Air Bubbles

[bdesalvo]

I have been told that using an air pump in a SW tank is not good.
Have I been told correctly? I would think that it would be ok.
I have has air introduced into the tank but having lots of fine micro bubbles introduced into the filter, before the filter and media, was told this would also help the media grow

 

[sharkboy13]

i have a air stone in my tank, i have come home to very funny looking fish at times but nevr dead ones. bubbles can be bad for seahorses and pipefish becuz they think theyre shrimp and try to eat them

 

[eaglewonj]

Well, I have heard around here that microbubbles are bad as they stick to the gills and make it hard to breathe (something to that effect). I can't say I haven't seen tanks with bubbles, but apparently they don't do that for salt anymore. For me it seems the protein skimmer is doing enough aerating for all of us as there is no way that water couldn't have had enough air contact after that bubble frenzy.

 

[lion_crazz]

You have been told correctly. You do not want to use an air stone in a saltwater set-up. There are a lot of negatives to a bubbler in saltwater.

 

[hatessushi]

I agree as long as it's not in the main part of the tank. I for one must use air in my fuge/sump besides the skimmer I also have it in a small overhang that the water from my DeNitrator drips into since that water has absolutely no oxygen in it and would drive down the Ph without the airstone.
I also have an airstone after the skimmer since I need to keep the water well oxygenated. All that an my Ph is pretty stable at 7.85 which without the airstones the Ph would be right about 7.0 or less. That's the price I am paying right now to have my nitrates at 0. They are at about 10 right now which is down from about 80ppm a month ago. Water changes would not lower the nitrates so I got desperate and purchased the DeNitrator. Once the nitrates show as 0ppm then I will rinse the unit out and run it again so it can stabilize the anaerobic bacteria and the water won't need as much air added to it. I would never put an airstone in the main tank though.

 

[deadmanschest]

so i dont need a airstone to add oxygen into the water? and i can finally get rid of it?

 

[team2jndd]

Why would you need it? If you have a sump than just the water being brought from the tank to the sump and then back up will have enough oxygen diffusion. Not to mention the you should have a current running across the surface of the tank to diffuse more oxygen. (increasing surface are)

 

[team2jndd]

Originally Posted by HatesSushi
I agree as long as it's not in the main part of the tank. I for one must use air in my fuge/sump besides the skimmer I also have it in a small overhang that the water from my DeNitrator drips into since that water has absolutely no oxygen in it and would drive down the Ph without the airstone.
I also have an airstone after the skimmer since I need to keep the water well oxygenated. All that an my Ph is pretty stable at 7.85 which without the airstones the Ph would be right about 7.0 or less. That's the price I am paying right now to have my nitrates at 0. They are at about 10 right now which is down from about 80ppm a month ago. Water changes would not lower the nitrates so I got desperate and purchased the DeNitrator. Once the nitrates show as 0ppm then I will rinse the unit out and run it again so it can stabilize the anaerobic bacteria and the water won't need as much air added to it. I would never put an airstone in the main tank though.
PH is still low.