That doesn't make much sense. The pump supplies a steady stream of air that is being pumped through the water. Each little bubble is coming into direct contact with the water around it just like the water at the surface, more so even because the bubbles have a higher surface area with the benefit of being pressurized (both increase diffusion rates) than the tank's surface area at atmospheric pressure. Yes, each little bubble does not spend much time in the water column but it is a steady stream so oxygen gets added at a faster rate than at the surface. Look up counter current respiration, it is how fish get oxygen through their gills efficiently but the same natural phenomenon of pressure/diffusion gradients applies here also.
TO ADD AIR OR NOT?
- Thread starter hawkerw
- Start date
That doesn't make much sense. The pump supplies a steady stream of air that is being pumped through the water. Each little bubble is coming into direct contact with the water around it just like the water at the surface, more so even because the bubbles have a higher surface area with the benefit of being pressurized (both increase diffusion rates) than the tank's surface area at atmospheric pressure. Yes, each little bubble does not spend much time in the water column but it is a steady stream so oxygen gets added at a faster rate than at the surface. Look up counter current respiration, it is how fish get oxygen through their gills efficiently but the same natural phenomenon of pressure/diffusion gradients applies here also.
Different species have different tolerances to oxygen depletion. I have had fish "in distress" within half an hour of the air supply or water agitation stopping, and within another half hour, dead fish appearing. Many of the Geophagus species ('Red Headed Tapajos' for one) are extremely sensitive to even minimal oxygen depletion. Of course, water temperature and stocking density play a part in this as well. Also, if a fish dies from oxygen depletion, it can take the rest of the tank's inhabitants with it from the putrification that occurs. This has happened to me on at least two occasions, where I have lost complete tanks of fish within a 24 hour period. It can happen in 1 to 6 hours or any other time frame. With a power outage, some filters do not reliably start up again. And if you're not there to get it going, a supplementary air supply can keep your fish alive until you do. The esthetics of whether you like the look of air bubbles or not is irrelevant if you end up losing your fish!
so the way my return pump works is when it hits the water it pushes little oxygen bubbles down, same as a air stones bubbles but not ran off a air pump. would this be the same as running a air pump as its producing the same type of bubbles? or does it have to be run threw a pump producing air to add a little oxygen to the water?
Yeah, you are mechanically adding air to the water. That set up is more effective than if you were running the output sub-surface. Don't get hung up on what the mechanical components need to be, the concept is to increase the water's exposure to air.
I just kept 15 giant danios in a 5 gallon bucket with a heater set to 79, with no filter and no bubbles. They were in there for 20 hours. I am using them to keep the cycle going in the filter until I can get the fish I am stocking the tank with ordered and shipped to me.
The tank just had water and the fish in it with the heater and filter running for a year or so. I had previously used it as a grow out and QT tank so the filter has been cycled for quite awhile now.
I painted the back of the tank, so I had to empty it, took it out side, painted it, and let it dry over night. By the time I got around to bringing the tank back into the house and setting it up, it was 20 hours later. They are back in the tank with it full of substrate and rocks now, with the filter running. I just fed them and they all seem fine.
So from what you are saying, they should be dead. So why aren't they? I'm not trying to start a huge debate, but from what a couple of you have said, this should not be possible.
OK, so I am the amatuer here but would not most of this have to do with with species, water conditions, etc. at the time? That was the other part of my questions and I hope this one is not to stupid but would the added air or flow effect other things such as ammonia, nitrates, nitrites etc? So many times I see people posting about the dreaded microbubbles from the filter is this not helping to add more oxygen when a filter does this? I guess I just don't understand where this is a issue unless its extreme.
Don't just add AIR, add a sponge filter. You get the best of both. I have a sponge filter in all of my tanks running off of a battery backed up air pump. So in case the power goes out, you are still good to go on filtration and on oxygen. If you are considering a sponge filter, IMO Poret is much better over the competition.
I'm working on putting an aerator on my discharge tube off of my canister. It should infuse the water column with O2.
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Yeah like a Venturi. Have seen some diffusers on, and I hate to say it, fx5's that work beautifully. Instead of DIY spray bar.
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