Something Missing?

[AncientMariner]

Do I need an air stone or bubble bar in my tank?

What I do though is raise my outlet pipe from my external slightly above the water surface which causes lots of tiny bubbles to burst up to the surface. (Tend to only lift the pipe out when I'm at work & then pop it back down on my return, so 8 hrs a day)

Am I wasting my time?

 

[sylvia]

Leave it one way or the other. You don't need bubbles and doing what you are may be causing pH fluctuatiosn which are not good. Bubbles are basicaly meant to help increase surface area - but even a filter produces adequate surface aggitation under normal conditions. Also, increased oxygen (from making the filter bubble 8 hours a day) may cause an increase in pH - which then drops again ocne you stop the bubbles. So, yeah, basicaly, you're waisting your time. Your tank and fish'll be fine without the bubbles and better off without you moving the filter every day

 

[AncientMariner]

Thanks for your info Sylvia.

I don't understand this bit though - 'Bubbles are basicaly meant to help increase surface area' ?

Also why do people bother with airstones & bubble bars ? Are necessary ?

 

[Deano]

I think its just a visual thing for a lot of people

I suppose some bubbles can make a tank a bit more lively

I always thought the bubbles would help oxygenate the water??

could be wrong tho

 

[Torrean]

The bubbles rise to the surface and pop. This causes a current in the tank which circulates the water. Also when the bubbles reach the surface and when the pop they cause ripples in the water surface. This creates convolusions much like the ones on your brain, thus creating more surface area. The bubbles don't do much to directly airate the water but by circulating the water they cause more water to reach the surface per minute. And by causing convolusions they allow more water to contact the surface at a given moment.

 

[sylvia]

Torrean (much more clearly than I!) explained what I meant

 

[AncientMariner]

Torrean (much more clearly than I!) explained what I meant

Hey no worries - Thank you both

 

[Torrean]

HTH...anything else?

 

[Lexie3787]

Sorry just wanted to comment- i finally understand what HTH means. =D