Why don't we use airstones?

B

BrianC

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[I remember being told we don't use airstones in marine aq. Can someone tell me why?

I can think of reasons we should like it will keeps nitrates and stuff suspended. At least in some part adds oxygen which is good for fish health!]
 
[There's no reason to use them. A protein skimmer is sufficient for providing air back into the water.]
 
[Agree for the reason above. However, I plan on getting a battery powered air pump to use when the power goes out. Which it did today. Lucky for only about 10 mins.]
 
[When power goes out my battery powered pump starts up and the fish are happy campers to receive fresh air.
You can get them at petsmart for 12 bucks.]
 
[I tried it for the pure aesthetic reasons I thought it would look good in the corner of the tank. It crashed the pH. Not bad but defiantly lowered it a five tenths.. I think it increased CO2 airation or something.. Just my experience. no scientific reasons]
 
[no need to - and bubbles are what we struggle to keep out of our show tanks. And really, your skimmer should be the greatest "airstone" you'll ever use.]
 
[I used to use them some 30ish years ago when I first tried marine and they work OK for awhile, but tend to degrade and fall apart or clog up fairly easily. I still use them a bit today when I need some extra air,etc for a bucket,brine shrimp,etc. Other than that, some just don't like the looks of the bubbles in the tank (if used there rather than just extra in refug or something).]
 
@salsini wrote:
[I tried it for the pure aesthetic reasons I thought it would look good in the corner of the tank. It crashed the pH. Not bad but defiantly lowered it a five tenths.. I think it increased CO2 airation or something.. Just my experience. no scientific reasons] said:
[That surprises me I thought in reading Marc I thought it would help balance ph???]
Click to expand...
 
[The other problem I see is if you have proper circulation in your display the bubbles would be everywhere! They would stick to everything and it would just not be pretty!

In freshwater they work well because the circulation is lower and the bubbles go pretty straight up and don't cause salt spray.

I'm guessing the reason the pH went down in your case is because the air you were pumping in had more C02 then your tank did! I think if you wanted to get fancy the best way would be to use outside air on the input side!]
 
[1) Salt creep
2) lack of flow for our high flow tanks

Many coral raisers and fish breeders use air though, nothing wrong with it if you have enough and can stand some salt creep.]
 
[I am increasing flow and skimming in the next few months... So I will find out. But, I thought this would add to the health of the tank. I am more worried about keeping inhabitant healthy than the tank pretty!]
 
[My question would be what advantage do you think it will bring?

Organics and protiens (which cause nitrates) tend to accumulate near the surface anyway. So I don't see much advantage there. Also with Live rock, good skimming and macroalgea nitrates are usually a non-issue. They are for most of us anyway.

Your skimmer should have your O2 almost at saturation anyway so it's not like you need the additional O2 in the water.

The only advantage would be if you wee using fresh air you might raise you pH slightly but that is no big deal. The advantages to doing that are very slight!

I would be more concerned that the microbubbles would irritate the corals and cause more harm then any potential benefit.]



Edited By kwl1763 on 1107531544
 
[Keith, I was operating a low flow system with a plenum and DSB I removed the DSB and will need to upgrade my skimmer!

My tank could use the help ph wise!

I also need to figure out a way I like to increase flow. I simply haven't figured out which I really like! Beside the Tunze wavebox!]
 
[I was able to get the benefits of higher pH from fresh, oxygen rich outside air by running the skimmer intake line to the outside. That alone bumped my pH from 7.9 to 8.1.]
 
[For about $5 at home depot I bought 25 feet of polyethylene tubing that had the same inner diameter as the outer diameter of the air intake line for the skimmer. That way the skimmer line ccould insert right into the extention line. When extending the line that long, double diameter is recommend so you don't starve the skimmer of air.

Then just find a way to get the other end outside. My tank is against the backside a counter with the stove that separates the kithen from the living room. My house is one of the rare houses who's stove vent actually vents to the outside. So I just created an opening in that hood and ran the line up to the attic and then out the vent in the roof.

At first I had the line go just into the attic with no change in pH. After a few weeks I pushed it out the vent in the roof and the tubing now lies on the roof with the opening about 12" from the attic vent. pH is much better now.]
 
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