I just got a 180 gallon tank and am stocking with a bunch of african cichlids. I am concerned about oxygen concentration in the water. In the past I have never used anything like air stones or power heads to oxygenate my tank but I havent worried about it because I've always used hang on back filters which I felt broke up the surface area enough to provide adequate oxygen. My new large tank has a canister filter so the surface area doesnt get broken up anymore. My question is: do I need to employ any sort of artificial oxygenation for my tank for my africans or are they fine? I have seen many photos of tanks that look like they dont have any such equipment but I've also seen some with bubble walls and things. Don't know what to do. Thanks.
Oxygenating new tank
- Thread starter jkennedy
- Start date
To be on the safe side, I'd add something. I'd even recommend a sponge filter, the kind that connects to an air pump, so that you have aeration and awesome biological filtration.
Sometimes with some people it looks like they don't have anything, but they have a sump, which really helps with aeration.
Sometimes with some people it looks like they don't have anything, but they have a sump, which really helps with aeration.
I'd add something as well. Airpumps are great and Juxturabarto's suggestion of a sponge filter is a good one killing two birds with one stone. A powerhead at the waters surface can work too. I've never been a big fan of relying on a single filter. The more the better as far as I'm concerned.
KaiserSousay;4770735; said:
You definitely can, but sometimes it's hard to get a good flow in the rest of the tank when you do it.
