70 Gallon, Fluval 404, Need bubbler?

[Tedzbug]

My 70 gallon has been up and cycled and fish in it for a few weeks now, Everyone is healthy, the plants are growing well. My question is about my bubbler, I have a very quiet bubbler itself, but the "feedback" of the bubbles rising in the tank is really loud. Is the fluval 404 exhaust enough to agitate the water for enough o2? I don't have it pointing up as to make "water sounds" , just enough to stir the surface near it pretty good.

 

[robbob2112]

If you have loose fitting lids and enough surface agitation is provided by the return of the 404 you don't need the bubbler.

My 75g requires a bubble source because I have VERY tight fitting lids to keep the evaporation down, which means there is little gas exchange other than the air pumped in. If I turn off the bubbler the fish are gasping as the surface within hours.

Instead of a bubble stone, have you considered a bubble wand? I have a 4ft long one buried in the substrate along the back wall. It provides lots of surface agitation and because it is buried the bubbles are large and don't make a ton of noise as they break the surface.

Depending on who answers you, common wisdom is that there is very little transfer of O2 directly from the bubbles to the water. I'm on the fence and say it depends.

 

[Tedzbug]

It's not the noise of the bubbles breaking the surface, I think it's the sound of the bubble coming out of the bubble wand. I turned it off this morning and will watch carefully for any gasping and go from there.

 

[H3D]

You don't need the bubble wand.

 

[J double R]

there is no need for a "bubble source".

if your tank is in need of more surface agitation, try repositioning the filter output.

 

[robbob2112]

See what I mean? Everyone has an opinion on the subject.

Not saying they are right or wrong, just that a flat 100% answer doesn't always fit every situation.

I cut the plastic strips along the back of my glass so that it touches the filter inlet/outlet... less that 1/8th inch gap anywhere... otherwise my evaporation is more than an inch a day. Practical experience says I DO require an air stone or I have to add 3~4 gallons a day back to keep the water level up.

You are lightly enough stocked you can probably do without, but good plan to watch and see.

 

[Tedzbug]

Wow, That's a lot of evap. I don't loose nearly that much, I wonder if it the elevation. I am in SE Michigan (roughly 621ft)

 

[robbob2112]

I live at 9144ft, so elevation and low relative humidity. My air pressure is 10.44 PSI verse the sea level air pressure of 14.7 PSI... which plays with the boiling and evaporation points of water by making them lower. I don't recall exactly how to work it, but I think it is called Boyle's law, or Charles, or somebody like that... been a long time since physics and chemistry classes.

My average year round relative humidity is 40% or less. The only exception is when it rains or snows which drives the humidity up to 100% for a while. Supposed to snow tonight in fact.

http://www.doryweather.org/

I do the weather graphs at the bottom with some different sensors that measure pressure, temp, wind speed at various points. Then some of the other lines are calculated based on the direct measure... like heat index and chill factor.

 

[Mgamer20o0]

for the most part they are not needed here and there maybe but more often then not they are not needed.

 

[nguyendetecting]

instead of air bubble wand, how about a spary bar? plenty of diy articles out there and they even sell one for fluval filters. In my opinion, you don't need the bubble, I understand they can be loud. but anyhow a spray will give you that much more surface agitation.