Pros and Cons of an Air pump and Air stone

Hey everyone,
What are the pros and cons of having them because I just got one from a friend.

 

The pro is that it makes your tank look pretty!

On a serious note, an air pump isn't a necessity for an aquarium if you have enough surface agitation from your filter. I have air pumps running through 4-inch airstones buried under the gravel and a gang valve on my 20 and 29, but it's really more for looks (and a toy for the fish to swim through) than anything practical. However, if your filter is a low flow rate model/non-adjustable, an air pump will add a little extra aeration via surface agitation.

 

Definitely a toy for the fish, my kuhlis and swordtails are often seen riding the bubbles

 

Air pump is essential. Air stone is not. just a decoration for your tank.

 

No, no, it isn't a necessary piece of equipment. Oxygen exchange occurs at the surface of the water naturally. Stagnant water will have very low levels of dissolved oxygen, which is why a good filter with a good GPH rating will cycle all of the water in the column and cause surface agitation, replenishing the oxygen. At 78 degrees F and 1.000 SG, there should be about 8 mg/L (PPM) of dissolved oxygen, which sounds very small, but that's all a fish needs to breathe. Anything below 3 PPM will stress the fish, and that's when you'll see gulping at the surface.

 

Agreed...an air pump is only necessary if you use sponge filters or other similar equipment to filter the tank. Otherwise, you only need them if you want to use bubble wands/stones or cute little diving swimmer ornaments

 

All my tanks have air pumps and stones in them. Some even have more than one. I have them as a back up for when or if a filter quits, the fish still have surface agitation and oxygen until I figure out the problem or notice that the filter is not working, with 13 tanks in four different rooms it happens. I find with more nervous fish that air driven ornaments can cause them to freak out as the ornaments open or close. So air stones it is.

 

I was going to get some type of air ornament for my son's tank (I think it was a treasure chest that opened and closed or maybe it was an animal of some sort that opened and closed its mouth). However, considering he has small fish (guppies and dwarf rasboras), snails, and had shrimp, I figured some of the tank inhabitants would be 'eaten' by the ornaments. So I talked him into a bubble wand instead

 

Agreed...an air pump is only necessary if you use sponge filters or other similar equipment to filter the tank. Otherwise, you only need them if you want to use bubble wands/stones or cute little diving swimmer ornaments

What is a sponge filter?

 

Basically, they use air to make the water rise up the tube. As the water/air leaves the tube, 'new' water enters the tube (sponge first, then tube). When the new water enters, it brings 'gunk' in with it, which gets trapped in the sponge. A lot of people use them as extra filtration in their tanks and in shrimp or fry tanks. Eliminates shrimp and fry losses that can occur if a shrimp or fry accidentally gets 'sucked up' an HOB filter intake tube!

 

What do you use other than an air pump than? Thanks

 

Why do u have a red mark under your stars? I use a powerhead/filter called fluval 2 plus( I think its called) for water movement and air. My fish love to test their strength against the current and let it push them to the other side and repeat the process. My snails also parasnail against the current too. Its pretty fun to watch. When I turn it on the first thing the fish do is rush to the current. I turn it off at night to save electricity and to give them a break.

 

As indicated above, air pumps and stones can add a great look to the tank, but they can also serve functional purposes.

The primary reason many use a pump and airstone is the belief that they are required to oxygenate the water. In practice this is not true. What is required to oxygenate the water is surface agitation.

Here's some considerations about air pumps/airstones: (I posted this a few years)

- Temperature of water: as water temperature rises, it's ability to hold oxygen gets less. In normal tropical ranges of 23-28C (73-82), generally you will be fine. It's above 30C (86F) that you would definitely want an air pump.

- Shape of tank: the greater the water surface, the greater the area for gas exchange (the process of expelling CO2 out of the tank and oxygen entering). Eg if you had a 20G long, you have a much larger surface area than a 20G Tall. Both hold the same amount of water, but have different surface areas.

- Stocking levels: in a heavily/overstocked tank, your fish will use up all available oxygen, thus adding an air pump will aide in keeping oxygen in the water. (by increasing surface agitation, thus gas exchange)

- Plants and CO2: if you have a heavily planted tank, you may want an air pump. Whilst plants absorb CO2 during the day (lights on), they produce CO2 at night. If you have CO2 injection, then you may also want to consider adding an airpump at 'night'.

- Aesthetics: let's face it, a lot of people love the effect of bubbles in the water. Personally I prefer a still tank.

- Surface Agitation: if you have significant surface agitation (from a filter for example), then you will also get good gas exchange, and thus won't need the air pump.

What most people don't realise is that the bubbles themselves are not putting oxygen into the water. It is when they burst at the surface that the most gas exchange takes place. [Remembering that water is two parts hydrogen, 1 part oxygen]
Splashing is also not required for oxygen. The process of gas exchange is a result of surface agitation (keeping it moving), it does not need to be splashed around to exchange CO2 for oxygen, a rippling effect at the surface is just as effective as splashing.

Side note: CO2 is different, the water will absorb CO2 the longer the bubbles are in the water.

In a nutshell, airpumps and airstones are not required, but they can be of benefit. Hope that helps.

 

The other night I threw a sponge filter into one of my breeding tank and turned the air pump on. A couple hours later some of the plants had started pearling, I had never thought about how not only is the pump oxygenating the water but it must also pump co2 from the air into the water. After experiencing this I would say if your not using co2 an air pump is beneficial for a planted tank.

 

Interesting cichlidmac. In theory, air pumps will pump what ever is in the air around the pump into the tank, so yes, it stands to reason that some CO2 would be pumped in (and anything else in the air)

But..... the air-pump likely sparked the pearling by saturating the surrounding water with O2. By increasing surface agitation, you increased the rate of gas exchange, resulting in more O2. Typically, plants will start pearling when the surrounding water is saturated with oxygen. When the water cannot absorb any more O2, the O2 from the plants forms a bubble, thus giving you your pearling That said, pearling does not indicate a bad balance, it could indicate things are spot-on!

Tying back to the original topic - this is another example of how air pumps can be functional in your planted aquarium.

 

Whats pearling? I never heard this term.

 

Very nice, and short, read from my favorite veterinarians:

 

I run an air pump at night as I have a fluval co2 system as well as 2 DIY CO2 generators in my planted tank
The fluval co2 can be turned off but the DIY co2 cannot so I run the air pump at night just as a precaution against too much co2 saturating the water...doubt it would happen, but don't wanna take any chances especially with my farlowella catfish who does not like low levels of oxygen

 

Whats pearling? I never heard this term.

Its when plants are growing so well you can see the oxygen they produce. You will see bubbles on the undersides of leaves. They will come off the leaves eventually going up to the surface.

Here is a video of my hc pearling...

 

I've recently noticed pearling on the plants in my son's guppy tank. Probably because I fixed the filter so it actually works right now! ;D

 

Isn't the air we breathe mostly co2? Never really thought about this in relation to air pumps. I want to know if I'm getting air saturation or enough co2 to cause the plants to pearl.

This does relate to the pros and cons of air pumps. If this counts as a hijack, my apologies.

 

Isn't the air we breathe mostly co2? Never really thought about this in relation to air pumps. I want to know if I'm getting air saturation or enough co2 to cause the plants to pearl.

This does relate to the pros and cons of air pumps. If this counts as a hijack, my apologies.

Hm I think the air we breathe is mostly N2 and O2. CO2 is relatively small in comparison.

 

Isn't the air we breathe mostly co2? Never really thought about this in relation to air pumps. I want to know if I'm getting air saturation or enough co2 to cause the plants to pearl.

This does relate to the pros and cons of air pumps. If this counts as a hijack, my apologies.

I'm with Mint, unless you're breathing on the air pump, thus pushing the CO2 we exhale into the tank, I don't think an airpump would be useful for providing CO2 to the plants. Esp in a med to heavily planted tank, I'd think that'd only be helpful in a less planted or low light tank maybe? *shrug*

I could be very wrong kinda 2 years removed from Bio class ;D

 

Hm I think the air we breathe is mostly N2 and O2. CO2 is relatively small in comparison.

Oh ok, makes sense... I'm 13 years removed from biology

 

How do you set up air pump without a airstone?

 

Just a quick note of THANKS to everyone contributing here on Fishlore and on this thread. Just today I was contemplating a while re-scaping a couple tanks and was convinced an air stone was necessary, especially in my Goldy tank. I have added a new airs ton for the Goldies, as right they are not in the most ideal tank for them.

While I know an air stone is not an appropriate trade-off for the correct tank, does it help water parameters at all; aside from 02, does an air stone affect anything else? Will an air stone "help" my Goldies until I can get them a bigger tank?

I appreciate all this advice and very helpful info everyone!

 

Just a quick note of THANKS to everyone contributing here on Fishlore and on this thread. Just today I was contemplating a while re-scaping a couple tanks and was convinced an air stone was necessary, especially in my Goldy tank. I have added a new airs ton for the Goldies, as right they are not in the most ideal tank for them.

While I know an air stone is not an appropriate trade-off for the correct tank, does it help water parameters at all; aside from 02, does an air stone affect anything else? Will an air stone "help" my Goldies until I can get them a bigger tank?

I appreciate all this advice and very helpful info everyone!

I don't think they really add anything else. I never use air stones, if I'm going to run airline then I'm going to go ahead and use a sponge filter. now a sponge filter will deff add some filtration. but it also adds one more thing to clean.

 

How do you set up air pump without a airstone?

Have you seen the little crocodile air things, treasure chests and the like.
You can also run one on a sponge filter.
Airstones (and diffusers) help keep a constant bubble curtain

While I know an air stone is not an appropriate trade-off for the correct tank, does it help water parameters at all; aside from 02, does an air stone affect anything else? Will an air stone "help" my Goldies until I can get them a bigger tank?

IMO - it will only help in the sense of keeping the surface agitated, and thus more O2 in the water.

 

actually one thing air stones would help with is surface scum. I thought of one!

 

I have an airstone but I don't use any of those scuba diver or treasure chest ornaments.