Originally Posted by laust
why is it, that saltwater tanks do not have airstones or air pumped in like in freshwater tanks? i know if you had an airstone, you'd have to switch it out once in a while, due to salt build up, but i dont think that really answers my question
It could be harmful in many ways.
1. Bubbles could get lodged into the sensitive gills of the fish and cause an abrasive rubbing, not good.
2. They can also work there way into the eye of a fish causing popeye and also the abrasive could lead to something worse.
3. They usually cause salt spray that can get onto your lights, hood and all around. If the salt creeps up into the electrical area of the lights it could cause a path into the tank making it a deadly place for fish or even your hand, causing a path to ground that could kill.
4. The lost salt from the saltcreep caused by the bubbles can lower your salinity, and if you don't keep up with it your inverts will start to die off first.
5. They are not efficient like powerheads, water pumps, and/or protein skimmers are at creating water movement in an aquarium. All of these are much better at helping with oxygen and other gas exchanges at the water's surface.
6. They do not move water fast enough or in adequate volume for what a tank usually needs for good all round, vertical and horizontal, water circulation. This situation can also contribute to a low or insufficient GPH (gallon per hour) tank water turnover time.
7. They clog up.
8. They wear out quickly, and usually need replacing often.
9. They can give off irregular air flow.
10. Air line hoses can get pinched or kinked, which weakens or cuts off the air flow.
Many times the air pump chosen to run air stones is inadequate, resulting in low air flow pressure.
11. Some air flow pressure is lost the longer the distance the air has to travel through the clear tubing from the air pump to the air stones.
12. The deeper the tank water, the farther the air has to be pushed downhill to reach the air stones, resulting in loss of air flow pressure.
Nuff said?
Thomas