Llama

Right, I'm currently considering purchasing an air pump, mostly because I like the idea of having bubbles in the tank - aestatic purposes mostly.

Now the main question is: Given I have a bit of plants, including Elodea (which apparently produces a ton of oxygen), will buying an air pump (I'm planning to buy the smallest there is, I just want the bubbles) effect the CO2 in the water in any way? I know bubbles provide a larger surface area for gasseous exchange, but will it reduce the CO2 to the point where I have to worry about it? I'm not artificially adding to the CO2 by the way.

The second question is : Anything I should look out for? a pump not coming with enough tubing or something? The pump will be placed inside a cabinet... so might need a lot of it.

Question 3: Any indication for where I shouldn't place it? Was planning on putting an airstone behind the 'crack' of the rock (pics in my profile) so that it'll form bubbles

Other comments? Is it worth it?

ThisGuy

Hello i think i have the answers that your looking for if your tank isn't heavily planted i wouldn't worry about it at all. A air pump can be a nice addition, if you do have or plan on adding a co2 injector, then i wouldn't have a air stone running in the tank, an air stone will pump air mix of co2 and oxygen into the tank. The purpose of CO2 injectors is to bring up the CO2 levels in the tank so an air stone will be working against you. CO2 isn't a necessity it just helps the growing process and unless your going with some high end lighting i don't think it would have any affect at all.

I have air stones and live plants in some of my tanks they all do fine. The stones and the tubing are really cheap pumps are not all that expensive either i personally don't have a make that i only use its whatever is cheap and will do the job I'm looking for.

cheers

Ryan

Llama

Hmm, was just looking at the shape of my tank and wondering about logistics.

The wall socket is a short distance away (ran out of socket places where the rest are), and there's quite a bit of distance that the tubing will have to pass through to get in the tank (if i put it in the cabinet)

How much tubing usually comes with those things? And is it possible to buy more?

I'm assuming its a standalone device which you place on a surface and tubes trail out... or is it attached to the aquarium or something?

ThisGuy

Hi i don't know what currency you use the ones that i buy are $2 for 12 feet of tubing the air pumps i have bought didn't come with any tubing but im sure some do. You can buy a gang valve or an air control valve for $3-$5 for splitting it to multiple locations or tanks. It is perfectly fine to run the tube up the back of the tank and in. You can buy little connector pieces if you want to run it more than 12 feet but then i think the pressure would be lower. The pump should come with a standard 6 foot electrical cord.

Llama

Hmm, allright sounds good. Final question: Are they meant to be attached to the tank? (are there any models that do?) or are they standalone devices you place on a surface?

I think I'll go see what my LFS has tomorrow.

ThisGuy

sorry didn't explain it the best, they sit on a counter or cabinet you can usually hide them behind the tank and the just run the airline tubes up into the tank. Some of them can get a little noisy if they are not on a flat level surface but most have rubber legs to keep the vibrations to a minimum.

Llama

Allright, sounds like a plan. Thanks for the advice