air or no air?

[AttackFish]

I got a bubblewand in my 55, and an airstone on my 35G.
Never had a tank without an air pump...

 

[pcfriedrich]

I've always thought you HAD to have an air pump. but this just got me thinking (because I really don't like the bubbles, and I don't think my fish do either); it should be fine to put an airstone in my HOB filter (Penguin 400), shouldn't it? It wouldn't affect bb, would it?

I like the idea of getting rid of the bubbles, but want to make sure my water has plenty of oxygen.

 

[CHOX]

I've got a bubble wall going on in my 50 gallon. My catfish sleeps on them sometimes. But I've been thinking of taking it out.

 

[Fish Eat Fish]

air pumps are pointless IMO. The only reason they should ever be purchased is either for you skimmer or your daughters fish tank

 

[Kilbane]

No air pump for me. Lots of surface agitation thorugh HOB's, spray bar, and under water pump.
Have battery operated air pumps in case of power outage though.

 

[Lupin]

air pumps are pointless IMO. The only reason they should ever be purchased is either for you skimmer or your daughters fish tank

So what about power outages and other emergency cases? Would you consider battery-operated ones pointless if they help you aerate your water in times your filters stop working thus resulting in stagnation? Look at the advantages instead of weighing it down with the disadvantages.

 

[headbanger_jib]

all my tanks have air pumps i kinda like those air bubbles

 

[Trippingpara]

I've always thought you HAD to have an air pump. but this just got me thinking (because I really don't like the bubbles, and I don't think my fish do either); it should be fine to put an airstone in my HOB filter (Penguin 400), shouldn't it? It wouldn't affect bb, would it?

I like the idea of getting rid of the bubbles, but want to make sure my water has plenty of oxygen.

Your fish will have plenty of oxygen as long as you have plenty of surface agitation. This can be created by HOBs, spray bars, powerheads, etc. You don't need air pumps and air stones for oxygen. In fact, air stones create very little oxygen for the fish (unless your air stone is creating so many bubbles that the surface is constantly being broken up by them).

 

[Fish Eat Fish]

So what about power outages and other emergency cases? Would you consider battery-operated ones pointless if they help you aerate your water in times your filters stop working thus resulting in stagnation? Look at the advantages instead of weighing it down with the disadvantages.

I am fairly sure he was not talking about emergency battery operated air pumps bud. How many people run battery operated pumps on their tanks 24/7???

in an emergency a battery operated pumps would be nice but the pumps this thread are referring to...would shut off too

 

[Morledzep]

I am fairly sure he was not talking about emergency battery operated air pumps bud. How many people run battery operated pumps on their tanks 24/7???

in an emergency a battery operated pumps would be nice but the pumps this thread are referring to...would shut off too

that is exactly why i keep the foam filters with air pumps in my tanks.. and they aren't battery powered 24/7, just when the power goes out.