Use of air pump?

[millerman]

Do you think it is ok to really restrict the air flow on your air pump? Turning a valve down till the air strip just has a few bubbles come out? Does it put to much stress on the pump? I am thinking of taking my air strip out.

 

[Leopardess]

If you don't want it, you don't need it. Airpumps don't really do much anyway, they are more for aesthetics. It's not even the "bubbles" that add O2, per se. It's the surface movement they create. Just as long as you have a filter rated for your tank size, you don't need an airstone.

Can't really help with the pressure question...my guess is it'd be just fine.

 

[KyleBradley]

I'm new to aquariums, but what I've found is that the bubbles breaking ont he surface causes buildup of brownish white junk around the top of the tank top. I was making an adjustment to my filter, and I saw like a mist in the sunlight. It was the bubbles popping and kind of spraying. It dries quickly, so you don't see a wet top.