Air Pumps - What, Why & Do I Need One?

[Macko1968]

Hello folks

As per the title, I could do with some explanation of air pumps. I understand they add oxygen to the water but I'm unsure if I will need one in a 155 litre tank that has a Fluval 205 exernal filter? If one will benefit my fish can anyone recommend a suitable unit?

I have tried the search function but it keeps retuning an error.

thanks in advance

Mick

 

[aaronnorth]

it doesnt add oygen directly to the water, as the oxygen cannot dissolve fast enough, but it creates more surface agitation which helps with the gaseous exchange, a simpler way would be to raise the ouput of your filter to create more agitation. Some people have one as a decorative feature, although i cant stand the things lol, a good brand is the tetratec units.

to search the forum, you have to use google, type this into the search box:

air pump site:fishforums.net

 

[Jallen]

If there is noticeable surface aggitation it's fine. In my 30g I have a spray bar positioned about 5mm under the surface which makes the water all ripply, that does the job. For my 15g I just have the filter output near the surface of the water so that ripples are created. Basically, think of the water as loads of sticky balls which can only be stuck to one oxygen ball. By stirring up the water, the water balls which already have an oxygen stuck to them leave the surface, allowing for a fresh ball to get an oxygen for itself. When a fish breaths, it takes away the oxygen balls from water balls, so the surface aggitation needs to be fairly constant.

 

[rdd1952]

They are definitely not necessary. I use one when I do a fishless cycle to help keep te oxygen level up with the high water temperature. If you do decide to buy one, don't go cheap. Some of them can be extremely noisy. I would suggest the Rema brand. They are extremely quiet but a little more expensive.

 

[jimmyringo]

The Eheim's are silent and reliable,if you decide you need one.

 

[Rooster]

YOU DONT NEED ONE ! unless its going to power your filter(s)....

However, you might like the look and sound of bubbles... or animated toys (heaven help us )

 

[OldMan47]

To each his own Rooster. I used to love the divers with bubbles coming from the diving suit and the clams that open and close with air bubbles. I am sure it is no different with younger fish keepers today.

 

[onebto]

I got a TetraTec APS 300 thats nice and Quiet and it has two airline outlets

On this matter I have not run it in a standard Tank environment yet as my Tank is not Quiet ready although I have 2 outputs my intention is to split one line in to 2 using a T peace to have 3 small stone outputs would there be an issue against doing this ? there is nothing about not doing this in the manufactures instructions of use . Anyone got any insight on this ?

 

[Schmill]

I have the APS400, and actually went the otherway, tied the two outputs together with a T-piece, (as it says you can), and ran it to a single bubble 'wall', and found the pump to be quite noisy. I have since disconnected one of the outlets and the pump is quieter so it seems perhaps I had too much back pressure in it
I see nothing wrong with what you are planning, of course the 'split' pipe will have less air going to each stone, but that will just mean less bubbles from each one. Also don't forget to fit a check-valve (to stop back syphoning) if you site your airpump below the surface water level of the tank, and on the split line put it BEFORE the split, ie. closer to the pump

 

[onebto]

Thanks Schmill yeah I reckoned on the reduction of supply by splitting the pipe.

Did you add the small regulator I found that as you restrict the pressure the pump noise (which on mine is minimal) reduces even more

Gone a little further I have mine in a plastic sandwich box wholes made for the line and for air in and out run it for a while no over heating plus I have to get up close and personal to hear a very slight hum I do not know how this will change when I have the water in but I am hopping it will be minimal.

 

[Schmill]

Nope, I have to confess I hate the little regulators, probably because I usually run them fully open, and then more often than not the adjusters fall out the top and I end up with no air going to the tank at all - lol
So do you mean your pump was quieter when you restricted the flow? I think I am finding the opposite I guess there must just be a happy medium in the middle of the pumps operating range somewhere that you have to hit to get that 'sweet spot'. I might try the box idea though. Mine is in the cupboard below the tank, but I think it's making the cupbaord reverberate a bit - lol

 

[onebto]

Yep its quieter when I restrict the flow but then again mine is new and I have not run it with the stones submerged to there full depth, I would imagine different loads i.e depth amount and size of stone or stones length of pipe or pipes check valves , regulator tap settings and course of pipes will have small effects on the pumps noise as they will change the loading on the pump so we will have to see.

Plus my pump is spanking new run about 12 hours at the moment I would have it a guess its attributes will be slightly different when it has been going a fair time but the little box I have built for the pump has reduced the slight hum to nothing

 

[OldMan47]

The kind with a built in regulator like the Rena will run quieter with the flow cut back because the vibrating arm in the air pump doesn't move as far. The kind that is wide open and needs an external device to throttle it, like a whisper air pump, will run quieter wide open and get noisy with flow restrictions.