Canister filters and aeration

[doctavus]

Hello, I just started a 46 gallon freshwater tank 2 weeks ago after being out of the hobby for a good 20+ years. This will house an oscar and pleco until I move out of this apartment and get a bigger tank.

Question #1

I have an API Filstar XP-M and love the quietness and flow. I do not have an airstone but I have the outlet nozzle about an inch below the water surface, this moves the top of the water but it's not really breaking it, at least it is hard to tell. I know you need good gas exchange and did not want to get an air pump with air stone, but if I need it I will, should I?

Question #2

Fish have been in tank for 7 days now (i bought 2 rainbow tetra for cycling) and noticed the water is not really a nasty smell but it's not pleasant either, I just changed almost 50% of the water and it's mostly gone away, for now. I checked the water and I have no ammonia or nitrates but I have had a little high nitrites since I put water in the tank, could this be the smell?

Or is it from a lack of aeration?

Sorry for the wall of text.

[mizzoutank]

welcome back to the hobby and things have changed a bit in terms of cycling.

what are you using to test the water?
what is a "little high nitrates?"

back to q1; you need the filter to break the surface somehow/some way. aim the input nozzle upwards at an angle to get some agitation?
otherwise, purchase a HOB filter as supplimental filtration/surface agitation.


what is the next bigger tank you plan to have for your oscar and pleco?

[doctavus]

welcome back to the hobby and things have changed a bit in terms of cycling.

what are you using to test the water?
what is a "little high nitrates?"

back to q1; you need the filter to break the surface somehow/some way. aim the input nozzle upwards at an angle to get some agitation?
otherwise, purchase a HOB filter as supplimental filtration/surface agitation.


what is the next bigger tank you plan to have for your oscar and pleco?

Hi, thanks for the welcome and your response.

It was high Nitrites the ammonia was 0 and nitrates was low end of acceptable.

Ok, I kind of thought about getting a small emperor for it, but I think that's a waste, do you?

If I succeed at this then I will convert this 46 bowfront to saltwater then get a 100 or so for Oscar and Pleco.

[mizzoutank]

Could you post actual numbers? like 1ppm/2ppm?
are you using the api master kit or test strips?
curious b/c what is high to me, may be low to you or vice versa,ya know?


and you can't really over filter-especially if you use the 46 as a grow out tank (as you say) for your oscar and pleco. those two are poop machines and need strong strong filtration to handle that.

so generally you want filtration rated for 2x the size of the tank.
not knowing your current filtration specs, you should have something rated at 90-100gallons just for your 46gallon.

perfect example is my 45gallon tank.
I'm running a fluval 306 (rated at 70gallons) and 2 marineland penguin 200's (each rated at 50 gallons) so i've got a total of 170gallon filtration just for my 45gallon tank. albeit that is a lot, it is only set up to seed my 306, then ill take one of the marineland off for back up measures.

[doctavus]

Believe it was 3 PPM nitrites.

Yeah I may just go ahead and get an emperor as I like the basics of it.

The filter I have now is the API (RENA) filstar xp-m. It says it's for a 70g tank. Think is I'm only running the small amount of bio-stars as it came with so I think I may need to get more too.

[mizzoutank]

I would get another filter. it will really help out.
and ya load that cannister up with that bio media. mind is packed full of bio rings in each of my 306 and hob's.

back to your cycle, there is a sticky here on cycling with fish.
3ppm is very high right now for your fish and probably hurting them

i would do a 70% water change and drop those levels down. wait a few hours and test again. that sticky thread goes into depth on when to test and do water changes for the safety of the fish and to keep the cycle moving along.