do fish in fish tanks need to have air added to the tank? does the existing water lose its oxygen??

Answer 1

Many things take away oxygen in a tank, such as multiple fish, heat, etc. I believe it is always best to have aeration in the tank. More oxygen, definitely, and it keeps things moving, will even help move debris toward the filter, depending on placement of airstone/bubble bar in tank.

And if your tank tends to heat up, the extra circulating air will help maintain the proper temperature. And it will help maintain the health of your fish.


So, basically, more air will not be a bad thing, and I recommend it.

Certain fish enjoy "riding" the air bubbles. I've had Tiger barbs and platies who couldn't get enough of the bubble area of the tank. Slower swimmers, like my balloon belly mollies avoided that part, so I buried the bubble bar a bit more under the gravel in their tank, and they were happier.

Answer 2

Yes you need an airator. It diffuses carbon dioxide and helps rid the tank of any gasses present in the water. It also increases the surface area resulting in higher oxygen levels. A fine mist bubbler is better. Higher quality airstones are better than bubble wands. Bubble wands clog, then air gets backed up in the pump and the little rubber pumping mechanism tears and the air pump is ruined. (unless you have one you can get a replacement part for it). So avoid the wands. Not all airstones are alike, some cheap ones will clog and crumble apart. They are hard to tell apart in the package. You may have to ask. The good ones are usually a few dollars more, but worth it. They won't need replacing and they will not clog up. I've had the same ones in my tank for the last 6 years and they are still bubbling like mad. They are I believe ceramic (kiln fired) so they are more durable. You need a decent sized airstone going per 20 gallons of water. No fish do not mind the current.
Yes the water looses oxygen, depending on temperature, and stocking levels. In goes the oxygen out goes the carbon dioxide, just like us when we breathe, except the fish are in a closed environment.

Answer 3

Goldfish do need oxygen and air! They can not live in bowls! Only select species of the Labyrinth fish family (bettas) can live without an air stone or filter of some sort. This is because the fish of this family have an organ that acts as a primitive lung and they can draw oxygen from the surface of the water along with "breathing" it through their gills. The existing water does loose its supply of available/usable oxygen as it sits through diffusion at the surface and through the organisms (IE fish) in the tank using the oxygen. An air stone, or better yet, a filter pushes oxygen back into the water through circulation. Good Luck!

Plants only add oxygen when they are using light to photosynthesize. This means they also draw oxygen from the water at night when the lights are off and that low light plants give off only very very small amounts of oxygen.

Answer 4

If fish need air, they will go up to the top of the water and get air, but it is a good idea to add a air pump, so that way your fish get more than enough oxygen. Just to be safe, your fish will use the oxygen provided in an air pump.

Answer 5

Generally speaking, no you do not have to add air to a fish tank. What you need to do is keep it clean and have plants which helps to add oxygen to the water. If you don't clean it, then the by-product of poop will take air out of the oxygen. I think too much algae is also not good in that it also consumes oxygen.

Your regular pump will also be adding oxygen back into the water as it churns the water up.

Answer 6

NO fish do not need air or air stones added to the tank.

Air stones do not replace Dissolved oxygen into the water.

Water will not Lose dissolved oxygen the fish will use it. Your filter return water will replace the dissolved oxygen by movement of the water .

Answer 7

The fish will respire and use oxygen present in the water. This replaced at the surface of the water, however it isn't a bad idea to add extra air by means of a pump and bubble stone or something similar. It makes a nice feature in your tank too.

Answer 8

Anything that agitates the surface of the water of the tank will add oxygen back into the tank.

Anaerobic nitrating Bactria take oxygen when they break down waits. Also fish use oxygen as well.

The temperature of the tank also influences oxygen levels.

Answer 9

I see all kinds of answers here, all pretty much saying the same thing; SOMEHOW oxygen is needed for the fish to survive. Whether you replace the oxygen with plants or you replace it using a bubbler, you do need to replace the oxygen.

My fish always chew up the plantlife, so I use an airstone.

Answer 10

Slowly the air is used up and is not oxygenated if it just sits. Lakes get oxygenated water from rivers and creeks bubbling in.