Air Pump - Is There Such Thing As Too Powerful?

[benthyer]

Hi All,
 
I want to get an air pump for my tank because I like the look it gives and also for the benefit of extra air in the water. However I am wandering if there is such a thing as too powerful? I have seen someone advertising there old one for £15, it is a AquaVital AV540 Air Pump and as the title would suggest it is 540l/h
 
Would I be safe in getting this?

 

[DevotedToDiscus]

Nope, not too powerful. Just buy an inline control valve for a few pence and you can adjust the amount of air to suit your tank.

 

[214jay]

I've got a huge air pump on my tank, it has adjustable flow control but flat out its pretty cool and the fish love the bubbles!!  +1 on the control valve, cost me £0.75 from LFS

 

[benthyer]

Yeah the one I've seen as a control valve on it and also has two outlets. I will look at investing in the inline control valve as well

 

[Chad]

If the pump creates too much current for the fish (they are prone to creating lift) this can be a problem also if you are running Co2 in the tank too much air will remove it from the water. Other than those two reasons I can't think of any reason not to have a nice large pump. I'm a proponent of good surface agitation.

 

[benthyer]

I won't be having CO2 so that shouldn't be an issue. Also I have a powerful filter for my tank, if i was going to get the air pump should I lower the flow on the filter or still keep it fully open?

 

[Chad]

If you have a powerful enough filter, one that oxygenates the tank, you don't "need" an air pump. If all you are interested in is the look I actually suggest a smaller pump with a bubble rod, or two small pumps with airstones placed where they look nice. A large pump is going to give you some faster bubbles which, for me, are less relaxing to look at.

 

[benthyer]

Just looked it up again and the filter I have is for a tank up to 200l and I have a 115l tank so maybe I would be best off with a smaller pump.
 
On a side note my 60th post! Woo i can chat

 

[214jay]

Yup, I have the pump with the two outlets, joined them together with a 'T' connector! My pump is rateed for 250L...works nicely on my 125L...Although maybe thats why my plants are growing slowly.

 

[nortonmad213]

just add a non return valve into the line so that there is no siphon effect 
add a control valve and you got whatever flow of bubbles you desire