I have been reading about it and haven't really gotten a clear cut answer. Or maybe I have and I'm to slow to see it..lol

The 36 gallon I have is 22 inches tall. I have two filters circulating around 350 gallons per hour, and have around 7 small to medium sized plants.
My question is, do I need an airstone for my BN at the bottom? Or do you think that i get enough surface agitation from the two filters? I've read too much oxygen will damage the plants but too little will..ya know..kill muh feesh. All the fish seem happy and healthy. They all hang out at all areas of the tank, from the bottom to the top. The BNs do work their way up the glass from time to time. I just chalk this up to exploration.

What sort are the "2" filters, internal powerheads? most internals nowadays come with an option to plumb an airline onto it to blow a lot more through the water column.
This is how my 3ftr is setup: 1x 800ltr p/h powerhead plumbed up with the extra air line+ an air pump powering 2
corner sponges ( which aggitate the surface), so with the steady air stream flowing through the middle of the tank + corner sponges- works good for me , I'll also add there is no "air stones" in the tank.
J

hi... sounds like theirs plenty ov turn over to me with 350 gallons per hour bristlenose have the capability of obtaining oxygen through their modified stomach. This allows them to survive in conditions with low oxygen levels.. so they dont need the air stones mate. as for them climbing the tank their just feeding and exploring like you said..

Kuro - They hang over the back. I'll upgrade once money allows.

Deano - Thanks. Didn't even bother to shop around for any.

Everyone have a great day!!

I've always used a large horizontal air stone in my tanks which are always heavily planted. I think people worry too much about too much oxygen etc for the plants - mine do fine. Fish poo, flourish and 7 hours of light a day do the trick

One thing I've found is that the agitation provided by the airstone helps keep various bits of muck from accumulating in the corners and crevices - the extra movement means that a lot of the mulm gets sucked up by the filter if that makes sense.

Ah the old "hang of the back filter" - never had any experience with these, they use a spray bar system- correct?
If that's the case the only airation they provide is agitating the surface so an air stone could be of benefit.
J

I bought an airstone and put it into the tank. Its been roughly two weeks now and the fish seem to love it. Swimming through it and such. Plants seem to be doing fine also. Lol...visits to the LFS are starting to remind me of buying car parts. You walk out of each store at least $50.00 poorer each time.

i have Air stones and a few plants in all my tanks my corys like to swim in the bubbles lol