How long should my tropical fish tank aeration pump be on for per day?

Jul 3

I’ve got an 11 UK Gallon tank with 15 small fish, neons, cherry barbs and 1 clown loach in. Also about 6 plants in too.
How long should i leave the air pump on for? Should it be 24 hours or just as long as the light is on?
I’ve got a filter on 24 hours, just wondering if the air pump is ment to be on constantly too.
Had the tank 2 years and i normally leave air pump on for a few hours a day.

So long as you have adequate lighting then the plants should contribute some oxygen through photosynthesis, however the surface agitation produced by the filter outlet will provide around 90% of the fishes dissolved oxygen demands.

Unless it’s for aesthetic reasons then I wouldn’t really bother running the air pump.

To Whoo: While the Clown loach will definitely need a larger tank, a maximum size of 60cm/24" is exaggerated. These fish normally grow no larger than half this size.

Filed under: Tank Pump

10 Responses to “How long should my tropical fish tank aeration pump be on for per day?”

FishEpert, on July 3rd, 2009 at 7:46 pm Said:

Assuming you have a filter on this tank the bubbles aren’t necessary as long as you have good water surface movement.
References :
http://www.TheExoticFish.com
Pleccy, on July 3rd, 2009 at 8:29 pm Said:

So long as you have adequate lighting then the plants should contribute some oxygen through photosynthesis, however the surface agitation produced by the filter outlet will provide around 90% of the fishes dissolved oxygen demands.

Unless it’s for aesthetic reasons then I wouldn’t really bother running the air pump.

To Whoo: While the Clown loach will definitely need a larger tank, a maximum size of 60cm/24" is exaggerated. These fish normally grow no larger than half this size.
References :
*tasha*, on July 3rd, 2009 at 9:07 pm Said:

i would keep it one 24 hours a day on a low setting that way the fish will always have oxygen .. without oxygen they will swim up to the top and eventually die .. better to be safe then sorry
References :
experienced owner
whoo, on July 3rd, 2009 at 9:22 pm Said:

WHOA!~ Holy overcrowded!
You realize a clown loach can get to be 12-14" long? Neons are a schooling fish who like a lot of room, cherry barbs can be mean.

Hopefully you have a filter, and in that case you do not need an aeration pump as the water is aerated with the pump action. If you don’t have a filter, then start digging 15 little graves in your back yard, you will need them.
References :
Marcus, on July 3rd, 2009 at 9:32 pm Said:

Plants don’t photosynthesise in the dark and the cost of running it is next to nothing, so if you have it use it.

Can’t say you are overstocked, but a Clown Loach will outgrow 11 gallon in quite a short time. Adults need upside of 40 gallon and they should be kept in numbers three or above.
References :
Froggy, on July 3rd, 2009 at 9:43 pm Said:

Ultimately, what is the air pump attached to? Is it just an air stone or wand underneath the gravel? The goal of the air pump if not being employed by an under gravel filter is to provide surface agitation. The oxygen exchange only occurs when there is agitation on the surface. If you are using a form of an external filter that causes agitation as well, that will help with the oxygen exchange.

Plants do produce oxygen during daylight hours, though that oxygen is not absorbed in the water, it actually becomes bubbles and floats to the surface. So plants do not technically add oxygen to the water, there is a physics formula that shows all of that mathematically, but for the life of me I can’t find it.

Also, plants will use oxygen when it is dark, so if there is no agitation at night your fish might find themselves in a very thinning environment where they might well suffocate.

Just food for thought, I would quite honestly leave the air pump running all the time.
References :
http://www.fishaholics.org
http://www.duboisi.com
Rush, on July 3rd, 2009 at 10:16 pm Said:

All the time-it won`t go wrong for too much but can be fatal if none at all.I`d give it at least 8 hors a day though.
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Terry, on July 3rd, 2009 at 10:44 pm Said:

To be honest with you my friend,aslong as you have a good filter to keep filtering and churning the water over-you can put your pump on for as long or as little you like.As the main reason you have the pump going anyway is for show with the bubbles and air powered ornaments to.The bubble displays make your tank look nice.So its up to you.
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turbo_69_18, on July 3rd, 2009 at 11:22 pm Said:

i have mine on all the time !
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A, on July 4th, 2009 at 12:01 am Said:

I have 4 tropical fish, and I don’t turn the aeration pump off or the filter. Just the light gets flicked on and off when I wake up and when I go to bed. The sound of the bubbles and the pump helps me sleep.
References :
Experience from fish keeping

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