Goldfish are fish from cooler waters like rivers, lakes and streams. As is obvious, all these are shallow waters as compared to deep sea. Goldfish take in oxygen dissolved in water through their mouth. It passes to the filaments in its gills and then oxygen is absorbed by the body.
The water is then thrown out from the gill slits found on either side of its head. This is the breathing pattern of fish in the wild, where there is abundance of oxygen in the open environment. However, tank fish need additional support for supply of oxygen
What Do Air Pumps Do?
Air pumps do not produce oxygen. They are used to force the atmospheric air in the aquarium water by mechanical means. By forcing air, the pump creates bubbles in the water that produce a motion in the water and facilitates distribution of oxygen needed by aquatic creatures for breathing.
In order to maintain concentration of oxygen in water, there needs to be sufficient water movement with surface agitation. The air pump circulates the water in bubble form and ensures that there is no settled carbon dioxide or other harmful elements concentrated on the bed of the tank.
Surface agitation ascertains that the exchange of gases is faster and efficient. Carbon dioxide is given out of water and oxygen is taken in. The constant movement on the surface is beneficial for this exchange to take place in a quicker manner.
What’s The Difference between an Aquarium Filter and an Air Pump?
easy exchange of gases by creating surface agitation and the constant movement of water helps in maintaining the oxygen level in the tank water. Besides this, the air pump assists in the filtration process by pushing the water up the hose of the filter, guiding it for filtration.
On the other hand, a filter is used for drawing the water from the tank through a hose and passing it through various filters to remove the impurities created due to fish waste or algae and purify the water. This treated water is then sent back to the tank through another hose.
An aquarium filtration is of three types – biological, mechanical and chemical. Of these, the biological filtration is a must for all tanks since it decomposes the toxic ammonia that is the outcome of fish waste. Mechanical filtration helps to trap unconsumed food, plant leaves and other particles, before they decompose into toxic ammonia. Chemical filtration like zeolite and activated carbon get rid of all dissolved toxic waste like ammonia, heavy metals and other organics.
Are Air Pumps Necessary For goldfish Tanks?
If there is a power filter or canister filter installed in the tank, there is no need for an air pump, since these two filters have the same capability of agitating the surface for oxygen concentration. All that the air pump does is create bubbles in the water to ensure constant movement and maximum incorporation of atmospheric oxygen in water for the fish to breathe.
Goldfish require a good amount of oxygen for their healthy growth and thus, an addition of an air pump, even though not crucial, may certainly boost the oxygen concentration process.
However, the time when you do need a pump in the tank is if the tank is tall and narrow, leaving barely any scope for adequate surface exposure for enough oxygen intakes. Wider tanks have better surface area that is open to atmosphere and thus with little surface agitation by any means (pump or filter), sufficient oxygen gets assimilated in water.
The second instance when you need an air pump is when there are more fish in the tank and very little movement of water. Under such circumstances, without the air pump, there will not be sufficient oxygenation to support all the tank mates.
When Should You Use an Air Pump?
As mentioned above, the two reasons cited for installation of an air pump explain its necessity in the tank. However, there are other reasons too that force the requirement of an air pump.
As we have learnt, the air pump boosts the process of oxygen concentration in water by surface agitation. Goldfish as well as other breeds require sufficient dissolved oxygen for breathing and survival. Hence, to facilitate proper supply of oxygen, a pump may be needed under following circumstances:
- Tall, deep tank with narrow surface: This point is repeated to emphasize the need for a wider tank for the goldfish. Long and wide tanks ascertain greater surface area of water, ensuring a good deal of oxygen absorption from the atmosphere. Nonetheless, tall tanks with narrow surface not only restrict the exposure of the surface to collect oxygen, but also harm the tank mates if they do not get good supply of oxygen. Without an air pump, the air from the atmosphere does not get easily circulated in water and restricts the oxygenation process. Without surface agitation, the oxygen cannot get properly dissolved in water.
- Still water in the tank: If there is no movement of water that implies that the atmospheric oxygen is not being dissolved and absorbed in water for the fish to breathe. If you have only installed a filter and yet there is no water movement, it is essential to check the capacity of the filter or add in an air pump to the tank.
- The water temperature is high: Stagnant water tends to get heated from the energy given out by tank lights. It should be noted that hot or warm waters are not suitable for goldfish, as they are fish living in cooler waters of rivers, lakes or streams. Thus, if you notice that the lights are raising the temperature of the water, then the only solution is to circulate the water in tank for maintenance of uniform temperature. This can be achieved only by installing an air pump that creates bubbles and incorporates air to cool the surface and water.
- Dullness in the fish and low activity or fish gasping for breath: This is a sign that the fish are not getting enough oxygen and the water lacks the adequate level of the gas. Air pump creates surface agitation that facilitates maximum oxygen assimilation in water.
Do Goldfish Like Air Pumps?
So long as they get sufficient supply of oxygen for healthy living, the goldfish tank does not require an air pump. If the filter has the capacity of enough water movement for better incorporation of atmospheric oxygen, there is no need of the pump.
However, irrespective of the function of the filter, the addition of an air pump to the tank boosts the oxygenation process. Besides, the bubbles that are formed are quite interesting for the goldfish. Goldfish are either slow or fast swimmers. So long as the pump creates a controlled velocity stream, the slow swimmers do not have a problem passing through.
Nonetheless, if the stream is strong, then only the strong, active swimmers enjoy swimming back and forth through the current. See what type of goldfish you have in the tank – small or big and slow or active swimmers. If you have a combination of both, then create a bubble wall at the back or at the sides of the tank and give them the freedom to choose their path to play in or avoid the bubbles.
Benefits of Using an Air Pump
An air pump is not an absolute necessity in many cases, especially if the tank is wide and has enough open surfaces for oxygenation process.
However, it is definitely advisable to add an air pump to the tank for various reasons.
- Effective gas exchange and surface agitation: Goldfish require plenty of oxygen for a healthy living. Fish breathe in oxygen dissolved in water. This is possible if there is good movement of water at the surface, as a result of which the carbon dioxide given out by the tank plants is thrown out and oxygen taken in. Unless there is constant movement in the water, the air does not get circulated properly. The air bubbles created by the air pump ascertain that there is surface agitation and uniform circulation of used and fresh air. Plants do not use the carbon dioxide at night for photosynthesis, as it is a day process. Hence, the CO2 exhaled by the fish gets accumulated in the tank, causing illness and death of tank mates. The air pump facilitates release of the CO2 to the surface at night.
- Increased level of oxygen: A greater amount of surface agitation means better rate of exchange of gases. Thus, more oxygen is absorbed by the water and circulated for the benefit of the fish and plants as well as useful bacteria in tank. An air pump with air stone ensures more bubbles and that in turn implies higher level of oxygenation. The golden rule is “more the oxygen, healthier the aquarium life”.
- Good decorative addition: As the air pump creates a wall of bubbles in the tank, it just looks awesome when the fish swim back and forth in that frothy current. Usually, every aquarium has some decorative ornaments and artificial or live plants besides the different breeds of fish. The tank lighting adds a different appeal to the tank and the bubble wall becomes a bonus attraction.
- Essential for sponge filters: Sponge filters are cheap and effective way of keeping the tank clean. They also assist in development of useful bacteria. These filters do not have a motor of their own that can help to push the water from the tank through the filters. Hence, they have to depend on the bubbly circulation of water by the air pump that offers upward thrust to guide the water through the sponge filter.
- Ideal for spare, quarantine tank: All aquarists should bear in mind that it is always better to have a spare tank. This can be used for dual purpose – to isolate an ailing fish and to separate a pair for breeding. In case of quarantine process, the temperature of water needs to be increased for better healing. However, warmer the water less is the absorption of oxygen. All living creatures need adequate supply of oxygen while recuperating. Therefore, the air pump not only circulates the air within the tank, but considerably brings down the surface temperature for better incorporation of oxygen.
How do I know if My Goldfish Have Enough Oxygen?
Fish like any other living creatures need oxygen for their survival. Few species have the ability to take in oxygen from the atmosphere. But by and large, fish breathe in oxygen dissolved in water. They take the water through their mouth and pass it through the gills, which is the oxygen filtration place in the body. After the blood vessels in gills have absorbed the oxygen from the water, the same water is then released back in the tank through the gill slits.
When you keep the fish in a tall and narrow tank or cram up too many of them in a small tank, the supply of oxygen becomes inadequate. Even if the tank is large, if there is no circulation of water or proper surface agitation, the amount of oxygen dissolved is less. If the fish find insufficient supply of oxygen for their well-being, they show up certain signs that the owner should heed and take prompt action.
- Reduced activity and motion: Fish are very active aquatic creatures that love to swim around in tank when they are happy and healthy. This is possible only when they get good amount of oxygen to breathe. However, with decreased level of oxygen in the tank and inadequate distribution of the same amongst the tank mates, there is a possibility that the fish are suffering and thus losing interest in their routine. When you see the goldfish lying quietly at the bottom on tank bed without active movements, it implies that its oxygen requirement is unfulfilled.
- Excessive gill movement: As we know, fish use gills for breathing. If there is adequate oxygen in the tank water, the fish undergoes rhythmic breathing in a relaxed manner. However, when the oxygen level drops, they struggle for proper breath. There is rapid movement of the gills as they try to gain access to more oxygen.
- Reaching the surface at short intervals: Fish gasp for breath if they do not get enough oxygen in the water. There is a desperate attempt to reach the surface to take in any oxygen that is available there.
- Loss of appetite: Fish without proper supply of oxygen will generally be lethargic and dull and will not show interest in eating after feeding.gold
If you come across any of the above indications, then it implies that your goldfish does not have good supply of oxygen.
On the other hand, well-oxygenated water ensures that the fish have enough to breathe in and they are happy and healthy. A happy fish will eat properly, swim around animatedly, have healthy color and be active at all times.
Do Goldfish Need Oxygen?
Despite the fact that fish don’t have lungs, they frequently get oxygen through their gills. In any case, goldfish and other maze fish, are one of a kind in that they have a maze organ notwithstanding their gills.
In spite of the fact that they do depend a lot on their gills, they have another approach to get oxygen.
Subsequently, goldfish do require oxygen. Be that as it may, in contrast to other fish, they truly should have the option to remove oxygen from both the water and from the air.
Most occasions, most fish needn’t bother with access to the air, so a low top, or even one contacting the water, doesn’t have any kind of effect.
In like manner, other fish need profoundly oxygenated water so as to endure, yet the goldfish doesn’t.
SUMMARY
An aquarium adds liveliness to the room and happy fish swimming in the tank are an eyeful to watch. Nevertheless, it totally depends upon the care and precaution that the owner takes for the betterment of the tank mates.
Having an aquarium full of colorful fish and decorations is one thing and maintaining it properly to keep the fish healthy is another thing. However, it is necessary to understand the importance of keeping a healthy aquarium and take adequate steps to have everything in place.
An aquarium cannot be safe for fish without installation of an air pump and air filter. Both have their own functions; yet work in coordination to create a stress-free and healthy environment for the lovely pets.
All living creatures require oxygen for good health and fish are no exception. The air pump does not produce oxygen on its own, but helps in creating movement in water to enable maximum absorption of oxygen from atmosphere. Air pumps also create beautiful wall of air bubbles and the fish love to swim through that.
