Do Marine Tanks Need Airstones?

[Lnbates2000]

I have a tropical tank, with an air stone, and wondered whether marine tanks were the same in this respect?

It's probably a silly question, but I just thought I'd see!

So... do I add an airstone (bubbles) to my new marine tank, or is it not needed?

Thanks! Laura.

 

[andywg]

You don't by any means need an air stone in a freshwater tank. The only real reason to have one is if you like the aesthetics. The bubbles are in the water for too short a time to have any appreciable gas exchange occur across the boundaries. There will be slight surface agitation but far less than aiming the outlet of a powerhead or filter at the surface.

In a marine tank you are likely to get huge amounts of salt creep from an air stone, not to mention bubbles being blown all round the tank.

Only places I would put an air stone in a marine tank would be in a sponge filter for a fry rearing tank or in a skimmer. Only times I woudl use it in FW is to power filtration (UGF or sponge filters)

 

[RadaR]

Andy's right.
I thought it might be worth mentioning that air bubbles can also cause problems for corals such as sponges.

 

[Lynden]

Actually that's quite unlikely, real-life reefs are constantly churning and as a result can have a large amount of bubbles.

 

[Musho3210]

depends on what part of the ocean lynden... is it deep water species? Or shallow water? Tide pool? Or open water?

Just to clarify, sponges arent corals.

Some organisms may respond badly to air, others probably wont care. Im guessing many filter feeders wouldnt like it because it would get in the way of them feeding, for example sponges or brine shrimp or maybe even clams....

 

[Lynden]

If sponges are brought out of the water, they often get bubbles stuck inside of them. This can rot them from the inside out. A bunch of bubbles swirling around them will not have the same effect.

In my opinion my comment was fairly valid as the vast majority of our animals are going to be originating in the reefs or tide pools.

 

[Musho3210]

yes, i know you meant reefs and tidal pools, but there are such things as deep water reefs and we do get some life from down there. I believe my post was pretty valid that i was only talking about reefs, and not just regular ocean.

 

[Lynden]

Well true enough, many species of sponges, anthias, basslets, tilefish, all come from the deeper areas.

 

[Musho3210]

as well as some live rock and a few mobile invertebrates, and maybe some non photosynthetic corals, although some that we keep live in caves which doesnt necessarily mean that they are deepwater.

 

[Lnbates2000]

Thanks for all your replies!

I was told by one of my LFS that I would need bubbles in my freshwater tank - hmm!!

Glad to know they're not as important as I thought, as I sometimes forget to turn them back on after feeding anyway!!

I'll leave my marine tank as it is!

Laura