When I got my tank it had a hang on filter. It started leaking so I got a new filter. My new filter is a Whisper filter. The old one had some sort of ceramic type "beads". They are around a half-inch in size and sit in the bottom of the filter tank. What are these and what are they for? Should I put them in the tank of my Whisper filter? Does a bubble wand actually add any oxygen to the tank or are they purely for show?
2007-07-04 03:18:53 · 6 answers · asked by Tina N 4 in Pets ➔ Fish
The ceramic beads from the old filter provide a place for bacteria to grow. You could put them in the whisper, but I wouldn't advise it. Due to the design on the whisper, the water would just flow over the top of the beads and they wouldn't really do anything more than block part of the filter cartridge.
A bubble wand will add a bit of water motion and there for additional gas exchange at the surface, but in a well filtered aquarium it's not needed under normal circumstances. Use one if you like the look, but it's not needed.
MM
2007-07-04 03:36:09 · answer #1 · answered by magicman116 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The beads were used for biological filtration. There is no need to add them back into the tank as the whisper filter should have its own biological filter media.
As for a bubble wand, they do very little to add oxygen to the tank. They do help a bit by driving water from the bottom of the tank up to the top of the tank and circulating it. They add no oxygen directly to the tank.
Primarily they are just for show.
2007-07-04 14:47:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As others mentioned, the beads are a home for good bacteria, but it's not a good idea to put items designed for one filter in another filter. If you want to keep the bacteria rich beads, simply drop them in your tank somewhere. Depending on how large your fish are, you can also wrap them in the foot of a cut-off pantyhose (that way the fish won't eat the beads).
Bubble wands and air stones are personal preference things. They don't really do much, but some really like the pretty bubbles.
2007-07-04 14:10:15 · answer #3 · answered by steve v 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ceramic beads provide surface area for good bacterial growth. I'm guessing you can put them in your Whisper if there is room. I have them in my filter for my 55. It can't hurt.
A bubble wand does add oxygen to the tank. Your filter does that as well. Depending on the type and number of fish you have, you may or may not actually need it. If you have goldfish, I recommend it for sure, or if you are overstocked you fish will benefit as well.
2007-07-04 10:31:31 · answer #4 · answered by galapagos6 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes put the ceramic beads in the new filter. They have billions of good bacteria living in them. That's what they are for. Wash them in tank water only.
Get a decent airstone instead of a bubble wand. Wands clog easily and are impossible to clean. Opt for a pricier airstone, ceramic kind. Yes they add oxygen to the water by creating more surface area. The finer mists are better. They also rid the tank of carbon dioxide and other gases. They are essential to a healthy aquarium.
2007-07-04 11:27:25 · answer #5 · answered by Sunday P 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
i wouldnt advise putting those ceramic thingys in with your new filter the bead belong to a differnt kind
and about the bubble wand it does create oxygen for the fish
incase your tank is overstocked or temperature is not where it is suppose to be
2007-07-04 11:08:40 · answer #6 · answered by hopeless_romantic33z 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋