Air pump usage

calivivarium1

Finished the fight
May 5, 2008
1,432
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Fresno, California
In my paludarium(3-5gal of water on the bottom) I have pretty simple plants: a Crypto, java moss, a bit of Riccia Fluitans(to see how it does), Anubias Congensis and Coffeefolia, and lucky bamboo. I am not planning on doing any sort of Co2 injection, but I must run an air pump for at least 8hrs to agitate the surface of my water sufficiently to prevent a film buildup.

My question is this: Should I keep running the bubbles during the day(the pump is currently on the same cycle as my lights, 6on 1off, 6on 11off) or would running them at night be better for my Co2 levels? Or, do my Co2 levels even really matter much for the plants I have?

thanks
 
probably would be better to post in the vivarium section.
 
Thanks MG. I am going to be tweaking the bubbles later today but I think I will just leave them on the same cycle as my lights for now (I am running out of space behind the tank!). When I move this summer I'll probably put 'em on at night.
 
If your plants are doing well, they will be pumping O2 into the water in the daytime, so it's more important to have the air pump running at night. It's probably not going to be an important issue, but I just thought I'd mention it.
 
Quite true. I am not planning on over-stocking my tank(I should be trading in my clown peckoltia when I get my new critters), but still...
 
I do. The internal filter isn't the greatest out there, but according to the manufacturer it would be running at 60gph right now. I am banking that its not quite that high, but my water is very clear(well, its tannin stained, but clean) I run the air pump for surface agitation only
 
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