Do I Need An Air Pump?

[Ifti]

I have a 48litre tank.
With the tank I received a 100w heater, which seems to be doing the job fine.
I also received an Interpet Filter PF1.
The Filter has an 'Aqua Valve', which let's air into the filter when you keep the very top above water. The air mixes with the water and comes out through the exit tube as tiny bubbles to create more surface movement etc. However, it's not only noisy, but I get tiny air bubbles throughout the entire tank!

I've therefore placed the filter slightly under water so the aqua valve is not in use. This is not only quieter, but now I have a tank that isn't full of tiny air bubbles in the water!

Now, the filter exit tube is pointing up slightly using a plastic scoop part which directs the flow of water upwards, so that there is some surface movement.

Considering my tank is only 48litre, should I buy an air pump, or would it be a waste of money? How much surface movement do I actually need?

If so, can you recommend a very quiet air pump? I don't think I'd need it to be too powerful or anything.....

Thanks in advance.

 

[Gvilleguy]

Hey Ifti - from everything I have read on this forum, as long as you have some surface turbulence, the oxygen exchange is facilitated. You definitely don't have to have bubble action if you don't want it. I think one way you can tell if you DON"T have enough turbulence is if you see an oily film build up on the surface of the water. If the surface is agitated enough the surface "stuff" gets broken up and taken down into the filter eventually.

Oh, and if you go with live plants, people will discourage you from having air pumps - the bubbles are not good for plants.

 

[Ifti]

Thanks guys.

There seems to be enough movement for there to not have a 'skin' etc on the top layer.

I have no real plants - just plastic ones.

I'll see if I can create a short video or a few pics of the water surface and post it up

 

[Ifti]

Not the best images but hopefully enough to show what I mean!

The filter exit valve is pointing upwards. This is causing surface movement and a ripple towards the front of the tank.

Is that enough water movement to oxygenate the water properly?

 

[Gvilleguy]

I would say yes.

 

[Ifti]

Excellent, thanks

 

[Caprichoso]

Hey Ifti - from everything I have read on this forum, as long as you have some surface turbulence, the oxygen exchange is facilitated. You definitely don't have to have bubble action if you don't want it. I think one way you can tell if you DON"T have enough turbulence is if you see an oily film build up on the surface of the water. If the surface is agitated enough the surface "stuff" gets broken up and taken down into the filter eventually.

Oh, and if you go with live plants, people will discourage you from having air pumps - the bubbles are not good for plants.

I didn't know that plants don't like it. Why is that?

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

That is absolutely fine.
You will know if your fish are gasping for air at the top of the water.
Also, if when you put food in the tank that floats initially it may release some oil which you can see on the surface. If that gets broken up then it s fine.

Plants require some co2. The airstone bubbles would be continuosly breaking the water surface expelling the co2. So what some people with planted tanks do is they turn off the air pump when they are putting co2 into the tank.

 

[Mikaila31]

yep with live plants we normally don't even have airpumps and surface movement is minimal to null.

 

[Caprichoso]

yep with live plants we normally don't even have airpumps and surface movement is minimal to null.

Sorry, i'm a bit confused. I have a low-tech planted tank, no CO2 and I have a very big bubble curtain. My plants are growing and are healthy so what is the bonus of NOT having the airstone? I also have my FX5 nozzle pointed to the surface to increase surface agitation. So, would my plants grow faster without it?

 

[raptorrex]

yep with live plants we normally don't even have airpumps and surface movement is minimal to null.

Sorry, i'm a bit confused. I have a low-tech planted tank, no CO2 and I have a very big bubble curtain. My plants are growing and are healthy so what is the bonus of NOT having the airstone? I also have my FX5 nozzle pointed to the surface to increase surface agitation. So, would my plants grow faster without it?

you make a good point. thing is O2 will, drive CO2 out of the water. also remembering that plants use O2, not CO2, when the lights are out, so both are required. it must be rememberd too, that these are peoples "view" on how things work, not rules to be slavishly followed. you will, over time, develop your own method. if it ends up different to that others use, it does not mean either is wrong. more, as it is so often, that there are many ways to achieve the same end.