Air Pumps - Necessary?

[leysland]

I have a 30 gal (UK) tank stocked as below with a Eheim 2224 external filter. It has a spray bar which to reduce the disturbance, except for one hole, is under water. Tank has a few plants, don't ask me what they are as I don't know.

Is it necessary to have an air pump as well even if it only runs at night.

 

[Chri$]

no, it is not nessecery. If you have plenty of water agitation. Air pumps certainly do no harm and are a nice feature. the bubbles can look great if you place the air stone well. personal choice really.

 

[wildkooch12]

So air pumps aren't needed?

 

[andywg]

Air pumps are not a necessary piece of aquarium equipment (unless used to drive a filter).

 

[atmmachine816]

wats a spray bar im not familiar with those

 

[love_fish]

I would always have an air pump incase you need to medicate and the meds usually deplete the dissolved oxygen.

 

[Native American]

wats a spray bar im not familiar with those

Just a pipe with several holes (like a piccolo) to allow streams of water to spray out, hit the surface of the water and add to water surface agitation.

I've got a couple in my boat to oxygenate the livewells and keep fish alive. They work on aquariums, too.

I've run my 100-gallon tank without an airstone for several months now. It's my first tank that didn't have an airpump. 150 guppies and a happy Betta, so far, so good! So, to answer that question, I guess one doesn't need an airpump. Your spraybar setup should be fine.

I'm going to add an airpump w/ some Rena 6" ceramic stones under the Bio-Wheels. All those tiny bubbles really look great in a planted tank.

v/r, N-A