Air Pump....

millie1 · Jan 7, 2009

is this essential???

or can i have it on like at night (and when im out) and off in the day - as my tank looks absolutely mingin with it on - gawdknows why!!!!

thoughts?

Truck · Jan 7, 2009

not really an essential, if your filter out let can be adjusted to make surface agitation, do that

markandhisfish · Jan 7, 2009

as truck says not essential but very useful particularly in larger tanks to provide extra surface aggitation therefore increased oxygen levels in the water.

Repeat · Jan 7, 2009

If you get one make sure you get a water stopper. Not sure on exact name but if you air pump stops/ turns off it can actually act like a vacuum and suck out all of your water onto the floor. Its about 3 dollars and prevents this from happening.

Schmill · Jan 7, 2009

Repeat said:
If you get one make sure you get a water stopper. Not sure on exact name but if you air pump stops/ turns off it can actually act like a vacuum and suck out all of your water onto the floor. Its about 3 dollars and prevents this from happening.

Check-Valve, it sits inline and is as said above, a one-way valve that allows air into the tank, but will stop water back-syphoning inot the pump if the power should fail. A MUST if the air pump is below the water level of the tank.
:good:

Repeat · Jan 7, 2009

Can never remember the name, heh. Bought one like a week ago too!

Night61 · Jan 7, 2009

its not nessary but i found the air mister is actually makes less noise the the actual filter. trust me i sleep in the same room as my fish tanks and the filters drive me crazy but the air pump is a consitant um and the bubbles arn't not that loud if thats what your concerned about. as for the filter excess noise at night i try to fill the tank up to the filter fall to quell the sound and use this
http

/www.petfish.net/articles/Do-It-Your...currentkill.php

probally more then you wanted to know but i hope i helped.

millie1 · Jan 8, 2009

thanks for all the replies!

i have one currently which looks great - its the vibration on the top of the tank whichs i peeing me off!!

i have a stop thing to stop it going backk.... but its the noisewhich is driving me insaine!

if i can switch it off when im in the room (literally a few hours a day) then keep it on all day/night when im not there (or when i can tolorate it lol) then i shall do that

thanks :=)

Schmill · Jan 8, 2009

Why's it on the top of the tank? If you have the checkvalve on it you can place the pump somewhere else, ie. somewhere quieter

millie1 · Jan 8, 2009

is says it has to be above the air pumping bit lol and the nearest place that is the top of the tank........

i could try puting somthing on the bottom if it so it shuts up lol

Schmill · Jan 8, 2009

millie1 said:
is says it has to be above the air pumping bit lol and the nearest place that is the top of the tank........

i could try puting somthing on the bottom if it so it shuts up lol

Yeah, the manufacturer instructions generally always tell you to place the pump ABOVE the surface of the water. The reason for this?, for some crazy reason they don't ship their pumps with a check-valve. If you put the pump below that level without the check-valve then when the pump is off the water will syphon backwards into the pump.
However once you have the check-valve installed you can pretty much place the pump whereever you want. I have mine in a cupboard about 1.8m below the level of the water surface

All I would advise is that once you have it installed switch the pump off for a few moments and see if you can see any water rising up the airline, you shouldn't be able to and that shows that the check-valve is working, (in fact if you do it now without your checkvalve connected and the pump still ABOVE the aquarium, you should be able to see the water slowly creeping back along the airtube).