Are Air Pumps Necessary? 85 Gallon Tank

[ashmo]

Hey guys,

A major noob question here but are air pumps required for a 85 odd gallon tropical tank? I'm currently running an eheim 2217 cannister filter and eheim internal filter (soon to replace it with a eheim 2012 filter). So I've got plenty of water cycling through the filters but I also have an air pump thats being a pain by somehow at random times popping the air line off which then leaks water into my cabinet until its realized. Until I can get it sorted I was hoping to not run it as im paranoid it'll come off at night and flood my cabinet and floor until I wake up.

Its happened twice one on each end today after I replaced the lines but im hoping maybe I didnt push them on hard enough. Ive since wrapped the ends in tape as a backup. So can I not run the air pump say tonight until I can watch it properly after work tomorrow?

Thanks guys and sorry for such a silly question.

cheers
Ash

 

[Ch4rlie]

Airstones running via air pumps are not a necessity in a tank that has adequate filtration and surface agitation.
 
More for decor than anything else IMO.
 
In your case, since you have 2 filters with good flow and presumably plenty of surface agitation for oxygen into tank water then an airstone is not going to do very much in your tank unless its something you like seeing in your tank as part of decor/looks.

 

[ashmo]

Excellent thanks for your reply

 

[SarahR]

Agree, air stones definitely not needed.  If you want to use them install a check valve- it's amazing how much water can siphon out of airline tubing in a short time.  Even if they don't pop off the pump a power outage can cause a back siphon and ruin your air pump.

 

[KirkyArcher]

Agreed with above especially the use of non return valves (I lost over 20 litres of water through an unchecked Co2 line) but is also nice to have an air pump on hand though, sometimes when/if medication is required extra Air is usually recommended by manufacturers (depending on type of medication used) & will be of service if ever you have a filter failure. Some fish do like to "play" in and amongst the bubbles and can be entertaining to watch. + they can be used to help gas off Co2 used in high tec planted aquariums at night when the Co2 isn't required.