I can't stand air pumps in my tanks. I think bubbles take away from the beauty of a tank. To me they just look tacky. Is there another option? I think it's kind of a dumb question, but if there is another way to aerate the water, I would love to know. Thanks all you knowledge givers!
Getting around bubbles in the tank
- Thread starter AirborneAquatic
- Start date
I agree, I don't use air pumps at all, they look stupid in my opinion and I don't think they're necessary. I use circulation pumps aimed upwards diagonally at the surface of the water to make a rippling effect across the water. I have a 75 gallon overstocked mbuna tank and I've never had any problems with lack of oxygen.
Actually I have the same opinion. Bubbles just make the tank look stranger.
Filters and powerheads are other good ways of aerating the tank. I think they look much nicer than air pumps and such.
Filters and powerheads are other good ways of aerating the tank. I think they look much nicer than air pumps and such.
I just always used Aquaclear powerheads. When you say you don't want pumps in the tank I am assuming that you mean powerheads. Maybe you can camouflaged them with decorations.
Yep, water movement on the surface is what you're looking for. The air bubbles from a pump don't do a whole lot of aerating on their own. It's the water movement as the bubble break the surface that oxygenates the tank.
Powerheads or circulation pumps (I like koralia brand, personally) aimed towards the surface work well. Hang-on-the-back power filters do a great job of aerating the water while filtering it, particularly if you're good about keeping the water level pretty close to where the water flows out of the filter so that the movement is maximized and not just a waterfall down into the water. Undergravel filters do okay as well, but then you have the bubble towers instead (and a whole heap of other issues if you use them in forward direction instead of reverse flow).
Powerheads or circulation pumps (I like koralia brand, personally) aimed towards the surface work well. Hang-on-the-back power filters do a great job of aerating the water while filtering it, particularly if you're good about keeping the water level pretty close to where the water flows out of the filter so that the movement is maximized and not just a waterfall down into the water. Undergravel filters do okay as well, but then you have the bubble towers instead (and a whole heap of other issues if you use them in forward direction instead of reverse flow).
Just need to make sure the surface of the water is being broken. I'm sure you are ok with most setups, lots of air is being introduced. HOB filters drop water like a waterfall, canister filter outputs can be aimed to break the surface and sumps and wet drys well think about it.
If you have a sump, a bubbler would be pointless. The water overflowing into the sump would be aerated more than enough