air pumps

[belmont0182]

are air pumps needed in a 10 gallon, or a 5 gallon for that matter...i have had an air pump running in my 10 for a while now and it is annoying me. it is too loud and i am wondering if i can just turn it off? for my 5 i have not even put one in and prob wont ever. both of my tanks have power filters that i assume can handle the oxygen load.

[OrionGirl]

As long as the power filter creates a bit of surface current, you do not need to have the air bubblers. I don't have them on any of my tanks.

[belmont0182]

ok thanks, im going to turn it off then

[aquariumfishguy]

This is JMO, but I happen to love these air pumps. I have them on several of my aquariums and they seem to work nicely with the rest of the stuff in my tanks. They are quiet, and out of the way...besides the wonderful bubbles that pass by. I think my fish really enjoy them too :D

Anyway, no they are not generally needed unless you have a weak surface disturbance in your aquarium. Most filters made within the past 5-7 years are impressive, so air stones have become more of an option (decoration) than anything else. ;)

[125gJoe]

I also like the visual effect of bubbles coming up and around a nice chunck of driftwood... If you bury the air hose, or airstone down in the gravel near a rock of wood you can have very slow larger bubbles rising to the top -- it looks good... Vary the air flow for the effect you like best.

On planted tanks, you would not want bubbles for any long periods -- or any at all. The disturbance of the bubbling forces CO2 from the water column. The plants need the CO2..

[Captain Hook]

I have always had an airstone on my tank except for recently. I set up a 20 gallon with an AC mini that is pretty heavily planted and seems to be doing ok without one. I also set up my girlfriend's 35 gallon with a penguin 330 (creates a lot of current) so it didn't need one either.

I still have one on my 35 tho. It has always had one and I'm afraid the fish will be used to oxygen rich water. Also it's not very heavily planted yet and it only has an AC200 that doesn't seem to create very much disturbance.

[RTR]

NIMFT. I don't, and haven't in decades, and won't use airstones. They are too noisy and mess up the cover glass. They are also unneeded if you have adeqaute filtration and are not seriusly overstocked.

[Captain Hook]

RTR you think I won't need it on a 35 gallon with an AC200? The tank is fairly heavily stocked. I'm afraid the fish will used to such a high level of oxygen. There are some plants in the water and I am planning on getting more.