Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => New Fishkeepers => Topic started by: pollydoodle on May 21, 2018, 08:19:39 PM

Title: Which air pump and stones
Post by: pollydoodle on May 21, 2018, 08:19:39 PM

I'm planning to set up my 175 litre tank this weekend and would like to add an air stone for the bubble effect - I believe it also has beneficial properties, so much to learn.  I understand I need an air pump for this and would like some recommendations for something priced middle of the road, bearing in mind I have already spent the rest of the years pension buying the tank  :) also, what sort of stone.  I don't want bubbles in a line.

Please excuse non technical terms as I'm a complete newbie who's now worried she's not up to the job
Thank you in advance.
I'm so glad I found this site.  so much information to be found

Title: Re: Which air pump and stones
Post by: Andy The Minion on May 21, 2018, 10:16:00 PM

@pollydoodle If the air is primarily for decorative purposes then 100 l/hr will be fine and pick any air stone that takes your fancy, they don't last for ever but are just a few pounds so I buy a few at a time. Noise is usually the biggest deciding factor as they can buzz/vibrate I have had a Rena air 100, a Tetra whisper 200 but the air tube snapped off that after a couple of years I also have a couple of Eheim 400 neither the Eihime not Rena have failed in 5 years of constant use. I prefer the Eheim as they can be suspended and this transmits less vibration into the surfaces.

Title: Re: Which air pump and stones
Post by: Matt on May 22, 2018, 07:14:05 AM

I always recommend the Interpet Nano Aquamini Aquarium Air Pump.  It's not going to provide much air, but it is literally almost silent (bubbles breaking on surface make more noise) and it is super cheap. In fact on the Amazon page for this product at the moment there is a very good offer for this pump plus a couple of hairstyles and quite check valve and tubing all for less than £20.  You may also like to consider a line splitter so you can have 2 or more small patches of bubbles rather than one large one.

Title: Re: Which air pump and stones
Post by: Hampalong on May 22, 2018, 02:07:06 PM

Just make sure you put an airstone on the end. From my experience these work a lot better than the hairstyles that Matt suggests. The natural oils from your hair will form a film on the surface, which isn't good.

 :rotfl:

If you need it for aeration you need a fairly dense column of bubbles from a small stone, which lifts water up to the surface with it. If it's just for decorative purposes the choice is yours...

Title: Re: Which air pump and stones
Post by: fcmf on May 22, 2018, 07:03:09 PM

Hairstyles - :rotfl: indeed.

Title: Re: Which air pump and stones
Post by: Matt on May 25, 2018, 10:22:05 PM

The joys of auto correct!!  :rotfl: