Question regarding air stone on 72 gallon tank

[jarrodaden]

Can someone explain the purpose of an air stone in a tank. I thought this introduced air into the water. Based upon something I read last night, it is more about creating movement at the surface of the tank.

I have a 72 gallon tank with an eheim 2217. It doesn't have an air stone at all. Does this work? If so, I am assuming that the water level in the tank relative to the pump outlet is relatively important.

Can someone tell me where my water level should be or is it even important? A picture might be helpful here.

[jarrodaden]

Another question.

I moved this established last night. It was completely cycled before I got it last night. I used the same substrate (rinsed with conditioned water) and I used the same eheim filter. The filter was off for 3 - 4 hours during the move.

This morning I am getting ammonia at 0.25 or less.

Would you stock this tank? My kids are anxious to go to the fish store.

I am looking to put 3 clown loaches in there this weekend (if you all agree this is a good idea) and I will wait to put anything else in.

[myjohnson]

Bubble makers are not needed on a tank. The main thing you need is water movement. moving water carries oxygen to the denitrifying bacteria in your tank’s substrate. It’s these bacteria that are responsible for the breakdown of harmful waste products. Their breaking down ammonia puts it into a form that allows your plants to use it.

And most harmful bacteria are anaerobic. That means that they thrive best in conditions with little to no oxygen. So, by providing a greater air to water interface, you increase the concentration of oxygen in your water, which both your fish and denitrifying bacteria need, and harmful bacteria dislike.

I have not kept a bubble maker in the last 6 years of keeping fishes. I just have a lot filters and powerheads to do the water moving for me. Bubble makers look bad IMHO.

[myjohnson]

This morning I am getting ammonia at 0.25 or less.

Might just be a little spike due to the move. Also be careful with those test kits.

Retested later and see where it's at.

Should be fine to put fishes in the tank in a few hours, if the tank was truly cycled.

[lilmissruffcountry]

Another question.

I moved this established last night. It was completely cycled before I got it last night. I used the same substrate (rinsed with conditioned water) and I used the same eheim filter. The filter was off for 3 - 4 hours during the move.

This morning I am getting ammonia at 0.25 or less.

Would you stock this tank? My kids are anxious to go to the fish store.

I am looking to put 3 clown loaches in there this weekend (if you all agree this is a good idea) and I will wait to put anything else in.

I would wait to put the loaches in personally, and start with either some danio...which are nice little top swimmers, or the ever popular guppy. At least so you would have something in it, and not something that is more spendy in case of something to happen wrongly.

Air stones are more for movement, I like the look of the bubbles, and they do help to current the tank and keep poop moving off the bottom. I have airstones in most all my tanks, they help to move everything around to the filters(HOB).

Hope this helps....

[jughead]

if your ammonia test kit reads anything over zero,i'd hold off on putting fish in.aquariums need aeration.how much depends on the fish load.some filters provide
aeration,some dont.if you have 1 guppy in a 70,you dont need additional aeration,if you have 1000 in the same tank......if youre running the spray bar on your eheim,have it 1/2 inch above the waterline shooting into the water.should be enough aeration.
i have 70 with a 2217 set up this way,40 adult cyprichromis in it,no problems.good luck

[Zulaab]

Breaking the tension on the water surface is the most important thing there is. An airbubbler all its function is to break the surface up. When doing this then there is water movement and the water gets O2. You can enhance this much better with a power head or allowing the exhaust from your canister to move the water across the surface either just above or just under the surface. As long as the surface is being broken and there is water movement down below O2 is brought around the tank. I agree with both MJ and Jughead

[Gene D]

All these replies are correct, you do not need an air pump for your aquarium. However as many of us learned after hurricane Ike unless you have a generator, a few battery operated air pumps are an incredibly wise investment.

[mark razmandi]

+1 on all this....i wouldnt get fish until the ammonia is 0...HOWEVER, if you are really anxious (which i know i would be) get a bottle of tetra safe start and dump it in the tank and you can get any fish you want

[myjohnson]

Disregard most of this stuff if you are trying to do a high wattage planted tank.

[mark razmandi]

Disregard most of this stuff if you are trying to do a high wattage planted tank.

true, breaking the surface will cause the CO2 to gas off

[jarrodaden]

I thought that I should wait, but I was hoping I was wrong. Anxious to get fish, but I don't want to kill any.... I will check again tomorrow.

[mark razmandi]

if youre really anxious, come on over and ill give you some well established media

[myjohnson]

I thought that I should wait, but I was hoping I was wrong. Anxious to get fish, but I don't want to kill any.... I will check again tomorrow.

It's not like you are getting super sensitive fish. I think you can add them tonight if you wanted to.

Just don't over do it and get like 10 big fishes.

[Gene D]

+1

load em up and take the kids to the fish store