Airstone Or Not?

[david419]

do you have to have an airstone in the tank?

or can i just move the outlet pipe on my external filter to disturb the surface a little?

 

[Thomas 2507]

A filter should be fine, but this depends on the number of fish and what size tank you have.

 

[Scotty001]

do you have to have an airstone in the tank?

or can i just move the outlet pipe on my external filter to disturb the surface a little?

An air stone isn't necessary, so long as there is some movement of surface water from the filter, its the surface movement that oxygenates the water not the bubbles from an air stone, tho if you have air curtain some fish find these fun to play in and will dash from one side to the next

 

[david419]

do you have to have an airstone in the tank?

or can i just move the outlet pipe on my external filter to disturb the surface a little?

An air stone isn't necessary, so long as there is some movement of surface water from the filter, its the surface movement that oxygenates the water not the bubbles from an air stone, tho if you have air curtain some fish find these fun to play in and will dash from one side to the next

i have the outlet of my filter just below the water surface, it does disturb the surface but dont create to much bubbles if you know what i mean,(slight ripples),
i had an airstone but was causing to much crap getting moved about in the water.

many thanks.

 

[backtotropical]

Hi David,

Airstones are by no means necessary. Contrary to popular belief, the air bubbles rising through the water actually does virtually nothing towards oxygenating the water.

Almost all of the oxygenation of the water happens at the surface. Here a gaseous exchange occurs (oxygen is taken from the air and carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere).

Creating surface movement in your tank creates a larger surface area by contantly turning over which water is at the surface and therefore more oxygen can be taken from the atmosphere. This is the key point in understanding oxygenation, the larger the surface area, the more oxygenation can take place.

As you will imagine, when using an airstone the bubbles burst on the surface which does increase surface area to a certain extent but not nearly as much as if you point the outflow from your filter at the surface to ripple the water.

That said, i would recommend that you point the outflow from the filter at the surface for oxygenation, and you could have an airstone if you so desire, but it is really more aesthetic than practical. Many people have airstones because they like the look of the bubbles rising in the tank, and some fish will like to play in them, but it is by no means necessary.

Hope this helps you.

Cheers

BTT