Filtration and H2O Circulation

[spryandspringy]

Hello, fishy folks!

As I continue my quest to research everything possible about the perfect habitat for my future stingray, I have yet another question. I'm starting my set-up with two power filters (one with a heater) that between the two of them will completely over-filter the tank. In fact, together they're rated for 110g - 150g, and I'm starting with a 55g. (Don't worry; I have a 100g planned for set-up this winter already which will be this baby's new home.) I'm also getting a rotating powerhead to keep the surface water moving and releasing gasses. Now, do I also need aeration to further keep things moving and grooving, or is this good enough? Or is this already overkill?

:feedback:

[forest23]

I don't see any problem if you over-filter the tank : )

[piranha45]

do not bother with air pumps.

[shovelnose]

do not bother with air pumps.

Why not? couldn't hurt

[swhiting]

Sounds good.
I agree, I wouldn't bother with air pumps unless you really want to. Those power filters and powerhead will plenty oxygenate the water, plus water changes should be frequent anyway, keeping the water good and fresh with o2. I just think air pumps are noisy and just one more thing I have to plug in. ha ha

[piranha45]

Why not? couldn't hurt
needless drain on electric bill, needless aesthetic ugliness. It would serve no practical function, unless you really like watching bubbles come up. But I mean, if you enjoy that sort of thing...

[DeLgAdO]

good to have both, you have air pumps oxygenating your water and you have powerheads to move and further aerate that water, double bonus the way i see it.

[shoefreak03]

i would have an airpump just so you can see rays swim the bubbles. for some weird reason, stingrays love to play in the bubbles. :hearts:

[Miles]

I was talking with a person who had done some studies on o2 levels and oxygenation. He keeps Aces and other 'high oxygen' fish. He had a method to measure the o2 levels, similiar to measuring co2 levels. He said it was vital that Acestrorhynchus get a maximum amount of oxygenation. I was curious if 'Venturi' style powerheads would be optimal, but he completely disagreed.

Basically to make a long story short.. He said the key point of oxygen was gas exchange through surface turbalance. He stated that an airstone or bubble-wall does nothing additional, other than the amount of gas exchange it creates at the surface. For years and years people have believed this was the key to oxygen levels, but he found his own studies to provide a different truth.

You make your own decision. I always let the hang on back filter do the work, or point the powerhead towards the surface.

Hasta,

Miles

[FishHeadSoup]

interesting....