how long

[TwistedPenguin]

You've already done a 25% water change, I think you should do a 50% and you should be good to go. Then tomorrow do another 25%. Contrary to what the above poster believes I do NOT think daily 20% water changes is excessive, I think it's awesome for the fish's health and color. Although we each have a right to our own opinion (plus I happen to enjoy doing water changes).
Bubblers don't 'add oxygen' to the water, they create surface disturbance and that's where the oxygen/CO2 exchange is at-the surface. So the more water movement you've got the more oxygen is available to your fish. I over-filter to the max, too, on my Oscar tanks between the canister filters, HOB's and powerheads there's plenty of water movement and oxygen available.
Oh-and don't run out and get Tiger Barbs to 'test' the tank. Or you'll be back here in 2 wks asking how to get rid of the ich the Tiger Barbs brought in lol

 

[daleros]

Daily water changes aren't a bad thing unless you have tap water that is poor quality, then it might be a problem. I just think daily changes are excessive. Where the right time lies should be based on your tank and fish's health.

My problem is that my water is so hard that unless I used RO water daily changes aren't all that good.

 

[bluehairman]

You've already done a 25% water change, I think you should do a 50% and you should be good to go. Then tomorrow do another 25%. Contrary to what the above poster believes I do NOT think daily 20% water changes is excessive, I think it's awesome for the fish's health and color. Although we each have a right to our own opinion (plus I happen to enjoy doing water changes).
Bubblers don't 'add oxygen' to the water, they create surface disturbance and that's where the oxygen/CO2 exchange is at-the surface. So the more water movement you've got the more oxygen is available to your fish. I over-filter to the max, too, on my Oscar tanks between the canister filters, HOB's and powerheads there's plenty of water movement and oxygen available.
Oh-and don't run out and get Tiger Barbs to 'test' the tank. Or you'll be back here in 2 wks asking how to get rid of the ich the Tiger Barbs brought in lol

i got the barbs anyways, but i know how to deal with ich
a lot of fish from perco brought it. i can handle it.
but i put them in the 20g because i tested my tank water, and it appears the algae fix is causing all this algae to decay and die, so my nitrites are .3-.5, and my ammonia is about .1
im going to wait until i get my 'instant' cycle, DrTims one and only nitrifying bacteria before i add any fish.

so bubbles on the surface of the water cause oxygen to enter the water?

as stated in another thread, i think the affects of dead algae cause the problems... not algae fix itself.

 

[daleros]

If the algae is significant source of oxygen, then killing it will kill your fish.

Surface movement is a significant portion of oxygination. Also, a bubble wall helps too. Another good source is a bubble disk. It has small orifices so the bubbles are small enough to dissolve before reaching the surface unlike the bubble wall where the bubbles are so big not a lot dissolves. But bubble walls are still cool to look at in the tank.

 

[bluehairman]

If the algae is significant source of oxygen, then killing it will kill your fish.

Surface movement is a significant portion of oxygination. Also, a bubble wall helps too. Another good source is a bubble disk. It has small orifices so the bubbles are small enough to dissolve before reaching the surface unlike the bubble wall where the bubbles are so big not a lot dissolves. But bubble walls are still cool to look at in the tank.

im guessing theres no way to 'test' for oxygen...

here is what it hink happen...

algae dies > no oxygen > nitrosomas and nitrobacter die from no oxygen > algae rots > ammonia spike > ammonia drops, nitrosomas come back > nitrite spike > nitrobacter come back > then after this everything should be normal...
im at nitrite spike.

 

[bluehairman]

well ammonia is 0, nitrites dropped to .2. added 2 fish to see how they last.. i'll do another test of nitrites tonight and depending on the reading i'll add another fish