Tiger Barbs And Air Pump

[flyboy]

Just wondering if an airpump is needed in my tank?

Is a 60L Tetra AquaArt tank which did a fishless cycle with bactozym,

Got 4 Tiger barbs with heater, filter going fine for few days but, now bought a airpump, whilst they seemed ok before, I think they are quite nervous now with it on?! also is pretty loud so turning off at night (as in bedroom).

So do I definatly need the pump on all the time, part of the time or not at all?

Read loads on here already so thanks for all the advice so far and all help welcomed.

Cheers

Matt

 

[fishlette]

Just wondering if an airpump is needed in my tank?

Is a 60L Tetra AquaArt tank which did a fishless cycle with bactozym,

Got 4 Tiger barbs with heater, filter going fine for few days but, now bought a airpump, whilst they seemed ok before, I think they are quite nervous now with it on?! also is pretty loud so turning off at night (as in bedroom).

So do I definatly need the pump on all the time, part of the time or not at all?

Read loads on here already so thanks for all the advice so far and all help welcomed.

Cheers

Matt

if you have only 4 barbs in a 60L tank you should be ok. if they have been doing ok previously you shouldnt be too concerned. also you might want to think about getting some more tiger barbs. then can be a bit agressiveness and fin nippy so bigger groups are best to even out agression

 

[rdd1952]

An airpump isn't usually necessary at all. I don't run any on either of my two bigger tanks and only run one on my betta tank because my tap water tends to develop a film and I run it on very low (using a splitter, closing one side completely and the other side half way) just so the bubbles will keep the film broken up. Some air pumps can be very loud, especially the cheaper ones.

I wouldn't think it would have any effect on the barbs. Are you sure the tank is completely cycled and there is no ammonia or nitrite that could be stressing them out? The fact that you said they were fiine for the first few days and then got nervous really sounds like ammonia. It would have taken a few days for it to build to a level that started being a problem for them.

I'm not familiar with bactozym but 99.99% of those "bacteria in a bottle" products are useless and do nothing. If you didn't set the tank up and add ammonia to build a bacteria colony, most likely you aren't cycled and you have ammonia and nitrite. Do you have test kits to check them? If not, buy a liquid master kit as soon as possible or you could lose all you fish.

 

[flyboy]

Ah ok thanks for that!

All Levels seem ok although my Ph is quite high around 8 and nitrite up to 0.2 so will keep eye on things and step up to daily water changes

Thanks again

Matt

 

[rdd1952]

When it comes to ammonia and nitrite, the only "ok" readings are 0. Anything else is a problem. The pH will most likely be fine. Most fish can adjust to any stable pH. What is the pH of your tap water? The only potential problem with the pH you have now is that ammonia becomes more toxic as pH rises so if you have any ammonia in the tank, it is worse because of the high pH.

 

[Kairi]

i have an air pump in my barb tank... i just think it's pretty- they don't play in it, but don't seem to mind too much.

 

[flyboy]

Ph of tap water is approx 8. I ve got some Tetra aquasafe and easy balance but you suggest just leaving the Ph really?

Amonia is 0
Nitrite is between 0.1 and 0.2. So I think that means its still cycling then?

Also it looks like I have 1 slighty larger male (guess because hes got more colourful fins and stripes) and 3 smaller females. The females stay together but he goes after them and looks like hes trying to nip them, hasn't actually managed yet but bit worried they will get tired out before he does!!! Is this just them sorting out the pecking order? or anythin more serious.

Thanks again

Matt

 

[Miss Wiggle]

yup just leave the pH, all you need to add to your water is plain old dechlirnator

the nitrite reading does indeed mean it's still cycling, those bacteria in a bottle things are pretty much useless, you'll need to do 20% water changes every day until ammonia and nitrite both read 0 consistently.

tiger barbs are very aggressive fish, they will pick on each other in such a small group, you need a group of at least 10 to spread the aggression out so as not to get any problems. however your tank is roughly 16 us gallons, so you can have 16" of fish. to get 10 tiger barbs you'd have 20" of fish so be overstocked and not be able to have any more fish. for this reason tiger barbs are not really suitable for your tank.

bearing in mind that the tank isn't cycled and that your fish are not suitable i would take them back to the lfs and do a proper fishless cycle with ammonia, this should give you a few weeks to research fish combinations and get something more suitable for your tank