Aeration Question

[kyriele]

Well..woohoo...my inherited 29 gallon tank was dropped off today. I have to get a heater and thermometer and substrate for it now.

Now here's my newbie question for you all: With the tank came 4 different air pumps. Two of them are Elite799, one is AQT3001 and one just has a picture of a yellow striped fish on it..haha. From putting in the names of the other two, I've determined that the elites are for 10 gallon tanks (20) and the 3001 is for a 20 gallon tank (20) and the one with the cartoon fishy on it says 5 gallons right on the sticker. That would total enough aeration for a 45 gallon tank, right?

Or......should I just chuck them all and start anew? I figured I could hook the 2 Elites to 2 tubes and the fishy and the 3001 to 2 air rocks? I hate those alligator things that open and close their mouths.

Time for the experts to jump in :)

[NorthernBoy]

Well lets see. What "I" would do is this, since you do not know much about the pumps. Save them as reserves in case you need on asap if you new pump breaks. I would buy a new pump for like $25 dollars. You can get a marineland 2100(? i think) for around that price and that would be plenty big enough for your tank.

[Sasquatch]

Well, if they're working properly, no sense in chucking them out. The biggest problem you're going to face is finding enough place for them! I'd probable hook up the two elites to air stones and the 3001 to a curtain (long stone placed horizontaly).

Keep the small one for a hospital/quarantine tank. Trust me, they're worth their weight (full of water!) in gold.

[Severus]

Definitely keep them. I like NorthernBoys idea because you never know when something might fail and it is always nice to have a backup

[jeffs99dime]

yeah. if they are functioning properly save them. this way you will have a back-up. as stated by 100gw

[Lady Hobbs]

I agree. Get yourself a larger one and put the others away.

[Glasstapper]

I was faced with the same situation when I was given my tank. I bought a new one and kept the old one (still worked) as a backup. My new one has two air outlets, but one was enough just to attach my 12 inch air stone. It looks great and gives plenty of aeration for my big tank (combined with the filter "waterfall", of course)