Do Bubblers Really Help?

[onidrase]

Hey guys, with the switching of a hang on back filter to a canister, I've noticed the fish have been breathing a bit more heavily. I took a gander it's due to the fact that there is so little surface agitation as well as the warmer weather this year, so I raised the canister out-take. that seems to have fixed the problem, but the new problem is how noisy the dang thing is.

I've been thinking of just throwing in a low profile strip bubbler behind some driftwood, but I've heard that the bubblers are rather useless. Is this true? Is there anything else I could do to rais oxygen content without my room sounding like there is a raging waterfall in the corner?

 

[ian]

My view is that they are mainly used for aesthetic uses, and as long as there is a ripple along the surface there is more than enough turnover in the tank.

have a read here...from our resident scientist Bignose.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/377186-a-rational-discussion-on-oxygen-transfer-from-an-airstone-bubble/

 

[elmo666]

IMO "bubblers" do little to help with increasing the avaliable oxygen in the water, they create little disturbance at the surface and this is where the interaction takes place. A good surface ripple from any filtration, via a high up outlet or spray bar is much more effective. This gives you the improvement in the oxygen levels for "free", without the added running cost, and noise, of an air pump.

 

[Blitz]

Yes, I agree. They DO help. It provides oxygen for your tank. I've been told that some fish don't like fast flowing water and they say don't put a bubbler/air stone in the tank (fish such as bettas). But I think you'll be fine.

 

[onidrase]

My view is that they are mainly used for aesthetic uses, and as long as there is a ripple along the surface there is more than enough turnover in the tank.

have a read here...from our resident scientist Bignose.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/377186-a-rational-discussion-on-oxygen-transfer-from-an-airstone-bubble/

These scientific threads hurt my head looking through the thread, there seems to be a lot of mixed opinions on the matter.

 

[markandjanice]

My view is that they are mainly used for aesthetic uses, and as long as there is a ripple along the surface there is more than enough turnover in the tank.

have a read here...from our resident scientist Bignose.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/377186-a-rational-discussion-on-oxygen-transfer-from-an-airstone-bubble/

These scientific threads hurt my head looking through the thread, there seems to be a lot of mixed opinions on the matter.

they look great to the point ive bought a 32" pipeline for my new tank, whether they do add oxygen who knows, read both, it won't hurt put it that way from what i've read.

 

[Electric Warrior]

Unless you want it mainly for looks, I would just get a spray bar rather than an airstrip. If you are concerned about too much current, just aim it more towards the glass.

 

[onidrase]

Unless you want it mainly for looks, I would just get a spray bar rather than an airstrip. If you are concerned about too much current, just aim it more towards the glass.

Honestly I'm not too keen on the looks. if I were to get a bubbler I'd just hide it as much as I could behind some driftwood.

I'm also not really sure where to get a spray bar, nor how to install it. My canister is a fluval 406, am I supposed to attach it to the canister somehow, or is it a totally different contraption?

 

[MBOU]

I believe the old style spraybars (for the 405) will fit. On the return to the tank where the water comes out there is a little nozzle, that comes off and you put the spray bar on. It will come with suckers to stick along the back of the tank.

The best thing to do with the spray bars is have them about an inch under the surface of the water and angle it upwardsso its moving the surface water without splashing or causing noise.

You can probably get a spray bar on ebay or somewhere like that!

 

[alihar]

The 405 spray bar does fit, I bought one from eBay last year for my 406. It cost around £10.
It's still in the box tho it comes in pieces with no instructions how to fit it.

 

[markandjanice]

i agree i wont be having mine on show so that you see the bar, but the affect of the bubbles goin up i thing is nice, just my opinion on it, i'll post picture of mine on saturday or sunday once its all rigged up

 

[elmo666]

Spray bars are a common accessory for most power filters, be it external or internal. You should have no difficult in getting one from your lfs