Airstones - Needed Or Not?

[waterdrop]

I think one of the good things about this thread for beginners is that it tries to explore a little beyond the simple yes/no answer about bubbles in our aquariums. I think Rainbow67's fourth paragraph up there about all the many factors that might play a role in oxygen and co2 levels in an aquarium is well taken. It is indeed complicated if you want to really look at it. When we describe things to each other in a forum, we are greatly hampered in diagnostics about each other's situations by not being right there to directly observe the aquarium! Judging someone else's flow and circulation patterns is quite hard.

One progression that all beginners should begin to make as they attain a more intermediate status in the hobby is to separate out the many functions that filter units play. The flow and surface movement aspect of filters is quite a different thing than the mechanical or biological or chemical filtration roles that it has.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[BethK]

i'm in a 50/50, as bettas don't really like rapid water movement but other fish do by having an airstone on the side on the tank, it kind of makes it an equal level for all fish

 

[Rainbow67]

simple answer, no, airstones are not needed.

Well, that depends on your set up, in some cases airstones are not needed, but in others airstones will do more to help your fish than daily water changes.

As for it being a stats issue, well It could be, but then again it may be more to do with lack of water agitation than stats.

 

[Tolak]

I believe O2 level is considered a stat. When O2 levels are low more surface movement is needed to increase the exchange of gas, this can be an air stone, a power head, or just dropping the water level a bit to let the filter increase surface motion.

 

[Timmy_Bee]

Does anyone have, or is planning to make, a list of typical fish and their rough 'air gulping' habits? I think it would be interesting to us noobs to know if we need to look into this more or not...

Eg Gourmai - know to gulp often etc

 

[BethK]

gouramis(Anabantoids) species need to 'gulp' air from the water surface, they have something called a 'labyrinth', which is like a maze and found located in the head, behind the gills. These specific fish traps air via their labyrinth and then feeds it into their blood stream, so it is a need that these types have to breath oxygen.

Paradise fish and bettas have labyrinths, they are sub-orders of Anabantoids.

I would say if other fish that do not need to breath from the surface, is spending a lot of time up there, I would suggest you follow Tolak's advice

 

[Gilli]

It's hard to know how much gasping at the surface is normal.....

Like I said I have a 250L 4 foot tank with hood with 33 fish in - no airstone, - just use my filter to aggitate the top and none of my fish gasp ever!

 

[mark4785]

I would definitely advise using an airpump with airstone as the upward motion of the bubbles carries with it detritus and faecies from the substrate out into areas where it is more likely to be sucked into the filter system which is where it is needed.

Also, as mentioned above, although airpumps don't increase oxygen levels as much as surface agitation created by the filter system outlet pipe, they will have some effect on oxygen levels which is never a bad thing especially in warm tropical water where oxygen levels are more depleted.

 

[ian]

IMO a waste of money, if you need more surface agitation, buy a Koralia (or other make). In a planted tank a airstone is bad.

 

[waterdrop]

Well, I can't agree that its never a bad thing to have a lot of surface agitation. There are times when you are running a tank with a lot of plants but without injecting CO2 when you don't want to drive off more CO2 than necessary. Its a balance really but it can take a lot of experience with your tank to get to know that balance. The idea that one simply wants as much O2 as possible is predicated on thinking of the fish side of the equation only I believe.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Rainbow67]

Like I said I have a 250L 4 foot tank with hood with 33 fish in - no airstone, - just use my filter to aggitate the top and none of my fish gasp ever!

All well and good for you Gilli, but like I said every tank is different with different fish, different equipment,different foods, planted/non planted etc etc,

It works for you but that doesn't mean it will work for everyone.

As for the gasping issue, whilst my fish don't generally gasp I can certainly see a significant difference in gill/mouth movement when my air bubble disk are in action, on and when they are left off.