AC110 MODIFICATION Idea???

[Judgedhook]

Hi I was wondering if anyone has ever tried putting an airstone underneath the bio bag in an AC filter? I am thinking maybe this might help mature that beneficial bacteria in the bio media.

Can anyone give me some feed back? Would this be a good idea or not?

 

[JAK]

i don't think that would help.its true bio need o2 but i think you would be better off just adding more current to the top of the water level for more o2.and happier bio?

 

[aquanaut]

You could try it. Not sure what it would do. The design of the AC already does a god job of gassing off by turbulence.

Adding an airstone doesn`t put more O2 into the water. Rather it allows agitation to the surface of the water to provide better gas exchange.

 

[Dr Joe]

You could try it. Not sure what it would do. The design of the AC already does a god job of gassing off by turbulence.

Adding an airstone doesn`t put more O2 into the water. Rather it allows agitation to the surface of the water to provide better gas exchange.

A fallacy...

Anytime youadd air to water you are going to get a gas exchange, just depends what's missing in the tank water.

Dr Joe

.

 

[aquanaut]

What is a fallacy?

 

[Mr Pleco]

The small surface area of an AC 110 will absorb oxygen from the atmosphere, however because of the filters smaller surface area; you would be better served by placing the air stone directly in the tank for increasing your total DO levels .....

"Oxygen is absorbed into the water from the atmosphere until levels at the surface equilibrate with levels in the atmosphere. At this point, the system is said to be saturated.

Three factors affect the percent saturation (the highest DO level possible even in well-aerated water):

Salinity: Fresh water can hold more oxygen that salt water.
Temperature: Cold water can hold more oxygen than warm water.
Atmospheric Pressure (Altitude): The greater the atmospheric pressure the more oxygen the water will hold."

All said and done the finer the bubbles from the air stone, some oxygen absorption energy exchange will take place however it is at the surface area, where the turbulence provides a more effective exchange of aquarium gases.. Don't fill your tank to the top, I use a power head blowing just below the water's surface so that it ripples the water . This helps to break the surface tension and facilitates the removal of the CO2 , as well as the absorption of the O2 . In addition, my large fish also agitate the surface of the water .

 

[IITUFFTOBEATII]

All said and done the finer the bubbles from the air stone, some oxygen absorption energy exchange will take place however it is at the surface area, where the turbulence provides a more effective exchange of aquarium gases.. Don't fill your tank to the top, I use a power head blowing just below the water's surface so that it ripples the water . This helps to break the surface tension and facilitates the removal of the CO2 , as well as the absorption of the O2 . In addition, my large fish also agitate the surface of the water .

Agitation/ripples have nothing to do with gas transfer, the only thing that matters is the interface between the gas and the liquid; the surface area, including the surface area of the bubbles and the finer the bubbles the greater the surface area. Surface tension is not a factor. Oh and its not absorption and removal, its dissolution and volatilization

To answer the original post, it makes more sense to put the airstone in the tanks as the bubbles will be in the water longer, more time=more gas exchange.

 

[CHOMPERS]

A fallacy...

Anytime youadd air to water you are going to get a gas exchange, just depends what's missing in the tank water.

Dr Joe

.

 

[CHOMPERS]

What is a fallacy?

false; fake; in error.

for agitation...in stagnant water, the surface will reach saturation quickly but the water below must rely on diffusion. With an air stone, power head, or any filter the water gets mixed up through the agitation. Any mechanical means that will bring the lower water to the surface and cause the surface water to be carried below will increase the gas exchange within the body of water as a whole. An air stone increases the surface area by adding the surface of the bubbles into the sum total with that at the actual surface. However, there is a missunderstanding that just causing the surface to jiggle (agitation) or to create waves (also agitation) that this will do miraculous stuff like remove chlorine from the water. The word 'agitation' is really too general and it can cause a lot of missunderstanding.

But for AC filters, I am no expert. I have a small one so I can only say that in the smaller ones, an airstone would hinder the flow because the sponge is not designed to flow air and water at the same time. The air bubbles would get trapped in the sponge, partially clogging it.

 

[Dr Joe]

Well Judgedhook, if you thought you might not get an answer guess again...I think you've just been welcomed into the MFK clan . Nothing like a good discussion of a newbie's question...

Oh, and too much air could adversely affect the bio-mass by drying it out in part.

Dr Joe

.