prefeences on air wands,stones or bubblers

Monoxide

Large Fish
Dec 19, 2008
224
0
0
#2
If my store had some wands and I had extra money to invest into sticking a wand in the back corners to under my rocks... I would have. But i was stuck with a ghetto air stone that didnt work, so I had to just stick it under rocks in the back and it was kinda ghetto but did the job. Really I dont see to much difference.. air produce air.. until you get into bigger tanks.. just make your take look nice.
 

Nov 19, 2008
702
0
0
Des Moines, Iowa
#4
ive got a treasure chest bubbler and i have to keep it open otherwise it builds up too big of bubbles and splashes at top and water overflows. i want to get 2-3 airstones to do a wall across the back of mine just have never got around to it. i like the steady flow of bubbles, much more calmer and quiter. i dont like to hear the bubbles hit the top and make a loud splash. just my own prefference though. and if you get long bubble walls make sure you have the proper air pump to push the air all the way thru
 

exhumed07

Superstar Fish
Apr 30, 2006
1,774
0
36
Illinois
#6
I have no issues with the mineral deposits. I figured out how to put cling wrap on the glass so I can just take it off and remove it and put new on. keeps the glass nice and clear so the lighting is nice and bright. if u have solid glass covers then it may not work cause it aint pretty. as for my opinion of air bubblers. I hate them. I like it nice clean and clear. more natural looking to me.
 

1077

Large Fish
Jun 4, 2009
175
0
0
#7
Have air stones in use with sponge filters in nearly all tanks. Sponges provide large surface area for bacteria to colonize and also allow me to set up quarantine or new tank or tanks instantly.*thumbsups
 

bmoraski

Large Fish
Mar 9, 2009
604
2
18
Upstate NY
#9
im thinking of getting another 11 inch air stone and put both in back of tank to do the wall of bubbles. i think it will look really cool. i think if i get a ( Whisper 30-60 ) ill be alright. i also thought about the wands for the back corners of my sons 10gal. im hoping to pick up what i need tomorrow, the little suction cups, and a pack of assorted tees and valves and of coarse another air stone.
if i dont get the look i want ill try something else but im thinking positively ! lol
thanks all for the input. oh and i love the tip about the plastic rap.i dont have clear tops so im not worried.
 

exhumed07

Superstar Fish
Apr 30, 2006
1,774
0
36
Illinois
#10
my biggest issue with the bubbles aint so much the bubbles themselves. it's all the air tubing. if there was a good way to hide it then by all means it lookds good. I got some good clear tube for my battery backup air pump and it turned white on me where it was in the water. looks horrible and I hope it gets covered in algea to hide it.
 

Monoxide

Large Fish
Dec 19, 2008
224
0
0
#11
I agree I think the worst thing about the products is I for one would like to be able to not see it in my tank.. But you really dont got to much options..
 

Nov 19, 2008
702
0
0
Des Moines, Iowa
#12
ive used a floating plant that i entagled in the white tube that runs my hose so i can hide it. ive got a black background just wish i could find a black tube for it so it would hide and not be seen as well. i agree though i hate that you can see filters and heater and tube for bubbler, it sucks. i cant wait till i have a house because i want to build an acrylic tank in the wall then i will run everything thru the acrylic and use a large cannister filter and undergravel so its well hidden
 

May 15, 2009
37
0
0
#13
My problem with air stones isn't so much the calcium deposits or ugly tubing, but the noise that the pumps themselves make. I have one pump (sold as a pump for tanks up to 10 gallons in size) that is split to serve my 5 and 10 gallon tanks, and it sounds like a jackhammer. I have that bugger shoved in a drawer between piles of clothes to muffle the sound, and it STILL manages to sound like a drill. I only turn it on when I leave for the day. I'd buy a different one, but I hate to spend on a new one when this one isn't technically failing.
 

Nov 19, 2008
702
0
0
Des Moines, Iowa
#14
My problem with air stones isn't so much the calcium deposits or ugly tubing, but the noise that the pumps themselves make. I have one pump (sold as a pump for tanks up to 10 gallons in size) that is split to serve my 5 and 10 gallon tanks, and it sounds like a jackhammer. I have that bugger shoved in a drawer between piles of clothes to muffle the sound, and it STILL manages to sound like a drill. I only turn it on when I leave for the day. I'd buy a different one, but I hate to spend on a new one when this one isn't technically failing.
wow. i cant believe how many people have problems with them. i just must have a good pump then. not sure what it is. have to look tonight but mine runs 24/7 and you cant EVER hear it. only happened to me once and i got the thing muffled so you cant hear it at all
 

exhumed07

Superstar Fish
Apr 30, 2006
1,774
0
36
Illinois
#15
I have an airtech 2ko air pump I use for baitfish to keep them alive before I go fishing and it is realy quiet. I'll look for a site and post it. but it's a low tone and quiet. I think if u like bubbles it would word for u. just not for an air wand as it don't pump the volume needed for them.
 

bmoraski

Large Fish
Mar 9, 2009
604
2
18
Upstate NY
#17
Well i picked up the air pump, and 2nd airstone ( air pump is a topfin x-30 )
dont even hear it run. But well see in a month or 2 if its still quiet.
spent a while running the tubing for both stones. i wanted to hide as much as possible. Turned it on and it aint no wall of bubbles ! theres bubbles but not the look i wanted so im a little upset. But the good news is the fish are Loving The Bubbles !the next time im at the LFS im going to try a Bubbler. there like $10 but i want the look i want lol.
the air stones were $2 and change each.
and get this, the person at Petsmart actually has a fish tank ( 7 of them ! )
i told him hes the first person ive delt with there that has a fish tank !
but anyway like i said im still on a quest for my dam wall of bubbles.
thanks all for the advice !
ill keep ya all posted.
later
 

exhumed07

Superstar Fish
Apr 30, 2006
1,774
0
36
Illinois
#18
well the air pump may not be able to pump the volume of air needed to make a total wall. if it's not pumping enough air, the air will not get to the end of the wand. and if u have the wand buried under the substrate alot of times the bubbles will come out much larger then if u had left the wand just sitting on the bottom of the tank. I know it is more of a dramatic difference with sand then gravel.
 

brnttoast

Small Fish
Sep 16, 2006
30
0
0
winnipeg manitoba
#19
if you can find the malachete green(sp) that used to be sold for ich cure
you could use a concentrated batch in a lil water in a container and soak your new tubing in it, the blue/green it will stain the tubing blends in alot better with plants and backgrounds

i have one bubble wall that i love the look of, i got it at walmart, its made of a soft black foam like material, had it for years and its never clogged or deteriorated, and it makes an absolutly stunning wall of fine mist like bubbles that cause no noise of surface splash, this one is flexable and can be bent into any shape desired as well
 

bmoraski

Large Fish
Mar 9, 2009
604
2
18
Upstate NY
#20
well the air pump may not be able to pump the volume of air needed to make a total wall. if it's not pumping enough air, the air will not get to the end of the wand. and if u have the wand buried under the substrate alot of times the bubbles will come out much larger then if u had left the wand just sitting on the bottom of the tank. I know it is more of a dramatic difference with sand then gravel.
This was my first thought but the bubbles are getting to the ends of air stones.
and i didnt bury the stones. it could be that i just need a slightly bigger pump. the first stone inline has much more bubbles than the 2nd.
well i think im gonna try the foam bubbler wand ($10) that way theres only one thing to supply air to. and only one tube to hide which will be easier than current setup.
boy im glad im here talking about looks rather than why are my fish dying ! lol
all this trouble for these little creatures ! i need my head examined lol.
i was eyeing a 75gal tank while there on sale ! but im waiting ( not much longer though ) for a friend of my brother to make up his mind if hes getting out of fish hobby or not. my brother said he has a beautiful setup.
but im getting off the subject.
ill keep ya posted