hence the name.

 

[Loopy Lynda]

Ha! Thanks Jammiedodger - 'spose that was obvious!

This Old Spouse - I have got the API ammonia & nitrite test kits & plan to check the water later today. The chap in the shop said these were the best to start with then add others later. Hope that adds up! Bloody expensive tho this new hobby!

One more question - I think my little frogs would like something tall to sit on to get air - that right? Concerned they might leap out of the tank tho, straight into the mouth of my greedy Jack Russells!

 

[This Old Spouse]

You probably could've gotten the API Master Test Kit for about the same price.

You should also have the nitrate test and pH. Soon.

You're right about the frogs. Just make sure you have a tight cover!

 

[sadguppy]

Just as a 'by the way' a Roma 200 is not 160 litres, it's 200 - hence the name.

I was about to say this!

It's a nice tank though - that's the one I have!

 

[Jammiedodger]

Likewise sadguppy It's one of my 3 tanks, and probably my favorite due to the simplicity and 'WOW factor'.
And as for the frogs, yes try to give them air access but seal your lid with something heavy on each of the 2 openings, before I moved house I had 5 frogs in my Roma 200... 3 of which did a runner one night and turned up in the bathroom sink

 

[Loopy Lynda]

before I moved house I had 5 frogs in my Roma 200... 3 of which did a runner one night and turned up in the bathroom sink


Ha ha but also oh dear!!! Hope you managed to save them!

Did a total re-plant with new ones today, also changed the stone for a more gentle rope one (far more pleasant for us all). Fish removed & survived the upheaval . The catfish & zebra loach (normally sedentary & boring) active now .