How essential are bubblers?

[cwt24]

You could also set up the return just a tad above the surface so it breaks it and causes bubbles, but also makes close to no noise. I do this on my tank, the return is 50% in and 50% out of the water

See, I wish I could do that, but due to some of the very interesting (lol) plumbing i had to do to my tank, that isnt really possible.

The two canisters (a Magnum 350 and a Rena Filstar XP4) are hooked together from their outputs. The two outputs flow into one, then flows up over the top of the tank where I specially cut holes in the lids for the hose to be out of site, and in between the lights and water surface, and it deposits water back ont he opposite side. Had to do this because my tank is viewable from three sides, the two 6 feet sides each being viewable with no obstruction. So, the return blasts down into the water, and at a combined near 500GPH, it shoots really, really hard, so anything above the water would be incredibly noisy. So, bubblers it is, they've been turned back on.

The only reason I wanted them off, is that it seems some of the fish are scared by the air stones, particularly my placidochromis electra, which stay as far away from them as possible, and I wanted the fish to spread ot a bit more, so, we'll see how it goes.

Thanks for the input everyone.

 

[GEV83]

If you wanted you could of left your air pump off and see how your fish are check there breathing. If they gasp for air or breathe faster then turn it on if everyone acts normal then leave it off.

 

[Hebily]

You should check into something called a spray bar. It goes on the end of your output piping, and has a bunch of little holes that diffuse the pressure of the return. When properly aimed, they will give you good surface agitation without the waterfall effect. Mine cost about $20, and was very easy to set up. The downfall is that you need to keep the water level pretty close to the holes in the spraybar, otherwise it either gets noisy or doesn't agitate.

 

[cwt24]

You should check into something called a spray bar. It goes on the end of your output piping, and has a bunch of little holes that diffuse the pressure of the return. When properly aimed, they will give you good surface agitation without the waterfall effect.

Yeah I used to have a spraybar, but I didnt like it so much. It looked odd, was kinda noisy, and it created way too strong of a current.

 

[Star_Rider]

actually for good gas exchange you only need water movement.

agitation increases surface area, good circulation is all that is needed.

 

[snoopy65]

I would turn off the bubblers when you have time to be home for a couple of hours and observe your fish. If your fish go up to the top and act like they are gasping and stay there, there isn't enough surface movement and therefore not enough O2. If your fish remain fine and swim around no problem acting normal....then your filters are providing enough movement and therefore enough O2 and the bubblers can be removed.

 

[cwt24]

actually for good gas exchange you only need water movement.

agitation increases surface area, good circulation is all that is needed.

So then you would say that surface agitation is not necessary to keep the watery properly oxygenated?

 

[Star_Rider]

So then you would say that surface agitation is not necessary to keep the watery properly oxygenated?

yes, as long as water is moving(circulating) you will get gas exchange.

many planted tank enthusiast use CO2 injection and try to minimize surface agitation. but make sure they have good water circulation.

the bubbler actually works to increase circulation too.. watch the flow of water when it runs.

or consider how a sponge filter works. in essence the air bubbles escape from a tube this creates a void or negative pressure as the bubbles displace water moving it out as the bubbles rise. water from the sponge area below the tubes then fill the void.
(in simple terms)you can then get a better understanding of water circulation.

filters do this without bubbles.

 

[Slappy*McFish]

This is the surface movement created by my filters. More than sufficient for good gas exchange. Think ripples, not bubbles...The filter return doesn't have to splash or create bubbles to oxygenate the tank. If you're not injecting CO2, then some good surface ripple action would be beneficial and is all that is needed. If your water surface looks like this, then you're more than likely getting good overall water circulation, as well.

 

[cwt24]

Thanks for all the input guys. I've taken the air stones out, and to be safe, replaced them with a powerhead. I ran a 6 foot long air hose out of the powerhead, then screwed a screw into the end of the air hose to make very little air able to get into the powerhead, makes it nearly silent. It introduces plenty of air and keeps the current I need. Thanks for everything guys.