Airstone Aeration - Yes or No?

[Nelson]

I'm always on a quest to restrict the amount of periferal equipment in my tanks.  I've been reading about aeration and the need for air stones.  Much of what I read tells me that an agitated surface is basically all you really need for surface gas exchange - powerhead or filter exhaust for example.  I've seen the results of one tank where my air pump malfunctioned, and I don't want a repetition.  
What are your thoughts?....and

:arrow: Is there a test for levels of oxygen in a tank?
:arrow: Will tank water benefit from aerated sump water?

[darkdep]

While I'm sure BigDaddy will pipe in here with his usual excellent technical knowledge, I can tell you my own experiences.

I was die-hard against air pumps and airstones.  I hate the noise they make, and just dislike them generally.  

I knew about surface agitation (which IS all that is necessary for oxygen exchange) but figured it wasn't THAT important.  I always had a film on my water surface, and then one day had an "incident" that looked like my fish were suffocating.  After some emergency action I put in an old airstone and pump...and everything went back to normal.  Surface hasn't had film since, and that's reason enough for me.  I bought a new stone that worked a bit better and will now say that although I still dislike the noise that airpumps make, I will now always have one on my larger tanks.

In reference to the oxygen test, I believe there is a kit or device you can buy but brief research I did a while ago seemed to indicate it was quite expensive.

[Nelson]

Thanks for your comments darkdep....there's no doubt oxygen deprivation isn't pretty in a tank and if I thought there was any risk whatsoever of that happening again I wouldn't risk turning off my pumps.

[Nelson]

Dissolved oxygen (DO) meters are indeed pretty expensive - $200++US.

[BigDaddy]

Surface agitation, as I recall, simply INCREASES the rate of gas exchange.  You can have a perfectly still water surface, and still have gas exchange.  For example... my surface agitation is non-existant.  When I turn off CO2 at lights out I have 30ppm of CO2.... at lights on, it has returned to atmospheric levels (about 9ppm).  So there is still gas exchange going on.

Gas concentrations will always flow from a higher concentration to a lower concentration, barring any interference.  Darkdep already mentioned the prime culprit, protein films.

A spray bar pointed slightly upward creating a middle ripple on the water's surface is all you really need for "enough" surface agitation to increase/maintain high oxygen levels in an average aquarium.

[Nelson]

Surface agitation, as I recall, simply INCREASES the rate of gas exchange.  You can have a perfectly still water surface, and still have gas exchange.  For example... my surface agitation is non-existant.  When I turn off CO2 at lights out I have 30ppm of CO2.... at lights on, it has returned to atmospheric levels (about 9ppm).  So there is still gas exchange going on.

Gas concentrations will always flow from a higher concentration to a lower concentration, barring any interference.  Darkdep already mentioned the prime culprit, protein films.

A spray bar pointed slightly upward creating a middle ripple on the water's surface is all you really need for "enough" surface agitation to increase/maintain high oxygen levels in an average aquarium.

I take it then that you don't use air stones in your tanks?

BTW - my (sanitized) notebook has been at BestBuy since Friday - they can't figure out what is responsible for my log-on problems.

[gator]

I use airstones in my freshwater tanks, but not my saltwater.  For that tank I have an overflow which removes the surface film, and my skimmer aerates the water quite a bit.  I do use an airstone in to aerate the effluent from my calcium reactor.  Calcium reators use CO2, which acidifies the effluent coming out of them.  I collect this effluent in a cup with an airstone in it to try to rid the water of as much co2 as possible before it flows back into my sump.   It's pretty impressive:  Before the aeration, the effluent was about 6.7, after aeration it was about 7.4-7.6.

[BigDaddy]

I take it then that you don't use air stones in your tanks?

BTW - my (sanitized) notebook has been at BestBuy since Friday - they can't figure out what is responsible for my log-on problems.

My 75 is CO2 injected.. airstone is a big no no there (will outgas CO2)

My 65 gallon is non-planted discus tank, emperor bio wheels provide more than enough aeration (if I dose formalin I do put an airstone on)

My 33 gallon planted also has an emperor

My 33 gallon convict tank has 0 agitation, and the convicts breed monthy

My 15 gallons have AC 150's on them... both planted, both with little to no agitation

My 10 gallons at work have AC Minis... both planted, both with little to no agitation.

I have never experienced oxygen deprivation in any of the above tanks.

[Nelson]

Thanks BigDaddy, that's good to know

[darkdep]

I think the "protein film" might be a good indicator.  If you've got it, you need more agitation.

[CdnRednek]

I have use an aerator in my new 33g.  It just came out of my 20g.  The key is to set the air pump on something soft (ie- a magazine).  Before I started pumping air in, I had a huge algae problem.  Since I put it in, my algae eater has an easier time to keep up with growth.  Plus, most of my fish love to ride the bubbles up and down.

[BigDaddy]

I'm not sure about a correlation between aeration and algae.  Unless it was BGA... BGA does tend to collect in dead spots... maybe your air was just creating current in that area of the tank.

[CdnRednek]

Have read that algae doesn't like oxygenated water.  It will grow faster in stagnant water, aquariums or lakes, doesn't matter.  It did make a huge difference too.

[Sailfin]

Let you guys in on a little secret......They do sell airpumps that are very quiet.  You may pay a little more than the cheap stuff, but   I have 4 aquariums in my house with some type of airstone or ornament and I don't even hear a sound.  Actually, the bubbles it produces makes more noise than the pumps itself.     :roll:

[Marc]

Let you guys in on a little secret......They do sell airpumps that are very quiet.  You may pay a little more than the cheap stuff, but   I have 4 aquariums in my house with some type of airstone or ornament and I don't even hear a sound.  Actually, the bubbles it produces makes more noise than the pumps itself.     :roll:

Which brand/model is it?

[gvv]

From commercial airpumps  I ever had - rena were the most silent. But this is from my experience. And the most silent at all was rotor homemade pump ... as it was placed outside the living quarters

[Sailfin]

Let you guys in on a little secret......They do sell airpumps that are very quiet.  You may pay a little more than the cheap stuff, but   I have 4 aquariums in my house with some type of airstone or ornament and I don't even hear a sound.  Actually, the bubbles it produces makes more noise than the pumps itself.     :roll:

Which brand/model is it?

I can post it tonight when I get home......I paid a little extra for quietness....purchased from Petsmart I believe...

[darkdep]

Yes, please let us know!  I've been wanting to add airstones to my other tanks but the noise from the single pump I have is already driving me nuts...

[Sailfin]

Yes, please let us know!  I've been wanting to add airstones to my other tanks but the noise from the single pump I have is already driving me nuts...

Another thing that helps is an Aquarium stand with cabinet doors.

[UCGrafix]

I am also interested in this particular pump.

What kind is it
Where can I get one
How big of a tank can it support
Will it support a 72 gal capacity tank in strength

Like others have written, the noise from the regular air pumps drives me crazy after a while, but if there is one that is real quiet, i'm in.

Regards,
Denis