Tank Essentials

[backtotropical]

Actually an airstone does a better job than a powerhead pointed at the surface (unless of course the powerhead is fitted with a venturi) Its all to do with the ammount of surface area disturbed, the millions of tiny bubbles exploding on the surface create a huge surface area to interact with the air where as the powerhead just pushes a smooth stream of water, think of it as the equivilent of a sponge versus the surface of a smooth stone of identical size.

Of course the vast majority of tanks get enough oxygen to keep the fish alive just from having the filter return ripple the surface and its only in times of higher oxygen demand that an airstones higher efficiency is really of any real use.

I disagree, CFC.

Agreed, it is to do with the amount of surface area disturbed, and to elaborate on that, it really comes down to the more surface area available, the more oxygenation will take place.

Bubbles exploding at the surface do create a larger surface area for gaseous exchange, however a powerhead constantly brings fresh water to the surface in much larger quantities than an air stone could.

Your statement would be correct if bubbles were rising from all areas of the tank, allowing the entire surface area to be expanded by bubbles, but this is hardly ever the case, if at all. Usually the bubbles are confined to a particular area of the tank, which amounts to only a fraction of the surface area available. In contrast, a well places powerhead will continuously expand the entire surface area of the water.

To summarise, like for like, an air stone may be more efficient. However the fact that an airstone usually only disturbs a fraction of the surface area available, and that a powerhead will disturb most if not all the surface area available brings me to my conclusion that a powerhead is the better option for most aquariums.

 

[Piscator]

More stuff to add to the list:

(1) Treatment for "Ick". Best to have it right there, instead of having too wait a day or two before you buy it, then your fish are dead.

(2) A long wooden stick that you can use to move stuff around in the aquarium without putting your whole arm in there (scares the fish).

 

[andywg]

More stuff to add to the list:

(1) Treatment for "Ick". Best to have it right there, instead of having too wait a day or two before you buy it, then your fish are dead.

Ich does not kill within a day or two.

 

[rdd1952]

When I first got into the hobby, I posted a thread about what meds to keep on hand. The advise I was give is not to keep any. The biggest problem with keeping a supply of medication on hand is that most of it has a shelf life (and is expensive). If you try to keep it "just in case" you may end up having to throw it away because it has expired.

 

[Piscator]

More stuff to add to the list:

(1) Treatment for "Ick". Best to have it right there, instead of having too wait a day or two before you buy it, then your fish are dead.

Ich does not kill within a day or two.

True, but it does stress out the fish, so why not have a way to treat it ASAP? If you had, say, a cut on your arm that got infected, would you wait a day or two before treating it? After all, an infected wound isn't gonna kill you, right?

Also, regarding the low shelf life of meds - consider how much of an investment in time and money you have with you fish, then consider the cost of the meds. Seems like cheap insurance to me, even if the meds need to be replaced 1-2 a year .....

 

[andywg]

[quote name='Piscator' post='1889444' date='Jan 27 2008, 05:03 PM'][quote name='andywg' post='1889069' date='Jan 27 2008, 01:40 AM'][quote name='Piscator' post='1889042' date='Jan 27 2008, 08:50

Ich does not kill within a day or two.[/quote]

True, [/quote]

So why say it does to a new person who may well know no different? Many wild fish constantly live with a low level infection of ich, it's a bit like having gnats around. It's only in a contained environment that it develops to a level where it can cause serious issues with health, and even then only if the keeper ignores the symptoms for some time.