What Does This Really Mean And Should I Be Worried?

[frida]

Hello! So I have a Juwel Rekord 600 tank and I've noticed that it says the following in the user manual:

"The use of additional air stones or air lines is not necessary with the JUWEL Aquariums. If an air stone is used, this should always be placed in the middle of the aquarium. Capillary leaks resulting from the use of these items will not be accepted as a fault with the aquarium."

I'm confused as to how an airstone could cause a capillary leak - does it happen if water collects near the outside edges of the tank where the seams are because of the air line tubing? Or is it something to do with the bubbles inside the tank?

So the ultimate question is: should I be worried about using an airstone? I was planning to get one to help agitate the water even more during my fishless cycle as I want to ramp up the temperature a bit.

Any advice would be really welcome! Thanks

 

[Wills]

No there is no need to worry about it Not 100% certain on what a capillary leak is but one of the issues with airstones is if there is a power cut the tube can syphon water out of the tank and wreck the the pump and worse. But so long as you have a none return valve somewhere in the tube its not a problem.

Wills

 

[frida]

No there is no need to worry about it Not 100% certain on what a capillary leak is but one of the issues with airstones is if there is a power cut the tube can syphon water out of the tank and wreck the the pump and worse. But so long as you have a none return valve somewhere in the tube its not a problem.

Wills

Thanks for your reply. Yeah, I'm not entirely sure about the capillary leak either, but I did find this post: http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/306277-capillary-leak/page__fromsearch__1

I'm guessing the problem happened when the water collected at the base? If that's the case, I guess it should be fine if I make sure the tubing goes at the back and over my waterproof background poster which means that if there's any water, it should just drip down rather than collecting...

Anyway, I should probably just stop worrying about every little detail!!!

Thanks for your reassurance

EDIT: Oh and just wanted to add that I've read about the issues with backflow and so I'll be getting a non-return valve if I get an airpump.

 

[the biffster]

it means that you might get back syphon
the air line and back on to the pump
i am with wills on this one if you need to
use and air stone and air line use a check
valve none return valve easy fix

 

[frida]

Thanks for your post. Actually, the issue or worry I have is not about backflow and the use of a non return valve but the acutal use of the airpump in this particular tank. For some reason, Juwel recommends against it, quoting possible "capillary leaks". I just posted a link to an old post where someone had problems with their tank leaking and basically I want to avoid that happening to me. Chances are I'm over-worrying but I thought I'd check with experienced members first.

Anyway, thanks everyone for reminding me about non-return valves!

it means that you might get back syphon
the air line and back on to the pump
i am with wills on this one if you need to
use and air stone and air line use a check
valve none return valve easy fix

 

[frida]

shameless bump in case anyone has something to add

 

[Essjay]

This may going in completely the wrong direction but......

Capillary action is the process by which liquids creep along very tiny spaces. I have a 60 litre tank, the first one I ever bought around 15 years ago. It has a black trim round the top, about 0.75 inch deep on the inside and 1.25 inches deep on the outside. If I fill it past a certain level, the water gets under the inside of the trim and travels up over the glass under the trim by capillary action through to the outside of the tank where it runs out of the trim and dribbles down the glass. The water level is always at least half an inch below the trim. This dribbling only happens in one spot, directly opposite the filter. The trim is glued tight to the glass, on the outside at least, at the front of the tank, but not at the sides - I can get a piece of paper right under it all the way along the sides. I've just checked it with some paper and it's wet under the trim oposite the filter, but dry under the trim behind the filter.

Does your tank have a trim like this? Perhaps what they mean is that bubbles from an air stone burst on the water surface and cause spray - and this spray could work it's way under the trim, then work it's way to the outside by capillary action like with my tank. If there is a trim like this, they are getting out of responsiblity of this water causing damage to the outside of the tank or stand.

 

[frida]

This may going in completely the wrong direction but......

Capillary action is the process by which liquids creep along very tiny spaces. I have a 60 litre tank, the first one I ever bought around 15 years ago. It has a black trim round the top, about 0.75 inch deep on the inside and 1.25 inches deep on the outside. If I fill it past a certain level, the water gets under the inside of the trim and travels up over the glass under the trim by capillary action through to the outside of the tank where it runs out of the trim and dribbles down the glass. The water level is always at least half an inch below the trim. This dribbling only happens in one spot, directly opposite the filter. The trim is glued tight to the glass, on the outside at least, at the front of the tank, but not at the sides - I can get a piece of paper right under it all the way along the sides. I've just checked it with some paper and it's wet under the trim oposite the filter, but dry under the trim behind the filter.

Does your tank have a trim like this? Perhaps what they mean is that bubbles from an air stone burst on the water surface and cause spray - and this spray could work it's way under the trim, then work it's way to the outside by capillary action like with my tank. If there is a trim like this, they are getting out of responsiblity of this water causing damage to the outside of the tank or stand.

Hi, I think you've got it spot on in terms of what Juwel are trying to cover themselves for. Having said that, there is no trim at the top though, I only have trims on the edges of the tank, inside and out. It's just a bit confusing because surely the airpump doesn't produce that much more of surface agitation than the filter does pumping the water out... Anyway, I guess as long as I'm careful that the water doesn't seem to spray out and get into little spaces, it should be fine, right? In my tank, I could only see that happening if the water managed to get under the seal through the top of an edge.
Well, thanks for your observations anyway I'm guessing it's nothing I should be too concerned about!! I'm worrying too much as usual

 

[drobbyb]

Honestly, air stones are not really needed as long as your filter creates a decent amount of surface movement. Most people use them for aesthetic purposes.