What is an air release for a Fish Tank?

This is a small block, usually of porous stone, which serves to break the air passed through it into small bubbles. The quality of the stone is judged by how small a bubble it can produce, while at the same time offering a minimum of resistance to the passage of air.

Reeds are frequently used as aerators. While not particularly efficient, they have the merit of being inexpensive. There are several chrome and stainless-steel aerators on the market today. They use a felt or nylon disc to break up the air. They have an adjustable screw which, by compressing or releasing the fibrous disc, allows smaller or larger bubbles to escape. There are also a number of so-called ornamental air releases on the market, such as divers, frogs, mermaids, etc. If they are efficient, if you like them and they are not made of toxic materials, by all means get one.

The purposes of aeration are many, for example, to circulate the water gently, thus providing even temperature, and to make filter operation more effective. The prime purpose of aeration, however, is to drive off the carbon dioxide and allow a greater absorption of oxygen.

A certain amount of oxygen is absorbed from the bubbles as they rise through the water. By far the most effective action takes place at the surface, however. It is the agitation on the surface that gives the best results. As a practical matter, any agitation of the surface will produce the desire results. A small paddle, an electric fan blowing over it, or a drip of water all will aerate the water. A filter also provides a good deal of aeration.

Best results are obtained from a fairly small bubble. A fine, misty bubble does not agitate the water enough. A burst of large bubbles may agitate it too much; also, efficiency is lost with the larger bubbles, since less surface area is being presented to the water for operated; only one valve is necessary. This must be a three-way valve; that is, one with three outlets of those connections. The threaded screw controls the opening of the center outlet. The two opposing valves are a by-pass, always remaining open. The square flat tab is usually slipped under the edge of the tank, in back, where the weight of the tank holds it in place. An air tube connects the pump to one of the by-pass outlets. Another piece of flexible plastic tubing connects the center outlet to the air-lift tube, and the aerator is connected to the remaining outlet.

The air, of course, takes the path of least resistance. With the valve opened, all the air will pass through the filter, as this offers less resistance to the passage of air. By slowly closing the valve, air will be held back and will seek an outlet through the aerator. Adjust the valve to assure an even flow of air through the aerator. Fishes do not like to live in a storm, so it is good practice to maintain only a gentle flow of air.

To connect a greater number of outlets on one or more tanks, use a three-way valve for each outlet required, a two-way valve at the end. The opposing arms are used to continue the line, with the filter or aerator always connected to the center outlet. Although it is convenient to slip the tab under the base of the tank, it is more practical to fasten the valves to a point above the tank. This eliminates the possibility of water siphoning back through the air line.

What is a pump, a filter, an aerator for a tropical Fish Tank?

A pump is a mechanical apparatus which forces water or air through tubing or other equipment. It provides the flow that makes the filter and aerator operate.

Filters (except under gravel filters) are units containing (or being made of) a porous filter material such as activated charcoal or filter floss. There are a number of different filter types available, but the principle is basically the same in all except under gravel filters. Water from the aquarium is passed through the filter material and thereby cleaned.

An aerator is a unit that exposes water to, or mixes it with, air. As far as home aquaria are concerned, an aerator diffuser is usually a porous stone which is placed in the aquarium with connections so that a pump forces air through it. It serves the purpose of breaking the stream of air into small bubbles, thus increasing its effectiveness.

A water pump draws water from an aquarium through one tube and discharges it through another, the water circulating through the pump. Water pumps are usually employed only in larger indoor installations or in outdoor pools. They may be used to empty aquaria or to transfer water from one aquarium to another. They are also used when it is desirable to have the filter located some distance away from the water to be filtered. Another use, seldom encountered indoors, is to spray water for a fountain, or to raise water for a waterfall.

The filter material is the same as that in any other filter, charcoal, and/or sand, and/or glass wool. The filter is designed to be closed tightly when in use, provision being made to remove the filter material for replacement o cleaning. Circulation takes place through two nozzles. The water is sucked through a tube from the tank directly into the filter material. A perforated compartment receives the water after it has filtered through the matrix. A nozzle leading from this compartment directs the water through the pump and back into the aquarium.

This type of water pump usually provides faster and more efficient filtration than do the more conventional types of air-operated filtering systems. However, it does not agitate the water so efficiently as a good air stone; it is also quite cumbersome and usually more expensive to purchase than the ordinary setup.