Bubbles beautify your aquarium display, improve water quality, and make it more hospitable for aquarium inhabitants. In addition to providing oxygen for fish to breathe, aeration devices play a vital role in maintaining efficient biological filtration.
Oxygen and biological filtration
Aquarium biological filtration relies primarily on aerobic beneficial bacteria to break down nitrogenous waste materials. Without a steady supply of fresh oxygen, harmful gasses and chemicals can quickly accumulate to create a toxic environment. A sudden buildup of excess waste materials can then trigger a series of events to further exacerbate the situation.
Beneficial bacteria reproduce rapidly in response to sudden increase in waste materials (for example, due to overfeeding) resulting in noticeably cloudy aquarium water. As they multiply, the bacteria become more and more visible forming what looks like clouds of swirling, white smoke. This bacteria bloom uses up large amounts of oxygen and can create an oxygen-poor environment harmful to fish and other inhabitants.
Increase oxygen
Water with low oxygen content is more common and dangerous to aquarium inhabitants than often realized. Fortunately, the use of aeration devices like air pumps and
airstones are an easy and effective way to replenish and maintain healthy oxygen levels.
A constant supply of fresh oxygen allows efficient
biological filtration to take place without depleting oxygen fish need to breathe.
Aeration devices also promote proper gas exchange and reduce buildup of harmful gasses such as carbon dioxide. This in turn helps maintain a stable pH by counteracting the pH-lowering effects of carbon dioxide.
With an air pump, airline tubing, a check valve, and a touch of creativity, you can easily create a cascade of soothing, beneficial bubbles in your aquarium.
- Airstones release thousands of bubbles that aerate water and transport toxic gasses from water near the substrate to the surface for dissipation.
- Bubble disks, bubble wands and air curtains let you create a gorgeous display of bubbles. Flexible air curtains fit in corners, around ornaments, or in any desired location.
- Powerheads with an air intake tube perform double duty. They incorporate oxygen into aquarium water as well as improve aquarium water movement.
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