Hi, I'm running a fluval 306 external filter on a 240litre tank. I have some small SA cichlids in it , would you recommend an air stone and if so where's the best position for it?
Airstone advice!?!
- Thread starter Dan 6192
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Hello; As a general practice of over 50 years I nearly always (99% of the time) run an air bubbler of some sort. Of course for the first few decades air operated stones and filters were sometimes all that was available or at least reliable. I now run power filters of some sort and a bubbler in all my tanks.
As to which and where to place a bubbler it basically only needs to aerate and break the surface film of the water. Most any where is good for that.
If you want to get some water movement in a too clam area of a tank then stick them in that area.
On caution comes to mind. The bubbles breaking the surface will generate a spray of droplets. These droplets can wet areas outside of a tank. I try to place a bubbler so it is under the tank cover and not under some gap or opening. These spray droplets can make it look like a slow leak. I also run the old style heaters ( at least until my current supply breaks) that clip onto the rim of a tank. I keep the bubblers away from them.
As to which and where to place a bubbler it basically only needs to aerate and break the surface film of the water. Most any where is good for that.
If you want to get some water movement in a too clam area of a tank then stick them in that area.
On caution comes to mind. The bubbles breaking the surface will generate a spray of droplets. These droplets can wet areas outside of a tank. I try to place a bubbler so it is under the tank cover and not under some gap or opening. These spray droplets can make it look like a slow leak. I also run the old style heaters ( at least until my current supply breaks) that clip onto the rim of a tank. I keep the bubblers away from them.
hello; The nice thing about air stones being that they can be moved around pretty easy. Put it where you want it and see how it goes. Not sure how the bubbles might affect at an outlet ?
Hi, thanks for your response.
It was just something I heard back along I wasn't sure how it would affect it either lol. Does it help with filtration and the quality of water if there's more oxygen in the tank? (From the airstone)
Hello; Air stones do not help with mechanical filtration at all as far as I know with the possible exception of those old school filters that had a floss chamber and were operated by bubbles. I have run these a lot in the distant past. Not much flow but very reliable.
The bubbles do two main things for sure. Breaking up the film that can form on waters surface and helping to make sure that needed oxygen is saturated in the water. Not really sure if this enhances biological filtration in any way. Never thought about it from that angle so will have to give it some consideration. At any rate bubblers have saved my tanks when power filters failed many, many times.