FishProfiles.com Message Forums

What are some ways to add oxygen to the water?

---
Born in radioactive waters, the Mutant Goldfish swims...
Check out my profile to see my tank setup(s)!

Hi,
The tried and true method is to add an air stone or two
to the tank. If your filter return as an aerator open
it up as well. Most power heads have aerators built
in and you can open those up as well.

Water with cooler temperatures will contain higher
oxygen than water that is warmer. You could run
your tank toward the lower temperature range for your
fish.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Adding oxygen might be the wrong way of looking at it. You aren't so much adding oxygen as you are adding air (oxygen plus other stuff) and promoting gas exchange (adding new air, removing old air). You also need the water to hold onto what air it has, which seems easier for cooler water than warmer water.

I had a really good page on it somewhere, but reckon I can find it? nup

Adding air through bubbles is common, but the size of the bubble and the way that it bubbles has some impact on how much it helps. Ideally you want medium-sized bubbles that cause ripples on the water surface without the "bubbling cauldron" effect. Ripples increase the surface area of the water so that is good. Violent bubbles seem to make the water release gas at about the same rate it takes it up, so there doesn't seem to be much point to that.

You don't need an airstone, you can just adjust your filter output to cause the surface to ripple a bit, and that should help

Frank is right about temperature. The lower temperatures allow the water to hold more, so don't go overheating and be careful in summer.

Why do you ask anyway?


For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

I've noticed that the fish in my ten gallon setup sometimes go to the top and seem to gulp for air. It makes me, the concerned fishkeeper, wonder if there isn't enough oxygen in the water for them. I currently have two "5-15 gallon" whisper power filters running to keep the water clean, but yet doesn't seem to be enough as I still have fish rising. Am I doing something wrong here?

---
Born in radioactive waters, the Mutant Goldfish swims...
Check out my profile to see my tank setup(s)!

If you think the tank is right then it could be a gill issue that is preventing them using the available oxygen rather than the oxygen not being available. I can't imagine that setup being desaturated to the point of making the fish gulp on the surface. The filters should be plenty.

Is it the cories that you are worried about? Are they bolting up to the surface and gulping and then dashing around a bit? I can't quite recall the reason, but cories do take in surface air, and they do it with some serious speed and drama!

If they are spending long periods gasping, showing signs of lethargy, or if the danios are doing it, then I'd start considering something like damaged gills (ammonia burn, nitrite poisoning) or parasites (flukes, ich, velvet, etc).

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

It is a newly setup aquarium, and I talked to FRANK on here about tank cycling and how I should have had it properly cycled before I added the permanent residents. The assistance lady at the LFS told me to set my tank up, let it run for a few days, then come in and get my fish. However, looking at the FAQ for cycling, maybe I shouldn't have done that. But I've heard the zebra danios]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/484.htm[/link] I have in the tank are good to get a tank cycled. The water is kind-of cloudy, and I'm assuming this will disappear within a few days. [link=Peppered corys]http://www.fishprofiles.com/files/profiles/612.htm[/link] are the other inhabitants of the tank. Here is my tank: [link

---
Born in radioactive waters, the Mutant Goldfish swims...
Check out my profile to see my tank setup(s)!

Hi,
Cloudiness in a new tank is normal and is usually
the result of the dust from the gravel. No matter how
throughly it is washed, some dust still remains and
the result is cloudy water.

The other cause of cloudy water is a bacterial bloom.
Unfortunately, for you with the white gravel, it too is
a white "cloudiness" and could be difficult to determine
which is the cause.

Because the fish are not constantly at the surface
gasping for air, and the behavior is the normal,
occasional trip to the surface, I believe you are seeing
normal behavior.

Because you are cycling the tank with fish, do keep an
eye on the readings for Ammonia and Nitrite. In a cycling
tank these values can reach as much as 6 for the Ammonia,
and 10 for the nitrite. To help you and your fish get
through the cycling process there are several products
on the market to smooth the process.
Stress Zyme, AMMO-LOCK 2 are a a couple.

Bear in mind that many of these water conditioners
simply change the form of the ammonia compound to one
that is less, or not, harmful to fish. The problem is
that they often give elevated Ammonia readings to our
normal test kits. Read the bottles before using so you
don't alarm yourself by the test results.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

Well, I added an undergravel filter to the tank in the hopes it will combat this cloudy water and aerate the water better. Well, my tank definitely has good filtration! Thanks for the replies Frank and Calla.

---
Born in radioactive waters, the Mutant Goldfish swims...
Check out my profile to see my tank setup(s)!

The more the water is aerated the better it will be. Leafy floating plants also help, something like Indian/water sprite is excellent plant for that job.

There is a product called Seachem Stability this builds up your good bacteria. It can be double dosed the first time it is used .

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info
Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW