Help, My Air Stone Died On Me

[Hmongol]

Hello, I am wondering if there are still any knowledgeable fish member on at this hour that can tell me if I'll be okay.
I just came back from work and I noticed that my air stone died, not sure when but I don't have a replacement and I'm stuck till tomorrow. Will my fish tank me okay? I have a 5 gallon with 5 red eye tetra in my tank and I'm afraid they might suffercate overnight.
Is there anything I can do to prolong or help, I have switched my filter on to strong so that it can make a decent ripple and splash, are there any other way or will my fish me okay?
Thanks.

 

[Tolak]

If you're getting surface motion from the filter it's all good.

 

[Hmongol]

Thanks. For the reassurance Tolak.

 

[botia]

just a a question: do i need an air stone

 

[Clarousel]

just a a question: do i need an air stone

If you surface motion from the filter like what Tolak mentioned, you don't actually need one. But if you already have one then it's fine. I also have an air stone in my tank

 

[dsage]

i would put a air stone in the tank because it is better for them. i have a tank with guppies in it and when i didnt know much about the tank and the equipement i found that all my fish were swimming on the top of the tank and i asked my local store why they were doing this and it was because they didnt have enough oxgyen in the tank so they will swim at the top so they can breath properly. i would highly recommend getting one. especially if you are thinking of getting tetras because they will die if you don't have one.

 

[coldcazzie]

i would put a air stone in the tank because it is better for them. i have a tank with guppies in it and when i didnt know much about the tank and the equipement i found that all my fish were swimming on the top of the tank and i asked my local store why they were doing this and it was because they didnt have enough oxgyen in the tank so they will swim at the top so they can breath properly. i would highly recommend getting one. especially if you are thinking of getting tetras because they will die if you don't have one.

No they won't. Any surface movement will provide sufficient gas exchange to support the fish. If your filter ripples the surface of the water then you'll be fine, an additional air stone is unnecessary. Pretty, yes; necessary for gas exchange, no.

If you fish were gasping near the surface in a brand new tank it will have been through ammonia or nitrite issues, not lack of oxygen.

 

[Mowbz]

. i would highly recommend getting one. especially if you are thinking of getting tetras because they will die if you don't have one.

You dont happen to work for a fish store do you............?

 

[Jinty McGinty]

i would put a air stone in the tank because it is better for them. i have a tank with guppies in it and when i didnt know much about the tank and the equipement i found that all my fish were swimming on the top of the tank and i asked my local store why they were doing this and it was because they didnt have enough oxgyen in the tank so they will swim at the top so they can breath properly. i would highly recommend getting one. especially if you are thinking of getting tetras because they will die if you don't have one.

Wow talk about scaring someone!!!

 

[colleen0309]

i would put a air stone in the tank because it is better for them. i have a tank with guppies in it and when i didnt know much about the tank and the equipement i found that all my fish were swimming on the top of the tank and i asked my local store why they were doing this and it was because they didnt have enough oxgyen in the tank so they will swim at the top so they can breath properly. i would highly recommend getting one. especially if you are thinking of getting tetras because they will die if you don't have one.

I have several tanks of tetras, and no air stones. As long as you have good gas exchange, you don't need air stones.

 

[fluttermoth]

Agreed; I don't run air in any of my tanks and they're all fine.

 

[Hmongol]

Thanks guys, I wasn't sure if it will be okay or how important it is. After reading the thread I did notice many ofmy tetra hanging up at the top and poking there mouth out as if I was feeding them. They are fine still and heading to the store for a.new.one.

 

[dsage]

. i would highly recommend getting one. especially if you are thinking of getting tetras because they will die if you don't have one.

You dont happen to work for a fish store do you............?

lol no i dont work in a fish store, i am accountant.

 

[dsage]

i would put a air stone in the tank because it is better for them. i have a tank with guppies in it and when i didnt know much about the tank and the equipement i found that all my fish were swimming on the top of the tank and i asked my local store why they were doing this and it was because they didnt have enough oxgyen in the tank so they will swim at the top so they can breath properly. i would highly recommend getting one. especially if you are thinking of getting tetras because they will die if you don't have one.

No they won't. Any surface movement will provide sufficient gas exchange to support the fish. If your filter ripples the surface of the water then you'll be fine, an additional air stone is unnecessary. Pretty, yes; necessary for gas exchange, no.

If you fish were gasping near the surface in a brand new tank it will have been through ammonia or nitrite issues, not lack of oxygen.

oh ok fair enough i was just saying from my experience that what happened to me. it wasnt only my tetras that was swimming around the top, it was the guppies too. fair enough, sorry i didnt realise it was because of the ammonia or nitrite. that explans why when i put aqua plus and cycle in the tank they seem to be fine, but i thought it was because of the air stone. my bad, but i did test for ammonia and nitrite and there wasnt any and my tetras started to hang around the top and look like they were trying to breath, maybe i have a fault tester, right then i am going to buy a new one. but yea i have only been doing this for 4 months now, so i am kinda new. but i have got to admit that the air stone does help abit, plus yea they look nice and its looks nice to watch the fish swimming around it and kinda playing with it.

 

[Mark Z.]

Sometimes, you can lift the airstone out of the water and let it run for a while, then put it back in and it will work.