flower
Well-Known Member
Spanko.....I run air tubes in my tanks, no stone. It does add oxygen and moves the surface water. I looks pretty and with an air regulator you can control how hard the bubbles burst at the surface keeping salt creep down.
Gemmy....Since getting into the hobby I was told that big bubbles are fine, but little microbubbles will hurt fish gills. You know how it is, if 5 smart people say it's so, it isn't a myth...LOL
Snake.....Also IMO bubbles are not all that un-natural. I was watching a Blue Planet that showed an underwater volcano and it had bubbles and coral all around it. The underwater gizmo the divers were in couldn't get too close because the warm water from the volcano and the cold of the regular ocean would damage it. In the end, a fish tank is an artistic expression of the hobbyist, if you like the way it looks...that's all that really matters. Our fish were never meant to live in a little SW cube, it's already un-natural.
I found this info:
Gas Bubble Disease in Fish
Gas bubble disease refers to the development of gases in a fish's bloodstream. This can occur when its aquarium or pond water is supersaturated with gases.
Symptoms and Types
Gas bubble disease damages the fish's tissue, causing tiny gas bubbles to form in the gills, fins, and eyes of the animal. This tissue damage, if extensive, can even lead to the fish's death.
Causes
Fishes are cold-blooded creatures, meaning their body temperature depends on the temperature of their environment. The water they live in and their bloodstreams can become supersaturated with gases when there is a sudden rise in water temperature or a sudden rise in pressure.
When the cold water in the aquarium is suddenly heated, it can release and trap gases within the water causing gas bubble disease in the aquarium fish. Similarly, pond or tank water can become supersaturated with gases when they are filled with well water through a submerged hose. These gases can also lead to gas bubble disease.
Prevention
Gas bubble disease can be prevented by slowly heating up water when it is added to the aquarium. Also, do not submerge the hose when filling up a pond. Instead, spray water from above, as this will allow all the gases to harmlessly released into the air.
More info found:
Gas Bubble Disease is often thought to be the result of oversaturation of oxygen in the water. But it usually the result of nitrogen gas supersaturating the aquarium tank water.
Cold tap water is under pressure and contains chlorine gas so when it comes out of the tap the drop in pressure will release these gases trapped in the water.
Rapid heating of cold water causes the gas to escape more rapidly and it adheres to all surfaces. This includes the inside and outside of your aquatic animals! If you could examine the gills of the fish you would see tiny bubbles of gas sticking to them which causes lethargy, brain damage and death.
