Filters remove solid debris as well as bacteria and chemicals that can be harmful to fish. Although you can use air pumps to draw water through sponge filters, if you’re using your pump with an air stone or bubbler, you’ll still need a separate filter.Īir stones and bubblers oxygenate the water. Air pumps and filters are two separate items with different uses. Do I need an aquarium filter if I have an air pump?Ī. In fact, turning it off can stress fish as it changes their water conditions. Unlike aquarium lighting, it doesn’t need to be switched on and off in cycles, so you should keep it running 24/7. Fish tank air pumps should run constantly. How long should you run an air pump in a fish tank?Ī. That said, you may not need an air pump if you have a power filter that provides surface agitation adequate to oxygenate the water or if your aquarium is heavily planted. Adding extra oxygen to the water for fish to breathe through their gills improves their health and well-being. While they aren’t 100% necessary in all tanks, they’re beneficial in most cases. Aquarium air pump FAQ Are aquarium air pumps necessary?Ī. You can find decent pumps for small tanks for around $5-$15, while those for large tanks can cost as much as $50-$100. How much you can expect to spend on an aquarium air pump Some also have rubberized corners and other parts for the same reason. Many air pumps have rubber feet to absorb vibrations and dampen sound. Ideally, dual output pumps should let you adjust the flow of each output independently. Pumps with adjustable flow let you dial up or down how much air they produce, so you can cater to the needs of your tank’s inhabitants. You can also use one pump to oxygenate two tanks. This lets you place two bubblers or air stones at either end of a large tank to oxygenate the water more evenly. This means there are two air nozzles rather than one. Powerful pumps designed for large tanks usually have dual output. You can also find a handful that run exclusively on battery power, but these are best used in emergencies rather than full-time because their batteries run down quickly. Most pumps run on AC power, but a few have battery backup in case of a power outage.
What to look for in a quality aquarium air pump Power source Rather, it’s the type of noise it makes and whether it produces any annoying whining or buzzing sounds. Besides, it’s usually not the standard decibel measurement that makes a pump sound loud or quiet. Some pumps are explicitly advertised as quiet, but you can’t necessarily trust that. There’s no getting around it - all air pumps make some noise. However, you don’t need to understand flow rate to find the right pump because manufacturers list what size tank a pump is suitable for.
The flow rate of a pump tells you how much air flows from them within a set period of time and can be measured in gallons per minute or gallons per hour. What to know before you buy an aquarium air pump Tank sizeĪquarium air pumps aren’t one-size-fits-all - rather, you need to choose one of an appropriate size for your fish tank. The Eheim Air Pump 200 Aquarium Aerator is the top choice for midsized tanks of around 30 to 60 gallons. The main factor to consider when buying an air pump is whether it has the right flow rate for the size of your tank. Aquarium air pumps oxygenate water so it contains a decent concentration of O2, letting your fish thrive. Although they live underwater and have gills rather than lungs, fish still breathe oxygen.
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