youronlysin
Aquarium Advice FINatic
I'll re-post these questions here, in the right area. 8O
I'll tell you a bit about my setup then I have some questions regarding the filter, air and plants.
I have a ten gallon tank, Whisper Power Filter for up to 15 gallon tank, 50 watt submersible heater, colored gravel substrate, several plastic plants, a "cave structure", a synthetic rock with a nice tunnel through it and a good sized synthetic coral decoration. I keep tank temp at 80 degrees.
I have 8 Neon Tetras, a male Betta and a small Pleco. The tank ran with a seeded filter for a week, then the Pleco was added for a week before adding the rest of the fish. The water parameters were tested by the lfs before I added the new fish, but I test the water daily. I can see the Nitrite levels rising a bit now, but the parameters are still safe. I dont have an ammonia test kit, but will get one in the next day or two. The lfs tested that before I added the fish, but I know that will change rapidly now. I know the cycle wasnt the best, but I was told by the lfs (idiots) that it was great. That was before I found this forum.
My questions about the filter are, should I let the return water "fall" into the tank from say an inch or so above the surface? As it is now, the water just runs into the tank at about surface level and doesnt cause much current. Also, should the intake tube reach the bottom of the tank or close to it? The tube that came with it only reaches mid level. I also have a bubble wall which runs extremely low (only a few bubbles emit from a couple of places); it tends to make the filter run a little noisy if the bubbles are too high, the intake tube must be sucking air or something. There is also a single airstone in the corner near the heater that runs at a moderate level. Do I need to watch the air bubbles and create more water movement with the filter or am I ok?
I'll tell you a bit about my setup then I have some questions regarding the filter, air and plants.
I have a ten gallon tank, Whisper Power Filter for up to 15 gallon tank, 50 watt submersible heater, colored gravel substrate, several plastic plants, a "cave structure", a synthetic rock with a nice tunnel through it and a good sized synthetic coral decoration. I keep tank temp at 80 degrees.
I have 8 Neon Tetras, a male Betta and a small Pleco. The tank ran with a seeded filter for a week, then the Pleco was added for a week before adding the rest of the fish. The water parameters were tested by the lfs before I added the new fish, but I test the water daily. I can see the Nitrite levels rising a bit now, but the parameters are still safe. I dont have an ammonia test kit, but will get one in the next day or two. The lfs tested that before I added the fish, but I know that will change rapidly now. I know the cycle wasnt the best, but I was told by the lfs (idiots) that it was great. That was before I found this forum.
My questions about the filter are, should I let the return water "fall" into the tank from say an inch or so above the surface? As it is now, the water just runs into the tank at about surface level and doesnt cause much current. Also, should the intake tube reach the bottom of the tank or close to it? The tube that came with it only reaches mid level. I also have a bubble wall which runs extremely low (only a few bubbles emit from a couple of places); it tends to make the filter run a little noisy if the bubbles are too high, the intake tube must be sucking air or something. There is also a single airstone in the corner near the heater that runs at a moderate level. Do I need to watch the air bubbles and create more water movement with the filter or am I ok?