Do I need an air pump for my 45 gal?

[Joseph Thomas]

I finsihed cylcing my 45 gal tank last week and added my first fish to
it on Sunday. The (flourite) substrate surface is 66% planted with
cabomba and grass.

I only have a little surface agitation, caused by a Fluval 302 filter-
but would prefer to have none; I'd rather keep the filter output a
couple of inches below the surface.

Can anyone offer advice about an air pump? Do I need it at all? If
not, is it sufficient just to have surface agitation caused by the
filter? I'd really like to do without the noise and bubbles if
possible. I'm not happy with the advice I was given so far, which is
to wait and see if the fish appear to be 'gasping' for oxygen to get
my answer.

Thanks,
Joe

[Bob]

the problem is that without surface agitation there is much less exchange of
gasses. I think an air pump or a powerhead with the venturi valve would
work okay.

I wouldn't risk it unless you don't care about the fish...one day it will
happen and you could loose most of the fish...say if the temp rises at night
or something.


"Joseph Thomas" > wrote in message
om...
> I finsihed cylcing my 45 gal tank last week and added my first fish to
> it on Sunday. The (flourite) substrate surface is 66% planted with
> cabomba and grass.
>
> I only have a little surface agitation, caused by a Fluval 302 filter-
> but would prefer to have none; I'd rather keep the filter output a
> couple of inches below the surface.
>
> Can anyone offer advice about an air pump? Do I need it at all? If
> not, is it sufficient just to have surface agitation caused by the
> filter? I'd really like to do without the noise and bubbles if
> possible. I'm not happy with the advice I was given so far, which is
> to wait and see if the fish appear to be 'gasping' for oxygen to get
> my answer.
>
> Thanks,
> Joe

[SG]

In article >, Joseph Thomas wrote:
>
>I only have a little surface agitation, caused by a Fluval 302 filter-
>but would prefer to have none;

You require some surface agitation for gas exchange. You can't get
away from that. The air bubbles from an air stone do not provide gas
exchange. It is the surface agitation caused by the air bubbles that
provides the gas echange.

The fluval will provide sufficient surface movement provided the
output is aimed up a little.


--
sg

[Toni]

"Joseph Thomas" > wrote in message >
> Can anyone offer advice about an air pump? Do I need it at all? If
> not, is it sufficient just to have surface agitation caused by the
> filter? I'd really like to do without the noise and bubbles if
> possible. I'm not happy with the advice I was given so far, which is
> to wait and see if the fish appear to be 'gasping' for oxygen to get
> my answer.


I have a 90g planted aquarium that has only an Eheim cannister filter. I had
terrible heat build up until I realized that in trying to minimize surface
agitation I had very nearly choked out *all* the water circulation. I
redirected the spraybar up at a bit of an angle- not enough to break the
surface but enough to cause a slight rippling effect.
The fish are loving the new water circulation, plants are doing better as
well, and the temperature went down 3ºF.

--
Toni
http://www.cearbhaill.com/aquarium.htm

[~Vicki ~]

Try one of the bubble curtain air stones. They don't make any noise in
your tank, look nice at the back of the tank, fish love to play in them
and help to keep the water moving in your tank.

Good luck,
Vicki