why are airstones bad ?
- Thread starter peasly1
- Start date
ocellaris_keeper
Active Member
I have never heard that airstones are bad. they are just not needed in a saltwater tank. if you have alot of water movement, your water levels are fine and your fish are flourishing, then I'd say relax. One of the LPS uses your type of aeration of their thanks, with a store filter as well. I ask the store manager and he said he has always been partial to the bubbles in a tank.
fishymissy
Member
The problem with airstones is that they encourage salt creep which can be a pain to clean up. That's it. Airstones do a great job of circulating the water and provide excellent surface agitation which is how the gases are exchanged in your tank.
baddominio
New Member
No wonder I added air stones to my 120 gallon tank I love the bubbles And they make me feel more secure about the fish. BUT SALT CREEP UP THE ANUS
three boys
Member
How many people out there have air stones in their tank? I pulled the breathers on my powerheads 3 weeks ago. Like it better cause I can actually see my fish!
keleighr
Active Member
I have one smaill air stone i nthe back of my 80 galln.
My cleaner shrimp love the heck out of it.
Same for my 36 glln.
I didn't have one on them at first and it seemed like the fish weren't doing all that great.
Then I added the stones and it somehow made a differance, may be all in my head but as long as I feel better about the tank and the fish seem to be getting something from it then........
My cleaner shrimp love the heck out of it.
Same for my 36 glln.
I didn't have one on them at first and it seemed like the fish weren't doing all that great.
Then I added the stones and it somehow made a differance, may be all in my head but as long as I feel better about the tank and the fish seem to be getting something from it then........
ophiura
Active Member
Originally Posted by keleighr
I have one smaill air stone i nthe back of my 80 galln.
My cleaner shrimp love the heck out of it.
Same for my 36 glln.
I didn't have one on them at first and it seemed like the fish weren't doing all that great.
Then I added the stones and it somehow made a differance, may be all in my head but as long as I feel better about the tank and the fish seem to be getting something from it then........
You may want to check your gas exchange/circulation if this is the case (low dissolved oxygen)...or if you had difficulty with pH issues in the past (also related to gas exchange and would cause fish to not do so well).
Air stones in general - yeah, the salt creep is a major issue for sure, and the microbubbles though are not considered good in a reef tank.
I have one smaill air stone i nthe back of my 80 galln.
My cleaner shrimp love the heck out of it.
Same for my 36 glln.
I didn't have one on them at first and it seemed like the fish weren't doing all that great.
Then I added the stones and it somehow made a differance, may be all in my head but as long as I feel better about the tank and the fish seem to be getting something from it then........
You may want to check your gas exchange/circulation if this is the case (low dissolved oxygen)...or if you had difficulty with pH issues in the past (also related to gas exchange and would cause fish to not do so well).
Air stones in general - yeah, the salt creep is a major issue for sure, and the microbubbles though are not considered good in a reef tank.
keleighr
Active Member
Originally Posted by ophiura
You may want to check your gas exchange/circulation if this is the case (low dissolved oxygen)...or if you had difficulty with pH issues in the past (also related to gas exchange and would cause fish to not do so well).
Air stones in general - yeah, the salt creep is a major issue for sure, and the microbubbles though are not considered good in a reef tank.
Oh just so you know....Ph is looking great. I tested 2 days ago and every thing is where it is suppsed to be.
Also, can some one tell me what to buy to test my salinity??
I don't want someone at the LPS to just to give me something that is the most expensive in the store, also experiance is the the best advertising!
You may want to check your gas exchange/circulation if this is the case (low dissolved oxygen)...or if you had difficulty with pH issues in the past (also related to gas exchange and would cause fish to not do so well).
Air stones in general - yeah, the salt creep is a major issue for sure, and the microbubbles though are not considered good in a reef tank.
Oh just so you know....Ph is looking great. I tested 2 days ago and every thing is where it is suppsed to be.
Also, can some one tell me what to buy to test my salinity??
I don't want someone at the LPS to just to give me something that is the most expensive in the store, also experiance is the the best advertising!
ophiura
Active Member
Do you have powerheads in the tank? Do you have a lot of surface aggitation? This, along with skimming, assists in gas exchange. This is a place to start. Do you remember if your pH was low before you added the airstones?
The best thing for salinity is a refractometer. They are superior to hydrometers which, though cheaper, tend to be less accurate. If you are never doing a reef tank then they may be tolerable, but if you do wish to keep various inverts, a refractometer is the better choice. I would find one online.
The best thing for salinity is a refractometer. They are superior to hydrometers which, though cheaper, tend to be less accurate. If you are never doing a reef tank then they may be tolerable, but if you do wish to keep various inverts, a refractometer is the better choice. I would find one online.
batman1820
Member
Bubblers usually get salt all over the cover of your tank and the only other reason i can think of is that it might get into a sponge or something... no likely though assuming you dont put it right under the freakin thing.
darth tang
Active Member
Bubblers are also bad for seahorse tanks. They may try to eat the bubbles and get gas in their stomachs...very bad in this case.
T
thomas712
Guest
Good LORD, this is one of the oldest threads I've ever seen resurrected
three boys
Member
Whitey---I agree with you Bad Domino should be ousted! Look at all his posts and the language! Offensive
keleighr
Active Member
Originally Posted by Darth Tang
Bubblers are also bad for seahorse tanks. They may try to eat the bubbles and get gas in their stomachs...very bad in this case.
ahhh poor babies.
Sea horses are one of the pets I will not buy. Just seems mean. I know, I know I am buying the other fish what makes them different!!
I don't have anything in my tank listed so far that makes the air stones bad except for the salt.
All I do for that is wipe it down with a towel. So it just means a little more owrk on my end but my babies are worth it.
Bubblers are also bad for seahorse tanks. They may try to eat the bubbles and get gas in their stomachs...very bad in this case.
ahhh poor babies.
Sea horses are one of the pets I will not buy. Just seems mean. I know, I know I am buying the other fish what makes them different!!
I don't have anything in my tank listed so far that makes the air stones bad except for the salt.
All I do for that is wipe it down with a towel. So it just means a little more owrk on my end but my babies are worth it.
