powerhead???

Question

i just have a question about oxygen in my 29 gallon.
it has 7 assorted african cichlids with a aquatech 20-40 hang on the back filter and i was wondering with this many fish if i should add anything for more oxygen? if so what?

powerheads and how big?
i like bubble walls but i dont know if they work and what i need to buy for one. id like one just for looks wil they hurt my fish tank if i add one and i know i need airline tubing, a air pump, will a single outlet 5-15 work for a 18 in bubble wall?

thanks

Answer 1

As long as you can see the water moving across the surface you have nothing to worry about. AJ did a good job of explaining it all and ditto to his answer!

MM

Answer 2

You really don't need anything else. Your filter will do just fine and produce enough dissolved oxygen for your fish. It is a missconception that only surface area produces the exchange of oxygen. Water must be moving to replace Dissolved Oxygen in any tank or standing water. Just having surface water without movement would lead to a stagnant body of water. Waves in the ocean and lakes replace the dissolved oxygen in the water. Movement is a must. Your filter will do this for you.

Powerheads are a good idea for moving the water around your tank. If placed high enough (though most cannot move the surface water due to their size and ability to be placed high enough in the tank) are good for moving water. Getting a powerhead too large for your 29 gallon will more than likely push the water out of your tank vs. helping with the dissolved oxygen. You have a small tank and if you are thinking about a powerhead, a small powerhead, less than 250 will work.

Bubble walls, airstones etc. do nothing for the fish themselves. They are nice to look at but serve no other purpose in a fish tank. You do not need one. They will not harm your fish in any way. For an 18" bubble wall a 5-15 is not large enough to push the air entirely thru the tube. Chances are you will get bubbles on only one side of the wand. You are better off with a splitter and two air hoses one for each end. This will force the water evenly thru the tube.

Best of luck

Answer 3

Bubble walls air stones will only help to make the gas cycle more efficient they will not add oxygen, oxygen is absorbed from the surface or from being released from plants. the only way to increase oxygen is to increase either the surface area or lower the tanks temperature as the height the temperature the less oxygen the water can contain. water has a finite amount of oxygen....


AJ