Air Bubbles

[Neptune350]

I am currently in the proccess of establishing my new 46 gallon tank (fishless of course). I have an air pump connected to an air stone that is causing a ton of tiny air bubbles to float all around the tank. These are more than just the bubbles that rise to the top. They are everywhere and bubbles are forming on the plants. Is the too much Oxygen? I am also running a Penguin 330. It has been suggested that I do not need the air stone or pump because the filter sufficiently stirs the water. Is this true? Help!!

 

[Dragonslair]

At this stage it is not necessary to have a bubbler going. All the bubbler does is it increases the surface area of the tank for diffusion purposes. As you have no fish in the tank, you do not need to increase the surface area. So you can turn off the air pump.(Warning-make sure you have a non-return valve fitted inline to the pump or else you may find yourself with a flood) Keep your filtration unit running, this will build up the friendly bacteria you will need to eventually need for a healthy tank.

 

[Teelie]

Also, those bubbles will go away in time on their own.Most newly established aquariums get it, whether they have aeration or not.