How to airate your water without airstones?

Discussion in 'New To The Hobby' started by t-hac, Sep 23, 2008.

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  1. t-hac

    t-hac Flamingo Tongue

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    Vancouver, CANADA
    hey guys still kinda new at this whole thing and im tired of cleaning off crystalized salt off of my lights and top of aquarium....
    :-/
    MY question.....is there any way to airate (get air into your water) without airstones/bubbles or just a better way maybe?

    right now i have 2 airstones 6 inch bars just sitting at the bottom of the tank behind my LR...

    any help is greatly appreciated
    thanks alot
    t
     
    t-hac, Sep 23, 2008
    t-hac, Sep 23, 2008
    #1

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  2. lunatik_69

    lunatik_69 Giant Squid

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    Do you have a sump? If so, how is the water coming into the sump? Can you post some pics? Luna
     
    lunatik_69, Sep 23, 2008
    lunatik_69, Sep 23, 2008
    #2
  3. rmelvin23

    rmelvin23 Skunk Shrimp

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    What do you need the airstones for? I have never used a airstone ever and my tank is great. I heard that they are useless, even in fw.
     
    rmelvin23, Sep 23, 2008
    rmelvin23, Sep 23, 2008
    #3
  4. rayjay

    rayjay Gigas Clam

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    Proper air exchange comes from turbulence of the surface water.
    Point a power head so that the surface water is in turbulence and that should do the trick.
     
    rayjay, Sep 23, 2008
    rayjay, Sep 23, 2008
    #4
    1 person likes this.
  5. phoenixhieghts

    phoenixhieghts Panda Puffer

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    Airstones are far from useless and not only oxygenate the water but also help to dissolve ammonia and nitrite.
    They can be used on skimmers that dont have built in pumps, and as far as i know, is the only way to use an ozonizer.
     
    phoenixhieghts, Sep 23, 2008
    phoenixhieghts, Sep 23, 2008
    #5
  6. Jason McKenzie

    Jason McKenzie Super Moderator

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    Your best O2 exchange happens at the surface of the water. If you have a glass top on your tank take it off. have one of your powerheads just slightly pointed up.

    J
     
    Jason McKenzie, Sep 23, 2008
    Jason McKenzie, Sep 23, 2008
    #6
    1 person likes this.

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  7. Iraf

    Iraf Snowflake Eel

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    also if you have a protein skimmer it's injecting a ton of air into the water as it passes through that
     
    Iraf, Sep 23, 2008
    Iraf, Sep 23, 2008
    #7
  8. C24

    C24 Astrea Snail

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    I agree. I don't think using an airstone in a SW tank is a good idea.
     
    C24, Sep 23, 2008
    C24, Sep 23, 2008
    #8
  9. amcarrig

    amcarrig Super Moderator

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    I have always used airstones in my sump. They are nothing but beneficial especially if you keep alot of tangs like we do.
     
    amcarrig, Sep 23, 2008
    amcarrig, Sep 23, 2008
    #9
  10. t-hac

    t-hac Flamingo Tongue

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    Location:
    Vancouver, CANADA
    cool, ill have to consider the feedback, but i DONT have a sump or fuge. OR a Skimmer, Just a canister filter.....
    I also DOnt have a glass cover or any top its open and the PH i have is slightly pointed at the surface and does disturb it quite a bit.
     
    t-hac, Sep 23, 2008
    t-hac, Sep 23, 2008
    #10
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