View Full Version : get prepared for a stupid question.....
Arctic_Fishery
12-14-2002, 12:02 AM
now i've been reading that in some cases air pumps are for decoration......im letting you guys take that one......is it absolutely positively neccessary to have an air pump.....if so why?i am being serious so please dont laugh at me.
Serrateeth_2002
12-14-2002, 12:04 AM
Air Pumps simply Pumps Air into the tank,actually it is to increase the amount of oxygen dissolving into the water from the air.
Darkangel
12-14-2002, 12:19 AM
While not strictly needed they do a lot of good in a tank. They break up the surface tension which results in better CO2 and oxygen exchange between water and air. So even when they are put in only for decoration they are doing great things as well.
Fishiebusiness
12-14-2002, 12:23 AM
They're usually not needed if you have any type of filter thats disturbing the surface. I find them loud and the bubbles quite annoying, and so i never use one normally. They are good to have as backup in case a filter fails, and some people enjoy the bubbles.
goldfish freak
12-14-2002, 1:39 AM
I agree with fishiebusiness. Also that was not a stupid question at all :) .
Serrateeth_2002
12-14-2002, 6:45 AM
i've heard some fishes like to play with bubbles.
goldfries
12-14-2002, 7:04 AM
hehe. it wasn't a stupid question.
it's just a question.
never say it's a stupid question until people say it is.
stupid questions = questions that were never asked and turned into a tragedy.
With something over 2 dozen tanks I have no airstones, have not had any for decades, and don't plan on ever having again.
If you have adequate circulation in your tank, even without surface breaks, you are not likely to ever suffer from dissloved oxygen lack.
To me they are pure "ornament", make noise, mess up the cover glass, and are something I can do very well without.:)
Serrateeth_2002
12-14-2002, 8:59 AM
So u mean,water movement contributes to oxygen dissolving in the water.
famman
12-14-2002, 9:23 AM
Water movement at the surface contributes to oxygen dissolving in the water. Gas exchange occurs at the surface of the aquarium. Bubbles from an air pump do nothing but disturb the surface of the water to promote this gas exchange.
good luck
bettaman
12-14-2002, 1:12 PM
Originally posted by Serrateeth_2002
i've heard some fishes like to play with bubbles.
My clown loaches and panda cories swim up and down in the bubbles from the airstone for hours, I wonder when they'll get bored.......
DodgeIntrepidV6
12-14-2002, 1:24 PM
My fluval and biowheel provide plenty of surface aeration, so I have a bubble stick that I only turn on every now and then just for looks, and my blind cave fish and clown loaches just love rushing through it. lol it is fun to watch somtimes, but like they said if your filter creates a pretty big disturbance on the top, no need for airpump.
clayt101
12-14-2002, 4:54 PM
Well since no one else will say it:
What a Stupid Question!!!!
J/K :D