Question about Air Pumps?

Question

I have a 10 gallon tank that was given to me as a gift with everything in it including the fish. Yes my tank is overstocked with 7 neon tetras, a baby pleco, 3 cory cats, and a baby red capped oranda. However I do not have the money to get a bigger tank so for now they are going to have to stay that way because I have no money and everyone is either young or naturally little so at the moment there is plenty of room. Before anyone has any remarks about the goldfish my tank is 75 degrees and I do 10% water changes every 2 days so the amonia level is minimal. I want to get an air pump for my tank because it is over stocked and I notice some occasional gasping so what am I going to need? I obviously under stand the pump but does it come with tubing? is there anything else I need besides the tubing and where can I pick one up thats cheap and good? Also Is there anything else I can do for my betta who is in a 1 gallon betta tank that is not heated or filtered but I do change 1 cup

of water either everyday or every other day and I do a 100% water change once a week. He used to be in my big tank but he didn't get along with the gourami(my boyfriend took him because he didn't like the goldfish) and then the goldfish and he was also starting to go after the tetras which was never a problem before the gourami showed up, I guess hes just aging like milk. I would like to get him a 5 gallon heated filtered tank but again money is an issue. Is there anything else I can do to help him and my other fish? I am the only person besides my boyfriend(who has gouramis) that has a fish tank so giving my fish away is not an option. Thanks for the help!

Also BOTH of the petstores in my area do not take back fish unless they have died with in either 2 of 15 days depending on which one you go to...So returning them is not an option since A they are alive and B I've had them for more then a month

Answer 1

The problem you have isn't so much one of oxygen in the water as it is having ammonia or nitrite in the water.

If you're doing 100% water changes, you're disrupting the bacteria (biological filter) in your tank, and the bacteria is needed to convert the ammonia (produce by your fish and toxic to them) into nitrite (also toxic), then to nitrate, which is less toxic. With the number and species of fish you have, they'll be producing quite a bit of ammonia, and only more will be produced as your goldfish and pleco grow.

What's happening is that every time you do a 100% water change (and you may be changing the filter pad here too, which is another place bacteria are located), you're losing bacteria. This is allowing ammonia and/or nitrite to build up, because the bacteria aren't there to convert it to nitrate. Both ammonia and nitrite interfere with the sites where oxygen bind to molecules in your fish's bloodstream, so it lessens the ability of the fish to make use of the oxygen that's in the water. So that's probably why it seems they are needing more air, since that's what ammonia or nitrite poisoning mimics.

Instead of doing 10% then 100% changes, try doing 20-25% changes every 2-3 days. If the filter is dirty, get a continer of tank water and squeeze it out in that a few times to rinse it, then put it back in the filter and reuse it. If you clean it under the tap, the chlorine/chloramine in the water will kill the bacteria.

You can get your water tested at most fish/pet stores to confirm that this is your problem. If your water temperature is only 76o and you have a filter, your tank should already have more than enough dissolved oxygen in the water.

See the links below for information about ammonia and nitrite poisoning, and how to tell them apart:

Answer 2

You need to get an under gravel filter, air pump, air stones, and air tubing.
If you have a under gravel filter the amount of fish in there will be great. The under gravel filter will make the Biological filter work a whole lot better.
The under gravel filter has riser tubes coming out the back. There are hard plastic tubes that you put the airstones on one end and the air hose going to the air pump on the other end of the hard tube. The hard tubes go inside the risers.
The air bubbles going up the riser tubes makes the water go with it, while adding oxygen to your tank. To replace the water that went up the riser tubes out into the tank water is sucked down through the gravel. This makes a continual flow through the gravel where most of the good bacteria live. These are the bacteria that process your fishes waste so it does not build up so fast. You will still need to do partial water changes weekly (about 25%) but your fish will feel much better all the time not just after a water change.

When you put in your under gravel filter do not kill the good bacteria in it by washing it. Just rinse it out in the water you took out of your tank. If you use tap water or cleaners you will kill it and then you will have to cycle your tank again.

An under gravel filter with the riser tubes and the hard plastic air tubes will cost about $10. Air stones about $4. Air pump about $7 (I like WHISPER brand, Very quiet). Air tubing if you get bulk where they cut off how much you want is about 10 cents a foot.

If the pump you buy only has 1 air outlet on it you will need a air splitter, about $1.50 for an assorted package. Check your pump while at the store. It may come with one. My WHISPER came with several different air splitters and valves but I bought the biggest one they make.

Doing this will take care of the air problem AND the ammonia problem by making your biological filter work much better because of the water flow through the gravel. Also if you have only had your tank for a month your biological filter may still be immuture.

Betta
He should be fine without heat as long as your house is normal temperature. Keep doing the 1 cup water changes but do not do the 100% change, it is to much. If you do it every week then 30% maybe even 40% is fine. I also believe that he should be fine with your other fish, remember that when you put new fish in they will spar a little to establish their social place in the tank.

Answer 3

You usually need to buy tubing seperately. The only other thing you need with the air pump that you didn't mention is an air stone to disperse the bubbles and hold it down.

Now, if I were your position I would Take the goldfish to the store - it's not only about the temperature and water quality, it's about how they should get HUGE and you'll stunt his growth and life, and when he grows he'll likely cause problems for the other fish.

If you do this, you can put the betta in your 10 gallon community tank. That they kill other fish is a myth - they only go after fish that look like themselves or are bright and flashy like gouramis. I'll bet if you tried again he'll be ok. Just keep his old tank running just in case. Oh, and lots of plants are very important in a community like this - betta's, neons, and cory's do best with them, they block lines of sight across the tank, and provide security for all - heavily planted waters is their natural environment.

My 15 gallon has cardinals, corys, oto cats, and the centerpiece - a male betta. 3 years running now with original fish, so i'm not talking out of my.. um... foot.

Oh, and minimal ammonia isn't good enough - it should be 0 at all times.

*Have you threatened to not buy anything there anymore if they won't take back a fish? They don't care? That's a real shame, because here they not only take them back, they give you half their value in store credit. Perhaps you can find another home for him?

Answer 4

A number of things here, firstly you don't need an air stone. They do nothing to add Dissolved oxygen that your fish breath back into the water. Dissolved Oxygen only enters the water by means of air moving across water i.e. waves, fountains, waterfalls, powerheads filters. Drop your water level 1/2 inch. This will give your fish much more dissolved oxygen in the tank.

a 10% water change every two days really isn't doing much for your tank and a 100% water change can be a devistating.

a 30% waterchange once a week even for your tank is all you need for a healthy tank. Removing 100% of the water destroys the beneficial bacteria in the tank causing it to recycle, spiking the ammonia and nitrites. your tank isn't all that much overstocked.

If you are still sure you want an air pump, walmart sells tetra air pumps for less than $7. They come with about 3 feet of airhose which is never long enough. They also sell air hose in various lengths. You may want to get yourself a check valve. This is a small black valve that is attached to the hose. If the power goes out it keeps the water from back flushing into your airpump and damageing it. They are around $.50-$1.00. Found also at walmart or any pet store.

Answer 5

You really should get a good Filter...an airstone on the end of tubing isn't very good.
Your fish need Filtration to give them fresh oxygen in their water, and also the filter, Filters the water.
Filter don't come with tubing, its not necessary, everything you need is in the Box.
You should be able to get one for under $25.00.
Take it out of the box, put it together (its not hard to do) hang it on the back of the tank, stick the long plastice hard tube in the water, fill up the filter with water THEN plug it in.
It will start to work in a couple of seconds.

Answer 6

It's okay to leave it in even if it's floating. The bubbles disturb the surface of the water which is where a lot of the oxygen transfer occurs, so it will work almost as well even if it's not bubbling up through the water column.