Are air stones necessary in an aquarium?
How important is an air stone – Are they absolutely necessary? If you’re concerned about the health of your fishes, the answer is yes. An air stone will be very beneficial if your aquarium has a filter powered by an air pump. It will make the filter run smoothly, efficiently.
How long do air stones last?
By some reports, airstones begin to lose their effectiveness after about six weeks of use, though this varies depending on the mineral content of your water.
Can an air stone replace a filter?
If you are running an air stone there is no reason (aesthetics aside) that you can’t put a sponge filter on the end.
Can I use an air stone without pump?
You need an air pump so that it pumps air into your stone. So you will need both, or an air pump and a tube attached to a sponge works even better. Air stone can only be used with an air pump.
Do air stones help with algae?
Increase the aeration and circulation in your tank with a trickle filter, surface fountain, airstone, bubble wand or other suitable accessory. More oxygenation and water movement make it harder for algae to become established.
Can I turn my air stone off at night?
If it is part of the filtration system (for example, the air stone powers the circulation through the filter), no. It could be too small to filter the tank but at least overnight the water moves more at the surface.
How long does an air stone last?
Why are my fish at the top of the tank gasping for air?
The reason they are at the surface trying to breathe is due to a lack of dissolved oxygen in the water. The low levels of oxygen are mainly due to a lack of aeration or poor water quality, which can then cause the fish to stress. This is why supplemental aeration is so important.
Can fish tank have too much oxygen?
Too much oxygen in water can lead to the potentially lethal gas bubble disease, in which gas comes out of solution inside the fish, creating bubbles in its skin and around its eyes. (Excess nitrogen, however, is a far more common cause of this disease.)
How do I give my fish more oxygen?
The best way to increase oxygen is to increase the surface area of the aquarium. Increase Surface agitation or water movement on the surface. This allows more oxygen to dissolve and more carbon dioxide to escape. You can also add a source of fresh oxygen by installing an air pump.