Bubbles?

[beck_bail]

If I have a sump that the water pours into, do I need an airstone in the tank?

Any way I can to test to see if there is enough air in the water???

 

[BadOleRoss]

Good water movement will aerate the water. Make sure the water surface has good flow/movement as well. I would not mess with an airstone.

 

[mitlik1]

with a powerhead, is it bad to have the air flow through the hose to create bubbles in the tank? If so, why?

 

[Blown 346]

It isnt really bad, but isnt necassary like a fresh water tank.
Th bubbles can stress fish and corals, and alos raise the PH in your tank.

Not to mention all the salt creep you will get forming on the outside of the tank.
Like said above, for salt water all you need is good water movement to create oxygen.

Bubbles wont hurt anything depending on how many you have, but a simple bubble wall or airstone wont have any negative affects on the tank. The only pain is the extra work you will have to do to keep it clean.

 

[fsa]

I have read (so don't really know) where bubbles can irritate corals. Don't know how true that is though.

Frank

 

[hanas]

There are test kits that test for Oxygen, Salifert has one. I believe they are a more expensive test kit, however. Maybe a LFS near you can test it.

 

[Danster]

Don't worry about an airstone. The bubbles in the sump will be enough and just make sure there is good water flow in the tank.

 

[Blown 346]

Bubbles can irretate corals or get stuck to them and cause that part of them to die if not removed.

 

[kmgriff72]

I have a question, I keep getting these bubbles that form and float in a cluster on top of the water. It usually just collects in a circle and floats around the tank with the current. They also form along the tank walls. Is this anything to worry about? I sucked out the circle of bubbles this morning with a turkey baster.

 

[Kaiser Tang]

Never used and airstone. Keep one on hand for power outages though.

 

[lfjewett]

Kim, I take it you don't have a sump? Water will build up a surface residue and increase the surface tension of the water. Any air or nitrogen in your water that rises to the surface tends to get trapped as a bubble on the surface. You will not see this in tanks that have a surface skimmer such as used with an overflow and a sump. The surface water is constantly going "over the edge" and down into the sump to be cleaned by a skimmer or re-mixed with the water.

You may not have enough water movement at the surface of your water. I would consider If I were you an overflow and sump for your tank or a skimmer/filter with a surface skimmer attachment.

The bubbles themselves on the surface will not hurt anything though.

 

[kmgriff72]

Ok, thanks for the info. My next purchase is going to be a skimmer. I am on a budget so you know how it is. As long as it will not hurt my fish I can keep sucking it out with the turkey baster for now. I know I need more movement in my tank. I do not even have a powerhead. My fluval 404 puts out a good stream to keep the xenia moving back and forth. I am going to look at seeing about getting a powerhead tonight depending on how expensive they are at the LFS. How deep do I need to put the powerhead. I want one to hang on the tank but, my fluval 404 puts out the water from the return valve onto the top part of the water. Should I aim the other powerhead down toward the bottom of the tank facing the opposite way or just put it in facing the opposite direction of the return valve and it will move the bottom part of the tank?

 

[fsa]

Kim, you might try pointing the power head towards the top so it really ripples the surface. This might cut down on the oily like film that gathers at the top, at least keep it stirred up. Also makes for better oxygen exchange.

Frank

 

[joelowrider]

i also heard that the bubbles bother fish

 

[kmgriff72]

The outlet for the filter skims on the top of the water. Sometimes I let the water run a little low (I keep an eye on the salinity) so that it has more of a ripple and better oxygen exchange.