noob with so.many.questions

[firepower]

These are really general questions about terminology that I've encountered while researching keeping an aquarium. I'm stuck in rural Georgia for a few weeks so I'm trying to get thoroughly familiar with the apparatus of the hobby before I start looking at tanks/equipment/paraphernalia in LA

Comments

[teefers]

an air pump is usually connected to an airstone, which creates bubbles, to increase oxygen. totally separate from the filter, which cleans the water. however, a powerhead at the surface of your water will help to oxygenate the water infinitely better than an airstone. lack of oxygen is one of the top killers of fish, btw

[firepower]

an air pump is usually connected to an airstone, which creates bubbles, to increase oxygen. totally separate from the filter, which cleans the water. however, a powerhead at the surface of your water will help to oxygenate the water infinitely better than an airstone.

OK. Powerhead, not airstone, for oxygenation. Aren't powerheads also used to create a current within the tank?

depending on the fish, you can add tankmates even if you only have a 20g tank, but you should take care not to overstock the 20g.

OK - this is the point at which you get the 1 in. body length/gallon water volume rule of thumb. Now if I understand correctly there is a distinction between the swimming room an adult animal needs, which could have other animals (or plants) in it, and the water volume necessary to support a particular size/waste-production-level of fish (I read that goldfish produce disproportionate amounts of waste for their size).

I *highly* suggest posting your proposed stocking list to this community so we can comment on whether it might

[teefers]

Aren't powerheads also used to create a current within the tank?

Yes. Gas exchange only happens at the surface of the water when its moving/agitated, so what you want to do is create a current right at the surface of the water.

Now if I understand correctly there is a distinction between the swimming room an adult animal needs, which could have other animals (or plants) in it, and the water volume necessary to support a particular size/waste-production-level of fish (I read that goldfish produce disproportionate amounts of waste for their size).

You do understand correctly, that's why its just a general guideline and you'd do best to check with experienced fishkeepers when stocking your tank. There are lots of fish that don't apply because they are notorious for creating waste... goldfish, like you mentioned, are like this. also, plecos.

I gather I shouldn't even look at animals and plants until I have tank, equipment, substrate, hiding places for the fish and the whole panoply of aquarium chemicals.I totally disagree. You need

[firepower]

How do you know what you need, if you don't know what kind of animal you'll be taking care of? In my opinion, the most rewarding fish are the most particular about their needs :)

So the countermetaphor would be buying a bunch of guitars and amps and equipment and then having a kid and expecting him or her to be a musician just because of that, I guess =) OK, I guess it won't hurt to look at a few fish before I get a tank etc.

I don't think these ones are considered invasive weeds. For easy weedlike plants, I recommend anacharis and fanwort. I actually might have some fanwort if you're interested in that. I could sell you some of that and then just give you some free starters for the other two plants, if you wanted to try them out :)

Wow! OK, I definitely should remember you, but it'll be a few weeks before I can talk turkey since I'm on a research trip right now.

[tuxedo_elf]

Hi

[firepower]

Filters hold the sponges, the 'strainer' and also agitate the water. I don't personally feel you need an air pump in addition to a decent filter. (Note: You don't need carbon in a filter on a regular basis, only after medication to remove any excess.)

If I get a filter with AC in it should I put it in only for medication and then remove the AC after I'm done medicating the animals? Does it do harm to leave AC in a filter that includes AC?

Minimum tank size usually refers (at least in my experience) to the size that individuals of that species need. However if it's a shoaling fish needing six individuals to be happy, then you need to work out if you can have that many without overstocking your tank.

Clearly the formula for stocking a tank and the formula for the swimming room necessary for an adult individual are independent. Thank you =)

[tuxedo_elf]

If I get a filter with AC in it should I put it in only for medication and then remove the AC after I'm done medicating the animals? Does it do harm to leave AC in a filter that includes AC?

The other way around, actually. If you're medicating for any reason you do *not* want carbon in there... it will stop the medication working. If you're not medicating and it's in there it's no big deal though. But putting it in after finishing medication will remove any excess.

You're welcome. :)

you're smart

[firepower]

Yes, of course! See, I drove ambulances for a while, and we always used AC to remove the bad stuff from people's...little internal aquariums, you might say. Usually at that point we weren't too worried about removing the good stuff as well, but that's exactly what you would have to worry about if you have an equilibrium system where you're using AC all the time and then add medicine.

[clevortrevor]

yep, what teefers said. I just wanted to add that you may sometimes hear people refer to sponge filters, which do work via airpump. Power filters (hang-on-back, canister, or in-tank) are better and more common, but some people use a sponge filter / air pump combo for breeding setups, where lots of small tanks can all be hooked up together using the same air pump.

[firepower]

I've definitely gotten the feeling that people love their canister filters from the boards I've read.

So a sponge filter intake lies directly over or across from an air pump outlet, if I understand correctly?

[teefers]

I use canister filters on all my tanks. We recommend Fluval and Eheim brands for canister filters 'round these parts.

Sponge filters are good for when you have itty bitty fry that will get sucked up into other, more powerful filters. And yes, they're directly connected to the air pump with the use of airline tubing. But that also means it doesn't have to be directly over or across from an air pump. You can put the sponge filter anywhere in the tank as long as your airline tubing is long enough.

[firepower]

Yep, I saw you guys recommending both those brands in past posts. Also "Prime" water conditioner is often recommended on this community.

You seem to know a lot about plants. As I think about it I have another question. Let's say I begin to cycle my first tank, and I have a couple of barbs or danios that might be able to withstand the ammonia spike (this isn't necessarily my plan, but bear with me). As I understand it, the plants consume fish waste. What effect on the length and effectiveness of cycling would the addition of some small plants have? My main question is, do they stunt the development of ammonia-consuming bacteria by means of using fish waste themselves?

Also, I've heard a lot about gravel vaccuming. Do you vacuum the gravel of planted tanks as well? How do you keep the substrate of a planted tank clean, if not?

[wrathofthepuppy]

Pretty much all that was said already =) Do you know what size tank you're getting? The bigger the better for any species! XD

[firepower]

No, but my girlfriend sounds pretty amped and we don't have any other pets, so I think bigger is better can work for us

[gwinna]

I suggest a thirty gallon minimum for beginners. Bigger is better because it has much more room for error, and there's no reason to frustrate newbies with problems early on (problems being dead fish).

Take a look at craig's list for a reasonably cheap aquarium and stand. If you keep an eye out, you should be able to find an aquarium of a decent size for a cheap price.

Good luck with everything, it sounds like you're off to a great start! :)

[firepower]

I've already taken a look at CL. Any advice for buying intelligently when I do get back home, other than to prefer a long tank to a tall one?

[raefwolfe]

I bought a 30 gallon tank with wooden cabinet stand, gravel, hood/light, heater, and a 10 gallon with light, gravel, filter, heater, all for 85 bucks on craigslist. Good bargain there, but it's not terribly uncommon to find such bargains

[firepower]

I've read some stuff about bristlenose plecos. Will you be getting bogwood for yours?

[raefwolfe]

Most probably. There's not a lot of local places with it, though.

[wrathofthepuppy]

Personally I wouldn't have a bristlenose or any other pleco without driftwood/bogwood. They LOVE the stuff. And I read somewhere it's good for their digestion =) Cute lil' pleco tummies....