Fish tank air pump vs filter

Is a filter the same as an air pump? An aquarium filter is different from an air pump although their roles sometimes overlap. A filter cleans water in the fish tank by drawing and passing it through various filter modes then putting the water back into the tank. An air pump just pumps air.

1. Does my fish tank need a filter and air pump?
2. Can fish live with just an air pump?
3. Are air pumps good for fish tanks?
4. Do I need an air pump if I have a hang on back filter?
5. Can I turn my fish tank air pump off at night?
6. How long should you run an air pump in a fish tank?
7. How can I oxygenate my water without a pump?
8. Can you put too much oxygen in a fish tank?
9. Do fish like air bubbles?
10. Do Bettas need air pumps?
11. Do tropical fish need air pump?
12. Do air pumps add oxygen to water?

Does my fish tank need a filter and air pump?

An air pump is NOT required for this purpose, as long as your tank maintains adequate water movement together with surface agitation. This is generally the case if external (e.g., box or cannister) filters are used. Second, air pumps can be used to force water through a filter (e.g., sponge or corner filter).

Can fish live with just an air pump?

Air pumps force oxygen into your tank by increasing surface agitation so your fish have lots of O2 to breathe in. In many cases, your aquarium inhabitants don't need the extra oxygen and live just fine without an air pump.

Are air pumps good for fish tanks?

An aquarium can be healthy without an air stone, but having an air pump can have great benefits for your tank. It can provide the extra gas exchange for more oxygen in your tank and it can also serve as decoration or a filter. Do not use an air pump when you are adding CO2 to your tank.

Do I need an air pump if I have a hang on back filter?

Not necessarily. Some types of filters – such as hang-on-back and canister filters – use an electric motor to move water and do not work with an air filter. ... Sponge filters use air pumps to provide bubbles that pull water through the sponge and strain out particles floating in the water.

Can I turn my fish tank air pump off at night?

Air Pump Integrated With The Filter

If your filter and air pump are connected and run using the same cables or power source, then you cannot turn the air pump off during the night. ... You just cannot turn off your aquarium filter for 8 hours per night, every single day.

How long should you run an air pump in a fish tank?

A recent study stated that aeration for 4 hours is sufficient to deal with the surface tension of the fish tank. The size of the tank affects it.

How can I oxygenate my water without a pump?

One of the easiest ways to aerate the water in your aquarium without a pump is to use a pitcher or cup. Simply fill a pitcher or cup with the aquarium water, lift it up nice and high, and pour the water back in. The water will pick up oxygen on the way down to the tank, thus inserting oxygen right into the water.

Can you put too much oxygen in a fish tank?

Too much oxygen in water can lead to the potentially lethal gas bubble disease, in which gas comes out of solution inside the fish, creating bubbles in its skin and around its eyes. (Excess nitrogen, however, is a far more common cause of this disease.)

Do fish like air bubbles?

A ridiculous amount of air pumps and/or venturi powerheads might be noisy enough to stress fish to death, change water pressure and even water chemistry. Some fish might not like too many bubbles, others will love them. It depends entirely on the species, fish are a varied group of animals.

Do Bettas need air pumps?

Air pumps aren't essential for betta tanks, and in general aren't essential for any tank. ... The labyrinth organ means that bettas don't have to breathe through gills. Instead, they can go to the surface of the water to breathe oxygen as well. However, there are times when an air pump can be beneficial.

Do tropical fish need air pump?

Airpumps are really important pieces of kit for any aquarium. They help to oxygenate the water, drive off noxious gases and are just as important to filter bacteria as they are to fish.

Do air pumps add oxygen to water?

With that being said, it's not only surface agitation that adds oxygen to your aquarium water. ... The use of an air pump with an air stone will create thousands of little oxygen bubbles that drive huge amounts of oxygen directly into your tank water.