Advice On Air Pumps

[ricci427]

Hi all,

I have a 30 gallon tank, 3 sword tails, 2 tiger barbs, 2 small angel fish, 7 neon tetras, and a small catfish. So pretty well stocked, and not planning on adding any more fish. My Tank s also well planted.

With the plants in the tank all my levels stay really really low, ammonia, and nitrites at zero, ro close to it, and thats with minimal water changes.

So being worried about oxygen content I was going to put in a water pump, and water stone. Firstly is it worthwhile, I was checking out the "Aquaclear 50", but I switched it on in the store, and the so called "patented silencer system" is NOT very silent at all.

So to anyone who knows, is it worth the effort of adding, and secondly is their a better quieter one than the Aqua clear.

Oh, and one more thing, if I put one in, should it be left running 24/7

Thanks all..

Damien

 

[waterdrop]

If its oxygen you want, then surface movement is much more important than bubbles. Despite the common thought that having lots of bubbles must greatly increase the surface area, in fact it doesn't, and surface agitation is the main mechanism by which bubbers happen to increase oxygenation. Directing filter spray bars or other water output devices across the surface is very effective. At an extreme, one can move surface water with a powerhead (submersible water pump.)

I use airstones for fishless cycling, to heighten the oxygen for bacteria growth, but only use a filter spraybar for a normal stocked aquarium. HOB filters often provide enough surface movement if the water line is not put too high.

Depending on where the tank is, airstones and airpumps (affordable ones) are just often too loud. Filters can be very quiet.

If you are at all new to the hobby you might want to read more about water changes here and think about that. Frequent water changes can help remove trace materials that you don't want to build up and fresh tap water is highly oxygenated. Many consider weekly water changes a very good habit and there is much written here about the details of doing it.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[LosC519]

Ammonia and Nitrites should always be at zer0, this is more important than air pumps. Keep up with water changes.