Aquarium Pumps

[Mr-H]

My son has just got himself an aquarium. Before he puts fish in (approx 4 days) he has the pump running to make sure the water is oxygenated etc. He has done everything necessary ready to accept the fish. However, I thought the pump would have been a submersible type, blowing air bubbles up through the water. His pump is clipped to the side of the tank above the water level.The pump itself has a small tube which sucks water in, then blow is out along the surface of the water. As a consequence I find it very noisy and not at all soothing! Can anyone help with regard to the correct position of the pump please?

[Ratty2E]

Is the air coming out through a tube? If so you could put an air stone on it to give gentle smaller bubbles under the water, that should be quieter. Have to say I would have thought the pump would be submersible too.

[woofgang]

That sounds correct for that kind of pump. It aerates by constantly disturbing the surface of the water. Has he got some dirty gravel or filter starter to get the bacteria growing before he puts the fish in?

[wildwood]

Airpumps to oxygenate the water can't be underwater... where would the air come from? It sounds like a filter to me too. The bubbles go up through a tube, sucking up the water to a small reservoir where it is returned to the tank through a filtering media (sponge, ceramics etc.).

A new tank really should be properly 'cycled' where over a period of a month or so where a good deal of beneficial bacteria is build up to break down the fish's waste. This process can be aided by introducing gravel/sand from an older aquarium to introduce the right micro-organisms.