Air stone in an invert tank

[maroman]

I have recently added a 3 gallon blue tiger shrimp tank to my collection and was wondering if it is necessary to have an air stone in the tank? I wouldn't mind taking it out if it is not needed. There is not much surface agitation because I have a toms aquatics canister filter which is doing wonders for the water! Do I still need to add air to the tank?

Thanks!

 

[NeonFlux]

Yes, if you don't have enough surface agitation. Airstones are not necessary if there are enough ripples on the surface. Little advice, don't turn the air pump way high, just leave the oxygen running smoothly and slow, so it won't disturb the shrimps in the 3 gallon.

 

[msjinkzd]

i doubt you need the airstone

 

[Death Pony]

If there are plants in there it should be perfectly fine.

 

[pbmax]

I put air stones on all my invert tanks now, whether it's necessary or not. A little extra circulation never hurts. One upside is that when the power goes out it's a lot easier to run air pumps off of a battery (UPS) than it is to run filters to keep the water moving.

 

[Stargazer53]

The airstone is not necessary. However, it was a battery-run airstone, it may be thrifty in case of possible power outages.

 

[Michwol42795]

If you have live plants-no, if you don't have live plants-it's up to you, more aeration wouldn't hurt, but I don't think it's necessary.

 

[coach_z]

probably not necessary....surface water movement/agitation should be plenty oxygen exchange between the air and water.