Bubbles?

[PoPoV]

I was at the LFS the other day when my girlfreind saw a tank with bubble stones. She asked why we didnt have some in our tank. I tried to give the best excuse I could but....well nevermind! anyways, I was wondering if having bubbles In the tank is to any benifit for the fish? Or if their just for show. Thanks.

 

[helterskelter]

Bubble stones or Air stones help to add extra oxygen to the water this aids the fish and also help the good bacteria to grow which help the clean the water better and faster.

And they can also be used to make that tank look better as i my self love the effect of the bubbles.

Helter

 

[highfire]

Also, some fish enjoy swimming in the bubbles and the current created by the extra movement of the water. My minnows love it!

 

[helterskelter]

Ps

With extra areation may also allow u to add extra fish, but it's always best to stick to what u already have, and help the system with the extra oxygen.

 

[PoPoV]

Ps

With extra areation may also allow u to add extra fish, but it's always best to stick to what u already have, and help the system with the extra oxygen.

LoL....Now i will give my girl this scientific explanation Thanks for turning me into a genius helter! I think ill put some in my 55 befor i stock it.

 

[Iron Man]

Its according to what they're used for. If using them to power something practical and beneficial say like a sponge filter or undergravel filter, they are of definate benefit.

Even if they're not being used in anything, say just a bubble stone in the tank....they're good for water circulation as they cause a lot of movement. Sometimes they liven up an otherwise dull/depressed fish tank. I've watched fish that seemed depressed just "come alive" after firing up a bubble stone in the tank. Some, like some cories and goldfish just to name a couple, even love to play in them from time to time.

Other than that they're just for show.

None of that makes them a necessity but they sure are pluses. If you don't have a tank with lots of water circulation and over filtration...they can only make the tank more healthy IMO.

The only crowd who really has anything negative to say about using bubbles in the tan is the more serious live plant crowd. They say it helps dissolve precious carbon dioxide (that they purposely inject using equipment) right back out of the water that the plants could be using. It doesn't take out ALL the carbon dioxide or hurt the plants though...so you can use bubbles with live plants...like I said its the more serious plant keeping folks where it becomes an issue for them.

 

[Miss Wiggle]

Its according to what they're used for. If using them to power something practical and beneficial say like a sponge filter or undergravel filter, they are of definate benefit.

Even if they're not being used in anything, say just a bubble stone in the tank....they're good for water circulation as they cause a lot of movement. Sometimes they liven up an otherwise dull/depressed fish tank. I've watched fish that seemed depressed just "come alive" after firing up a bubble stone in the tank. Some, like some cories and goldfish just to name a couple, even love to play in them from time to time.

Other than that they're just for show.

None of that makes them a necessity but they sure are pluses. If you don't have a tank with lots of water circulation and over filtration...they can only make the tank more healthy IMO.

The only crowd who really has anything negative to say about using bubbles in the tan is the more serious live plant crowd. They say it helps dissolve precious carbon dioxide (that they purposely inject using equipment) right back out of the water that the plants could be using.

agreed

 

[thefirethief]

Bubbles do look good, but only really provide the water with more oxygen if there is a lot of surface agitation, which is where most oxygen is dissolved. That said Im sure the circulation they provide can only be beneficial.

 

[Darkstar]

No it is infact quite helpful. Not all tanks require an air pump, factors such as planted, lightly or heavily stocked tanks can affect whether one is needed or not.. but unless you have a specific reason not to I would always suggest having one.

It's primary function is to aerate the water, ie to promote oxygen entering into the water so the fish can breath...and the bacteria in your filter for that matter too.
A lot of people think it's the bubbles which add the oxygen to the water, however in reality, very little oxygen exchange happens at this point. What the bubbles do is kind of two fold.
1. The rush of bubbles provides an upward current meaning that water located at the bottom of the tank will be pulled upwards towards the surface which is where the real exchange of oxygen takes places (this is why your stocking levels are dependant on the surface area of the tank...because the amount of surface area directly translates into how much oxygen can be exchanged to support your fish)
2. Bubbles add surface area. ie, filling up a bath with water, means the surface of the water is not calm as water is gushing into the bath from the taps...the surface area of this body of water would be larger than the same body of water once you have turned the taps off and let the water in the bath settle. It's the same principle for air bubbles in a tank...creating movement at the waters surface increases surface area and therefore allows a greater exchange of oxygen.

Adding oxygen to water will also slightly increase the pH, which can help create a more stable enviroment depending on what your water parameters are to begin with, although I doubt this is to any great degree.

 

[Kairi]

The only tank I don't have bubbles in is my betta tank- mostly because he doesn't like them.