Newbie - air pump question

Hello everyone, I am setting up my first fish tank by myself. My son always did the set ups and he is not around to help me.

I purchased an air stone that was part of a cute decoration. I attached the hose then put it in the tank. I was then going to attach the other end of the hose to the air pump them plug in. When I lowered the stone in the tank the tube immediately filled with water. I thought maybe try another tube same thing happened. This shouldn’t happen right?

So I’m wondering is the stone faulty? Should I have attached the tube to the air pump before I put the stone in? There should not be water in the tube at all right? Thanks to any who answer.

 

No there should be no water in the tube. Do you have a check valve attached? Maybe it is backwards? Even a faulty airstone should leak air from somewhere, not siphon water.

 

Once you turn the pump on it will push the water out of the tubing. Have you added a check valve? It is normally installed a few inches from the pump. It allows air to go through one side and prevents water being pulled through the pump should the power go off. If you don't have a check valve set the air pump above the water line to prevent water being pulled through it should the power go off.

 

No there should be no water in the tube. Do you have a check valve attached? Maybe it is backwards? Even a faulty airstone should leak air from somewhere, not siphon water.

That’s what I thought. I didn’t have an air value attached and didn’t yet attach the other end of the hose to the pump. I tried another hose same thing. That’s why I was wondering if it happened bc I didn’t have the other end of the hose attached to the pump yet … maybe it would make a vacuum or something… I don’t know. Or is my really cute stone decoration just faulty.

 

I bet because it is not attached. Attach the pump and see what happens.

 

Once you turn the pump on it will push the water out of the tubing. Have you added a check valve? It is normally installed a few inches from the pump. It allows air to go through one side and prevents water being pulled through the pump should the power go off. If you don't have a check valve set the air pump above the water line to prevent water being pulled through it should the power go off.

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to install the check valve. I also wondered if I had the tube attached to both the stone and the pump if that would have stopped the water from going in. Question- two tubes are wet now. Do I have to wait for them to completely dry out to try the pump again. Thanks!

I bet because it is not attached. Attach the pump and see what happens.

Should I wait until the tubing is completely dry first?

 

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to install the check valve. I also wondered if I had the tube attached to both the stone and the pump if that would have stopped the water from going in. Question- two tubes are wet now. Do I have to wait for them to completely dry out to try the pump again. Thanks!

No the air will push it back in like Mattgirl said. I would install the check valve always. If power goes out it can siphon your whole tank through that tube into electrical stuff. Really important.

 

Hi Salth! Please post pic or video once you have this running... I've just got to see it in action!

 

No the air will push it back in like Mattgirl said. I would install the check valve always. If power goes out it can siphon your whole tank through that tube into electrical stuff. Really important.

I will and let you know how it goes

 

I wasn’t sure if I wanted to install the check valve. I also wondered if I had the tube attached to both the stone and the pump if that would have stopped the water from going in

to be totally honest I have to admit I don't know but I suspect some water would have gone up the tube. When I install an airstone or anything that is operated with air the last connection I make is to the control valve installed right at the top of the tank. The control valve is turned off until just before I plug the pump in. I have ALWAYS installed a check valve. It is a very inexpensive piece of equipment that can prevent headaches down the road.

. Question- two tubes are wet now. Do I have to wait for them to completely dry out to try the pump again. Thanks!

Should I wait until the tubing is completely dry first?

No need to wait for the tubing to dry out.

 

to be totally honest I have to admit I don't know but I suspect some water would have gone up the tube. When I install an airstone or anything that is operated with air the last connection I make is to the control valve installed right at the top of the tank. The control valve is turned off until just before I plug the pump in. I have ALWAYS installed a check valve. It is a very inexpensive piece of equipment that can prevent headaches down the road.

No need to wait for the tubing to dry out.

I’m going to try what you advised and let you know how it goes - thanks!

 

I bet because it is not attached. Attach the pump and see what happens.

Should I wait until the tubing is completely dry first?

I bet because it is not attached. Attach the pump and see what happens.

It took me longer then it would most people and I still have to add plants (artificial for now … getting there). Here it is so far. I put in Turbo Start 700 to speed cycling. Have to do more research to see when it will be ready to transfer fish. I have to research how I do that correctly too lol . So here it is right now : ) It’s still cloudy because of the sand … that I rinsed until I thought it was clean

 

Should I wait until the tubing is completely dry first?

It took me longer then it would most people and I still have to add plants (artificial for now … getting there). Here it is so far. I put in Turbo Start 700 to speed cycling. Have to do more research to see when it will be ready to transfer fish. I have to research how I do that correctly too lol . So here it is right now : ) It’s still cloudy because of the sand … that I rinsed until I thought it was clean

Looks good so far! Yeah sand is dumb like that. You think you rinsed it good but its always not good....lol

 

Using seeded media from another tank will speed cycling .
You have another tank don't you [ transfer fish seems like a hint ] .

 

That looks really good. You’re doing a great job ! Do you have a test kit to help with your cycle ? When it comes to the time to add fish just ask any questions or search threads and you’ll find your answers

 

Looks good so far! Yeah sand is dumb like that. You think you rinsed it good but its always not good....lol

Thanks! That’s just what my son said lol. Do you have any experience with products like Turbo 700? I really want to move my poor fish out of that … now cichlid nursery lol I’m not sure how long I should wait … supposedly the Turbo 700 is supposed to cycle immediately, but I don’t know. I did move some gravel and that big piece from my big tank. I was hoping it would also help to speed up cycling. I will sleep better once I know everybody’s happy

 

I dont have any experience with Turbo sorry no help here. I dont think it instant cycles though. It does speed it up I have heard around. I definitely need to do more research on those types of bio bacteria.

 

You need an ammonia source. By moving items from your cycled tank and adding the turbo start it may be a good time to go ahead and move some fish to this tank so they can start feeding the bacteria. If not that then ghost feed it with fish food or add liquid ammonia. The most important thing is getting some ammonia in there.

BTW: Turbo start is one of the better kinds of bottle bacteria so that was a good choice.

 

A few tips I use when setting up a new tank fast is If you already have an established tank, I always take some of the filter media from the filters in the established tank and add/swap out the media to the filters in the new tank to help speed up the process, I also do a 50% water change in my established tank into buckets and fill the new tank with it (or siphon/pump it straight in if the tanks are set up close enough to each other) If you combine this with the already established filter media in the new filter, it's pretty much an instant cycle. You could also add some of the established tanks substrate or decorations etc temporarily into the new tank to be extra sure! If you plan on using a completely new substrate in your new tank and don't want some of your old substrate in there then you can put some of your old substrate into a couple pairs of women's stockings, cut the legs off to size, fill it up with substrate, established filter media or whatever then tie it off and drop it in for a week or 2 to help cycle it quicker. Just a few tips I've always used when setting up multiple/new tanks quickly.

 

You need an ammonia source. By moving items from your cycled tank and adding the turbo start it may be a good time to go ahead and move some fish to this tank so they can start feeding the bacteria. If not that then ghost feed it with fish food or add liquid ammonia. The most important thing is getting some ammonia in there.

BTW: Turbo start is one of the better kinds of bottle bacteria so that was a good choice.

I watched a few videos and read on their site and said you could add more then a few fish in about 5 days. I’m hoping the big decoration and the pebbles I added from my main cycled tank had something that the bacteria can eat. I may ghost feed for a couple days … so that would be four days after I added the Turbo 700 … thinking I might start adding fish. I have 5 corys, four schooling fish (I don’t know their name - medium size), and a dwarf garami. Any suggestions on how many or which fish I start to move? Thanks

 

If I were in your shoes I would go ahead and move the fish over now. The decor and pebbles will have bacteria on them if they came out of a fully cycled tank. I wouldn't depend on them having food for the bacteria. The fritz-Zyme Turbo Start 700 is loaded with the right kind of bacteria. In other words this new tank is loaded with lots of bacteria. There should be enough bacteria to prevent a spike in either ammonia or nitrites.

Are you planning on running both tanks or are you going to break down the original tank? If you are going to break it down go ahead and move all the fish over to this one. If you are going to run both tanks I recommend you move the gourami and the 4 schooling fish. Give the new tank a bit more time to get established before moving the corys.

When doing this I normally recommend filling the new tank half way with water from the original tank. There is little to no bacteria in the water but it is the water these fish are used to so they would just feel like they've had a 50% water change. The only reason I am not recommending it in this case is because you've already added the turbo start. It would be a shame to pull half of it out of there. Since you're not using water from their original tank i do recommend you acclimate them to the new tank much like you would if you had just brought them home from the store.

 

I actually wanted to add water from the original tank into the new tank, but decide to use the Turbo Start 700 instead. I am keeping the original tank up for the cichlids. This is the first time any fish pair of mine had fry and to tell you the truth, I’m not sure what to do with them. I mean if they all or enough of them live, what the heck am I going to do with them? I seriously don’t want a tank of cichlids spawning every six weeks so I was thinking of splitting the pair once they stop hyper parenting.

I know I don’t have really any experience with this, but these two beautiful cichlids are amazing parents. The are always together, which is why I actually which I could keep them together - I probably should stop thinking they are a “romantic” couple or that I’m breaking up a family, because I don’t know what to do if they keep having babies. Do fish stores take them? Anyway, I guess that will be my next concern.

Interesting, you said to move the cories after the other fish, because I was going to do it the other way around. I was thinking that the cories could get back to relaxing on the bottom again since the cichlids are chasing them from doing that - they must be exhausted! Are you thinking they need the new tank to be more established and by moving the others First it would do that? How long should I wait after the first fish are brought over to bring over the cories?

One more question if you doing mind, how do I accumulate them to the new tank? Usually when I buy new fish from the fish store, I float the bags to accumulate them. How do you do it when you don’t have the bags? Thanks!

That looks really good. You’re doing a great job ! Do you have a test kit to help with your cycle ? When it comes to the time to add fish just ask any questions or search threads and you’ll find your answers

I do and I have been checking. Everyone here as been so helpful already

A few tips I use when setting up a new tank fast is If you already have an established tank, I always take some of the filter media from the filters in the established tank and add/swap out the media to the filters in the new tank to help speed up the process, I also do a 50% water change in my established tank into buckets and fill the new tank with it (or siphon/pump it straight in if the tanks are set up close enough to each other) If you combine this with the already established filter media in the new filter, it's pretty much an instant cycle. You could also add some of the established tanks substrate or decorations etc temporarily into the new tank to be extra sure! If you plan on using a completely new substrate in your new tank and don't want some of your old substrate in there then you can put some of your old substrate into a couple pairs of women's stockings, cut the legs off to size, fill it up with substrate, established filter media or whatever then tie it off and drop it in for a week or 2 to help cycle it quicker. Just a few tips I've always used when setting up multiple/new tanks quickly.

Great advice. I will remember for the next tank☺️ I already used the Turbo Start 700. I should have asked here before I did. I did move some of the established substrate, a large decoration, and some rocks and wood from the other tank so, as you said, that may help. Thank you again for some good ideas for next time.

 

No problem , moving some of the existing filter media to the new filter is probably one of the more important ones fyi. Also, in regards to your acclimation question, sandwich/freezer bags will work fine, you can pick them up almost at any shop, you probably already have some in! Lol. Failing that, you could always use a plastic measuring jug and hang that on the side in the water adding the new tank water to it ever so often.

 

Bags sound great! Thanks!

Bags sound great! Thanks!

If I were in your shoes I would go ahead and move the fish over now. The decor and pebbles will have bacteria on them if they came out of a fully cycled tank. I wouldn't depend on them having food for the bacteria. The fritz-Zyme Turbo Start 700 is loaded with the right kind of bacteria. In other words this new tank is loaded with lots of bacteria. There should be enough bacteria to prevent a spike in either ammonia or nitrites.

Are you planning on running both tanks or are you going to break down the original tank? If you are going to break it down go ahead and move all the fish over to this one. If you are going to run both tanks I recommend you move the gourami and the 4 schooling fish. Give the new tank a bit more time to get established before moving the corys.

When doing this I normally recommend filling the new tank half way with water from the original tank. There is little to no bacteria in the water but it is the water these fish are used to so they would just feel like they've had a 50% water change. The only reason I am not recommending it in this case is because you've already added the turbo start. It would be a shame to pull half of it out of there. Since you're not using water from their original tank i do recommend you acclimate them to the new tank much like you would if you had just brought them home from the store.

You mentioned moving the corys last. I did some reading and is that because they can release a toxin when stressed? If that is the case, what would be the safest way to move them? I don’t want them to release toxins in any of the tanks. Outside the tanks would be better… maybe I can put them in a bag of tank water … hoping the release the toxins there and then put them in another bag with fresh tank water … then acclimate to another tank? Also, there are five, should I bag them separately or can I do them together? Thanks!

 

No probs, anytime

 

To be perfectly honest releasing toxins wouldn't have even crossed my mind. I really don't think it is something you have to be concerned about. Now that I know more about the reason for another tank, moving all but the pair of fish might be the best option. Along with the turbo start and everything you have moved from the original tank moving the corys now should be fine. As long as you didn't scrub the items before putting them in this tank there should be bio-film on each piece.

You have already gotten the advice I would have given you for parameter acclimating the fish to this tank. Put the corys in one container and the other fish in something else. Personally I don't like using bags. I don't know it for a fact but think it is too stressful for the fish to bag them up. I have several small clear plastic containers I use for acclimation. I float the container and then very gradually add tank water a little bit at a time.

If you have been doing big weekly water changes (50% or more) on the original tank the parameters in it and the new one should be close to the same. In that case acclimation shouldn't take long. If regular water changes haven't been done then the parameters of the new tank can be vastly different. In a case like that I recommend drip acclimating.