ethan44 Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 Hi there, I have just finished setting up my first tank The problem is that my air pump is quite noisy, would it be all right if I turned it off at night as it is fairly close to my bed. Currently I have 9 White Cloud Mountain Minnows in it if that helps. All in put welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sub.z Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 Hello there, i think it would be ok. Do u have a filter running aswell? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethan44 Posted March 25, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 Thanks for the reply. Yes I do have a filter running, I would be looking at running the pump for about 12 hours a day, just not when I'm sleeping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 If your air-pump is running your filter, then I'm afraid the answer is NO, don't turn off the pump. Invest in a quieter pump, and if you do, listen to it before you leave the shop, or else get some ear plugs. Sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummingBird Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 Try putting the pump in an ice cream box insulated with some filter wool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethan44 Posted March 25, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 Thanks Alan but the filter is not running off the pump, it is separate, I will try the insulated box. Thanks for the help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sub.z Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 I personally say that would be ok but im no expert. I do that myself as i can hear it from my bedroom (its in the lounge) lol. I also do a water change and clean the stones weekly and my tank seems to stay good. Hope that helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sub.z Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 If its just running oxygen then yes if a filter than no Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 What does the pump run then?? Also if it is hung in the air so it is not touching the floor or a wall, you can quieten the sounds. The floor and/or wall act as a resonance area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ryanjury Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 Be careful disconnecting air even overnight.. Sometimes the fish actually rely on it and you can wake up to fish gasping at the surface and/or dead.. Ive had it happen a few times when spray bars from externals were my only source of airation and they slipped into the tank overnight.. Didn't loose any fish but it was close.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sub.z Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 Oh really that sucks, i turn mine off every night and have never had a problem in my life. In saying that i have alot of oxygen flowing in the day and my filter does create ripples so i wonder if that helps?? and ive never seem mine gasping. Im not sure.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Afrikan Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 Yeah definately if the pump is running the form of filtration then definately a no no to turn it off, and yeah I myself have had the same thing happen a while back ryan on a grow out tank... I didn't have my spray bar running however, but I had the out take sitting so it hit the water surface, so it broke the surface, but it slipped off what I had it on and it went beneath and I came home to pretty unhappy chappies, naughty naughty, visually kicked my own butt for that one.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethan44 Posted March 25, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 Ok thanks everyone for your in put, the pump is just a standard separate air pump with a ball thingy on the end of it to make lots of bubbles The filter does not rely on the pump at all. The fish have been recently living without any air pumps in my smallish fish ball so at least for tonight I think they should be all right with without the air. Thanks again everyone Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharn Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 Leave the filter on 24/7 (if its too noisy get a new one). You can turn off your airstone at night but check the fish in the morning, if they are gasping you may need to adjust your filters outlet or leave the airpump on all the time. In one of my tanks i have a canister running and i put an airstone on during the day (dont need it but i still use it for a little extra kick) and i turn it off at night. None of the fish are hanging at the top in the morning so its safe to say in my case i have enough turnover/surface agitation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meesheelly Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 i have had my tank running for a year with no air pump with no problems. Just started using one now coz im dosing algae fix and my GBAs start gasping otherwise Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsarmina Posted March 25, 2007 Report Share Posted March 25, 2007 what type of filter do you have?? if it is a hang on back filter, you should be ok. if it is an in the water filter, then be careful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethan44 Posted March 26, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 Hi Tsarmina, Its just a basic Elite 15 Stingray one which I got in this starters pack that I bought, came with free tank!! So yes it is a hang on the back one. Last night my wcmms' seemed absolutely fine without the air pump, also have to turn it off for feeding as the food floats around the top too fast for them to eat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tsarmina Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 with a hang on back you will be fine turning the air off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HummingBird Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 Yeah the real purpose of the air pump is to increase surface agitation and thereby oxygen exchange, and the hang on back filter will do that plenty by itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpidersWeb Posted March 26, 2007 Report Share Posted March 26, 2007 Some confusion there. An Elite 15 is an 'internal filter' that sticks on to the glass. Hang on the back filters literally hang off the back of the aquarium, and are external. They actually pick the water up and dump it back in, thereby agitating the surface and oxygenating the water. An internal filter (like an Elite 15) will provide oxygen if it is creating movement on the surface of the water. If the water isn't moving at the surface, then no oxygen is being added. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ethan44 Posted March 27, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 27, 2007 Ok sorry my bad about they hang off / internal filter things. Any way the filter seems to create enough oxygen and the fish seem fine about not having the air pump on. Thanks all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
me love fishy Posted March 28, 2007 Report Share Posted March 28, 2007 yeah I was going to say that if your filter agitates the water it should be fine, all the best Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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