Air Pump Needed?

[Gavo]

I read on another forum that you don't need to use an air pump/stone when you have a planted tank.

Is this true? i took my air stone out ages ago and there is just the spray bar just above water level to aerate, but i don't like the tiny bubbles you can see in the water.
I would prefer removing the spray bar and using the return to get more water movement in tank.

 

[KittyKat]

It depends on the tank, but most normally or understocked tanks with good surface movement (which are not using air-driven filters) do not *need* air pumps.

Have you considered lowering the spray bar to be *at* the water level, pointing across the water? That should remove the bubble problem, but keep the surface movement. Removing the spray bar is likely to give you less surface movement.

 

[Twinklecaz]

No you don't need a pump/stone. They do very little to add oxygen. You can have one if you like but really it's for your benefit (if you like the look) more than the fish, they don't care.

As for the spray bar again that's up to you. As long as the surface of the water is agitated (and you don't have too MUCH flow for whatever species of fish you have) then it's just down to what you feel happiest with.

 

[Gavo]

Thanks, i will move the spray bar a few mm under the water level and point it across the water

 

[HayzH]

my spray bar is quite far under the water and tilting upwards..it ripples the water...do i need to higher it up???

 

[KittyKat]

my spray bar is quite far under the water and tilting upwards..it ripples the water...do i need to higher it up???

If you have enough surface movement, no; if you don't, yes.