Air Pump On 24 Hours?

[Jimbo1984]

Hey. I currently have my air pump on a timer set to the same on period as my lighting timer (11 hours). After watching the "How To Set Up An Aquarium" DVD I received with my new Tetra tank (I do know a fair bit about this, I was just curious) I saw how you should leave your air pump on constantly as at night, plants don't produce oxygen. Obviously because there's no light for them to photosynthesise. However, Juwel Aquarium state you don't even need an air pump for the Rio 125. But then, there's no surface agitation so the oxygen might get low at night! What do you reckon? The tank's almost fully stocked.

 

[madgap]

I'm not sure of the science either, but I leave mine on constantly now. I used to have it on only at night for the oxygen but now, I have it on to keep the floating plants away from the top inlet of the stupid Juwel filter. Trouble is, its to powerful, it moves the surface too much for my taste.
I wonder if it should be off anytime?

 

[rowdyburns21]

surface agitation doesn't have to mean bubbles, as long as there is surface movement i.e the water is not completely still then their will be O2 going into the tank, theres no reason to leave it on all the time 11 hours is plenty, plenty of people have non planted tanks but they dont need an airstone.

 

[backtotropical]

The powerhead in your Juwel filter should create enough surface agitation. Air stones are almost just for show. Powerheads are far more effctive in oxygenating the water.

 

[joecoral]

i would be inclined to leave an air pump on 24/7 as turning it off can sometime cause the water to start back-siphoning up the airline tubing if the pump is situated below the water level, which i believe is the reasoning behind having it on all the time. Obviously a non-return check valve will prevent the water going anywhere but i would leave it on all the time anyways