Is An Air Pump Necessary?

[Barlow]

Hi all.

I've got a smallish 60-litre planted tank. Currently I'm using an air pump (sorry, I don't know the make) and a bubble curtain. However it's recently become very noisy (not the vibration, but the pump itself).

I had thought that I should replace it and so have been reading on here about which are the quietest pumps (although there doesn't seem to be a common consensus!).

However quite a few posters have said that you don't actually need a pump and that enough oxygen is added to the tank by the surface agitation from the filter.

I'd be happy to abandon the pump as although the bubble curtain is pretty I'd prefer it to be silent.

I use a Fluval 2+ filter. Would the flow from it be enough, or do I really need a new pump?

Thanks again for all your help.
Jon

 

[bagu]

Hey man

if you make a thread about which air pump to buy people will recommend you a few good ones. Just incase you like the curtain

as for agitation; if you direct the outlet to the surface, how much of the surface is being agitated? In my tank a good 3/4 is always moving, i used to have only a little bit before hand. As your tank is 60L it shouldn't be a problem.

Bagu

 

[Barlow]

Hi Bagu.

I've moved the filter and I'd say about 3/4 of the surface is now moving.

I therefore removed the air pump last night and it's so much quieter!!! And the fish seem just as happy.

I'll keep an eye on it and if things change may have to get a new, quiet pump but for now everything seems great.

Cheers
Jon