The purpose of an airpump...?

[Bridish05]

I have this "air pump" that consists of a little blue box and a long green tube that I assume goes into the tank....and then a little black knob...connector thing halfway down the tube...what is the purpose of the air pump...? and do I just stick the green tube into the tank and turn the pump on?

AHHHH i'm confused...

thanks! *twirlysmi

 

[SkwidsLair]

Well, that would depend. If you don't have a filter, you can attach a box filter to it, or sponge filter, and that's your power source.

If you already have a filter, airpumps are often used for 'bubblers' to bring water flow and oxygen into the tank.

 

[GeraldTheMouse]

Without the air pump, in other words, your fish would suffocate and die from the lack of oxygen.

 

[Bridish05]

ok, so I just put the tube in and turn it on...?

 

[GeraldTheMouse]

Yes, but if you want more bubbles, you need an airstone.

 

[Orion]

Without the air pump, in other words, your fish would suffocate and die from the lack of oxygen.

This is the exception rather than the rule. I don't have an air pump on most of my tanks and all my fish are fine.

The air pump itself doesn't add oxygen directly to the water, but rather it creates water flow in the tank, and this flow moves the surface of the water. When the surface of the water moves, gas exchange takes place. The water releases carbon dioxide, and takes in oxygen.

With todays power filters, most people almost never have to rely on an air pump to provide the fish with enough oxygen to live. It's mostly used for decoration.

 

[Bridish05]

Thanks...I just stuck it in and it's bubbling along!

 

[Bridish05]

I also have a filter...I actually don't know why I bought the filter....but I should have lots of o2 now...

 

[Orion]

Why wouldn't you have a filter?

The primary reason for a filter to remove solid waste from the water (mechanical filtration) and for most filters a place to cultivate the nitrogen cycle bacteria (biological filtration).

The fact that most also provide surface agitation is just a positive side effect.

 

[Bridish05]

oh whoops, I meant I dont know why i bought the *airpump not filter...sorry typing error on my part..

 

[SkwidsLair]

If all you did was 'stick the tube in', be careful when you shut the pump off. Without a check valve, you could get water shooting back through your tube to your air pump.

Without a check valve, be sure to keep your air pump above the surface of the water.

A check valve, in case you're not sure, is a one-way valve. It allows air to pass thru towards the tank, while stopping water from coming back through when the airflow stops.

 

[Bridish05]

there's a little black thing halfway between the tubing...with a knob on it that I beleive controls airflow...would that be a check valve?

 

[SkwidsLair]

there's a little black thing halfway between the tubing...with a knob on it that I beleive controls airflow...would that be a check valve?

No, that would be the airflow control.

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