Airation Question?

[Fish Tank Travis]

Ok, my main question is, is it necessary, or even beneficial?

I am currently running two air stones in each my 10 gallon and my 29 gallon. One thing I notice in both is that little tiny bubbles end up getting stuck in the water. I am working on a setup for my new 220 gallon tank with a 55 gallon sump and would like to be able to avoid these tiny bubbles floating around.

So, is it necessary that I use air stones in the water to help keep the oxygen levels up or not?

Thank you all for your help!

 

[jaws7777]

Not sure what others will say but i dont use them in any of my tanks. Im thinking you should get enough agitation or gas exchange from the water draining into your sump (could be wrong) but either way only way i used an air pump is if im running a sponge.

 

[Red_Man]

Hey! Currently have a 125g (30+ fish) community tank that I run twin 20g sumps on. I do not run any air stones and all the fish are very active all day. Was curious like you if it was needed so I did not hook any up and figured if the fish where breathing heavy or not active I would install air stones if the need arose. All my fish in the tank range between 3-7 inches. Hope this helps!

 

[davenmandy]

I would never run any tanks without an air stone. There are a few reasons actually, but each one of mine have em, and both my tanks run a super oxygenated k1 moving bed too. Can't answer if they are necessary but I feel better.

 

[smitty03281964]

I never use air stones but I do use power heads. But to answer you question you do not have to use them. Do they help oxygenate the water more? Yes. But as long as water moves you will be fine.

 

[Owens]

I think its more of a preference thing really, alot of people dont run any airstones at all, some people really like them.

I know ray keepers tend to use alot.

 

[Fish Tank Travis]

Thank you all for the replies. I will be running my 220 with a 55 gallon sump and the turnover rate will be about 6x per hour. I should definitely have enough flow. I do currently run air stones on my smaller tanks but just wanted to see if they were necessary.

My plans for the 220 gallon are fairly simple and it should be lightly stocked. I only plan on having my two fire eels (which might become one if they don't get along when they're older) and somewhere between 8-12 discus (these will be grown out two at a time in my 29 gallon, once I convert it to a bare bottom). I might be wrong but I think that should be pretty light for a 220 after seeing some of the stock that is kept in other tanks. I also plan on running pothos plants in the sumo and keeping some low light plants in the tank, with some driftwood.

Any reason any of you can think of that I should really use an airstone for with that setup?

 

[xraycer]

My plans for the 220 gallon are fairly simple and it should be lightly stocked. I only plan on having my two fire eels (which might become one if they don't get along when they're older) and somewhere between 8-12 discus (these will be grown out two at a time in my 29 gallon, once I convert it to a bare bottom). I might be wrong but I think that should be pretty light for a 220 after seeing some of the stock that is kept in other tanks.

IMO this is not a light stock, but rather appropriate. Give your fish the right husbandry and good spacing and they will thrive.

 

[Danh]

Trickle towers / wet dry filters can easily do all of the aeration you need. That is one reason you'd use an air stone. The second is water circulation. You also don't need air for that either.