Air Stones Or Not

[Chad55]

I have a bubble wall in one of my tanks and the other has a sponge filter in place of the airstone. I think that sponge filter is probably one of the best things I have done. I am going to use sponge filters in place of airstones from now on.

Chad

 

[HiGhTiMeZ]

some fish like calm tank but i think alot fish loves the bubbles that air stones produce.
not only air stones help beautify a tank but it also makes DO and helps in water circulation.
i use it on my tanks cept my bettas.. arowana loves calmer water too so what i do is half of the tank is calm, the half has some aggitation.

 

[plah831]

I'm same as most here. I personally like the bubbles, and so do my fishies! Some even lay on the bubble wand, like it gives them a belly massage!

But if you've got plenty of surface agitation, from a powerhead or HOB or something, you can do without. Especially if the bubbling noise bothers you, you can skip it. Sometimes, though, the bubbles are a pain because my hard water gets lime deposits all over the hood. Also, in marine setups, the salt creep from the bubbler just kills me!

I do like to use the air bubbler to help circulate water. I usually place them under the hottest part of the heater, to help distribute heat evenly throughout the tank

 

[dacox]

I have a bubble wall in one of my tanks and the other has a sponge filter in place of the airstone. I think that sponge filter is probably one of the best things I have done. I am going to use sponge filters in place of airstones from now on.

Chad

I agree. I've started using powerheads with sponges connect in all of my tanks. They come in especially handy when you're cycling a new tank. Just grab a couple established ones, and throw them in the new one.

 

[plah831]

What's the appeal of the sponges over airstones? They don't clog?

I may have to get some myself.

 

[rallysman]

What's the appeal of the sponges over airstones? They don't clog?

I may have to get some myself.

I think he is talking about sponge filters. They give you a boost in biological filtration while keeping the look of an air stone
Kill 2 birds with 1 stone. (no pun intended)

I keep them in a lot of my tanks too, just as a backup and a tank starter

 

[plah831]

I think he is talking about sponge filters. They give you a boost in biological filtration while keeping the look of an air stone

That's what I meant, too. They're just those little sponges that you attach to an air line, and some of them rotate, right? You're right about killing 2 birds with one stone. I think you all may have made a convert out of me. Airstones are kinda lame, and I'm always looking for something better. Although my fish can't lay on the sponge and get their belly massages

 

[rallysman]

I'm talking about these, I dont know what rotating ones you're talking about lol...

 

[plah831]

I'm talking about these, I dont know what rotating ones you're talking about lol...

I think that first one might rotate. At least I've seen something in fry tanks that looked a lot like that one, like a propeller, that rotates while it distributes bubbles. Probably helps with oxygenating the biofilter on it?

What's the noise factor like with sponge filters?

 

[Chad55]

Same as airstones...Only noise is from the air pump.

Chad