Thanks folk

Hi All,

Reading your e-mails on airstones causing to many bubbles and the fact that
someone said to remember that not all fish are used to turbulent waters,
I have set my local store into action to get me the mentioned valves to
reduce airstone output on this advice

I thought that the power was a bit too much in the small 10 gal tank with a
6"Airstone. The big tank (56 gals) has a double pump with 2 x 16" Airstones
for effect. I suppose one has to remember that effect is only good as far as
the fish are happy and safe?? I just switch them off at certain times of the
day now, but some of the fish seem to like the bubbles

I did try to reduce my filter power a bit but I started to get hazy water
and that worried me. I am just your beginner too but I am dead serious about
the care of my "brood"

What does more harm - Strong filters or Airstones?

If I cut the filters current down (I use two filters - Fluval 2 & 3) What is
the worst scenario?

Or should I cut the airstones down in power as I said I was going to?

All comments welcome - PLEASE:-) I would appreciate some feedback

Regards to all
Angela

YOu can also get an airstone that produces micro bubbles which puts
lots of air out into the water column yet produces very ittle
turbulence. Not all air stones are created equal. Usually those sold
under the name of Wal Mart, Topfin etc are el cheapo stones which do
not produce a very good stream of bubbles no matter how they are
adjusted. Find a ceramic airstone (about 3 times the cost of cheap
ones) and they come in very fine, fine, mdeium and coarse bubble
producing sizes. Another good airstone while not actually a stone are
those made out of limewood. They produce very small micro bubbles, and
are used on lots of protein skimmers used in marine tank setups
specificaly becasue they produce such a fine supply of micro bubbles.
Airstones be it wood, ceramic, or vitrified oxides or other materials
require cleaning periodicaly to keep em producing the bubbles
correctly. Soak in vinegar for a few hours...but yur apt to find
cheaply made ones fall apart before they get cleaned properly.

On Thu, 08 Dec 2005 23:40:27 GMT, "Angela"
wrote:
Hi All,

Reading your e-mails on airstones causing to many bubbles and the
fact that
someone said to remember that not all fish are used to turbulent
waters,
I have set my local store into action to get me the mentioned valves
to
reduce airstone output on this advice

I thought that the power was a bit too much in the small 10 gal tank
with a
6"Airstone. The big tank (56 gals) has a double pump with 2 x 16"
Airstones
for effect. I suppose one has to remember that effect is only good as
far as
the fish are happy and safe?? I just switch them off at certain times
of the
day now, but some of the fish seem to like the bubbles

I did try to reduce my filter power a bit but I started to get hazy
water
and that worried me. I am just your beginner too but I am dead serious
about
the care of my "brood"

What does more harm - Strong filters or Airstones?

If I cut the filters current down (I use two filters - Fluval 2 & 3)
What is
the worst scenario?

Or should I cut the airstones down in power as I said I was going to?

All comments welcome - PLEASE:-) I would appreciate some feedback

Regards to all
Angela


--
\\\|///
( @ @ )
-----------oOOo(_)oOOo---------------


oooO
---------( )----Oooo----------------
\ ( ( )
\_) ) /
(_/
The original frugal ponder! Koi-ahoi mates....

"Angela" wrote in message
...
Hi All,

I did try to reduce my filter power a bit but I started to get hazy water
and that worried me. I am just your beginner too but I am dead serious
about the care of my "brood"

I wouldn't turn the filters down. Just get the valves and bleed off the
excess air.


What does more harm - Strong filters or Airstones?

If the current is stressing the fish it doesn't matter.


If I cut the filters current down (I use two filters - Fluval 2 & 3) What
is the worst scenario?

There may not be a worse scenario or they may be a slight ammonia spike. I
would never turn down the filter flow unless it's too large for the tank,
the current is stressing the fish or there are few fish in a large tank.

Or should I cut the airstones down in power as I said I was going to?

Get the valves and bleed off the excess air.

All comments welcome - PLEASE:-) I would appreciate some feedback

Regards to all
Angela
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

Daniel Morrow wrote:
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Mid posted.

- --
You can find my public key at https://keyserver1.pgp.com
"Angela" wrote in message
...

Hi All,

Reading your e-mails on airstones causing to many bubbles and the

fact that

someone said to remember that not all fish are used to turbulent

waters,

I have set my local store into action to get me the mentioned

valves to

reduce airstone output on this advice

I thought that the power was a bit too much in the small 10 gal

tank with a

6"Airstone.


I use 2 air wands the full length of my 15 gallon (usa) tank, plus
one 1 or 2 inch rena microbubbler and 1 1 inch lee's fine discarda
stone and my fancy guppies and kuhli loaches are doing great and in
fact seem happier wit the air bubbles going strong. That doesn't even
describe my filtration of that tank too. I use 2 tetra luft pumps and
1 airmaster dual output, and 1 whisper 300 to power all of the
airstones in my 15 gallon (usa) tank.

The big tank (56 gals) has a double pump with 2 x 16" Airstones

for effect. I suppose one has to remember that effect is only good

as far as

the fish are happy and safe?? I just switch them off at certain

times of the

day now, but some of the fish seem to like the bubbles

I did try to reduce my filter power a bit but I started to get hazy

water

and that worried me. I am just your beginner too but I am dead

serious about

the care of my "brood"

What does more harm - Strong filters or Airstones?


Strong filters do more harm than airstones in my opinion (especially
wit my experience with a hagen 400 gph powerhead/filter with sponge
prefilter - my fancy guppies did ok but all they did all day was
avoid the strong current from the 400 gallons per hour rated
powerhead/filter with sponge prefilter).



If I cut the filters current down (I use two filters - Fluval 2 &

3) What is

the worst scenario?

Or should I cut the airstones down in power as I said I was going

to?

All comments welcome - PLEASE:-) I would appreciate some feedback


I recommend using the green penn plax gang valve (sounds like you
only need 3 or 4 outlets max) as I have experience wit them. And when
you cut back on air pump output make sure you open an unused valve
enough to keep from damaging your air pump by clogging up the line so
to speak (i.e. bleed off any normally unused air otherwise the
diaphragm could pop/rupture in the air pump, let alone damage to a
silicone valve or two). If you do do damage you should probably be
able to buy an air pump repair kit as todays pumps are much alike to
the point that parts for other pump models/brands probably will work
with your current pump, but there is no guarantee of course. Summary
- - remember to bleed off the unused air with the gang valve.



Regards to all
Angela




Good luck and later!

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speaking of airstones, how long are they supposed to last? I've kept
mine in the chamber, connected to a 6mm airline for 4 weeks now, and
apart from developing "slime" on them, which i clean with hot water, and
an old toothbrush, they seem to be doing alright..
Graham

"graham" wrote in message
...
speaking of airstones, how long are they supposed to last? I've kept mine
in the chamber, connected to a 6mm airline for 4 weeks now, and apart from
developing "slime" on them, which i clean with hot water, and an old
toothbrush, they seem to be doing alright..
Graham
=====================
Depending on the airstone I've had them last anywhere from a few weeks to
months. The smaller the pores the faster they clog. At least that's been
my experience.
--

Koi-Lo.... frugal ponding since 1995...
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://bellsouthpwp.net/s/h/shastadaisy
~~~ }((((o ~~~ }{{{{o ~~~ }(((((o

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Bottom posted.

- --
You can find my public key at https://keyserver1.pgp.com
"graham" wrote in message
...
Daniel Morrow wrote:
-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Mid posted.

- --
You can find my public key at https://keyserver1.pgp.com
"Angela" wrote in message
...

Hi All,

Reading your e-mails on airstones causing to many bubbles and
the

fact that

someone said to remember that not all fish are used to turbulent

waters,

I have set my local store into action to get me the mentioned

valves to

reduce airstone output on this advice

I thought that the power was a bit too much in the small 10 gal

tank with a

6"Airstone.


I use 2 air wands the full length of my 15 gallon (usa) tank,
plus
one 1 or 2 inch rena microbubbler and 1 1 inch lee's fine
discarda
stone and my fancy guppies and kuhli loaches are doing great and
in
fact seem happier wit the air bubbles going strong. That doesn't
even
describe my filtration of that tank too. I use 2 tetra luft pumps
and
1 airmaster dual output, and 1 whisper 300 to power all of the
airstones in my 15 gallon (usa) tank.

The big tank (56 gals) has a double pump with 2 x 16" Airstones

for effect. I suppose one has to remember that effect is only
good

as far as

the fish are happy and safe?? I just switch them off at certain

times of the

day now, but some of the fish seem to like the bubbles

I did try to reduce my filter power a bit but I started to get
hazy

water

and that worried me. I am just your beginner too but I am dead

serious about

the care of my "brood"

What does more harm - Strong filters or Airstones?


Strong filters do more harm than airstones in my opinion
(especially
wit my experience with a hagen 400 gph powerhead/filter with
sponge
prefilter - my fancy guppies did ok but all they did all day was
avoid the strong current from the 400 gallons per hour rated
powerhead/filter with sponge prefilter).



If I cut the filters current down (I use two filters - Fluval 2
&

3) What is

the worst scenario?

Or should I cut the airstones down in power as I said I was
going

to?

All comments welcome - PLEASE:-) I would appreciate some
feedback


I recommend using the green penn plax gang valve (sounds like
you
only need 3 or 4 outlets max) as I have experience wit them. And
when
you cut back on air pump output make sure you open an unused
valve
enough to keep from damaging your air pump by clogging up the
line so
to speak (i.e. bleed off any normally unused air otherwise the
diaphragm could pop/rupture in the air pump, let alone damage to
a
silicone valve or two). If you do do damage you should probably
be
able to buy an air pump repair kit as todays pumps are much alike
to
the point that parts for other pump models/brands probably will
work
with your current pump, but there is no guarantee of course.
Summary
- - remember to bleed off the unused air with the gang valve.



Regards to all
Angela




Good luck and later!

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speaking of airstones, how long are they supposed to last? I've
kept
mine in the chamber, connected to a 6mm airline for 4 weeks now,
and
apart from developing "slime" on them, which i clean with hot
water, and
an old toothbrush, they seem to be doing alright..
Graham

Basically airstones last 2 to 3 months on average without cleaning.
With occasional cleaning maybe they last up to a year. Do a search
on google groups (use the library computer if you have to) for
- -daniel morrow two helpful tips- for information on how to easily use
airstones indefinitely (I have been using mine functioning like new
for a few years now) by using a simple basic maintenance/restoration
method I describe there. Trust me - it's easy and with this method no
one has to worry about airstone lifespan, and with this method the
airstone(s) will function like new indefinitely. Good luck and you
can find this information on the web via a basic search as well most
likely. Later!

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