Ｉhave purchased this item.Do I need to buy air pump to supply Oxygen for my fish?or this filter can?
1553259
I use an air stone & air pump for my tank so yes, I would suggest an air pump & at the very least an air stone. They love riding the bubbles.
22344
That's what I have done; because of my hood, I can't raise the lip of the filter very much above the level of the water. I would have liked to be able to; that way there would be some aeration. I do have a smaller model in my 5 gallon betta tank that I don't have supplemental air. Because of this, occasionally I notice a sheen on the surface of the water. If your fish can handle extra circulation, I say go ahead and do it. I've been using a Top Fin pump from a local business that is still going strong after a year
1553260
as long as you have the water return lip above the surface of the water you do not need additional air. As the water coming in breaks the surface tension and supplies enough oxygenation. But of course you can add it for "fun" to ride the bubbles as suggested by raifordgirl.
1219754
Yes, you need an air pump connected to an air tube connected to this air stone. The air tube should be cut to a length that you would need to place the diffuser wherever you want it in your aquarium. It is heavy enough to stay where you place it. I use one on each side of my aquarium together with the filter and pump.
938373
Make sure you have setup the tubing according to instructions. Unscrew the intake tube cap and manually fill the line until it is flowing back into aquarium, cap and start the pump. This will insure all the air is out of the system.
2245929
That depends on what you plan on using it for. If keeping shrimp or fry just an air pump and some tubing. If using in a larger tank with multiple fish you will need an additional filter ( HOB or Canister )
807368
Yes you do need an air pump for this product. It is not included with the under gravel filter
1329455
I think the pump is adequate depending on the application (fish, plants, etc.) I have about a 1500 gallon pond with about 20 koi with a separate filter pump. Once I added this air pump (ap-20), there was a definite improvement in water quality and the fish seemed to be much healthier and less frequency in cleaning the filters of the water pump.
1416053
Your supposed to used both. The more filtration the better. Also depends on how many fish you have.
15732
The fountain and filter move the water around, which helps aerate it. Usually if your water is lacking oxygen, it is due to too many fish or too much uneaten food in the water. The filter helps with removing contaminants which while decomposing will deplete the oxygen.
1304239
I just attended a seminar from the guys that do the show "Tanked" on Animal Planet. They recommend (if additional filtration is needed) an outside filter that sits adjacent to the tank. These supposedly provide much more thorough filtration than an in-tank system, and dramatically cut down on the biomass debris from food that can cause algae bloom and fish kills.
1743283
I would agree with Dennis. Depends on amount of fish and the filter being properly colonized with beneficial bacteria and the amount air volume available for the filter. Many factors to consider.
483453
You need a filter. The pump has slits for the water to enter it, but it is not a true filter.
2263717
the filter does not have a pump i have a pond master 1200 gallon per hour pump the fishmate filters and also has a UV light to kill the algae
245875
You need to replace the sponges IMMEDIATELY with a better filter medium. Look through the reviews and you will find what to use. Otherwise this is a great, quiet little filter for very small aquariums.
837635
An air pump's main function is to increase oxygen in the water and help create circulation in the tank, it is also used with sponge filters and certain other bio filters, to make them function. I can't tell you if it is necessary or not, depending on the filter you have but I can tell you, it only improves the environment created within the tank. It also depends on how big your tank is.
837634
the air pump doesn't directly oxygenate the water turbulence at the air water interface is what helps oxygen get into the water, if you have an outside box filter it will oxygenate the water just fine, the bubbler are mostly for looking pretty and they do stir up the water to help with oxygen in and other waste gases out. An air pump is not necessity but they don't hurt .
1945590
My experience says you should always use a bubbler in addition to your filter! I add a bubbler for extra breaking of the surface tension and gas release from the aquarium (which helps saturate more oxygen in the water). I've run these Aqueon filters without a bubbler, but the fish seem to be more lethargic with the filter alone. The bubbler is cheap insurance. I am currently running nine tanks ranging from 10 gallons to 180 gallons and have put a bubbler in all of them. On most of the tanks the bubbler is on a battery backup. If a power failure takes down your filter, a bubbler alone can keep a healthy tank alive for days. My experience says you should always use a bubbler in addition to your filter! I add a bubbler for extra breaking of the surface tension and gas release from the aquarium (which helps saturate more oxygen in the water). I've run these Aqueon filters without a bubbler, but the fish seem to be more lethargic with the filter alone. The bubbler is cheap insurance. I am currently running nine tanks ranging from 10 gallons to 180 gallons and have put a bubbler in all of them. On most of the tanks the bubbler is on a battery backup. If a power failure takes down your filter, a bubbler alone can... » Read More My experience says you should always use a bubbler in addition to your filter! I add a bubbler for extra breaking of the surface tension and gas release from the aquarium (which helps saturate more oxygen in the water). I've run these Aqueon filters without a bubbler, but the fish seem to be more lethargic with the filter alone. The bubbler is cheap insurance. I am currently running nine tanks ranging from 10 gallons to 180 gallons and have put a bubbler in all of them. On most of the tanks the bubbler is on a battery backup. If a power failure takes down your filter, a bubbler alone can keep a healthy tank alive for days. « Show Less
1302169
Well it all depends on how you set up your tank. The idea behind a air pump is to break the surface tension of the water. This is how oxygen gets in the water. The bubbles from the air pump actually don't add oxygen to the water till they pop on the surface. So to answer your question directly. You don't need a air pump if you put the circulation jut under the surface of the water and aim it so you can see the water surface rippling a bit. One other thing if your using a hang on the back filter and not a canister filter you don't even need the circulation pump. The whole idea is to just keep the surface water moving. Well it all depends on how you set up your tank. The idea behind a air pump is to break the surface tension of the water. This is how oxygen gets in the water. The bubbles from the air pump actually don't add oxygen to the water till they pop on the surface. So to answer your question directly. You don't need a air pump if you put the circulation jut under the surface of the water and aim it so you can see the water surface rippling a bit. One other thing if your using a hang on the back filter and not a canister filter you don't even need the circulation pump. The whole idea is to just... » Read More Well it all depends on how you set up your tank. The idea behind a air pump is to break the surface tension of the water. This is how oxygen gets in the water. The bubbles from the air pump actually don't add oxygen to the water till they pop on the surface. So to answer your question directly. You don't need a air pump if you put the circulation jut under the surface of the water and aim it so you can see the water surface rippling a bit. One other thing if your using a hang on the back filter and not a canister filter you don't even need the circulation pump. The whole idea is to just keep the surface water moving. « Show Less