Caper Posted February 25, 2008 Report Share Posted February 25, 2008 Okay, I know that airstones create surface movement. Ohhhhhh darn, don't know how to put this...it's right on the tip of my tongue can you read it??? Filters create water flow, right yes or no? The larger the filter, the more flow, right yes/no? So does adding an airstone, no matter the kind or the size of the pump create more flow? Caper :-? :-? :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snookie Posted February 25, 2008 Report Share Posted February 25, 2008 depends on where filter outlet is , Surface agitation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted February 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 25, 2008 Sorry Snookie, not sure I know what you mean? Example, my filters are all hang ons. What about the airstones, do they affect flow? Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snookie Posted February 25, 2008 Report Share Posted February 25, 2008 on a hang on filter is the water flow under water , or is water breaking the surface ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 An airstone will increase water flow in a limited way. Filters create more flow as they are more powerful and as they our the water back into the tank it creates a flow. Some filters have their return pipes under the water surface so the flow isn't seen so much on the surface. If the filter returns water at, or above the water surface, it creates more flow. Airstones create flow as the bubbles break the surface but to a much more limited degree. I think you are getting flow mixed up with increasing oxygen content. If you have a filter, or airstone, creating waves on the surface, you are increasing the water surface area and the amount of oxygen exchange. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 I put my air stone in the corner behind my spray bar, the rising bubbles push the water in the same direction as the bar, this increases the flow noticeably. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted February 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 snookie wrote: on a hang on filter is the water flow under water , or is water breaking the surface ? Oh my gosh, had to go look at my filters :oops: :-? I'll try to explain...the bottom "lip" if you will, where the water is flowing back into the tank is just below the surface but I do keep my water levels in the tank high. So, is that what you mean by the water flow under water? Just to make a point I guess, if I'm doing a water change and don't turn off the filter then the lower the water in the tank the harder the water is hitting from the filter, therefore creating more flow?? Oh my gosh, I didn't mean for this to get complicated :-? :oops: Caryl wrote: If you have a filter, or airstone, creating waves on the surface, you are increasing the water surface area and the amount of oxygen exchange. Yes, I understand that Caryl, but does it, OH DARN, what am I trying to say :-? okay, some fish don't like too much current (is that the same as flow :-? ) say by a filter that is much too big for the tank...does adding an airstone cause the same effect??? Vison wrote: I put my air stone in the corner behind my spray bar, the rising bubbles push the water in the same direction as the bar, this increases the flow noticeably Because of its location? Sorry soooo confusing :-? Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinsonMassif Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 I believe "flow" and "current" refer to the same thing. If your filter outlet is disturbing the surface, if it is creating ripples, then it is increasing gas exchange. Adding an air stone increases oxygen a small amount, but the bubbles cause ripples thus increasing gas exchange also. Some fish do like a slow flow, others a stronger flow. You can alter the strength by positioning the filter outlet mid tank, or near the side, or by planting tall plants in front of the outlet, or by placing a piece of wood in front of the outlet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mankeycow Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 Okay, I know that airstones create surface movement. Ohhhhhh darn, don't know how to put this...it's right on the tip of my tongue can you read it??? Filters create water flow, right yes or no? The larger the filter, the more flow, right yes/no? So does adding an airstone, no matter the kind or the size of the pump create more flow? Caper :-? :-? :-? my filter creates heaps of flow is that good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheesejawa Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 um good for your tertas probly but not for angels though. Will also decrease Co2 but will oxegenate the water so fish can breath better I think? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gannet Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 just to confuse you more, i once (along time ago as a joke) put 45L/min of air through a air stone, all i could see was a WALL of bubbles in a 3ft tank with a small air stone, looked awesome, got a pic and turned it off lol, if i can find the pic ill post it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gannet Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 found it that 45L/min on an airstone 5cm long and 3cm round Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cichlid7 Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
georgeous Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 found it that 45L/min on an airstone 5cm long and 3cm round :lol: ok we now need a drool emoticon... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gannet Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 thats in a ar980 tank, you could see the tank flow was amazing, i didnt get a full tank shot but the bubbles were doing the full length of the tank, and the ammount of water movment within the tank was a turnover of water every 3secs or sumthng like tht edit to remove typo that was a bad word, sorry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snookie Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 looks like my farts in a bath :roll: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stella Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 Any sort of filter, water pump or airstone will create some sort of current or flow. The amount depends on how strong the pump (to use just one word to cover all options) is. A really strong air pump can stir up the water more than a weak filter, and vice versa. The surface agitation is not a huge part of aeration. The most important thing is the water being moved around so it all gets near the surface where the gas exchange happens. The surface agitation helps to prevent scum building up on the surface, which hampers gas exchange. Think lungs. Your heart (the pump) needs to move blood (water) around your body (tank) so it all gets to the lungs (surface) so oxygen can enter and carbon dioxide can exit. If there is poor circulation there won't be much dissolved oxygen. If there is surface scum (think a smoker's lungs!) there will be less surface for the oxygen to dissolve through. That may not have been what you were after... If you think there is too much agitation but plenty of filtration there are ways to dampen the flow from a filter. Aim the outlet at the wall, at a rock, at (strong) plants, put on a long spray bar (so you are not just turning it into a set of strong jets) or tell your fish to stop being such wusses! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gannet Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 well said... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted February 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 I believe "flow" and "current" refer to the same thing Thanks that does help...couldn't think of anything but flow :oops: So then, example Gannet's air stone (NASSAU type :lol: ) it will certainly cause more surface movement, but my question is does that mean there is more "current" for the fish to deal with OR does the air stone just affect the surface itself?? Anybody know what I'm trying to say, I AM confusing aren't I :oops: Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted February 26, 2008 Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 The airstone would be more just surface and unless it was really forcing oput the bubbles I doubt it would upset any fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted February 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 26, 2008 OH MY GOSH, I am so glad right now that I live on the other side of the world or else you folks might want to kill me :oops: :oops: The airstone would be more just surface and unless it was really forcing oput the bubbles I doubt it would upset any fish I think that's the bottom line Caryl of what I was trying to figure out. Does adding an airstone, except for the extreme Nassau type like gannet's :lol: :lol: , cause more "current" than fishies would like, so to speak, and if it mostly just affected the surface of the water, which it sounds like it does!!!!! THANK ALL for your help by the way Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 You can adjust the flow on an airstone to have it bubbling as fast or slow as you like. It should not upset the fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mankeycow Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 OH MY GOSH, I am so glad right now that I live on the other side of the world or else you folks might want to kill me :oops: :oops: yeh we r like barbarians over here :lol: :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caper Posted February 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted February 29, 2008 mankeycow...I hope you know I was only joking :lol: :lol: This reminds me of the time there was a parent's session at our high school, and the gentleman that was conducting it was saying about all the things we tell our kids...such as...Oh, I'm going to kill you; touch that again and I'll cut your fingers off; you are NEVER going out again, etc. It was so funny as we all sat there saying "oh, I've said that!" :lol: :lol: Caper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mankeycow Posted February 29, 2008 Report Share Posted February 29, 2008 lol yeh i new u were joking i was too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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