DIY CO2 & air pumps

courtneypie

courtneypie

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Nov 12, 2010
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Courtney
I've heard that if you use CO2 in your tank, you shouldn't have an air pump going at the same time because it'll blow all the CO2 out. Since I might as well go ahead with some kind of CO2 as I'm going to have all kinds of plants in my new tank, should I scrap the idea of the air pump as well? I just want to make sure that I heard right. >w<
 
Yes. If you want a planted tank, scrap the air pump idea.
 
But not all together though. I would run one at night. It serves as a means to increase the O2 at night as well as it will break up the film that will develop on the surface.
 
It depends whether you actually need co2. I have a low light shrimp tank with anubias, cryptocoryne, java fern, sag subulata and rotala that doesn't have co2 and I have an airstone in it for circulation. Plants grow well in it as do the shrimp.

Mark
 
You need to consider that an air pump pumps air. Air contains a certain level of CO2 and running the pump could in certain instances increase the level of CO2 in the tank. But if you're adding CO2 to achieve levels above equilibrium with the atmosphere then it will definitely drive off the excess.
 
you shouldn't have film on the surface, you should have enough surface moment to keep the film away but not enough to off gas all your co2.

Generally there is absolutely no need to run an air pump unless you are using air driven filtration methods.

If you are concerned about co2 buildup at night, you can run the airstone...this is something i have never done though.
 
SubRosa said:
You need to consider that an air pump pumps air. Air contains a certain level of CO2 and running the pump could in certain instances increase the level of CO2 in the tank. But if you're adding CO2 to achieve levels above equilibrium with the atmosphere then it will definitely drive off the excess.
Click to expand...

I had thought about that, but with the amount of plants I want in my tank, I didn't think it would be enough.
 
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