Risers and Airstones

[davros]

I have an unproven belief that an airstone in a riser tube ( undergravel/sponge filter whatever) works better than just the hose sending bigger bubbles upward.
I have seen some argue against.
Thoughts?

 

[Slaphppy7]

"Works better" in what way?

 

[davros]

Better for this discussion would be = greater volume of water passing through the device per unit air?

 

[Back in the fold]

I've used uplift tubes off Undergravel filters and box filters with and without air stones . I like the effect of the large stream of fine bubbles from an air stone over regular bubbles. I don't know but I think that fish hear things and the fine bubbles off air stones might sound more like real stream flow to them and not as jarring as big bubbles. Air stones eventually clog up and you have to replace them before the back pressure breaks your pump diaphragm . I like the cheap plastic air stones over the hobbyist grade stone type. There is also a ceramic air stone available from Jehmco that lasts a long time but is a bit pricey.

 

[davros]

Fine airstones clog up pretty fast for me, I like them but it hurts to pay big coin for a shorter life.

Pieces of wood drilled and fitted are interesting, not had much time to play but have gotten some fine bubbles when experimenting

 

[Uberhoust]

My believe is that the only difference between dispersed bubbles vs bubbles in a riser is that the energy to lift the water is concentrated to a small volume using a riser, whereas dispersed still moves the water around but doesn't focus that movement to a small volume and hence doesn't seem to do as much and what it does do cannot be focused to doing some kind of work, like pulling water through a filter. In both cases the same amount of energy from the air pump is being added to the tank providing the pump is working equally hard in both cases.

In regards to noise I wouldn't know the difference between the big bubbles or small, I do know from snorkeling in rivers that areas with bubbles are quite noisy but, in these zones the fish do not seem affected.