Opinions on airpumps and airstones

nano55

nano55

AC Members
May 14, 2007
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I want to put a bubble wall along the back of my 100 gal long tank. I see they have flexible air tubing and it comes in different legths. I was thinking of getting either the 3 or 4 ft. length. Right now I have a Whisper 100 air pump with a couple of those (I think they are called aqua fizz) air stones connected together in the back. My air pump is only a year or two old, but just doesn't have enough power to even run those two airstones; they are only about 4 inches long each. I will probably have to get a new airpump and was thinking of getting a Rena. Any body have a reccomendation for a good airpump? What is the best thing for bubble walls as far as airstones or air tubing?
 
I have 2. They are both from walmart. The first one I got was just a regular air pump and the second was one of the wisper silent kind. There rated for same size tank but the wisper gives less bubbles. IME the silent kind have las air do to the material they use to make them silent! On air stones I can say much I just have the green tubbing and they do find
 
It was a long time held but mistaken belief that O2 was exclusivly absorbes or primarily absorbed by the surface area dimensions of a body of water and that air stone contributed very little. New recent studies have dis-proven that theory and new scientific studies have proven that bubble aeration and bubble surface burst contribute fare more then surface are absorption of O2.

When I had read these articles I decided to test that theory and using an O2 chemical tester for O2 saturation in my aquarium with and without using mechanical powered aeration. The first repeated was done without using air stones or a power head with a fully stocked tank 60 gallons and 23 fish in which repeated test showed O2 just 1 PPM above minimum O2 levels to sustain fish (6PPM). Then I tested with air stones of different types and surprisingly none of them performed much better and only about a 0.5 PPM increase then with without, and O2 measuring at 6.5 PPM or barley above privious. Then I tried using a Power head (AC 402) with injected air (hose attachment) which more closely mimics natural heavy waterfall agitation in nature or ocean surf wave action breaking on beaches (where the scientific study had made its discovery). Anyway it was in this configuration where I noticed a big consistent jump in O2 measurments which went from 6 PPM or 1 PPM above minimum to sustain fish to 8 and 9 PPM.

In conclusion I do believe that air stones do help maintain and prevent a drop in O2 below 5 PPM, but I think powerheads forced agitation does a much better job mimicking natural waterfall, river, and braking surf aeration which has been scientifically proven to play a bigger role in water body aeration over calm surface area absorption. In order for my tanks to maintain good O2 levels which test consistently at between 7 and 9 PPM I use a modified Magnum 250 HOB with shortened (above waterline) discharge lines which very much act as powerful air injected powerheads but more naturally mimicking a waterfall as the forced stream of water pulls down both air and surface are water to the bottom of the tank so that between the action of injected air bubbles and surface water drag-down conveyor action I get not just Mag 250 polishing but maintain excellent O2 PPM.

Below link to my Mag 250/O2 injection MOD
http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=212869&highlight=power+head
HotMagPWMod010.jpg

HotMagPWMod009.jpg
 
I have one of these on every tank and it produces ALOT of air and is very quiet. You can get these at walmart if you dont want to order online get the large 100 size it has 2 air nipples to connect hoses to.

http://www.aquariumguys.com/whisperair4.html
 
One warning about the recommended use of home aquarium air-pumps, most especially Whisper air pump, worst for failing IMO. Almost without exception air pumps designed for home use will fail if you fail to place the pump above the water line of the aquarium as they were not designed to take an atmospheric load (back pressure) from beneath an aquarium and will fail if placed beneath a tank or on the floor and potentially flood. The pump must be above the column of water it is pumping into not beneath it. If not these home pumps will fail in record time and you will soon have a closet full of weak or non-functioning pumps. So either place the pump above the aquarium or above the sump tank on the floor if you are pumping into the sump tank. I have had the same cheap (should have broke by now) air pump pumping into my floor sump tank for a year without fail or loss of pressure becasue it sits above the sump tank :rolleyes:
 
Ive run my air pump to power my sponge-bubble filter in my shrimp tank for over a year and its about 1m under the water level of the tank. never had any issues..

Posted on mobile.aquariacentral.com
 
If you put your air pump below the water level of your tank, you should use a check valve. More than likely, small amounts of water are getting back to the pump if you're not.
 
I been using my whispers for at least 3 years now and NEVER had them fail so not everyone has had Gunners experience with them I would buy another if and when I need more. And mine are under my tanks with a check valve installed in the air line tubing.
 
In allot of cheap pumps you can even see the difference if you set your wand/stone to the bottom of the tank then with a long enough run of airline start the pump running sitting atop or close to the top of the tank and while still running carry the pump to the floor and you will hear it labor and see the output slow down.

Have you ever wondered why when someone includes all there accessories with the sale of their tank after years of fish keeping the most predominant thing are extra air pumps that don't work. Anyway I don't recommend air pumps and besides its only when a pump moves both water and air as in the case of a Powerhead that you get worthwhile and measurable O2 increase. This is especially important for those that do allot of water changes as tap water is usually low in O2, a running power-head rather then an air-stone is far more effective.

If you must get an air-pump at least get one that will last and perform well for 1 tank or 20. Here for only $99
http://www.jehmco.com/html/diaphragm_air_pumps.html#DAPPH30
THE JEMCO 30
DAPPH30LS-500p.jpg
 
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