Myths about using air stone?

[aclockworkorange]

SPONGE FILTERS FTW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


They do all the things an airstone does, plus a million and a half other things.

 

[CHOMPERS]

The beautiful thing about the internet is that no matter how wrong something is, as long as enough people regurgitate what the last guy said, it is accepted as fact and all science can be disregarded.

...more surface agitation ...

as long as the surface is rippling ...

...it is true that surface movement ...

And the Nobel Fail Prize goes to...

the thing is oxygen can only enter water through surface agitation...

Anyway, the mechanism for gas exchange USE TO BE diffusion. There has never been a mathematical expression for surface agitation in the equation for diffusion . If anyone could find the new equation for diffusion that includes surface agitation, it would help me out a bunch. And could someone please notify the universities across the world to stop teaching the theories and math of diffusion since it has been replace with surface agitation. They need to get with the program.

 

[dookie]

it is always beneficial to have an airstone in your tank regardless of surface area.

 

[Laticauda]

Okay, to clarify...Basically, the only water that can exchange oxygen is the water on the surface of the water, that is coming in contact with the air. By adding an airstone, powerhead, HOB filter w/surface agitation: increases the number of water molecules that come into contact with the surrounding air. It's much easier for people to understand "more surface agitation = more oxygen" than it is to try to explain the specific workings of molecular behavior in water. If you answer enough questions on the internet, you tend to start to write in this "watered down" science talk, otherwise you end up making the newbie's head spin, and that's just counter-productive (not saying this particular OP is a newbie, this is just a blanket statement about when you don't know the expanse of poster's understanding.)

 

[Byron]

I was at my local Fish breeders/suppliers two days ago and asked him the same question just by chance. He said you can never have enough air in your tank. He is one of those old guys that kowns everything there is to know about everything fishy.

 

[Laticauda]

I was at my local Fish breeders/suppliers two days ago and asked him the same question just by chance. He said you can never have enough air in your tank. He is one of those old guys that kowns everything there is to know about everything fishy.

I don't want to be knit-picky, but that's not necessarily true. If you have a planted tank, you would need some CO2 in the water for the plants to photosynthesize during the day. Having air-stones is sometimes necessary in planted tanks, as said previously, though...due to the plants respiration at night, producing CO2 and using up O2.

Also, some types of fish (bettas) prefer a low current in their tank, and air pumps can sometimes make them refuse to build a bubble nest. It really does depend on many different variables including but not limited to the type of fish/other inhabitants.

 

[gveng]

the thing is oxygen can only enter water through surface agitation and usally an air stone is creating the most but your hob filters are creating more than your air stone most likely espically if you drop the water level so your fish will have plenty of oxygen but air stones look nice so if you have good luck with them why stop

that's my problem actually. i don't mind using the air stone during the day, but this tank is going into my bedroom, and i'm a pretty light sleeper. thus the question.

Okay, to clarify...Basically, the only water that can exchange oxygen is the water on the surface of the water, that is coming in contact with the air. By adding an airstone, powerhead, HOB filter w/surface agitation: increases the number of water molecules that come into contact with the surrounding air. It's much easier for people to understand "more surface agitation = more oxygen" than it is to try to explain the specific workings of molecular behavior in water. If you answer enough questions on the internet, you tend to start to write in this "watered down" science talk, otherwise you end up making the newbie's head spin, and that's just counter-productive (not saying this particular OP is a newbie, this is just a blanket statement about when you don't know the expanse of poster's understanding.)

haha, your awesome!!

 

[Juxtaroberto]

The beautiful thing about the internet is that no matter how wrong something is, as long as enough people regurgitate what the last guy said, it is accepted as fact and all science can be disregarded.

Anyway, the mechanism for gas exchange USE TO BE diffusion. There has never been a mathematical expression for surface agitation in the equation for diffusion . If anyone could find the new equation for diffusion that includes surface agitation, it would help me out a bunch. And could someone please notify the universities across the world to stop teaching the theories and math of diffusion since it has been replace with surface agitation. They need to get with the program.

Even if the water is completely still? So people with planted tanks who use pressurized CO2 don't need to worry about the overflows/sumps/filters/etc creating bubbling, surface agitation, etc?

 

[Toby_H]

No one suggested the process of diffusion wasn't at work here... no need to throw around wisdom in a way that misleads people...
　
Searching this forum far enough will uncover this same old question answered in very elaborate terms... So our options are to have that conversation over every time the question is asked, or offer the very simple conclusion...
　
Diffusion is going to happen at the air/water interface... water movement will move the oxygen rich water from the surface to other regions in the tank and allow less oxygen rich water to return to the surface for oxygenation, or diffusion if it makes you feel better.
　
Surface agitation increases the surface area of the water. While this does mathematically make a difference, it really doesn't make a difference. But surface agitation is a pretty safe sign that there is water movement at the surface allowing that oxygen rich water to move elsewhere in the tank.
　
We can make this conversation as simple or as complicated as we chose, but the conclusion will remain the same....

 

[CHOMPERS]

No one suggested the process of diffusion wasn't at work here...

Actually, the problem is that no one suggested it. I know you are intelligent and know the difference between diffusion and surface agitation. But others aren't as gifted as you are. By being an intellect, you have the responsibility of sharing your wisdom. You also have the responsibility of not perpetuating disinformation.

Surface agitation increases the surface area of the water. While this does mathematically make a difference, it really doesn't make a difference.

I agree with you 100%.

By stating that the mechanism is diffusion, anyone can do a search and find a wealth of information. Then that person can use that knowledge to change or enhance their systems gas exchange. By stating that the mechanism is surface agitation, it perpetuates this:

the thing is oxygen can only enter water through surface agitation ...

...And then there is the long list of aeration haters.