How much surface agitation is needed for prazi pro?

[ILikeFish!]

If i point my power head at the surface and add a put a hob filter on my 55g would that give enough oxygen for the fish when i use praziquantel pro?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

ILikeFish! Welcome to the Fish Disease Treatment and Diagnosis Forum!

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[vetteguy53081]

If i point my power head at the surface and add a put a hob filter on my 55g would that give enough oxygen for the fish when i use praziquantel pro?

I highly recommend air stone. HOB filter offers a trickling waterfall effect while air stone does a complete surface exchange and contributes to water movement also

 

[ILikeFish!]

I highly recommend air stone. HOB filter offers a trickling waterfall effect while air stone does a complete surface exchange and contributes to water movement also

Even if i point my wave maker at the surface that wont be enough?

 

[JayM]

Even if i point my wave maker at the surface that wont be enough?

I don’t think there’s a definitive answer to your question as there’s many variables to account for. Your best bet is to err on the side of caution and run an airstone.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Even if i point my wave maker at the surface that wont be enough?

Aiming at surface offers agitation and surface movement but little gas exchange as air stone will. There is glycol in the prazi which you want to keep the water moving

 

[ILikeFish!]

Aiming at surface offers agitation and surface movement but little gas exchange as air stone will. There is glycol in the prazi which you want to keep the water moving

Is one 2-4 inch air stone enough oxygen?

 

[vetteguy53081]

Is one 2-4 inch air stone enough oxygen?

Yes

 

[Malcontent]

Surface agitation doesn't do much despite being worshipped by many aquarists.

A 3.5 W air pump supplying an air stone is equal to a 24 W wave maker.

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Agree with the need for an air stone placed near the bottom of the tank, multiple stones in large tanks. Since home aquarists typically don't have dissolved oxygen meters, you need to err on the side of caution and aerate strongly when dosing certain drugs like Prazipro.

What happens with Prazipro is that it is 95% glycol. This is attacked by bacteria as a food source (as is the 5% prazi as well). That bacterial action consume oxygen from the water and produces carbon dioxide. Those must be balanced by proper aeration.

Finally, a protein skimmer can be used as an aeration source in many aquariums, but you do not want to collect skimmate while dosing prazi.

 

[ILikeFish!]

Agree with the need for an air stone placed near the bottom of the tank, multiple stones in large tanks. Since home aquarists typically don't have dissolved oxygen meters, you need to err on the side of caution and aerate strongly when dosing certain drugs like Prazipro.

What happens with Prazipro is that it is 95% glycol. This is attacked by bacteria as a food source (as is the 5% prazi as well). That bacterial action consume oxygen from the water and produces carbon dioxide. Those must be balanced by proper aeration.

Finally, a protein skimmer can be used as an aeration source in many aquariums, but you do not want to collect skimmate while dosing prazi.

Would this 2.5 inch air stone give enough oxygen?

Amazon

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Would this 2.5 inch air stone give enough oxygen?

Amazon

Yes, in a smaller tank it will, say less than 20 gallons. The air pump that you use to drive it is more important though, it needs to have enough pressure to create a good flow of bubbles to the bottom of the tank.

 

[ILikeFish!]

Yes, in a smaller tank it will, say less than 20 gallons. The air pump that you use to drive it is more important though, it needs to have enough pressure to create a good flow of bubbles to the bottom of the tank.

I have a 55 gallon tank, how many air stones do I need?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

I have a 55 gallon tank, how many air stones do I need?

I would use two - one at each end of the tank. If you have a protein skimmer in a dump, I imagine one stone would be fine. The only way to know for sure would be to run a dissolved oxygen test…it is just easier to have more aeration than you need if you can’t test for it.

 

[ILikeFish!]

I would use two - one at each end of the tank. If you have a protein skimmer in a dump, I imagine one stone would be fine. The only way to know for sure would be to run a dissolved oxygen test…it is just easier to have more aeration than you need if you can’t test for it.

If I got a 4 inch air stone would I only need one or would it still be better to get two 2 inch ones?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

If I got a 4 inch air stone would I only need one or would it still be better to get two 2 inch ones?

Well, that's kind of splitting hairs I think. I prefer two air stones at different ends of the tank as they produce rising water currents that helps with gas exchange, so having two rising columns of water at either end of the tank is better that one large one. That said, once you've reached saturation, extra aeration won't hurt or help...but without an oxygen test you can't tell.

 

[ILikeFish!]

Well, that's kind of splitting hairs I think. I prefer two air stones at different ends of the tank as they produce rising water currents that helps with gas exchange, so having two rising columns of water at either end of the tank is better that one large one. That said, once you've reached saturation, extra aeration won't hurt or help...but without an oxygen test you can't tell.

I’m okay with getting two it’s just that my air pump only allows one hose so i have to use one air stone.