air bubblers?
- Thread starter fishisme
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After adventuring into planted tanks i'd have to say no - its not necessary - may even negatively influence your CO2 levels.
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I have an airstone in my 10 gallon tank that I turn off and on once in a while only because my dwarf corys like to play in the bubbles. I have one in my 39 gallon tank full of guppies because I was worried it was crowded but was told my amazon sword wasn't growing as well because of the extra O2 right next to it. In my planted 29 gallon tank I do not have one. I keep extras on hand for the summer months when the temperature goes up (which decreases the O2 content of the water).
I have a modereratly planted tank without any bubbles. I have never had a problem with there not being enough O2 in the tank. This is because plants, during the day emit O2, and eat up the CO2 in the water.
There is alot of debate of plant forums about the use of air stones. This is becuase the people on those forums tend to have lots of plants and advanced CO2 systems in thier tank. Many people will run air stones at night to increase the O2 in the water. This is because while plants absorb CO2 and emit O2 during the day, at night, when the lights are turned out, the plants do the opposite. Some people with heavily planted tanks use air stones all day without adverse affects on their plants. Most of the people with heavily planted tank do something to aggitate the water at night.
IMHO, if you are not injecting CO2 and your tank is not heavily planted, and you fish are not gasping for breath, then you will not need an air stone. That doesnt mean you can't have one though.
There is alot of debate of plant forums about the use of air stones. This is becuase the people on those forums tend to have lots of plants and advanced CO2 systems in thier tank. Many people will run air stones at night to increase the O2 in the water. This is because while plants absorb CO2 and emit O2 during the day, at night, when the lights are turned out, the plants do the opposite. Some people with heavily planted tanks use air stones all day without adverse affects on their plants. Most of the people with heavily planted tank do something to aggitate the water at night.
IMHO, if you are not injecting CO2 and your tank is not heavily planted, and you fish are not gasping for breath, then you will not need an air stone. That doesnt mean you can't have one though.
I had the same question this past weekend b/c I have a cannister filter that doesn't seem to aggitate the surface of the water. My LFS guy said they are not necessary. But he said the battery-powered kind are good to have onhand if there's a power outage. It will provide the fish some oxygen, especially if it's a long outage. The kind I have only operates if there is a power outage.
I think that as long as you have enough surface agitation(aka is your filter stirring up the surface) You're alright. However if you have a undergravel filter or sponge filter that bubbler is essnetial.
