Air Stone Yes Or No?

[stanleo]

I have had my planted tank for over 18 months now and really don't have any issues with it. (except maybe its a little overstocked). I keep reading people on here that an air stone is good for a planted aquarium. Is that true? What are the benefits of them and should I get one? My anubais and swords seem to grow quite well. I'm just curious. Thanks

 

[Mikey1]

I have had my planted tank for over 18 months now and really don't have any issues with it.

 
 
why fix what isnt broken?
 
but to answer the question....no, an airstone is not nessessary, as long as your filters are providing enough water flow and surface agitation....and if you have lots of plants you dont need to worry about providing more/eccess oxygen
 
if i use any air driven devices in my tanks it is an air driven sponge filter....my theory is, if im going to be pumping air into the tank, i might as well put the air to use and have it power a filter, as opposed to it going to waste with an air stone

 

[Chad]

I agree, if it's been working for you why change it.
 
Also, if you are using C02 then the airstone can allow this to more quickly gas out of the tank.

 

[stanleo]

I'm not using CO2. That is way to complicated for me. Just ferts once a week.

 

[techen]

Airstones with plants is worse, You are getting rid of the CO2 the plants feed on and replacing it with oxygen. No good.

 

[KirkyArcher]

I've read that the use of air stones help remove build up of Co2 but, 

 My Co2 levels indicated via my JBL permanent Co2 indicator remain exactly the same with or without the use of an air-stone, Can't see any reason why you can't have two gases dissolved in your water at the same time!

 

[Chad]

It's not that you can't have two gases dissolved...you can have more...my reef tank gases off nitrogen.
It's related to the surface agitation created by the bubbles. The more the surface is agitated the greater the gas exchange.

 

[KirkyArcher]

It's not that you can't have two gases dissolved...you can have more...my reef tank gases off nitrogen.
It's related to the surface agitation created by the bubbles. The more the surface is agitated the greater the gas exchange.

So will the bubbling air will always "win" over the bubbling Co2, that's the bit I can't get my head around, or is it just a case that air will remove some Co2 and Co2 will remove some Oxygen? I don't know how accurate the indicator I use actually is but running air doesn't drop the recorded levels of Co2

 

[Chad]

No it won't. It's a factor of the amounts in the water vs. the amount of surface agitation. It is totally possible to have some surface agitation and still maintain C02 levels in a tank. In the case of someone who has a successful tank without an airstone or in your case someone who is successful with one I think the general recommendation is, "if it ain't broke don't fix it."

 

[This Old Spouse]

Beautiful tank, stanleo. Who's in it?

 

[stanleo]

Thanks, This Old Spouse. I have 5 albino von rios, 6 neon tetras, 4 peppered corys, a male dwarf Gourami, and a dojo loach. I might be over stocked which bothers me but I can't bring myself to get rid of the dojo loach. He is so active and good at keeping the snails at bay. Im just doing a lot of water changes and keeping an eye everyone. Oh and 3 whisker shrimp.

 

[This Old Spouse]

As said above, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. Honestly, if your tank looks that good and everyone is healthy and happy and your plants are green and growing and algae-free, I wouldn't change a thing. How big is the tank?

 

[stanleo]

Its a 29g I really love it. I wasn't really thinking of getting an air stone but if it would have made it better I would have. Things can always be a little better. BTW I really love your tank too. I've really been getting into corys lately. I had one the other day when I was replanting a plant come up and nibble my finger. It was so cute!

 

[This Old Spouse]

Thanks! Yours is a beauty. I wish I had some extra money so I could get lots more plants for my tanks. And I love, love, love my cory! They're just the most interesting fish around IMO.

 

[goldfinger]

Speaking of air stones they make a racket its noiser than the pumps!
One thing if fish aren't well suddenly, the extra oxygen helps and prefer to loose plants than fish (sorry just to another persepective)