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Thread: Plants in tank to replace air pump

  1. #1
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    Plants in tank to replace air pump

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    Hi all, I have a small community tank meant as a "table-top" tank, roughly 5~6 litres in capacity.

    I have a few fishes in it now, 1 betta, 4 neon tetras, 2 shrimps and 2 small corys.

    I am considering whether to get an air pump, but a few factors are holding me back, noise and space.

    I currently have only 1 plant in the tank, which is quite large in comparison to the tank, and a fluoroscent lamp.

    Im thinking can I just add more plants into the tank as a substitute for an air pump?

    If so, which kind of plants are recommended?
    E.g. produces the most oxygen during photosynthesis..

    Thanks!

  2. #2
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    Re: Plants in tank to replace air pump

    Can but must make sure your plant is growing. Also do not overload your bioload because plant also taking O2.
    -Robert
    Aquascaping is a marriage between Art and Farming
    My Blog: http://aquatic-art.blogspot.com/

  3. #3
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    Re: Plants in tank to replace air pump

    Answer plainly is No!

    If you want lots of plants and for the plants to do well, you need to have sufficient carbon dioxide and enough nutrients as well as lighting, then the plants will do well as in turn give off oxygen. But for this natural cycle to operate, the parameters will not be right in your small tank. You can just install a small hang-on filter as this will turn the water around, the oxygen will get dissolved in the water and the noise of a hang-on filter is like a waterfall - so it is not as noisy.

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    Re: Plants in tank to replace air pump

    Quote Originally Posted by cdckjn View Post
    But for this natural cycle to operate, the parameters will not be right in your small tank.
    And why it will not be right? or why can't it be right?
    -Robert
    Aquascaping is a marriage between Art and Farming
    My Blog: http://aquatic-art.blogspot.com/

  5. #5
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    Re: Plants in tank to replace air pump

    Quote Originally Posted by Shadow View Post
    And why it will not be right? or why can't it be right?
    I would like to be enlightened as well, I bought planta-soil to use as the substrate as well

  6. #6
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    Re: Plants in tank to replace air pump

    I disagree with the fact that parameters cannot be set right. If done properly no matter what size a tank they can.

    When plants photosynthesis, they need water, co2, light and nutrients to make food and grow. When they make food they give off oxygen as a by product. So for the plant to be used as a O2 provider, it needs to be able to grow.

    To grow, light, fertilizer and co2 need to be balanced. and in your tank it does not appear to be the case. Unless you plan to inject co2, you should first keep your lights at a lower wattage so that the co2 demand goes down. This way, co2 given of by the fish and co2 from the water surface will be enough. Also even with planta-soil, it will not provide all nutrients for the plant and over time it will run out.

    To give you better advice, could you provide your tank specs

    Regards
    jiajuen
    Cheers,
    JJ


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