Dunb Question, Do I Need An Air Pump.

[-SPB-]

Hi all,

I know this sounds like a real dumb question to you all, i've just changed my substrate from gravel to sand (2.5ft tank), and i'm looking at turning it into a planted tank. Once i have sorted out the co2 (i'm looking at getting a nutrafin kit), will i need an air pump. I know i probably sound real dumb etc etc, but i would dearly love some advice.

Thanks greatly

sambangert

EDIT: Whats a good depth of sand for a planted tank. (I'm using argos playsand, bloody good stuff!!!!!!).

 

[DevUK]

For a planted tank, and if you're using CO2 you won't need an air pump generally. The air pump will drive off the CO2 so would mean theres not much point to it. However. At night your plants will produce CO2 instead of oxygen (as they do in the day). I doubt you'll have any issues using a nutrafin kit, but some people run an air pump at night to help oxygenate the water. Again, I don't think you'd need one though.

If you have CO2 problems (ie, fish gasping at the surface) you need to increase oxygen levels, but you don't need an air pump for this. Its not the bubbles in the water that oxygenate it, all that the air bubbles do is create movement on the surface of the water. You can do this just as effectively by changing the direction of your filter outlet to increase surface movement.

I think about 3 or 4cm of sand should be an ok depth. Have you considered putting any special plant substrate under the sand though? Plants should grow ok in just sand, but you may have more success using a plant substrate underneath to provide nutrients for the roots. As well as (or instead of) using a plant substrate you need to consider what fertilization you're going to use. If you're using CO2 you need to fertilize too otherwise you may hit algae problems.

Hope most of that makes sense

 

[mgamer20o0]

i dont have air pumps in any of my tanks. planted or not.

 

[-SPB-]

For a planted tank, and if you're using CO2 you won't need an air pump generally. The air pump will drive off the CO2 so would mean theres not much point to it. However. At night your plants will produce CO2 instead of oxygen (as they do in the day). I doubt you'll have any issues using a nutrafin kit, but some people run an air pump at night to help oxygenate the water. Again, I don't think you'd need one though.

If you have CO2 problems (ie, fish gasping at the surface) you need to increase oxygen levels, but you don't need an air pump for this. Its not the bubbles in the water that oxygenate it, all that the air bubbles do is create movement on the surface of the water. You can do this just as effectively by changing the direction of your filter outlet to increase surface movement.

I think about 3 or 4cm of sand should be an ok depth. Have you considered putting any special plant substrate under the sand though? Plants should grow ok in just sand, but you may have more success using a plant substrate underneath to provide nutrients for the roots. As well as (or instead of) using a plant substrate you need to consider what fertilization you're going to use. If you're using CO2 you need to fertilize too otherwise you may hit algae problems.

Hope most of that makes sense

Thanks a lot, makes loads of sense. Here goes the planted tank!!!!.