Airstones In A Saltwater Tank?

[fish-r-fancy]

Hi I just found some old airstones and bubble curtains that I hade lying around. Would it be ok to use these in a saltwater aquarium?

 

[Mr Miagi]

Theres no reason why it would be bad for them, but in many's mind it would just look really un-realistic and unsightly. An airstone/air curtain sets to add oxygen into the water of FW aquariums. This is important because the turnover rate in FW tanks is extremly low. In SW tanks, with high flow and good surface agitation, all the oxygen needed by the inhabitnats is supplied. Its up to you, but personally, I wouldnt.

 

[fish-r-fancy]

Ok. I'm not to fond of the look either. I just thought if it would benefit the tank why not.

 

[Ter]

ur gonna get salt all over your hood.. and maybe tubes depends on ur setup
Ter

 

[N1z]

Ive had it once, when i was a n00b and well i found it was horrible and also stressed the corals. Just had water movement and ull be fine

 

[Miss Wiggle]

i *think* that it's much harder to get oxygen into salt water, something to do with the water that salt affects the structure of the water and makes it harder for it to absorb oxygen. (This marine biologist guy in one of our lfs's tried to explain it to me once, went right over my head, think he e-mailed us an articel about it i might be able to dig out if anyone's interested) so good flow and surface agitation is very important in SW tanks, however there are better ways to do it than with an airstone

 

[fish-r-fancy]

Ok. Thanks guys. Looks like I wont be using the airstones.

 

[SkiFletch]

i *think* that it's much harder to get oxygen into salt water, something to do with the water that salt affects the structure of the water and makes it harder for it to absorb oxygen. (This marine biologist guy in one of our lfs's tried to explain it to me once, went right over my head, think he e-mailed us an articel about it i might be able to dig out if anyone's interested) so good flow and surface agitation is very important in SW tanks, however there are better ways to do it than with an airstone

The simple reason is that water (as a liquid) has a finite ability to dissolve molecules within it. In freshwater there's only some carbonate, a few chemicals, gasses (N2 O2 CO2 Ar) and perhaps some calcium. In saltwater its jam packed with salt, 3 times as much carbonate, 10 times as much calcium, 100 times as much magnesium, stronium, iodine, and more trace elements. All these molecules take up space that Oxygen could be using, hence theres MUCH less in saltwater, making the exchange rate of it even more important.

Luckily for us, moving the water does a great job at exchanging Oxygen to replace whats used by our living inhabitants. Cause bubblers make salt creep EVERYWHERE

 

[Miss Wiggle]

i *think* that it's much harder to get oxygen into salt water, something to do with the water that salt affects the structure of the water and makes it harder for it to absorb oxygen. (This marine biologist guy in one of our lfs's tried to explain it to me once, went right over my head, think he e-mailed us an articel about it i might be able to dig out if anyone's interested) so good flow and surface agitation is very important in SW tanks, however there are better ways to do it than with an airstone

The simple reason is that water (as a liquid) has a finite ability to dissolve molecules within it. In freshwater there's only some carbonate, a few chemicals, gasses (N2 O2 CO2 Ar) and perhaps some calcium. In saltwater its jam packed with salt, 3 times as much carbonate, 10 times as much calcium, 100 times as much magnesium, stronium, iodine, and more trace elements. All these molecules take up space that Oxygen could be using, hence theres MUCH less in saltwater, making the exchange rate of it even more important.

ahhhhhh, see you explain it much better, i understood that, this article we've got on the pc we've both tried reading and it just makes no sense whatsoever. way too sciencey for me to understand!

 

[Mr Miagi]

Well im interested Miss Wiggle, so shoot us over a copy, either via PM or too hami0100 @ flinders.edu.au

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Well im interested Miss Wiggle, so shoot us over a copy, either via PM or too hami0100 @ flinders.edu.au

it's on the pc at home, i'll dig it out tonight and send you it


just to make doubly clear so no one thinks I'm plagarising..... it's not my own work, i was sent it by chris somebody or other, he's a qualified marine biologist who runs the reef ranch in leeds.