AQUARIUM AERATION
Aeration of the water in the aquarium is one of the most important factors for the well-being of fish and plants. It is not just the direct supply of oxygen to the water, but above all the mixing of the water with it, which increases the surface area that is in contact with the air. By means of aeration, the water is oxygenated and also accelerates the removal of harmful gases from the water. It is especially important to provide aeration in aquariums with a large number of fish and a small number of plants that produce oxygen. It should be noted that in large aquariums with powerful filtration, where there is a constant flow of water, often aeration is not required.
Types of aquarium compressors
Diaphragm pump - buzzer
This is the cheapest to maintain and easiest to use type of pump, making it the most popular in aquaristics. However, its disadvantage is its rather noisy operation. To some extent, you can get rid of the noise by suspending such a compressor in the air on a wire or by placing it in a desk drawer, taking care to keep it well cooled.
The diaphragm pump consists of a cylinder with a rubber diaphragm and a valve. After switching on such a compressor under the influence of a magnetic field, a lever with a permanent magnet at its end starts to vibrate, thereby compressing the diaphragm, which in turn forces air from the cylinder into the valve, and from it into a flexible tube attached to it, at the end of which an air atomizer is attached.
Piston pump
This is a much more expensive type of pump than the diaphragm pump. It is much quieter than its predecessor. It is mainly used by more experienced aquarists. It consists of a flywheel, pistons and cylinders. When plugged in, the wheel is set in motion by turning the pistons, which actuate the cylinder diaphragm, creating air pressure in the tube going into the aquarium.
Installing the compressor
When installing the compressor, it must be protected from water back pressure and flooding. This can be accomplished in two ways: by installing the pump above the water level or by attaching a safety check valve on the air supply line.
It is very important that the air blown from the compressor at the outlet of the hose was broken into small bubbles. To do this, use a variety of atomizers, which are widely available on the market aquarium equipment. Atomizers are made in various sizes, shapes and colors. In case you need to hide the atomizer in the aquarium as much as possible, then disguise it can be covered with gravel or hidden behind bushes of plants. A very beautiful effect can be achieved by using long aerators, which form an air curtain that not only looks beautiful, but also aerates the water well.
