A Couple Of Questions

[dburgess92]

I have an air pump for my air stone and i was wondering if it has a non return valve so the water doesn't return into the pump if i turn it off? Stupid question but im not sure.

I think we are going to have a power cut and i need some advice.

How long will the tank and fish survive for? Its night time and i dont want to be working with it all night. It might not go off but im worried if it does.

 

[fatheadminnow]

I have an air pump for my air stone and i was wondering if it has a non return valve so the water doesn't return into the pump if i turn it off? Stupid question but im not sure.

I think we are going to have a power cut and i need some advice.

How long will the tank and fish survive for? Its night time and i dont want to be working with it all night. It might not go off but im worried if it does.

The air pump does not have a check valve, this is something you must by separate, or in some cases it comes with the air pump, and put it in-line with the air tubing anywhere necessary.

If the power is going to go off for one night your fish/bacteria will be fine. You might only loose about 2% of bacteria...nothing significant.

Bacteria will die off at a rate of about 2-10% a day.

-FHM

 

[rdd1952]

Agree with FHM. I will add that if you can put the airpump above the tank on a shelf or something like that, then you don't have to worry about the check valve as the water can't syphon up. But if it's below the top of the tank, then you definitely need one unless you can rig a big loop in the tubing so that it can't make it through the loop. Check valves are relatively inexpensive though so better safe than sorry.

As for the power being off, depending on the time of year and how cold/hot your house could become while the power is off, temperature fluctation could be a bigger problem than the potential loss of bacteria. It's generally more of a problem in hot weather since as the water warms too much, the oxygen supply in the water will depleat faster.

 

[fatheadminnow]

As for the power being off, depending on the time of year and how cold/hot your house could become while the power is off, temperature fluctation could be a bigger problem than the potential loss of bacteria. It's generally more of a problem in hot weather since as the water warms too much, the oxygen supply in the water will depleat faster.

I never even thought about the heater...

Good thing you mentioned that RDD!

-FHM