Aeration Techniques

[Luvmygeetars]

Given that I got so much good advice about my yellow water problem off this forum, this should be fairly easy for you. I want to find the quietist but still effective way to aerate my 220L tank. Currently I have an intank sponge filter with an air intake. It seems to do a good job at moving the water around and pumping the air in. The problem is it's really noisy. I've also been told by my brother (the expert) that the water flow is too harsh and for thr fish I have I just need an airstone and don't need to worry about circulating the water. Is he right?

What are some other good ways to aerate that are quiet?

I also have an Eheim 620L/hr external filter.

Any ideas would be great.

Thanx.

 

[fluttermoth]

What species of fish do you have? In general air isn't needed in a tank; I don't run air to any of mine. As long as the outflow from your external makes the surface of the water ripple a bit, that's enough circulation for gaseous exchange.

 

[@ombomb]

agreed

just make sure you have a reasonable amount of surface agitation (which should be easy with a spray bar from the eheim) and take out the air intake of the in tank filter

the only benefit from an air stone is surface movement and you have the tools to do that already

 

[Gilli]

Agree - you really don't need any extra aeration, all it will do is cost you more money to buy it and run it! You don't need bubbles just a gentle movement of some sort on the surface and all will be well.

 

[soybean]

And again: If the filter current makes the surface move, you're fine. No airpump required.

 

[fishguy2727]

Aeration is always a good idea unless you are using CO2 on a planted tank.

I have seen many tanks saved when the filter they relied on completely stopped working for some reason (equipment fails, impellers die, etc.) and the air stone alone kept the tank going. I would NEVER recommend not to use aeration. Air stones alone can run a tank, and save one. For their cost an air pump is more than worth it.

 

[hanny93]

i agree that airstones can keep a tank ticking over should something fail, but you dont nee done running all the time.

i recently broke my tank down, but the filter was sold before the fish, so, to keep oxygen levels up in the tank after the filter went, i put an airstone in, however i stopped using one alongside a filter a long time ago because you dont need it. it just looks pretty.

 

[fishguy2727]

But depending on how the tank is stocked you may not get the option to add an air pump at your convenience. If the filter stops right after you leave for work or go to bed it could be 8-10 hours or more before you realize there is an issue, and many tanks don't have that amount of time before things start dying. I have seen tanks start losing fish after only a couple of hours without air.

There is no reason to not run air all the time. It is only beneficial and does no harm, yet can save the entire tank's stock.

 

[hanny93]

so youre saying there is no air in water..

there would be less DIFFUSION because of a smaller surface area of water on the surface, meaning there is less area for gaseous exchange to occur and so a lower 02 level, but it would still occur.

a lot of fish are very sensitive to air pumps actually, specifically the vibrations they cause.

imagine being in a subwoofer thats playing heavy bass or dubstep.. not the same but the same sort of effect, you wouldnt want to live in vibrations.

 

[fishguy2727]

There is less aeration with no filter running, yes. Running an air stone increases the aeration, with or without a filter running.

Any evidence that fish are sensitive to these vibrations? I guess filters never bother them?

Use an air pump. If you don't I hope you don't learn the hard way that you should have.

 

[hanny93]

oh dear. well you'll be glad to know that ive broken my tank down. so dont worry i wont be killing any fish.