cholo

i just got a 55gal tank that was given to me and it came with air pump whats the purpose for it

Sonfish

It areates the water , it adds some movement to the water, if the water sets still it`ll go stagnant...

cholo

thanks does it matter what type .... the one i have is profile 1000

Sonfish

for a tank that size I would think you may want to get a HOB,you gonna want good circulation and good filtering cacpacity. make sure you cycle your tank too, take your time and read up on what kind of fish you want to get, I see on your stats you dont know about cycling so Id suggest reading up on that. It`ll save you time and money and make your fish experience much more pleasurable in the long run...

bruiser

Hey Cholo, I believe the Profile 1000 is meant for a 10g tank. A big reason most people run an air pump is for surface disturbance (which I don't imagine you would get much out of that pump..) What are you using for a filter? sometime that alone can be enough.

The more disturbance there is on the surface, means the more oxygen there is going into the water. (oxygen in the water is a good thing..)

One specific example is my 33g. I have an AC300 filter with really stirs things up, and I run an Optima aerator with multiple airstones of different shapes and sizes. The entire surface of my tank is constantly moving. and as a plus, all the air stones keep the majority of the excess food and fish waste moving so the filter grabs it before settling on the bottom.

Hope thats somewhat helpful..

cholo

thanks bruiser for the update i got the air pump with the 55gal. guess i use it in my 15gal to help out in that tank.

i just did not know what it was use for.

do you just set it on the bottom of the tank?

bruiser

NO! don't put it in the tank!!!

you buy airline, and air stones.. the stones come in many shapes and sizes.. they make suction cup holders to keep the stones in place, but I bury mine under the gravel..

The pump stays outside the tank. And you wanna keep the pump itself above the water in the tank.. or buy a check valve.. (If the hydro goes out or something and your pump is sitting on the floor beside the tank. or anywhere below the water level for that matter. The water can run backwards through the airline into the pump, and wreck it.)

If there's any other questions. Don't by shy.. Here to help!

cholo

thanks again i almost did opps iwas going to put in the tank

bruiser

Haha, well I'm glad you asked first..lol.. wouldn't have been too good.. one other thing i wanted to suggest to you..

When you buy the airline, it comes coiled up in a package.. Then when you unroll it, its bending all over the place.. You can put it in the tank, its not going to hurt anything, but doesn't look to good.. hang one end from a door frame, and fasten something kinda heavy to the other end and leave it overnight. then its nice and straight.. stays where you put it!

cholo

if i want to get a air pump for my 55gal what kind i should get ?

bruiser

Well I like my optima but that would be a little small for you tank. So personally would go with the Tetra Whisper 60. It has two outlets on the pump itself, and I you want more than 2 air stones, you can buy banks to add more.. its about 27.00 US I believe..

cholo

thanks again i will look into those when i am ready to set up my 55gal.

bruiser

no problem. happy to help anyway i can

thorpbrian

Just curious, what kind of filter do you have for the 55 gal or are you planning on using?

How are you going to cycle the tank?

cholo

dont know yet im researching to see whats the best one i can use,

i will be using tetra safe starter to get going