How to Get Your Aquarium Plants to Bubble Oxygen

Adding plants to your aquarium will give it a more natural look and provide your fish with a place to hide when they are feeling stressed. You can also use plants to conceal the necessary--but not necessarily attractive--parts of your tank. Things like filter uptake tubes, air tubing and heaters can all be concealed by the judicious use of plants. If you want to make your tank more natural and healthier for your fish, adding air bubbles to your plants is an excellent way to accomplish both goals.

Things You'll Need

  • Aquarium pump
  • Air tubing
  • Air stones
  • Plants
  • Gravel
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Instructions

    • 1

      Choose a good air pump for your aquarium. When selecting an air pump, it is better to buy one that is made for an aquarium slightly larger than the one you own. So if your tank is a 20-gallon one, buying an air pump designed for a 30-gallon aquarium will give you the power you need and help the pump itself last longer.

    • 2

      Decide where you want to locate your air pump. If you have an aquarium stand, the pump can be placed on one of the shelves. If your aquarium is on an open stand, you can place the pump on a shelf that is attached to the tank.

    • 3

      Attach a length of plastic tubing to the air pump. Make sure the tubing is long enough to reach the bottom of the tank. Attach the other end of the air tubing to a new air stone.

    • 4

      Choose the plants you want in your aquarium. Choosing plants in natural colors like dark green and brown will provide a more natural look for your tank, while choosing fluorescent colors like blues, oranges and bright greens will provide a more vibrant look and feel.

    • 5

      Attach the plastic tubing with the air stone attached to the back side of the plant you want to use. You can tie the plastic tubing using a small piece of twine, or you can wrap the air stone around the plant so that it stays in place. Just be sure not to kink the tubing as you secure it to the plant.

    • 6

      Push the plant firmly into the gravel, making sure it is anchored securely. Many species of fish love to dig in the gravel, so it is important to push the plants down as far as possible.

    • 7

      Plug the air pump in and watch for the bubbles to come up from the air stone. Keep an eye on the level of bubbles and replace the air stone when those bubbles start to decrease in volume.