29 Gallon Tank Air Stone versus wave maker

I did some research and understood that wavemakers are for salt water tanks but

. On the other side I heard fresh water fish do not like current but still water?!

I am wondering if I should replace my airstone with a wavemaker hoping to decrease the bubble and humming noise coming from the air pump. My understanding that wavemakers also make better water circulation that helps move detritus towards the filter intake.

I have a canister filter that I can point the outflow towards the side of the tank and it creates like mini waves across the surface, will that work like a wavemaker? Previously I heard that to oxygenate the water I had to agitate the water so I pointed my canister filter outflow and it worked like a fountain and thought this is enough to agitate the water. Next day I found all my fish going to the surface gasping for air.

what are your opinions or advice?

 

Some fish do like more flow. Maybe an extra airstone or two or perhaps a powerhead? Wavemaker seems a little over-kill on a 29 gal.

 

I use a 0,5W airpump, the smallest I know off, to keep the water surface of a 40 x 16 inch footprint tank crystal clear. The bubbles are hardly visible. Try it yourself, use some valve in the tubing to lower to bubbles dramatically and you'll notice it is enough to keep to surface area crystal clear.

 

All but the most expensive power heads have the motor in the water. The expensive variety with the motor on the outside driving the impeller with magnesium do not add to the water temperature.

If water temperature is not an issue in your climate why not run another filter something like a little internal filter that will give a little movement . The Fluval U1 is not much of a filter in its biological capacity but it’s a good water pump.

 

Some fish do like more flow. Maybe an extra airstone or two or perhaps a powerhead? Wavemaker seems a little over-kill on a 29 gal.

how does air stone create flow in the first place? it sends bubbles vertically. Shouldn't flow be side ways?

yes it is an over kill but seeing everyone's else opinion and experiences.

I use a 0,5W airpump, the smallest I know off, to keep the water surface of a 40 x 16 inch footprint tank crystal clear. The bubbles are hardly visible. Try it yourself, use some valve in the tubing to lower to bubbles dramatically and you'll notice it is enough to keep to surface area crystal clear.

which one is it? is the small usb green one? I heard those die frequently. My problem is that I do not understand how the gas exchange happens and how much is needed in an aquarium. I tried to understand how oxygen gets in the water but all I understood is that the water has toxic gases that those bubbles release from the water once they reach the surface and pop.

The Fluval U1

I think you replied to the wrong post

 

how does air stone create flow in the first place? it sends bubbles vertically. Shouldn't flow be side ways?

Water drawn up with the bubbles creates circulation.

In any case, you have a canister on a 29 gal. You can adjust the outlet height and orientation to achieve as little or as much oxygenation and circulation as you and your fish prefer. Some fish species prefer some current while others need very little. In most tanks there is generally sufficient oxygenation as long as the outlet is creating at least a ripple at the surface.

 

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Water drawn up with the bubbles creates circulation.

In any case, you have a canister on a 29 gal. You can adjust the outlet height and orientation to achieve as little or as much oxygenation and circulation as you and your fish prefer. Some fish species prefer some current while others need very little. In most tanks there is generally sufficient oxygenation as long as the outlet is creating at least a ripple at the surface.

idk , as i mentioned i turned my outflow upwards creating a mini fountain that was not enough surface agitation for them. everyone seems to think air stones is a near must.

i know you can keep no air stone in tanks with few and small fish

 

No i did not reply to the wrong post diamonfingers.

You are asking about using a power head. I am saying if you don’t have a hot climate and are thinking of running a power head then using the power outlet/ power socket / electricity to run a small filter as a water pump ( power head) is a better use of electricity.
I have used a Fluval U1 myself for exactly the job you are thinking about. They are rubbish as a filter but are better use of electricity than a power head.

To answer your question exactly as written.
Use and air stone if you are already running an air pump big enough for another hose. A power head is a waste of time , money and electricity.

 

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idk , as i mentioned i turned my outflow upwards creating a mini fountain that was not enough surface agitation for them. everyone seems to think air stones is a near must.

i know you can keep no air stone in tanks with few and small fish

I don't like air stones much because I think that they create an unnatural look. I generally only use them occasionally if my tanks get too hot in summer or if there is a power outage. Also I tend to prioritise the footprint of tanks rather than height. A 29 gal does not have a lot of surface area for gas exchange (relative to it's volume) so it is probably a good idea to run an air stone in it if it is well stocked.

 

No i did not reply to the wrong post diamonfingers.

You are asking about using a power head. I am saying if you don’t have a hot climate and are thinking of running a power head then using the power outlet/ power socket / electricity to run a small filter as a water pump ( power head) is a better use of electricity.
I have used a Fluval U1 myself for exactly the job you are thinking about. They are rubbish as a filter but are better use of electricity than a power head.

To answer your question exactly as written.
Use and air stone if you are already running an air pump big enough for another hose. A power head is a waste of time , money and electricity.

I never talked about powerheads, I was choosing between air stone and wave maker but I understand now. You are suggesting the Fluval U1 to create current.

This is actually a good solution except that I hate the look of powerheads and I do not think the fish like that extremely blow coming from it.

I don't like air stones much because I think that they create an unnatural look. I generally only use them occasionally if my tanks get too hot in summer or if there is a power outage. Also I tend to prioritise the footprint of tanks rather than height. A 29 gal does not have a lot of surface area for gas exchange (relative to it's volume) so it is probably a good idea to run an air stone in it if it is well stocked.

You mean if the tank's surface area large enough you do not need to oxygenate it with wavemakers or air pumps? how does gas exchange happen this in a still water? I am going to guess you really on filter outflow?

 

You mean if the tank's surface area large enough you do not need to oxygenate it with wavemakers or air pumps? how does gas exchange happen this in a still water? I am going to guess you really on filter outflow?

Yes but it's not still water, surface agitation from a filter outlet assists gas exchange. That's all I've ever relied on, as well as plants. But it's less effective if the tank has a small surface area relative to its volume. In other words, a long and wide shallow tank is much more effective at surface gas exchange than a narrow deep one.

 

which one is it? is the small usb green one? I heard those die frequently. My problem is that I do not understand how the gas exchange happens and how much is needed in an aquarium. I tried to understand how oxygen gets in the water but all I understood is that the water has toxic gases that those bubbles release from the water once they reach the surface and pop.

aPump mini