Actually airstones will allow more oxygen to be dissolved into the water (from the bubbles) before it reaches the surface. This is why overstocked tanks have airstones. So bubbles in the water serve 2 purposes, surface agitation to facilitate removal of carbon dioxide and addition of oxygen at the surface plus dissolving oxygen into the water as the bubble risesFrom the looks of the tank and what's in it, just a little bit of surface agitation from that return waterfall should be more than enough. Adding bubbles is mostly for looks. It's when they agitate the surface is what adds O2 to the water column.
I hear you, but most of the oxygen exchange is happening at the surface. Not where it's coming out of the air stone or up the water column. I'm not against adding bubbles to your tank. As you say, there are situations where you may need it. I'm more for using air lines to do double duty, make bubbles and power a sponge bubbler filter. If I don't need a sponge bubbler, I don't put bubbles in my tank. For me, they make too much mess of the glass tops, tank rim, etc. I've got fairly hard municipal water supply.Actually airstones will allow more oxygen to be dissolved into the water (from the bubbles) before it reaches the surface. This is why overstocked tanks have airstones. So bubbles in the water serve 2 purposes, surface agitation to facilitate removal of carbon dioxide and addition of oxygen at the surface plus dissolving oxygen into the water as the bubble rises
You can never have to little oxygen. FreshyFresh is right. Also, I believe adding plants help with air
look at the graphs of post #23.I hear you, but most of the oxygen exchange is happening at the surface. Not where it's coming out of the air stone or up the water column. I'm not against adding bubbles to your tank. As you say, there are situations where you may need it. I'm more for using air lines to do double duty, make bubbles and power a sponge bubbler filter. If I don't need a sponge bubbler, I don't put bubbles in my tank. For me, they make too much mess of the glass tops, tank rim, etc. I've got fairly hard municipal water supply.