sandi2007x
Member
I have heard to use one i have a 30 gallon tank with live rock and sand bed with 2 fish
Does anyone use an aerator in thier tanks
- Thread starter sandi2007x
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sandi2007x
Member
anyone ?
tropills
Member
NO ,air stones are almost instant death for most corals and fish as it can cause breathing problems in fish and suffocate corals, the only aeration that you should have is in your protein skimmer, good flow in your tank is enough to keep water agitated at the surface to keep up the oxygen level and displace carbon dioxide gases to stabilize PH levels
Greg
Greg
rbaldino
Active Member
There is the belief that microbubbles can cause harm to fish and corals, though I've never actually seen it happen, nor have I heard of anyone actually having a problem. I used to have a clownfish that would chase bubbles around in the tank and swallow them, and he lived for years. I'm a bit dubious as to the harm bubbles can do to fish, though I would avoid it where corals are concerned.
As has already been noted, a protein skimmer is actually a very good source of aeration. I'd stick with just that.
As has already been noted, a protein skimmer is actually a very good source of aeration. I'd stick with just that.
debbie
Active Member
Well I can tell you from experience the past few days. I bought the smallest powerhead we have at our LFS and it was so strong that my sand was just blowing. My Maroon clown just about went insane too. So back it went.
I thought, maybe an airstone. Well, it did not blow things around like the powerhead did but again the clown went insane and my corals quickly closed up and did not look good at all. I think the vibration has alot to do with it too and I also used my reducer so it was not fast flowing bubbles.
Now I am back to just my filter (AquaClear) everything is open happy and will never do that again. Did not harm anything but I am sure it would have in time.
Now for my freshwater, tonight I went to check on my Discus and Angel and my Discus had few marks on the body. After watching from another room I quickly seen that there too the bubble bar I put in was to much for them to handle there again I used a reducer.
So this goes to show that I guess in some tanks it is just not the greatest thing to use. I certainly will not use them again.
Hope this helps......
I thought, maybe an airstone. Well, it did not blow things around like the powerhead did but again the clown went insane and my corals quickly closed up and did not look good at all. I think the vibration has alot to do with it too and I also used my reducer so it was not fast flowing bubbles.
Now I am back to just my filter (AquaClear) everything is open happy and will never do that again. Did not harm anything but I am sure it would have in time.
Now for my freshwater, tonight I went to check on my Discus and Angel and my Discus had few marks on the body. After watching from another room I quickly seen that there too the bubble bar I put in was to much for them to handle there again I used a reducer.
So this goes to show that I guess in some tanks it is just not the greatest thing to use. I certainly will not use them again.
Hope this helps......
sepulatian
Moderator
Air stones are not instant death but they can cause problems. The bubbles go streight up. There is no water flow at all. Salt water contains very little oxygen itself. The bubbles can cause pop eye in a fish if they swm into them. The #1 reason for not using them is that they are useless for adding oxygen to the water.
tropills
Member
Originally Posted by sepulatian
Air stones are not instant death but they can cause problems. The bubbles go streight up. There is no water flow at all. Salt water contains very little oxygen itself. The bubbles can cause pop eye in a fish if they swm into them. The #1 reason for not using them is that they are useless for adding oxygen to the water.
yea your right as usual ,not quite instant death , bad choice of words on my part but can still cause respiratory problems after time..
Greg
Air stones are not instant death but they can cause problems. The bubbles go streight up. There is no water flow at all. Salt water contains very little oxygen itself. The bubbles can cause pop eye in a fish if they swm into them. The #1 reason for not using them is that they are useless for adding oxygen to the water.
yea your right as usual ,not quite instant death , bad choice of words on my part but can still cause respiratory problems after time..
Greg
flcandy
Member
Good to know the LFS had me buy one since it took me 30 min to get there and there was no O2 in the sample at that point. I have been using it for 2 years and havent had an issue with the fish swimming through it. I have to reseal my Protein Skimmer before I HOB because it leaks when I put the thing on the back (bad o-rings, going to add silicone to it)
I bought it used so I know why it isnt doing it. I should have made sure the person I got it from tested it as a HOB before I got it.
I dont think it will kill fish but now I know what could happen.
Thanks
I bought it used so I know why it isnt doing it. I should have made sure the person I got it from tested it as a HOB before I got it.
I dont think it will kill fish but now I know what could happen.
Thanks
shrimpi
Active Member
Originally Posted by kshmny925
my tank had that problem and now the corals are dying, some are already dead
is there anything i can do to save the rest???? or is turning off the aerator the only way??? PLEASE HELP!!
I would look into other causes for the crash as well.
Just because you have an aerator, and the tank is dying DOESNT mean that the aerator is necessarily the problem.
my tank had that problem and now the corals are dying, some are already dead
is there anything i can do to save the rest???? or is turning off the aerator the only way??? PLEASE HELP!!I would look into other causes for the crash as well.
Just because you have an aerator, and the tank is dying DOESNT mean that the aerator is necessarily the problem.
1journeyman
Active Member
I agree.. an aerator is bad, but I can't imagine one crashing a tank.
My best "aerator", in addition to my current, flow, open top, etc. is my protein skimmer.
For sw tanks, bubbles are bad, but lot's of flow and water mixing are good.
My best "aerator", in addition to my current, flow, open top, etc. is my protein skimmer.
For sw tanks, bubbles are bad, but lot's of flow and water mixing are good.
dfwrgjeff
New Member
my water level tonight got too low in the sump while I was gone (it is a new setup I just upgraded to so I may not have it completely right yet). The pump was blowing some air bubbles right onto a sps coral for less than 3 hours and the coral had discharges on all the branches and did not look very good. It was fine when I left - I am thinking that air bubbles and corals do not mix