Opinions On Air Pumps

[andyg81]

ive noticed from peoples photos that not many seem to have air pumps blowing bubbles up through the water via features etc,

what are peoples opinions on air pipes in tanks ?

I have 2 outlets blowing water through a pirate ship and a vase type decoration, we were going for a sort of underwater wreck type scene which isnt finished yet

my plan was to also put a water feature on the right hand side of the tank moving the plant that is currently there and putting some bogwood infront of the filter with perhaps an air stone coming from under the bogwood.

 

[KittyKat]

Use them if you like them, don't use them if you don't like them. I personally think that they look a bit cheap, but I also think the same about ornaments… basically, it is down to personal opinion and this is one point on which it is pretty much safe to do whatever *you* prefer, assuming you have enough surface movement for aeration from the filter.

 

[garyspence84]

I think if they are used with a bit of creativity, they can look quite good. But sometimes they can look a bit naff.

G

 

[andyg81]

mines not ideal at this point im not happy with it but ive also got some underwater lights to put into the tank as well so I dont have to have the main lights on if i dont want to, so when I put them in ill be altering the pump anyway, just wondered what people thought

 

[raptorrex]

ive noticed from peoples photos that not many seem to have air pumps blowing bubbles up through the water via features etc,

what are peoples opinions on air pipes in tanks ?

I have 2 outlets blowing water through a pirate ship and a vase type decoration, we were going for a sort of underwater wreck type scene which isnt finished yet

my plan was to also put a water feature on the right hand side of the tank moving the plant that is currently there and putting some bogwood infront of the filter with perhaps an air stone coming from under the bogwood.

the only importance, of an air pump to an aquarium is, do you like how it looks?
because that's the only effect they have. (significant effect anyway)

having said that. some fish like to play in them (pictus cats for one)
and they can be used to help keep fan shrimp (they hang above the air flow to sift the water)
they also can be used to cause a current (i use two air curtains , placed along the back of the tank), to draw heavier waste and debris to the back of the tank. there its drawn in by my filters. or removed with a vac.

 

[afremont]

mines not ideal at this point im not happy with it but ive also got some underwater lights to put into the tank as well so I dont have to have the main lights on if i dont want to, so when I put them in ill be altering the pump anyway, just wondered what people thought

I run them in all of my tanks except my daughter's betta. I like the long wands, and so do the fish. I don't use stick on the back designs or paint the tanks, so the bubbles kind of hide the area behind the tank. And like I said, most of the fish seem to enjoy playing in the bubbles at times. Can't really fault them as life must be pretty dull in there compared to living in a stream or lake. They don't hurt anything and they keep the water circulated.

 

[andyg81]

I like the look of them but i know ive made a mistake, ive put the valves that operate the flow in the bottom corner of the tank so to change flow speed i have to put my hand in the tank - when i change the layout ill be changing this so the valves are on the outside and easier to mess with, also my corys like to bash the stones holding it down and move it on a pretty much daily basis lol

 

[Louiseness]

I use an air pump to run my axolotl's sponge filter but that's about it. I have no background in most of my tanks but use plants to disguise it.

 

[afremont]

I like the look of them but i know ive made a mistake, ive put the valves that operate the flow in the bottom corner of the tank so to change flow speed i have to put my hand in the tank - when i change the layout ill be changing this so the valves are on the outside and easier to mess with, also my corys like to bash the stones holding it down and move it on a pretty much daily basis lol

If you use a control valve to regulate the air flow, your pump will last longer if you regulate it by bleeding excess air from an unused port. This makes the pump do less work since it won't have as much back pressure. The diaphragm will last longer too.

 

[andyg81]

cheers for that, both my out ports on the "splitter" are in use at the minute but changing it to a 3 outlet so I can have one empty to bleed the system as you say, I was advised this a week ago but just havent got round to buying the 3 splitter

 

[raptorrex]

I like the look of them but i know ive made a mistake, ive put the valves that operate the flow in the bottom corner of the tank so to change flow speed i have to put my hand in the tank - when i change the layout ill be changing this so the valves are on the outside and easier to mess with, also my corys like to bash the stones holding it down and move it on a pretty much daily basis lol

If you use a control valve to regulate the air flow, your pump will last longer if you regulate it by bleeding excess air from an unused port. This makes the pump do less work since it won't have as much back pressure. The diaphragm will last longer too.

thats Interesting, mainly as it makes no engineering, psychs or logical sense.
any airpump worth its cost, has one diaphragm per outlet. leaving one unsused will have no effect on the pumps overall longevity.
indeed leaving one unused will, most likely, actually damage that diaphragm.
i suppose if you have a 2 inch stone on a 600lpm pump, sure it will definitely help
however, if you buy a descent pump, it will have variable control, for just such circumstance.
but, as a rule of thumb its pointless.

I'd be very interested to read your source though.
or is this all because of the mistaken impression that multi outlet pumps have only one diaphragm?

 

[MBOU]

Personally i hate airpumps used on tanks. Just makes me thing tacky tacky tacky.

They have no real function in terms of water quality, if used for a function then run the airpump at night and co2 during the day on heavily planted CO2 run tanks... but its not for decor as its at night.

I am using one on a fry tank at the moment because they havent yet hatched (marine fish) i cant use a filter at all as they wont be strong enough. Taily water changes and a weak airpump keep the water moving gently.

They have their uses... but as far as decor goes... tanky

 

[mrlewis1978]

I bought my fish tank second hand, which came with all of the gear, including an air pump which creates a wall of bubbles accross the back of the tank. Reading a lot of things on the internet about them, if I hadn't been given one, I would not have bothered (people saying no point, have no purpose etc). To be honest with you though, my clown loach are always 'playing' in the bubbles, and a surprising amount of the other fish will take the occasional swim through the length of them. I think they may fulfil the fish somehow. Going forward I think I will always have some sort of 'hidden' bubble system producing them. I really dont like the ornaments that produce bubbles though as there is no element of natural habitats about them.

 

[Desdemona]

I agree with the bubble ornaments looking silly. The little treasure chest thing, etc. I do like the bubble curtians that some people have. I am thinking of putting one in the back of my tank, but it will depend on the price of the stuff.

 

[Prime Ordeal]

the only importance, of an air pump to an aquarium is, do you like how it looks?
because that's the only effect they have. (significant effect anyway)

They promote flow, increase oxygen and reduce carbon dioxide. I'd class that as pretty significant.

I like the look of them but i know ive made a mistake, ive put the valves that operate the flow in the bottom corner of the tank so to change flow speed i have to put my hand in the tank - when i change the layout ill be changing this so the valves are on the outside and easier to mess with, also my corys like to bash the stones holding it down and move it on a pretty much daily basis lol

If you use a control valve to regulate the air flow, your pump will last longer if you regulate it by bleeding excess air from an unused port. This makes the pump do less work since it won't have as much back pressure. The diaphragm will last longer too.

thats Interesting, mainly as it makes no engineering, psychs or logical sense.
any airpump worth its cost, has one diaphragm per outlet. leaving one unsused will have no effect on the pumps overall longevity.
indeed leaving one unused will, most likely, actually damage that diaphragm.
i suppose if you have a 2 inch stone on a 600lpm pump, sure it will definitely help
however, if you buy a descent pump, it will have variable control, for just such circumstance.
but, as a rule of thumb its pointless.

I'd be very interested to read your source though.
or is this all because of the mistaken impression that multi outlet pumps have only one diaphragm?

All air pumps are rated for a given back-pressure which limits the amount and/or type of air stones etc. that you can have without unduly increasing the wear rate on the diaphragm. Makes sense to me (both in an engineering and logical sense).