Gills in fish are like lungs in humans. As water passes over the network of fine blood vessels contained within the extremely fine filaments of the gills, fish absorb the oxygen content in the water.
Unlike humans, fish can breathe in water. Why? Because water is the easiest way to deliver air to them.
So do goldfish, or fish in general, breathe air? Yes, but not directly into the lungs as mammals do. (Except for some tropical fish. They breathe oxygen not air.)
Some types of fish such as the goldfish are able to jump above the water line. Normally they do this to get air.
If fish are jumping it means they’re in a desperate situation.
Find the answer quickly
Why aeration is a necessity
Fish will suffocate without oxygen. All living creatures need fresh air to survive and that’s why your aquarium has to be connected to a reliable source of air.
Fish get their supply of oxygen by breathing the water that’s in the aquarium. They take up the oxygen via fine blood vessels (capillaries) in the gills and diffuse it through the membranes.
By connecting an air hose to a pump, a fresh supply of air is added to the water, oxygenating the water and ultimately keeping the fish tank healthy.
Fish tank bubbler set up
Air hose, air pump, air stones and bubblers are important accessories for your fish tank providing that much needed oxygen and circulation. They complement your fish tank filter system.
It’s just a matter of choosing which is right for you based on the size of your tank and number of fish.
Aquarium decorations can be added to your tank that move as the water pressure from the pump moves through them. Check out the information on each element on this page and find links to check prices and availability.
What's an air hose?
It’s plastic tubing and the purpose is to enable an air pump to be attached to an aeration device and/or to the filter. Air hoses should fit all joints snugly and no air should escape anywhere.
Note: If there’s leakage often it will cause the filter not to live up to its potential or even cause your air pump to burn out faster.
How do bubbles add oxygen to a fish tank?
The bubbles created by an air stone (or air pump) burst on the surface of the water creating movement. The surface water is agitated which promotes the exchange of gas between the water and atmosphere allowing oxygen to move into the water.
Oxygenated water is an absolute necessity if you want your goldfish to grow bigger and live longer.
Do airstones oxygenate water?
Yes, airstones do add all important movement and air to the water.
However the amount of air needed is determined by the number of fish in your tank and size. If there’s not enough air in a highly populated fish tank, the fish will be irritated. This is similar to how we feel when inside congested rooms. It’s very uncomfortable, wouldn’t you agree?
Air stones are available as small cylinders or as a bar (known also as a wall) and are sometimes called bubble stones.
Is an air pump for a fish tank necessary?
Yes, for a healthy fish tank and these are the reasons why it’s an essential.
- Control air flow
- Add oxygen
- Create movement in the water
- Save cleaning time
- Power airstones and aquarium decorations
Control over the air flow
There are some types of fish that can’t withstand vigorous bubbling. A good aquarium air pump setup can be used to reduce the impact of air bubbles. You can take control over the amount of air that’s supplied into the tank.
Oxygen
Setting up a fish tank bubbler ensures fish have a good flow of oxygen. If you notice your fish gasping for air or swimming near the surface, low oxygen in the water is the problem. You need to increase the water surface movement with an air pump.
When you see your pump releasing bubbles it’s a clear indication oxygen is being circulated in the water. When this happens you know fish are breathing easier leading to better growth and healthier goldfish.
Movement
One of the functions of an air pump is to keep water moving. It’s necessary to have activity in the water because still water attracts mosquitoes and other impurities.
Moving water helps your fish swim easily.
If you have a functioning air hose and air pump, the motion causes water movement, in turn creating oxygenation. As a result insects have no way to breed.
A lack of fresh air creates an environment for insects to prey on fish in your tank. Insects (when it comes to aquariums) can only breed in stagnant water. They’re kept away with a well oxygenated tank.
Save time on regular tank cleaning
An air pump in the fish tank keeps water cleaner. Goldfish produce more excreta than most other aquarium fish.
The water in the tank gets dirty very quickly. In real terms this means oxygen gets depleted from the tank faster. Without adequate filtration and oxgenation of water, you’ll need maintenance water changes more often.
Aquarium decorations
Add accessories such as air pipes, water tubes, air stones, bubblers and tank decorations. The elements you can add by using air pumps come in many forms and these are much more than aquarium decorations.
Although they’ve often designed to be cute or look decorative you can be sure they’re helping to maintain a healthy tank environment.
There’s also filters and small feeding devices. The one pictured here is a cute one that has marbles and treasure chest theme. The air water pump is inside the treasure chest and the door opens and closes at regular intervals all while purifying the water. Very cute for the kids to watch.
What size air pump should I get for a fish tank?
You don’t want a pump that’s so powerful your fish has to exhaust itself in the tank or it will cause injuries. Alternatively you don’t want water that barely moves. Buy a pump that has an adjustable flow rate.
The rule to keep in mind is the smaller the tank the dirtier it gets … and faster. Because goldfish expel a lot of excreta, nitrogen and other toxic elements are released into the tank.
Size is an important so choose an air pump to work with your filter system that’s the right size for your tank.
Depending on your tank setup and type of filter you’re using you might want additional oxygenation. If so install an air stone or decoration that creates bubbles.
‘Hang on the back filters’ and ‘canister filters’ do create some surface movement. Whereas ‘under gravel filters’ and ‘sponge filters’ need an air pump to function and produce surface agitatation.
Note of caution: Don’t add bubbles to a tank with Bettas or fry
An air pump that's quiet
If you’re looking for the quietest air pump for a fish tank we have a couple of options for you to consider.
The Tetra Whisper is a cheap air pump that’s well reviewed. There are 2 sizes, one for a fish tank between 20 -40 gallons, the other for a small tank up to 10 gallons.
With over 5,600 reviews on Amazon and an average 85% rating over 4-5 star from 5, it’s highly recommended by people who’ve taken the time to give feedback on their user experience.
Another option for a quiet air pump that incorporates an airstone and tubing is the Mylivell. It also has hundreds of reviews recorded and is rated highly on Amazon by buyers.
Final thoughts
Get rid of the bowl and buy your fish a tank with an adequate air pump or air stone (you might know it as adding air bubbles to the fish tank). That’s one of the best pieces of advice we can give and something practical you can do for your fish.
How would you like to live your life in a closet? It doesn’t sound very inviting to me. That’s exactly how goldfish feel living in a small bowl. It’s cramped. They can’t stretch and swim very far before they get to the other end of the bowl and they can’t get enough oxygen in their confined environment.
Aquariums are an important part of interior décor and create a welcoming, lively and colorful environment. Watching fish move and the bubbles dancing around is quite beautiful.
