Air Pump for planted tank

[skyymanz]

Hi all,

Do you guys put air pump for planted tank with shrimps and small fishes?

For filter, do you guys put charcoal kind of media?

[stressed]

Most response if you do get will be "no", we do not utilize air pumps for planted tanks.

[furyprix]

for low tech tanks, its a possible suggestion. But usually we avoid it because it doesn't compliment the look of a planted tank. It's a distraction.
for mid-high tech (those with CO2 injection), no. Because it the air pump will deplete the amount of CO2 we inject into the water, it'll be a waste of the dollars invested into a CO2 system.
for a tank with just shrimps, yes. Because shrimps prefer a high O2 environment to thrive.

[Urban Aquaria]

Do you guys put air pump for planted tank with shrimps and small fishes?

For planted tanks, it'll depend on the setup...

If its a low-tech planted setup with no Co2 injection, then yes it can be beneficial. The bubbles will help with increasing surface agitation to improve oxygenation of the water.

If its a high-tech planted setup with Co2 injection, then no its usually not recommended. Mainly to avoid too much surface agitation which drives off the injected Co2 (which would be counter-productive), oxygenation will come from increased plant photosynthesis instead.

Though you can run the air pump when Co2 injection and lights are off (set it on a timer), so that it helps in added oxygenation during the non-photosynthesis period.

For filter, do you guys put charcoal kind of media?

Active carbon can be used in filters, and are typically used at tank startup to absorb chemicals in the water or medications after certain treatments. Some people use it to soak up impurities and tannins in the water too, but active carbon generally has limited capacity and need to be replaced periodically (usually every 2-3 weeks).

Most people who have planted tanks usually don't use active carbon (unless its for specific reasons) as it absorbs everything indiscriminately, which also includes fertilizers and that may sometimes affect the nutrient content in the tank.

[skyymanz]

Thank you for all the reply.

I am planning to start a low tech tank. Think I will include the air pump but using low power pump.

For the carbon, I got this from
http://www.seachem.com/Products/prod...rixCarbon.html

Is it usefully for planted tank?

[Urban Aquaria]

Thank you for all the reply.

I am planning to start a low tech tank. Think I will include the air pump but using low power pump.

For the carbon, I got this from
http://www.seachem.com/Products/prod...rixCarbon.html

Is it usefully for planted tank?

You could try that... though as indicated on the product description, it also absorbs trace minerals so that may remove certain nutrients that your plants need. If you spot deficiencies, then you'll just have to dose more nutrients to counter-act the effect.