Filter thingy majig

[Radical_Edward]

Okay, this might seem like an obvious and stupid question, but I'm a complete newbie to fish life, and the manual that came with the filter was terrible[i/]. It's a Penn-Plax Cascade 300 Internal filter.

See the little upwards pointing nozzle on the blue spout? That connects to a small air tube with a muffler. I gather this is so that air can be pumped into the tank, am I right? If I take it off, the water still pumps around, but does that mean that there's no air getting into the water?

K x

 

[OCCFan023]

yea, ussualy when you connect the air tube alot of bubbles will start to flow out along with the filtered water, thats why I dont use mine. Yea if you take that tube of this means you will be taking tha ir out but this isnt that big of a deal as long as the filter agitates the surface enough to oxiginate the water

 

[Farrmanchu]

The airline is optional, the "muffler" is likely a filter for dust. It's up to you, if you have an air pump or live plants, you probably don't need the venturi tube.

 

[Radical_Edward]

Thanks to both of you, but how much surface agitation is needed? I have the filter stream pointed angled at the surface, so it breaks the water at one point, and ripples the rest of the surface, except above the filter. Would that be enough agitation?

 

[Managuense]

granted that your temperature is not >82F, you should be just fine bro.

the length of your tank will also have a large effect upon the ability for gases to dissolve at the surface...obviously the more surface area the better.

i probably havent used an air pump in the last 6 years.
M