How can I tell if my axolotls have enough air in their water?

[blueberlin]

I have an external canister filter below the aquarium with hoses to and from the water. The hose to the water is attached to a pipe with holes, which is suction-cupped horizontally to the side of the aquarium just above the water’s surface; the holes are angled so that the water squirts diagonally downward into the water, meeting the glass side of the aquarium about two cm below the surface.

There used to be a sort of plastic nipple with a mini-pipe sticking out of it on the end of the pipe with holes, but as I keep reading that axolotls do not like water flow, I capped this (abut 30 minutes ago) and now I am hoping that the wee little water jets will be getting enough air into the tank. I used to have goldfish in the aquarium (long story; they’re gone now) and had tried this before, and within 8 hours the goldfish were all at the water’s surface, snapping after air.

Thus, my question: how do I tell if my axolotls have enough air in their water? (As in, before they suffocate.)

Thanks in advance,

-blue

 

[Kal El]

Hi blueberlin,

This thread should be able to answer your question:

http://www.caudata.org/forum/showthread.php?t=52188

Jay.

 

[blueberlin]

Hi Jay and thank you for your fast response. I assume you mean the following excerpt?

Rei,

If all your paramters (NH3/NO2/NO3) are at the appropriate levels then I would recommend that you purchase an air pump. You don't need anything fancy, just something that pumps about 10-20L/hr more than the size of your tank. The reason why I say this is because the aerobic decomposition of organic material/waste are part of the biological oxygen demand (BOD or "bioload"). The metabolic decomposition of such matter generally use more oxygen than respiration itself. Having said that, your axolotl is most likely (if it's not because of concentrated levels of NH3/NO2) gasping at the surface of the water because of "oxygen starvation". Keep in mind that it is not the low oxygen level but the siginificantly high carbon dioxide (CO2) level within the water. Without a sharp gradient between CO2 levels in the blood and CO2 levels in the water, it becomes increasingly difficult for axolotls to diffuse the CO2 out of their blood. And with the bacteria in your tank using up more oxygen than your axolotl, and releasing CO2 as a waste product, it could explain why your axolotl is gasping.

On another note, the gasping at the surface could be related to high nitrite levels rather than an inadequate oxygen supply. I say this because nitrite has a greater affinity for the blood's hemoglobin (Hb) binding site that would ordinarily be transporting oxygen. This works the same way with humans. Carbon monoxide has a greater affinity for iron (Fe- the binding site) within the Hb molecule, which is why during a fire when we inhale the smoke we eventually pass out or die due to carbon monoxide poisoning.

Another thing that you should keep in mind is that there is obviously oxygen present in the atmosphere, so the dissolved gases within your tank will try and reach an equilibrium with the gases in the atmosphere. For instance, there will obviously be more oxygen in the atmosphere than within your tank, therefore oxygen will diffuse down its partial pressure gradient (that is from an area high oxygen level to an area of lower oxygen level). But it will never reach an equilibrium because the of the BOD within your tank. Hence, the air pump will come in handy.

Actually I was hoping that someone would tell me, before I buy a water pump, that it would be ok to have the water nozzle streaming across the top of the water…?

-blue

 

[Levo]

Hi Jay and thank you for your fast response. I assume you mean the following excerpt?



Actually I was hoping that someone would tell me, before I buy a water pump, that it would be ok to have the water nozzle streaming across the top of the water…?

-blue

Well you could have it across the top of the water, just keep an eye on the water flow that it will create. I have a 10 gallon tank with just a filter like the one you have described and I have the water shooting upwards towards the glass before making its way to the water, that has been fine for me and I have seen no problems with oxygen levels. I don't have a lid on my tank, so maybe that helps the oxygen get into the tank, am not to sure.

 

[blueberlin]

Thank you, Levo. I will put the "air nozzle" back on the end. I think that the water flow is minor and mainly at the top of the tank, and that this poses a lesser inconvenience than suffocation would.

-blue