jtinbc

Is it a necessity to have air stones (with an air pump) in the tank? I've been set up for a month now, and it seems that several of my fish have died from oxygen deprivation. I have a 55 gallon tank, a Rena XP2 filter, and fish (2 gouramis, 2 red eye tetras, 1 neon tetra, 1 glass fish, 2 mollies, 1 algae eater, and 1 kuhli loach).

I thought air stones were for looks more than anything, but do I need them?!?!? My surface water is about 1" from the top of the tank, and my tank lid (cover) is covering the top pretty well.

My water readings have been steadily pH 7.6, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 0, and Ammonia between 0 and .25
(this is by a test kit)

Also, I have a sunken ship decoration in my tank, that the cloth sails are getting green and brown splotches on them, could this be algae growing on it

COBettaCouple

yes, your fish need the air stones.. we even put them in our betta tanks. it aerates the water and gives some surface agitation. you do have algae growing on your sunken ship.

sgould

The air stones will help keep the water better oxygenated. However, looking at your test results, it sounds like your tank is not cycled yet, which could also explain your fish loss. Do you have any live plants in the tank? It is odd that you have 0 nitrates after a month, although live plants could explain that. What are you using to dechlorinate water you put in the tank? There are several dechlorinators out there that also detoxify ammonia and nitrite, which would help your fish out while the tank cycles. Prime is the one I use, but there are others available.

To handle the algae, you could introduce something like a couple of otos or a bristle nose pleco. Either would make short work of the algae and have the tank and decor clean again in pretty short order. However, I would not add any fish until your cycle is complete...ammonia and nitrites at 0.