Airstones?

[FishNoob]

I've asked in two different LFS (see? I'm even getting the lingo!
LOL) and got two different answers, so I thought, why not ask on rafm
and see how many more different answers I can get ;-)

Is it beneficial to the fish to have an airstone in the tank? Is it
good for the tank? Is it just aesthetically pleasing to the humans?

--
FishNoob
who bought an airstone/pump off ebay last night anyway...think I'm
hooked LOL

[Beano]

It's pretty, puts oxygen into the water (good for smaller tanks when
the fish start going to the top for air), and in bigger tanks with
power filters, where the bubbles can stir up hidden dirt in the tank
for the filter to suck up. Some fish love to play in the bubbles as
well!

That's what I think anyway.

[Dick]

On Mon, 3 Oct 2005 09:09:14 +0100, FishNoob >
wrote:

>I've asked in two different LFS (see? I'm even getting the lingo!
>LOL) and got two different answers, so I thought, why not ask on rafm
>and see how many more different answers I can get ;-)
>
>Is it beneficial to the fish to have an airstone in the tank? Is it
>good for the tank? Is it just aesthetically pleasing to the humans?

For the first 2 years I kept air stones in my tanks. I like to look
at the wall of bubbles. I believe it is good to increase the water
ciculation as it more evenly distributes heat. I think it keeps
solids in the water thus into the filters.

BUT, my local water is hard. The bubbles carry these minerals out of
the tank where it gets deposited on the tank rim, top glass,
heater,even as high as the top of the light hoods. No, air, no
deposits, simple choice for me.

dick

[spiral_72]

IMO. Airstones look pretty and add oxygen to the water (as already
stated). If you run a waterfall or similar filter where the return
water crashes into the tank and makes millions of little bubbles, you
prob'ly don't NEED an airstone. If you run a canister or something with
little surface agitation, you might consider it.

They do look cool though!

My Aquaria info & pics at:
http://www.geocities.com/spiral_72/Spirals_page.html

[FishNoob]

In article om>,
says...
> IMO. Airstones look pretty and add oxygen to the water (as already
> stated). If you run a waterfall or similar filter where the return
> water crashes into the tank and makes millions of little bubbles, you
> prob'ly don't NEED an airstone. If you run a canister or something with
> little surface agitation, you might consider it.

Is a waterfall filter a specific kind? I just have the filter that
came with my tank - a plastic case with a bit of foam in it - can I
place it so that the water comes out right at the surface and creates
surface agitation, or will that cause problems?

--
FishNoob

[Steve]

FishNoob wrote:
> In article om>,
> says...
>
>>IMO. Airstones look pretty and add oxygen to the water (as already
>>stated). If you run a waterfall or similar filter where the return
>>water crashes into the tank and makes millions of little bubbles, you
>>prob'ly don't NEED an airstone. If you run a canister or something with
>>little surface agitation, you might consider it.
>
>
> Is a waterfall filter a specific kind? I just have the filter that
> came with my tank - a plastic case with a bit of foam in it - can I
> place it so that the water comes out right at the surface and creates
> surface agitation, or will that cause problems?
>
It sounds like you have a hang on he back power filter like an
Aquaclear. These filters, and many others, let the water "fall" back
into the aquarium over a wide outlet, like a waterfall. Lowering the
aquarium water level 1/2 inch or more from usual, can result in a nice,
oxygenating waterfall. It's noisy, though, so I keep my water levels
quite high to minimize the effect.
Steve

[FishNoob]

In article >,
says...
> It sounds like you have a hang on he back power filter like an
> Aquaclear. These filters, and many others, let the water "fall" back
> into the aquarium over a wide outlet, like a waterfall.

No, the filter attaches to the inside of the tank wall using plastic
suction pads. Right now it's pushing the water out a little below the
surface of the water - can I just move it up so that it pushes it out
at surface-level?

--
FishNoob

[Beano]

is the filters pump built in to the filter, or is it air driven by an
external aerator pump? If the pump is with the filter (submergible),
then if moving the filter up results in the pump being out of the
water, then you may very well wreck the pump by doing this.

[§tudz]

Yeah I know what you mean.
If you want to avoid an airstone, you could buy a Fluval filter depending on
the size of your tank, I use a 2+ on my 15gal tank, and I have fitted it
with a spray bar, which basically sprays the water out of the filter across
the tank, thus oxygenating the water, although this tank is also planted.

the filters that come with sets up like what I gather you bought as not good
enough for the tank, well at least thats what I found when I bought this
15gal setup from Pets at home.

§tudz


"FishNoob" > wrote in message
...
> In article >,
> says...
>> It sounds like you have a hang on he back power filter like an
>> Aquaclear. These filters, and many others, let the water "fall" back
>> into the aquarium over a wide outlet, like a waterfall.
>
> No, the filter attaches to the inside of the tank wall using plastic
> suction pads. Right now it's pushing the water out a little below the
> surface of the water - can I just move it up so that it pushes it out
> at surface-level?
>
> --
> FishNoob