Aerators for Sale

Faq – About Water Aerator Work

Staff — Thu, 17 May 2012 13:00:06 +0000

Sandra asks…

How to care for a “saltwater crawfish” as a pet?

Hello. I recently caught a few “saltwater crawfish” looking things at the beach I live by. I heard people call them ghost shrimp. They have claws and are about half the size of a crawfish. They are mostly see thru or clear. I am wondering some tips on keeping these as pets. What do they eat? Can they also live in fresh water? Do they need an aerator? How often do you feed them, change water, etc. I just want any information concerning these animals. Also, Is there a cheap, ghetto way to make an aerator that works some way that you don’t need batteries or electricity all the time? How do people keep some fish alive in just an old fashioned fish bowl with no aerator or filter or anything? I just am interested in these little creatures and want to study them. I don’t have much money to spend on these things. Thanks so much!

Staff answers:

Clearly you do not have the experience needed to care for saltwater creatures. Believe me, it can be very difficult. You should take them back to where you found them

Thomas asks…

how to clear cloudy water – another filter or chemicals?

my freshwater tank is getting cloudy often, i have used the magic clear stuff and that works great, but i don’t want to spend a fortune on chemicals all the time, i have a hang on filter, should i buy an internal filter and an aerator, or will i have to keep using magic clear

PS. how long to barbs take to grow
i have a 90 litre 2 foot tank currently with 8 neon tetras, 6 feeder barbs, a bronze cat fish and 3 goldfish, also a hang on filter, a few rocks, about 5 grass like plants, a pipe ornament, heater at 22c,

I’ve only had it for about a week and in that time i have cleaned the filter once and replaced about 40% of the water and cleaned off all algae

its a aqua one power filter A 200, it was my brothers so i dont really know the specs
sorry thats a H 200
what do you think about this as a different filter

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Internal-Power-Head-Filter-Spray-Bar-800-L-H-Fish-Tank_W0QQitemZ150286360193QQihZ005QQcategoryZ20754QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Staff answers:

How are your water levels?(Ammonia, nitrates, nitrites) How often do you clean your tank, how old is it, size of tank, how many fish?

Please provide more details, I am happy to help however I need more information.

Also most chemical solutions should be avoided expect with drastic measures are needed and all other options explored.

*EDIT*

Oh my, your tank is very over populated, more than likely due to the age your nitrogen cycle is non-existant. More than likely the cloudyness is due to obscene levels of hazardous waste in the water and your nitrogen cycle just can’t keep up.

I would suggest you cut down the number of fish(those goldfish are the biggest problem, they are very dirty fish and for a tank your size, if you want goldfish there should only be 2 goldfish with nothing else) If you decide to do this please do not flush them or some such action, find a local pet store and explain to them the reason you need to get rid of the fish. More than likely they will take the fish no problem, they may even offer you store credit for them.

Until your biological filter is established 2-4 fish would be best to slowly help the good bacteria to populate the tank. After that add more fish 2 at a time at most and allow your cycle to catch up again. You really should invest in a basic test kit that tests for ammonia, nitrate and nitrite levels. You can add more fish safely(again 2 at the most at a time) when you have no ammonia and nitrate readings, and very small nitrite levels.

If however you don’t want to get rid of the fish you really really need to upgrade your tank size, I would also suggest you invest in some “Stress Coat” and “Stress Zyme” to help your water quality and help establish your biological filter(nitrogen cycle).

Regarding a new filter, YES, that would also be a smart move. A general rule of thumb among many fish keepers is number of gallons/litres X 4 is how many gal/litre your filter needs to pump an hour. In your case 90X4 = 360. So you need filter that filters at least 360 litre/hour.

This one would be more than adequate for your needs – http://www.petshop-online.com.au/prod95.htm

I found that just at a glance, however if you’d like more help in selecting a new filter please let me know I would be happy to help you find the best “Bang for your buck”.

Again please contact me if you need more help or any other questions. I wish you and your aquatic friends the best of luck.

Robert asks…

Hardy Banana tree (Musa Bajoo) problems??

I bought a hardy banana tree a while back. Supposed to be winter proof down to -20 deg.

I kept it inside for a year or so to avoid winter dormacy, and let it grow a little extra.

Come spring, there were all these little (I mean TINY -sand grain size) tan bugs all over the leaves. I bought some plant bug killer spray, and it worked. Then about a month later, it slowly started to brown and slow down growing. Eventually it died altogether.

I tried everything, transplanting to a bigger pot, different soils, soil aerator, more water- less, more sun- less. I even planted it outside thinking the humidity might be the prob. nothing worked. Even the plant lady at the local nursery was baffled.

Staff answers:

Try googling it. I fine lots of answers that way.

Courtesy of Y!Answers

Faq – About Aerator

Staff — Mon, 14 May 2012 13:00:09 +0000

Sandy asks…

How will an aerator help my fish?

What would an aerator do to help my fish?

Staff answers:

It helps with the overall health of the fish and the benificial bacteria that live in the water.

James asks…

What is a good way to remove a stubborn kitchen sink aerator?

I am trying to install a water filter on my kitchen sink and I cannot get the aerator off. Anyone have any tips?

Staff answers:

Grab it with a pair of channel lock pliers and turn clockwise

Linda asks…

Why does my Delta kitchen faucet spout leak between the end of the spout and the aerator?

The aerator is as tight as can be and I’ll even loosen it a bit, but it still leaks when the water is on. I’ve tried both metal and rubber or palstic type swivel aerators.

Staff answers:

I lot of these faucets have a rubber gasket that fits inside the spout, on top of the aerator to prevent leaks. Yours may be missing. If your water is hard the minerals will plug the screen and cause a very slow flow as well, but if you have tried several types that probably is not the problem. I lean towards the gasket missing or possibly the gasket being deformed for some reason.

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Faq – About Fish Tank Aerators

Staff — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:00:09 +0000

Mandy asks…

I want to make a fish tank, 96″x24″x36″. what thickness glass to use? 12 mm or 15mm? S.S Base, how many legs?

I have made a few tanks 60″x18″x24″. So far no fish r breeding. Have a variety of fish in schools of 15 each. What aerator/filter will i need for 96″ tank? How many medium, fish can I keep in it?

Staff answers:

Wow, that’s doggone HUGE!, I would say the thicker the better. According to My quick calculations I think that it would be around 175 gallons, You want to filter Your water at least 3 time per hour, so You would need about a 500 gallon per hour pump, and a real large filter, actually, I would put 2 smaller ones, one on each end, just in case one should go out or become clogged. I would put at least eight legs on the base, actually I would build a wood base and use 2×4′s for legs and cover it with panelling, I built one for my 40 gallon, I started by building a complete frame out of 2×4′s, and it looks like a piece of furniture, and is strong enough to park a car on, better safe than sorry. Your project sounds quite pricey, good luck.

Donald asks…

i need to pursuade my parents to let me get another fish tank details inside?

over christmas and my 14th birthday which was today i got loads of money !! £340 in total !! And i wanted to spend my money on another fish tank ! i already have a 60 litre tank which is as full as i can get it without it being over crowded ! so i want to get another fish tank with some interesting tropical fish !!

i was thinking of buying a 180 litre corner unit fish tank, i already have a filter, heater, aerator, gravel, bog wood and rocks to put in it.

Questions

1. what types of tropical plants could i put in
2. what fish could i put in
3. how many fish
4. how could i persuade my parents to let them get it ? i havent asked them about it yet so how should i brake it 2 them

Staff answers:

Well, you can check craigslist for cheap tanks around where you live, and tell them that you’ll pay for the tank, since you did get a whole lot of money.

Any plants can go in there, but you have to know that some fish aren’t very compatible with plants. Cichlids, for example, usually just tear out all the plants in the tank, so you have to anchor them to a rock or something. Silver dollars are like vegetarian piranahs, so they’ll pick apart any plant you may have in your tank.

In a 180 litre tank (is that 45 gallons?) you just can’t have very big fish, or many big fish, for that matter. The question about how many fish can fit in there, it really depends on what kinds you’re planning to put in there. If it’s like angelfish or discus, that limits you to about three or four. If it’s tetras, you can probably put 15-25 in there with no problem.

Lisa asks…

I have a single 10 gallon fish tank for one betta fish?

Should I use an aerator, or just get a smaller bowl &then put a plant in there?

Help?
Thanks (:

Staff answers:

Don’t do the bowl, a betta will love the space of a 10gallon.

If you’re only housing him and don’t want any other fish, I’d suggest a sponge filter (which will run with an aerator) with a few nice plants if you want (java fern and java moss are great easy plants), and a heater of course (50watts).

If you might eventually want other fish, a normal hang on the back filter will be fine, if you notice he has trouble with the current just place a plant in front of the flow to break up the current. Again, a heater is still needed and you can still have live plants.

Good luck

Courtesy of Y!Answers

Faq – About Aerating The Lawn Cost

Staff — Mon, 07 May 2012 13:00:25 +0000

Thomas asks…

Our lawn care company recommended dethatching our lawn?

We core aerate twice a year already. He says the lawn will get more oxygen if we do it. It will cost $ 280 for a quarter acre–is this a high price? Can I rent equipment & do it myself without trashing my lawn?

Staff answers:

If you’re already core aerating twice a year, I think that maybe the lawn service thinks it found a patsy (you).

What might be beneficial here would be to apply additional nitrogen to speed the decomposition of the dead grass.

I might also suggest a topdressing of 50% coarse sand and 50% sphagnum peat, along with the fertilizer. Top dress a uniform 1/2″ deep just prior to your next core aeration and then water in well.. The increase in soil particle size and raised organic content will do amazing things for your turf.. (aeration and moisture balance).

If you must dethatch.. Get another estimate.. $280 seems awfully high to me.

Mark asks…

if you next door neighbor sprays water on your front window?

My neighbor thinks I don’t water my lawn often enough. We live in a townhouses, and share the lawn. He waters in almost daily or at the least every other day even on days following rain.

I noticed bits of water spray since yesterday. It did not rain yesterday. Noticed it again today. It did not rain today.

As I don’t want to get into argument with my next door neighbor, how can I deal with this issue.

Also, the neighbor wanted to hire a lawn company to fertilize, herbicide, and aerate the lawn and split the cost. He settled on price not me.

What do you think about this situation?
We don’t know each other that well, and I would have to say the neighbor was a bit intrusive to suggest split costed hire of a lawn company, and settling on price himself.

Staff answers:

You’re being petty about the water on the window. Get a grip. I’d be ecstatic if a neighbor wanted to water my yard!

You said you share the lawn.

So….how would you like the lawn maintained?

He’s made himself clear. How about you make yourself clear?

From there you negotiate.

If you don’t want to pay for what he’s suggesting, then just tell him you can’t afford it.

Communicate….it’s not that hard.

Jenny asks…

When can I reseed my lawn after using weed killer?

I am going to reseed my lawn but I need to kill weeds first. How long I need to wait to reseed after using liquid weed killer?
Before I reseed, I need to aerate the lawn right? Do I have to rent the machine? I heard that renting the machine will cost at least $150. Is there any other way to aerate?
I will also fertilize the lawn too. Do I need to fertilize before reseeding or after reseeding? If I need to fertilize before reseeding, how long I need to wait before I reseed?

Thanks

Staff answers:

Ok, theres the easy way, and the hard way. Easy way will cost you, ya about $150 or 200 for a day or 2. You rent a rototiller. You till the soil and start from scratch with seeding, or if you have even more money, Sod.

The hard way is… Well, take a metal rake and a pick, and just start breaking up lawn by hand. Time consuming, killer hard labor, and very slow going. Id recommend swallowing the cost of a rototiller and doing it that way. Sometimes money saves time… And time is the most important thing in all this house work stuff.

Wait till a good rainstorm, youll be fine. Alot of weed killer is designed not to kill grass. A good soaking will flush out the high concentrations of chemicals.

Then, re-seed with a a good grass seed mix, or hybrid type that is good for your area. A nursery or garden store can help you find the right seed (ie. Partial sun, full sun, high traffic, color, watering frequency, etc)

Fertilize it with the fall fertilizer (I believe high in Phosphorus now, and high in nitrogen in spring is the way fertilization of grass works….not sure tho)
Remember to add a layer of HAY over the seeds after sowing them… Hay helps keep them moist, keep them from drying out in the sun and theyll take roots quicker that way. Hay is important, so go find a bunch of hay bales and get to work.

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Faq – About Water Aerator Faucet

Staff — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:00:30 +0000

Maria asks…

why do my pipes vibrate when I turn on the water?

kitchen faucet,cold water only If I remove the aerator assembly it goes away !!
weird

Staff answers:

Woodie, Your aerator is restricting the water flow a little. Needs to be cleaned, and make sure that the ‘shut off’ value to the cold water under the sink is opened ‘ALL the way’. Sometimes people think you can close them a little to regulate the pressure to the faucet. This ‘shut-off’ value is “NOT” meant to be a regulator value. Closing it a little will create a pressure problem, which the water passing through will make the ‘shut-off’ value vibrate. You might have to replace the cold water ‘shut-off’ value. Hoped this helped you solve your DIY project. Good Luck.

Carol asks…

What would reduce the flow from a single-handle kitchen faucet?

Removal of the aerator does not help. No one touched the supply valves, the other faucets have normal flow, all pipes are copper. Flow was normal for the first year or two. This time of year the supply water is much colder than it has been, but well above freezing. Should I disassemble the faucet and look for anything? Some adjustment?
I apologize now that I see the question is ambiguous. The flow has already reduced, I am not hasing how to reduce it. Sorry!

Staff answers:

Actually, the problem may very well be the buildup and subsequent release of lime scale in the copper pipes feeding the faucet itself. Most single lever faucet setups have standard 3/8″ copper feed lines coming off the bottom of the faucet with a threaded connector already soldered on. These would then normally be attached to the 3/8″ feed lines coming up either directly from the copper lines in the base of the cabinet or to lines coming out of shut off valves. Calcium or lime, whichever you prefer to call it, present in most water supplies, builds up inside copper pipes and eventually, especially, if you’ve recently replaced some water related fixture in the basement or elsewhere in the home, flakes off and depending on the size of the flakes, can lodge in small openings to reduce, either slightly or greatly, the amount of flow of water coming thru the pipe. I’ve made a small test line of a couple of 3/8″ gray plastic flex lines that I attach to the top of the shut-off valves, one at a time and then check the flow thru them by turning them on and catching the water in a large bucket outside the cabinet. If the flow is good there, you’ll need to disassemble the faucet and take a small wire to run down the openings in the faucet base to break up the lime pieces. Odds are that will take care of the problem, till the next time it happens.

William asks…

What are the white flakes in our sink faucet?

Our kitchen sink faucet keeps spraying in crazy directions, within a day or two of cleaning out the aerator. Today we took it off again and found lots of little white flakes. Is this calcium, or something else? My husband says it only happens with hot water and must be related to the water heater.

Staff answers:

Sounds like hard water, but I’ve never seen that at my mother’s house and she has very hard water.

Look inside the toilet tank. If the bowl has deposits as a ring or the tank has a tan deposit, it’s hard water. If you’re on a city or county water system, it’s doubtful it’s hard water. If you’re on a supplied water system, you may call the water department and they can tell you the Ph value of the water and whether this is normal or not. I don’t think it’s normal.

I think you have something in the system that’s causing it. Overly hot water? Mineral build up that’s flaking off in the pipes? If it’s minerals, it’ll be hard and flaky. It could also be deposits in the pipes that are breaking off. Could be iron rust.

Try taking off the aerator and soaking it in hydrogen peroxide. If you see bubbling, it’s mineral deposits.

On the plus side, mineral water is generally good for you. My grandparents had extremely hard water and lived well into their 70s.

Courtesy of Y!Answers

Faq – About Plug Aerator

Staff — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 13:00:12 +0000

Donna asks…

Does an aerator need to be attached to a filtration system?

I bought 2 goldfish yesterday, and they seem to be happy. They’re in a bowl (I know this isn’t the best, but I can’t afford a tank right now and my mom probably won’t let me get one until my fish prove to be healthy for at least a week or 2) and I’ve done some research, I need to get an aerator. My question is this: does the aerator need to be attached to a filtration system (which I don’t have) or if I put it in the bowl, will it work like that? The bowl is near an area where I can plug things in if needed. Thanks!

Staff answers:

Your fish do need a bigger tank, you are correct, and they do need a filter.

An aerator is just a pump with an air pipe leading to a diffuser (air stone). The bubbles don’t oxygenate the water as they travel through it. Gas exchange happens when the bubbles break the surface tension CO2 out O2 in.
Filters such as undergravel filters use the rising bubbles to pull debris into the gravel where the beneficial bacteria will for colonies. Other filter types are self powered.

Your fish will produce a lot of ammonia, which will affect their respiratory system and also being in a bowl will need the gas exchange all the more. So even if you don’t have the filter get an aerator.

Just the fact that your fish are in a bowl means the chances of them surviving past a few weeks are low. You have a lot of maintenance to do keeping your water anywhere near survivable quality

Charles asks…

Not sure how to use this aquarium aerator?

I bought an aquarium aerator, but it makes no sense… air comes out, but there were no instructions and there is no way to make the part the air comes out of be submerged in the water without submerging the entire thing.. which would break it. I get the feeling it requires some sort of hose or tube or something plugged onto the air part. See the link below, it is an image of what I am talking about. Underneath the aerator is stands.. as if it should be sitting as it is. But there is no way to.. you know.

Any help appreciated, I really need this aerator going before my yabbies die.

Thanks

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/9985/aerz.png

Thanks guys, I thought I needed something along those lines.

Thanks for clearing that up.

Staff answers:

You need some piping! It goes on the bits that are pumping the air out. You need that (you can buy lengths of it at any aquatic shop) and an air stone. A return valve will stop it pumping water out of your tank. Stuff like this:

http://www.swelluk.com/aquarium/air-pumps-accessories-9/air-line-accessories-108/algarde-2-way-gang-valve-51.html

http://www.swelluk.com/aquarium/air-pumps-accessories-9/air-line-accessories-108/algarde-6mm-airline-55.html

http://www.swelluk.com/aquarium/air-pumps-accessories-9/air-line-accessories-108/algarde-non-return-valve-48.html

Mary asks…

Why is my air stone not working?

The air stone in my aquarium isn’t working, and the aerator itself is working fine. I checked for kinks in the hose, but it’s still not working. It looks like sediment has built up on the stone and is plugging it up. Is there a way to fix it or do I have to get a new stone?

Staff answers:

Air stones need to be replaced occasionally they get clogged. They aren’t very much you can buy a package of 4 for like $2.

Courtesy of Y!Answers

Faq – About Aerator Wine

Staff — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 13:00:25 +0000

Joseph asks…

can you aerate wine by blowing bubbles in it with a straw?

I don’t want to buy a decanter or an aerator ( more stuff I don’t really need)
Crazy Cat Lady- good point about the Carbon Dioxide, and the bubble blowing would have only been in my home in MY own glass lol. I’m not a neanderthal, just impatient

Doobi18- I am honored for the nomination!

Staff answers:

I don’t know how well that would work because I think you want to be exposing the wine to oxygen, and what you blow out of your lungs is carbon dioxide. Plus, if other people will be sharing the wine with you I don’t know how they’ll feel about you blowing your spit-mist into their wine. That’s a good way to pass the swine flu around. You don’t have to use a true decanter, just a container that will give the wine a larger surface-area. Do you have a pitcher? That’ll work just as well although it wont look as sophisticated as a decanter. But if you’re talking about blowing in your wine bottle with a straw I don’t think sophistication is your #1 priority.

Mary asks…

Drinking white wine: tips & gadgets?

My dad’s drink of choice — almost exclusively — is white wine. I am looking for Xmas gifts for him, so I’m hoping to buy him something to improve his white wine experience. He already has a top of the line corkscrew. Now I know nothing about white wine, always been a red wine sort of lass myself, but I know for red there are some “wine accessories”, like aerators, that you can get fancy with.

Is there anything out there other than a corkscrew that one can buy to improve the white wine experience? Or any brands of Chardonnay that you’d give as a gift? Thanks!

Staff answers:

You generally do not need to aerate white wine so something like that would not do him much good. If you have a lot of money to spend then you could get him a nice wine fridge. They have many different types, but they are basically like little college fridges usually with a clear front so you can see the bottles. My only other thought is a set of real nice wine glasses. Perhaps you could get some nice handmade crystal glasses or something like that.

As far as the wine preservation suggestion, those have all been tested and show to not do a single thing. They are a gimmick and anyone who is serious about their wine will know that.

George asks…

Is this a good gift for my mom?

I can get a red wine aerator for virtually nothing and i was wondering if my mom would like this for christmas? I mean, she likes red wine and has it sometimes but not too often. I was just wondering if other people maybe have this and really really like it or something. idk… feedback please…
its $40…

Staff answers:

That would be a nice gift if it’s a good one it helps flavor and take bitterness out of the wine. But it’s not a lot so maybe also a wine chiller and a nice bottle of red wine

Courtesy of Y!Answers

Faq – About Aeration Stone

Staff — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 13:01:17 +0000

Paul asks…

Trimming of Aquarium Plants?

I have a couple aquarium plants that have grown way above the water line and are bending over. It’s not really blocking the light source and it’s not preventing the growth of lower/shorter plants.

I was wondering should I trim them back to below the water line? And if so how to go about it? Should I trim above or below the leaves, do I need to take them out of the water then replant, etc?

I’ve read several articles relating to it and they only seem to mention to trim them but not how to go about it. And I don’t want to end up killing them off.

I have a regular shaped 20 gallon tank, about 15 guppies, 5 other live plants, several fake ones, and an aeration stone, if it matters any. And sorry but I have no clue what the names of the plants are that are overgrown.
There’s no other places on my plants with roots just one huge long plant lol.

Staff answers:

Trimming water plants is the same as trimming any other plant. Personally I trim just above a leaf, then replant what i just trimmed, if you cot something like wisteria then it’ll grow like there’s no tomorrow. By the time most plants get above the waterline they’ve probably got a suitable plave to trim so you can replant, if you see an more places on your plant with roots, that’s where you trim, then replant.

Donald asks…

home aeration techniques?

I have some baby guppies in a 1 gallon fish bowl, just wondering if there are some easy ways to aerate the bowl at home without having to go out and buy an air pump and air stone…

Staff answers:

Hey Greg, I know your guppies are frys but the 1 gallon fish bowl won’t provide enough space for them to grow, besides you know that no fish can live in a bowl, it’s too cruel. I suggest you go outside and buy atleast a 10 gallon to keep those babies in. I would also remove the male from the females so they won’t make any more babies.

Here’s an easy way to create an air stone.
Http://www.aquariumlife.net/projects/air-stones/77.asp

Lizzie asks…

Fish tank bubble wall making strange noises?

I recently bought a bubble wall for my fish tank, as my aeration stone would not stay put! However, I noticed that the bubble wall emits a strange sound… kind of like a buzzing vibrating noise. Is this normal? Or is it possible that too much air is being forced through the tube?
I know it is the bubble wall, because when I unplugged it, the noise stopped. How do I stop this noise? It’s driving me nuts!
Im not sure how many gallons the pump is as it was given to me by a friend who previously owned the tank. The tank is a 30 gallon though….

Staff answers:

How many gallons is your air pump? You don’t really need a powerful one. For instance, a ten gallon one for a ten gallon is over kill.
Your pump may simply be too powerful. You can’t dial down the pump, but you can get a small valve ( only a couple bucks in most pet stores) that will allow you to control the air flow.
Other than that, some pumps and bubblers are just really noisy. There’s really no way around that, they’re just loud.
Best of Luck!

Courtesy of Y!Answers

Faq – About Fish Aerator Pump

Staff — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:00:07 +0000

Maria asks…

Is an air pump / aerator necessary in a Tropical freshwater aquarium ?

My new aquarium is 6 weeks old and I have 12 fish so far, all fish seem to be perfectly ok. I invested in a purifier which releases ozone into the tank and has a naturally purifying effect. Do I also need to switch on my air pump / air stone ?

Staff answers:

Don’t release ozone into the tank, it burns fish gills.

Release ozone into the filter, where the ozone helps make things stick to the filter.

Once you make this change (assuming the ozone generator is actually working), you may need to aerate the water.

Jenny asks…

Is my fishtank filter a legit filter? Or simply an aerator?

I bought a starter kit tank for my betta that supposedly came with a ‘filter’. When I opened it it had a stone with an air pump. It simply creates bubbles, which I think makes it an aerator. Can this possibly filter water? It is said that betta fish find areators a bit overpowering and I don’t want it there if it does nothing, plus it freaks my fish out. What is this thing? Should I use it? Does it filter water?

Staff answers:

Is it an undergravel filter by any chance? This is an air stone and pump, tray that goes under the gravel, and a tube where the air stone goes. This is a biological filter setup, and the gravel is really going to be your “filter”. The beneficial bacteria colonizes in the gravel. The setup pulls water through the gravel, and thus the water is biologically filtered. There are sponges and carbon attachments too, that can add mechanical and chemical filtration to the undergravel filter.

They are super simple filters, and timeless. They do work, but do have many downfalls.

If it is just an air stone sitting in the water, it is no filter.

Air is also used to power sponge filters, which are a mechanical and biological filter. THere are a few other air powered filters as well.

Examples:
Undergravel fitler: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/detailed_image.cfm?pCatId=3588&large=/images/Categoryimages/larger/lg_114992_21216P.jpg
Sponge filter: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/detailed_image.cfm?pCatId=23702&large=/images/Categoryimages/larger/lg-73728-55584-fish-supply.jpg
Corner filter:http://e-aquarium.com.au/images/Small_Corner_Aquarium_Filter.JPG
Just an airline: http://www.aquariumlife.net/images/airstone-3.jpg

Mark asks…

How do I build my own box filter for the fish I caught from the river mouth?

I have a submersible pump, an aerator, silicon, perspex sheet, plastic box, sea shells, a bag of porous rock,a liquid bottle of nitro-bacter and polyester wool. Do I miss anything else? Do I need activated carbon (I do not have it)? Does it matter which filtering media that the water have to flow through first?

At the moment, I have a simple single compartment filter stuffed with polyester wool and a submersible pump pushing the water through it. Some of the fishes are doing well but the crabs are dying within a day.

Staff answers:

A bag of porous rocks? Sea Shells?

Crabs would be in direct contact with your “shells” & “rocks”.

These rocks & shells MAY be exuding a chemical or pollutant……

Eliminate any “questionable” materials in your tank that have not been sterilized.

Some shells & rocks are harmful to fish and aquatics.

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Faq – About Water Aerators Ponds

Staff — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 13:00:11 +0000

Susan asks…

what is going wrong in my pond ?

I have lost 4 fish in last 2-3 months (1 large koi & 3 comet/goldfish) Seem to be internal problems – 1 large swelling in koi on one side & bloated problems in comets, so I suspect bacteria ??
Checked water condition – Nitrites/nitrates/ammonia all OK.
PH around 6.5-7
Change in behavour shows fish idling under waterfall so put aerators on (air balls) as suspected low oxygen. Fish often seen sitting in airball flow and under fountain spray….all on surface which is unusual. Mostly concerned that most fish are hardly moving, sitting at the surface – and noticed paler colour changes on quite a few fish, also unhappy flat dorsal fins. Something is wrong but I don’t know what.
I thought I solved oxygen issue & pond condition seems ok. Help !!
FYI I’ve just made two water changes 10% plus 20%. (tested tapwater for chlorine & seems fine)

Staff answers:

It sounds like a pH problem. Koi and comets like more alkaline water, between 7.5-8.5. Lower than this can cause stress to your fish, leading to bacterial infections and dull colors. Each number on the pH scale is 10 times more alkaline or acidic than the preceding number, so having a pH of 6.5 is 10 times more acidic than where the ideal range is for koi. PH anywhere beyond 7-9 can make your fish hang around near the surface, as though there is not enough oxygen.

If you have excessive plant growth, the pH can make dangerous swings at night when lots of carbon dioxide forms carbonic acid in your water, because the plants are not photosynthesizing. PH fluctuates naturally throughout the day in a pond, but it should not fluctuate outside the limits of 7-9.

Mandy asks…

Pond Fish keep dieing!?

I have an outside pond that is about 50 gallons. I have bought several fish, cheap ones from Walmart and they keep dieing. Most die within two days. I have several plants and an aerator. I have check the water and everything is perfectly in balance. Why are they dieing?
I buy the cheap ones because I didn’t want to spend money on expensive fish if they are going to die.

I tested my water with the testing strips for ponds/fish

Staff answers:

Go to a store that sells pond fish. Those from Wal-mart are just feeder type goldfish and are not well taken care of. Cheap fish are usually not taken care of and on the road t death before you get them. Spend a little more money and get good stock. If you are sure your water is fine, its filter is running good, then its the stock.
FYI: Wal-Mart is discontinuing selling livestock at many of its stores. Hopefully at all of them in time. A store that doesn’t specialize in living creatures has no business selling them.

Linda asks…

Would just a good air pump keep an area of my 25′ x 35′ pond open in this very cold zone 4 in Michigan?

The pond only has one small area which is 5-feet deep at one end. The rest is only 2-feet deep. The entire pond holds about 18,000 gallons of water.

Would I also need a floating deicer (kind of like they use in cattle water tanks)?

I usually get winter-kill with any larger type fish or bluegills, but I have never kept an area open for the gases to escape. I now have goldfish and koi in there and would like to winter them over without harm.

I would appreciate any suggestions as to what to use, a good brand of aerator, from anyone who has delat with a pond in very cold climates.

Staff answers:

You have a tough climate. I have clients that live in Madison Wisconsin which I think is also zone 4. Its interesting that the aerator I would recommend would be the Great Lakes brand, but there are many good brands. Usually the aerators will work but on rare occasions the de-icer is needed. Sometimes just a bundle of straw works to keep a small section clear enough to help with the passage of gasses. For them in Madison they tell me its just a winter by winter thing and they use different things at different times. Here is a link to aeration systems from a company I use and like. Good luck.
Http://www.aquaticeco.com/categories/Aeration-Systems/100/0/

Courtesy of Y!Answers