While it might be possible to wedge an airline into an aquarium without an air stone it is usually not recommended. By breaking up the air, an air stone allows for more gas exchange to occur which helps increase the effectiveness of the air pump.Īir stones also help weigh down the air line so it doesn’t just float up to the surface of the water. An air stone is usually made up of a porous material with lots of small holes for the air to escape from. What do Air Stones do for Aquariums? 3.7 inch Airstone (Click to Buy at )Īir stones help increase the amount of surface area of air that comes into contact with the water. These lights can then shine up through the air bubbles, which creates a very dramatic effect especially at night when the main canopy lights are turned off. These decorations use the force of the air to power small motors that can run low power LED lights. There are even more modern decorations like underwater lights that are driven by aquarium air pumps.

Decorations like the old pirate treasure chest that opens up when there is enough air under its lid are one decoration that most people are familiar with. Some fish tank decorations rely on air to power their actions. This effect then carries over to the room the tank is placed in by creating a mesmerizing display of shimmering lights for everyone to enjoy.ĭecorations Volcano Bubble Decoration (Click to Buy at ) A bubble wall or column of bubbles can add a dramatic effect to the inside of an aquarium. One reason people add an air pump to their fish tank is to add a little visual appeal to their environment. Even adult fish that have a hard time swimming are better off living in a tank with an air pump driven filter. One such case is in breeder tanks where small fry could be sucked up into an impeller filter. These types of filters are very useful in situations where more powerful water impeller driven filters can not be used.

Water is either pulled through the gravel or the sponge media by the force of the rising air bubbles. These filters rely on the Venturi effect to circulate the water throughout the aquarium. Some filters like undergravel filters or sponge filters rely solely on an air pump to provide their pumping power. While providing oxygen to the fish might be one of the most important things an air pump is used for it’s not the only reason why people use air pumps with their fish tanks. The most utilitarian reason an air pump is used is to either oxygenate the water or to aid in filtration. Is an Air Pump Necessary for an Aquarium?.What Size Air Pump for a 200 Gallon Aquarium?.What Size Air Pump for a 100 Gallon Fish Tank?.What Size Air Pump for a 75 Gallon Tank?.What Size Air Pump for a 55 Gallon Aquarium?.What Size Air Pump for a 30 Gallon Tank?.What Size Air Pump for a 10 Gallon Tank?.What Size Air Pump for a 5 Gallon Tank?.What Size Air Pump for a 3 Gallon Fish Tank?.What Size Air Pump for a 2.5 Gallon Tank?.If you do choose to run an air pump on a planted tank, choose one with a lower output in order to minimize surface agitation. When you run an air pump it forces the CO2 out of the water, which can be detrimental for plant growth.

The reason for this is because planted tanks need to have a high CO2 level. Planted tanks on the other hand will need less aeration, and in some cases you might want to forgo and air pump altogether. Because of this you will need an air pump that has a higher output to get the same dissolved oxygen levels. Saltwater has about 20% less oxygen solubility than fresh water at most temperatures. If you plan on keeping a saltwater aquarium you will also have to consider getting a larger air pump. Conversely low water temperatures will increase the amount of oxygen that the water can hold. Water with a high temperature can reduce the amount of oxygen that can be dissolved in the water. There are also other factors that play a role in how large of an air pump you will need for your aquarium. To find out the right size air pump for your fish tank try out the aquarium air pump size calculator located at the top of this article. For example, if you have a 55 gallon fish tank you will need an air pump that has an air output of 1.8 liters/min to properly oxygenate the water. A simple rule of thumb for selecting the right size air pump for a fish tank is that the air pump should have an output of at least 0.033 liters of air per minute per gallon of water.

Air pump for 10 gallon fish tank