when should i turn on the air pump?

bluemeate

bluemeate

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Sep 9, 2008
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yeah i have plants so i turn on the air pump once a day to break up that sticky film on top.
well I was thinking about these 3 things:
1. how during photo synthesis absorbs CO2 and releases O2 but when theres no light the plants start releasing CO2 back into the system
2. CO2 only reaches the same amount as in the atmosphere due to gas exchange
3. someone said the film layer prevents gas exchange
so yeah when I turn on the airpump, its gonna make lots of bubbles and break up that film on top and start causing lots of gas exchange and idk... do stuff

Is there some certain time of the day I should turn on my airpump as to maximize the amount of CO2 thats in my tank
 
My air pump remain on 4pm-9pm. I keep the co2 at night so that my plants can use it in the early morning since i dont have co2 pump
 
bluemeate said:
yeah i have plants so i turn on the air pump once a day to break up that sticky film on top.
well I was thinking about these 3 things:
1. how during photo synthesis absorbs CO2 and releases O2 but when theres no light the plants start releasing CO2 back into the system
2. CO2 only reaches the same amount as in the atmosphere due to gas exchange
3. someone said the film layer prevents gas exchange
so yeah when I turn on the airpump, its gonna make lots of bubbles and break up that film on top and start causing lots of gas exchange and idk... do stuff

Is there some certain time of the day I should turn on my airpump as to maximize the amount of CO2 thats in my tank
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I'd try to skim off the film on the top. It really shouldn't be there with any regularity.

Are you injecting co2? If not I think the co2 difference between airpump on or off is negligible, but if you really have to then just run it in the evening for a little while. Maybe consider dosing excel/glut ?
 
Do you really need to have water pump and co2 pump with a planted tank? Shouldn't the natural cycle be satisfactory?
 
I was always told if you use an airpump leave it on at night as the oxygen levels fall
dont no if its the case
 
wackorash84 said:
Do you really need to have water pump and co2 pump with a planted tank? Shouldn't the natural cycle be satisfactory?
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Yes you may be right,the co2 the fish produce might be enough,but if you want a dense planted tank full of plants then co2 will optimise the growth,
And fish need oxygen,air pump is required,and when the air pump is put on,there is movement of water in the tank in most cases,and co2 is just like the fizz bubbles in soda bottles when you shake it all co2 will go out. This happens in aquariums as well when there is movement of wates a lot of co2 is going to diffuse out of water. Thats why if you dont have co2 injector in your planted tank you better know how to control your air pump. Hope that helps.correct meh if am wrong..:s
 
Master3z said:
Yes you may be right,the co2 the fish produce might be enough,but if you want a dense planted tank full of plants then co2 will optimise the growth,
And fish need oxygen,air pump is required,and when the air pump is put on,there is movement of water in the tank in most cases,and co2 is just like the fizz bubbles in soda bottles when you shake it all co2 will go out. This happens in aquariums as well when there is movement of wates a lot of co2 is going to diffuse out of water. Thats why if you dont have co2 injector in your planted tank you better know how to control your air pump. Hope that helps.correct meh if am wrong..:s
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If that the case, one might as well not have any water pump for the o2. This will reduce the dissipation of co2 from the water.

I'm going to go a little scientific here. Plant uses co2 and releases o2. This is common when photosintesis.

However, when not using co2, the plants end up using o2. Also, not to forget, water consist of h2o. Therefore, as long as there's water, there should be sufficient o2 as fishes has the organ to run water through their gills to extract the o2.

Don't fishes only go to the surface to gasp if the water is unsatisfactory, like high ammonia, nitrite or nitrate as this burns their gills?

So I'm just confused. Lol.....
 
Again, the amount of Co2 present in the tank without injection isn't significant in this case. As long as there is water movement, HOB filter, canister, what have you, then there is gas exchange happening on the water surface. Running an air pump or not shouldn't make much of a difference for co2, if you want a noticeable difference then start injecting co2 or dosing glut or excel.

BTW I've run several tanks just fine with low light and no ferts or co2. I try to let the amount of light I am running determine how much ferts/co2 I end up doing.
 
jetajockey said:
Again, the amount of Co2 present in the tank without injection isn't significant in this case. As long as there is water movement, HOB filter, canister, what have you, then there is gas exchange happening on the water surface. Running an air pump or not shouldn't make much of a difference for co2, if you want a noticeable difference then start injecting co2 or dosing glut or excel.

BTW I've run several tanks just fine with low light and no ferts or co2. I try to let the amount of light I am running determine how much ferts/co2 I end up doing.
Click to expand...

Yup, I'd totally agree with light level controlling the plants growth. Light is one of that key ingredient.

Well, at least I'm now assured that I don't need o2 or co2 pumps for my lightly planted aquarium. Thanks.

BTW, didn't mean to hijack the original discussion point but hopefully this 'debate' has answered your question.
 
*i have no injected/diy co2 and my airstone is a long tube with lots of tiny holes in it that runs along the back wall of my tank

as for whether i should run it in the morning or at night I think ill just run it both since i like the way it looks and sounds :)
 
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