Airstone? Also, mollies or guppies?

[On_a_dishy]

Hello! I am fairly new to fishkeeping but have mastered the basics like cycling, parameters and suchlike. For the next few months I will have only 2 x 34 l (7.5 gallon) tanks but I have my eye on a much bigger one. In the tank in question I have 4 tetras, 2 African dwarf frogs (Ronnie and Reggie), 1 nerite (Dorothy), and 1 male betta (Jarvis). I have rocks up the centre (see photo). I have 2 questions:
1) Do I actually need the £27 airstone that my LFS managed to sell me?! I think Jarvis's meanderings might be being hampered by it.
2) I know that guppies love it in there so am thinking of getting 4 males as company for the tetra. BUT I also have a fondness for mollies - but I suspect a 34l tank is too small for mollies.
Please advise on the airstone and the guppy vs molly (any other suggestions welcome)!

 

[AquaBarb]

If your filter creates enough water disturbance at the surface for gas exchange to keep the water oxygenated, then you wont need an airstone.

Stocking wise there are a few issues tbh with the tank size and compatibility.

Do you know what your water parameters (Gh,Ph,temp) are at all?

 

[mbsqw1d]

Hi, i take it the £27 paid for the stone AND the pump? Does the tank have a filter that is causing surfacr agitation of the water? Airstones are used to create the surface agitation and promote gas exchange to make sure o2 levels are good. I dont think airstones create too much flow but you can be the judge of if it is causing your fish distress.
If you do have a filter thats agitating the water surface, then this should be enough and the airstone can go.

Another thing I'd like to point out if I may, there are some issues with the combination of fish you have decided to keep... would you happen to know whether your water is hard/soft?

 

[On_a_dishy]

If your filter creates enough water disturbance at the surface for gas exchange to keep the water oxygenated, then you wont need an airstone.

Stocking wise there are a few issues tbh with the tank size and compatibility.

Do you know what your water parameters (Gh,Ph,temp) are at all?

Parameters are: 0 nitrate, 0 nitrite, between 7.5 and 8 pH (I've added an almond leaf in case I add guppies), 180 KH, 180 GH, no ammonia.
Do you think I have enough in there already with the tetras and betta?

 

[On_a_dishy]

Temperature 26C (78.8F)

 

[On_a_dishy]

PLEASE give me an excuse to go and purchase the Aqua One 230l tank!

 

[On_a_dishy]

Hi - sorry - just re-read threads (getting used to the site as well as fishkeeping!)
Water is hard.
The tank is a Fluval 34l and so comes with a pump and a mechanical/chemical/biological filtration system which I never believed would keep the nitrate cycle steady, but which does Had a scary nitrite spike a few weeks ago when my shedded frog skins clogged up the pump, but learnt how to take apart the pump because of it!
Why is the combination of fish a concern?
Thank you for all your advice - the airstone is going!

 

[AquaBarb]

Parameters are: 0 nitrate, 0 nitrite, between 7.5 and 8 pH (I've added an almond leaf in case I add guppies), 180 KH, 180 GH, no ammonia.
Do you think I have enough in there already with the tetras and betta?

If anything your overstocked tbh.

7.5g is ok for a single betta but your Tetra will need more space.

Your water isnt hard enough for liverbearers such as guppies, platies and mollies etc. They all need 200ppm+ water hardness.

 

[mbsqw1d]

Ive heard it mentioned many times on here that the frogs need their own tank, but I'm not experienced with them. Yeh fish have different needs when it comes to water hardness, being kept in water they are not suited to reduces their lifespan. If you can get another, bigger tank then go for it!

 

[On_a_dishy]

If anything your overstocked tbh.

7.5g is ok for a single betta but your Tetra will need more space.

Your water isnt hard enough for liverbearers such as guppies, platies and mollies etc. They all need 200ppm+ water hardness.

Ah - now my water might be that hard. I use the API test strips and the general hardness is off the scale - 180 is as far as it will measure to. My LFS says that the water is very hard in our area - they don't alter it at all.
The overstocking is a concern - I vowed I would never do that and sold my last 40l aquarium because the angel fish I had in there grew to the size of a house and so had to go to a better home.
Time to get the 230l tank...

 

[AquaBarb]

Compatibility wise.

As above the mix of hardwater and softwater fish wont work long term. Betta fish are best kept with their own company and i think that applies to your frogs too.

Id go for the upgrade and add to your tetra with other fish to suit your water

 

[On_a_dishy]

Ive heard it mentioned many times on here that the frogs need their own tank, but I'm not experienced with them. Yeh fish have different needs when it comes to water hardness, being kept in water they are not suited to reduces their lifespan. If you can get another, bigger tank then go for it!

Thank you for advice re larger tank - I think I'll go for it!
I think the frog issue is that they are so slow when it comes to finding food, their eyesight is beyond awful, and so when it comes to scavenging for leftovers from the fish, there simply aren't any. I feed mine with tongs - they are incredibly healthy, but if I didn't hand feed them then I think they'd starve. They had fillet steak last week.

 

[On_a_dishy]

So - if I reduce the hardness of my water for my betta (please advise how I would do this - I have an almond leaf in there and have removed the activated charcoal for a bit to let the tannins do their work) and move the tetra to a hard water tank, that would be a solution?

 

[AquaBarb]

So - if I reduce the hardness of my water for my betta (please advise how I would do this - I have an almond leaf in there and have removed the activated charcoal for a bit to let the tannins do their work) and move the tetra to a hard water tank, that would be a solution?

No need to alter your water. 180 is classed as hard but its not really hard.

I think wild bettas need softer water but bred bettas can handle ppm upto 268.

 

[On_a_dishy]

Just talked my husband into purchasing a larger fishtank. Or, rather, your contributions have! Thank you!