bmedeiros678

Hi All,
Started noticing recently that in the morning my friends swim at the top. They need more oxygen but how do I supply that? My fluval is about three inches under water level so that it does not remove the CO2. Not interested in having an air stone. What other options are there?

Cichlid Junkie

Can reduce the amount of CO2 you are putting in to the tank (DIY or pressurized)? Its the only thing I can think of besides raising your spray bar.

bmedeiros678

I am not adding any CO2. Maybe I will just have to raise the supply...

Red_Rose

Is this a new tank that you've set up? If it is, then adding a small airstone in there for a bit won't hurt anything. Some people will only use an airstone in NPT's(I'm assuming that's the type your tank is) at night so fish get enough oxygen.

Also, when you say that they are swimming around at the top, do you mean they are piping(gulping at the surface) or are they just swimming/staying at the top? Does your snails just stay at the surface all day? I do know that if there is ammonia in the tank, snails like apple snails tend to stay at the surface most of the time until the water parameters are back to normal. Fish sometimes pipe as well if there are ammonia/nitrites in the water so you might want to check for that as well.

dwalstad

I commend you on your careful tank monitoring.

I would definitely move your Fluval up until your fish and snails are comfortable.

At this time, I would not worry too much about removing/degassing CO2. It is not just that the fish get priority. Let me explain: If you give bacteria a little more oxygen, they will produce a little more CO2. Up to a point, oxygen may actually speed up their production of CO2.

When tanks are newly set up, the soil bacteria are feasting on all that fresh organic matter. They consume A LOT of oxygen, but they also generate an equal amount of CO2. So feel free to increase the aeration by moving your filter up to where the fish and snails are comfortable.

Once your fish are comfortable and the tank is well-established (after a few months?), then you can try moving the filter back down. By then, bacterial activity will have slowed, oxygen consumption slowed, and CO2 production slowed. CO2 degassing becomes more of an issue. Also, your plants should be growing well by then and pumping oxygen into the water.

baos

I went to a hydroponics store and installed a sprinkler system for the price of a used water pump and $12 for the sprinklers and hose. I now have simulated rain in the first three inches of my tank and dropped the water level down which provides a nice view of my pond plants. I did this after finding I had a ridiculous amount of oxygen using bacteria.

bmedeiros678

Update: Have the surface of the water being moved by the filter and the fish are as happy as can be. Thanks.