Oxygen Advice

HakimChef

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Hey everyone, so I just got my 29 gallon tank yesterday and added the old tank's water and gravel after letting the treated water in the tank sit for a bit. I left about 10-20% of the tank empty for air but my cories keep darting up for air every few minutes and my danios are staying near the top. Should I get an oxygen rock or should I just lower the water a bit more? I think I lowered it enough and should get an oxygen rock, please give me any advice you have.

Thanks, Hakim
 
You need to increase surface turbulence to drive out any bad gasses and allow oxygen into the water. An air pump running an airstone will do the job, as will having the filter outlet from a power filter, spraying across the surface of the water.

Did you add a dechlorinator to the new tap water before you put it in the tank?
if not, make sure you add some now and increase water movement and surface turbulence.
 
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You need to increase surface turbulence to drive out any bad gasses and allow oxygen into the water. Ai air pump running an airstone will do the job, as will having the filter outlet from a power filter, spraying across the surface of the water.

Did you add a dechlorinator to the new tap water before you put it in the tank?
if not, make sure you add some now and increase water movement and surface turbulence.

I did, I'm just going to take another 10% out.
 
Have you used the filter, or filter media, from the old tank?

Have you tested for ammonia and nitrite? Both of those toxins prevent the fish taking in oxygen from the water in the normal way, and it can look as if they're lacking oxygen, when it's actually a water quality issue.
 
Adding some surface disturbance is important, but there are a couple of other things to point out here that I will mention momentarily. No mention is made of what filter you have, or if you have one. The filter return can normally be placed at either end so the water having passed through the filter is directed down the tank length with some surface disturbance. Even a sponge filter will do this. Additional bubbling devices should not be necessary in most cases, so start with the filter.

Having said that, the respiration rate of fish is the guide to oxygen; normal respiration is what you want to see except when fish are "excited," as they would be if feeding, spawning, "playing," etc. It takes a bit of experience to recognize normal/rapid respiration, but if there is rapid respiration the oxygen level is one of the first things to consider, that there is sufficient surface disturbance. Many other things will cause rapid respiration too, and in extreme cases fish remaining at or close to the surface and even gasping for air.

That brings me to the fish mentioned. Cories normally breach the surface on a regular basis. They do this because they swallow a gulp of air which passes to the hind gut where blood vessels assimilate oxygen; when the oxygen is used up, the breach the surface for a new "gulp" and expel the old air from the vent. The timing of this breaching is another clue--too often means something is not right with the water. Cories can sometimes reduce this breaching...I very rarely see my cories breach. But the point is that it may or may not be a sign of trouble.

Danios are active swimmers, meaning they need more oxygen, and they frequently remain in the upper level of the water column more than some other fish. This is another case where experience lets us work out how much is too much. I would have to see a video of these actions to be able to suggest it is or is not "normal," but it is just something to keep in mind.

Surface disturbance is not a bad thing though, so when all is said and done, more is not likely to cause issues. Juyst realize that fish behaviours take some getting used to to recognize.
 
I do have a filter that sprays across the surface of the water and is strong enough for my tank size, also the water quality is fine. The molly and danios are swimming around and playing with each other, it's only the cories that go up to the surface every few minutes as well as stay on the gravel not moving sometimes. They have been more active but still just lay down all next to each other.
 
Do you have plenty of hiding spaces for the corys? They do find moving stressful so it will take a few days before they start behaving normally.
 

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