Airstones

[toebash17]

ok well i have a 55 gallon tank. and i have two long air stones that go across the back of my tank! how long should i let them run? i have them on a timer and i have it on for about 8 hours a day! is that to long to stort. thanks alot andy

 

[Kairi]

I don't know, honestly, but I have an air stone that runs 24/7.

 

[fishing4exotics]

I would leave them on all the time. Make sure the airpump is above the water line ( water surface ). Water may siphon out of the tank and into the airpump. Cover the top so the water spray doesn't leave the tank.

 

[toebash17]

does it even matter if i have the air stones in there or not? how much does it help?

 

[fishing4exotics]

It all depends on surface area, temperature, how much, and how big your fish are in a given tank. If all the fish are doing fine without the airstones on then I would say it doesn't matter. However, it doesn't hurt to have them on.

The important things to remember about circulation in your tank. Fish and bacteria need oxygen. Plants too at night. The hotter the temperature the less oxygen is in the water. So, you need to circulate the water more at higher temps. Surface area determines how much water is exposed to the surface of your tank. The surface is where the water absorbs oxygen. The less surface area the more you need to circulate your water.

 

[spacebass]

I have just put a 34" airstone in a tank, but it emits bubbles strongly where the air pipe goes in (from airstone no leak) and Ok for about half its length then nothing til the other end where a few bubbles come out, the pump isn't that massive its called a general 2800, could this be the cause?

 

[toebash17]

hey space bass. i think that your air pump is a little small becase i have like a 36'' air stone and my pump gets air to the other side no problem. i really dont know the name of mine but i have a 55 gallon tank and my air pump is made for a 60 gallon tank. i dont know if u have a pets smart by you becuase i bought mine over there for like 8 dollars. and so far i have been using it for a month and its a champ no problem yet.

 

[Durbkat]

Toebash17 do you have a filter in the tank? If you do an air stone is not nessary. All an airstone is needed for, is if don't you have a filter, is for looks.

 

[atmmachine816]

Toebash17 do you have a filter in the tank? If you do an air stone is not nessary. All an airstone is needed for, is if don't you have a filter, is for looks.

thats true but airstones put in extra oxygen so if u hav a lot of fish it can expand how many fish u can put in ur tank and it aerates the tank a lot better and keeps the water moving i have one on 24/7 and between that my water is crytsal clear and have no problems and it keeps poop and other particles sometimes from settling to the bottom and it gets sucked into the filter so i say if u hav the money invest in a good pump and a nice airstone i hav a bubble wall i hav a tetra tec deep water (DW 12) for my 30 gallon tank and on the bak of the box it says how many inches and wat type of airstone it can handle and how deep im not sure if they still sell them i think they changed the design but iv had it for 7 monhts and its still really queit it was 12 bucks though i thnk a little expensive but the quitness is worth it i know a person that said she tried some of the other ones and they just got really loud so pricey ones are worth it

 

[Durbkat]

Well none of my tanks have air stones in them and the filter sucks up poop good and the fish have plenty of oxygen because I over filter all my tanks.

 

[toebash17]

yeah i have a nice filter. but ever tank i saw in the store or at some ones house had a filter and an air stone so i bought one.

 

[Chri$]

hi
i have just bought an airpump for my aquarium (not installed yet), but from what i've heard as long as your tank is well areated (by means of a filter creating plenty of water agitation) you do not need to have an airpump on all the time, i plan to have mine on for 10 - 12 hours a day.

 

[spacebass]

Hi Toebash,

Thank for your input I changed the pump for a bigger one didn't make any difference so i took a spike to the air stone, and made some holes, seems like pushing side wall out a bit is the secret.

Anyone know the actual mechanics of these things?

Space

 

[andywg]

thats true but airstones put in extra oxygen so if u hav a lot of fish it can expand how many fish u can put in ur tank and it aerates the tank a lot better and keeps the water moving i have one on 24/7 and between that my water is crytsal clear and have no problems and it keeps poop and other particles sometimes from settling to the bottom and it gets sucked into the filter so i say if u hav the money invest in a good pump and a nice airstone i hav a bubble wall i hav a tetra tec deep water (DW 12) for my 30 gallon tank and on the bak of the box it says how many inches and wat type of airstone it can handle and how deep im not sure if they still sell them i think they changed the design but iv had it for 7 monhts and its still really queit it was 12 bucks though i thnk a little expensive but the quitness is worth it i know a person that said she tried some of the other ones and they just got really loud so pricey ones are worth it

That is wrong

Airstones put minimal air into the tank, the bubble is in contact with the water far too short a time to allow any exchange to happen. The only way they help aerate the tank is by surface agitation which is achieved better through the use of pumps or repositioning filter outlets.

Air stones are for asthetic purposes only. Nothing more. I would certainly not rely on one to overstock a tank.

 

[fi$hys]

i have a 12 inch across some ofthe back of my tank and it is on 24/7 for aroundthe last 6 mounths.you just replace them when they need replacing and you tell wen they are crewed wen it just lets big bullbes out and now small ones or when it just come out at one end.