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Post by donward on Jan 4, 2009 11:18:30 GMT -5
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Post by eve on Jan 4, 2009 11:54:40 GMT -5
yes you can
i have a bubblewand in my 55, and have my airpump just below it in the tank stand
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Post by Carl on Jan 4, 2009 12:15:24 GMT -5
As with Eve, I generally have kept all my air pumps below the water level. I would however recommend a double "loop" in your air line tubing to prevent back of water into your pump in the event of a power failure. Or you can purchase an inexpensive air line check valve: Carl
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Post by goldenpuon on Jan 4, 2009 16:53:46 GMT -5
Sorry to get off topic but this brings a question to mind. A person at a petstore recently told me to keep air pumps above the tank level. He said that if you turn it off and the air pump is below water level, water can go through the airline tubing and drain your tank. I have never had this happen and I keep all my air pumps below tank level. It seems highly unlikely but I wonder, is it a possiblity?
On another note, basically all my pumps are below tank level and I have never had a problem, my 4 year old air pump is still running fine. I think it was probably misinformation.
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Post by Carl on Jan 4, 2009 17:25:54 GMT -5
Sorry to get off topic but this brings a question to mind. A person at a petstore recently told me to keep air pumps above the tank level. He said that if you turn it off and the air pump is below water level, water can go through the airline tubing and drain your tank. I have never had this happen and I keep all my air pumps below tank level. It seems highly unlikely but I wonder, is it a possiblity? On another note, basically all my pumps are below tank level and I have never had a problem, my 4 year old air pump is still running fine. I think it was probably misinformation. Actually this is correct and in fact most air pump warranties are void if air pumps are kept below water level. However in the real world most aquarists keep their air pumps below the water level (I know that in the literally 1000s of aquariums I have set up over the years, 90% had the pump below the tank) I will also note that I HAVE seen water back into an air pump on several occasions, which is why I recommend the simple loop in tubing or a check valve. The check valve is more "sure", but both methods work and although water back ups are rare, this are such simple steps to perform (especially the looped tubing), I recommend them to all aquarists. Carl
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Post by brenda on Jan 4, 2009 20:04:09 GMT -5
I keep mine below too, all mine have what Carl had mentioned...a check valve.
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Post by bikeguy33 on Jan 4, 2009 21:44:37 GMT -5
as long as its a decent quality pump or not under powered, it is perfectly fine....all mine are below surface level....
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Post by cashay on Jan 5, 2009 13:43:12 GMT -5
I got an air pump for a bubbler stone, and it had a stone that looked like the one in the picture ^ but it wasn't working, or no bubbles were coming up... is there a certain way to plug it in? I thought one end went to the pump and the other to the tubing...... ?? I must have done something wrong, I would like to use it so if anyone has a suggestion,...... I just used a regular stone instead of that one, because it wasn't working, But would someone by chance maybe had that same experience and could help me out ?? the one i'm talking about though seemed like it was plastic , and not a normal looking stone bubbler....
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Post by Carl on Jan 5, 2009 17:11:09 GMT -5
I got an air pump for a bubbler stone, and it had a stone that looked like the one in the picture ^ but it wasn't working, or no bubbles were coming up... is there a certain way to plug it in? I thought one end went to the pump and the other to the tubing...... ?? I must have done something wrong, I would like to use it so if anyone has a suggestion,...... I just used a regular stone instead of that one, because it wasn't working, But would someone by chance maybe had that same experience and could help me out ?? the one i'm talking about though seemed like it was plastic , and not a normal looking stone bubbler.... If I am understanding the question correctly, the above picture is of a check valve which goes "in line" of the air line tubing between the air pump and air stone and this can be clogged or defective as well. You can check your air pump by plugging it in and placing your finger over the outlet, you should feel at least some resistance to your finger. You can "blow" through your tubing/air stone to see if there is much resistance as well. If blowing is difficult, the air stone, tubing, or check valve is clogged. I hope this helps; Carl
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Post by murdock6701 on Jan 5, 2009 17:45:34 GMT -5
was the stone bad from the start or did it get less effective over time? was it a check valve stone or just an uncased regular air stone?
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Post by goldenpuon on Jan 5, 2009 18:18:34 GMT -5
Are you also using an air valve? With those you have to adjust the air flow and can take quite some time it adjusted properly, especially if it's one pump hooked up to mutliple tanks. Also, check for any holes or problems with your airline tubing. Air can escape if this happens.
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Post by 8 in the Corner on Jan 6, 2009 23:07:56 GMT -5
8
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Post by cashay on Jan 7, 2009 8:45:32 GMT -5
Are you also using an air valve? With those you have to adjust the air flow and can take quite some time it adjusted properly, especially if it's one pump hooked up to mutliple tanks. Also, check for any holes or problems with your airline tubing. Air can escape if this happens. It's not the air tubing, because it works fine with the other stone(regular stone) was it a check valve stone or just an uncased regular air stone? I will take a picture of it when I get home this evening and see if I can post it here, and maybe someone can tell me if it is just incased or a check valve stone, but it looks like the one above except blue plastic, and tI thought it said so the water wouldn't go back to pump if we lost power or something like that...
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Post by Carl on Jan 7, 2009 9:58:33 GMT -5
John/8 just made an excellent point, if you have a check valve on backwards you will not get air through your air tubing to the air stone (BTW, I have done this, it is an easy mistake to do)
I would suggest blowing through each part individually until you find the probem.
Carl
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Post by cashay on Jan 7, 2009 18:53:47 GMT -5
I blew in it like you suggested, and one side let air go through and one didnt, IS THIS A VALVE OR JUST A BUBBLER?
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Post by Carl on Jan 7, 2009 20:07:39 GMT -5
This is the valve, not the bubbler. Make sure the flow direction is correct as John/8 noted.
Carl
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Post by cashay on Jan 8, 2009 15:01:13 GMT -5
Got it, thanks, I do have another question though Carl, about the sponge filter, How do you actually clean them? other then rinsing, for some reason it isn't throwing bubbles out of it like it did when I first got it, i tried changing the air tubing to another air pump, and still didn't change anything... Can't figure out why it isn't working like it did. barly has bubbles coming from it at all, and it doesnt seem like there is anything to it, move the sponge and it just looks like a base around the sponge.. How does that thing work any how???
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Post by eve on Jan 8, 2009 18:10:39 GMT -5
check if your impeller is clogged up that's usually the cause for less flow
most of the junk can be found in there
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Post by Carl on Jan 8, 2009 19:38:32 GMT -5
There is not much to the care of a sponge filter other than rinsing the sponge.
If you are using an air pump, sometimes hard water deposits can "clog" the area where the bubbles rise. Using a paper clip to rod this out generally clears this.
Your air pump may also be weak , if it is difficult for you to blow through, the problem is in the line somewhere such as a the before mentioned hard water deposit.
If you are using a power head, cleaning the impeller as Eve already suggested will generally clear the problem.
Carl
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Post by cashay on Jan 9, 2009 7:07:26 GMT -5
ok I will check the impeller, But I did check the hose(tube) and even hooked it to another air pump that is working good in my other little tank, but it was still kind slow, it has to be clogged some where But thanks i will find it!
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