A molly is a livebearer fish with an average lifespan of 3 to 5 years, which means it doesn’t matter how many times they go into dry spells because their life span is so long. Like most other types of fish, however, it depends on the individual animal as some may last longer than others depending on genetics and environment. Do Molly fish need bubbles? This is a common question that most new aquarium owners ask. Do they or don’t they?
Yes and no. Some people believe that Molly fish should have bubbles, while others say they’re better off without them. People who think that Molly fish need bubbles believe it’s necessary for their health and well-being, while those against the idea say they’re better off without them. For this reason, many experts recommend bubbleless tanks for these types of pets.
But it’s important to consider whether your particular species needs this element or not. It’s also worth finding out what type of pet fish you have to do some research and find out if they require bubbles or not.
This ultimate guide will cover all the information needed for setting up a healthy home environment for your Molly Fish!
Do Molly Fish Need Bubbles?
The answer to this question entirely depends on the living condition and aesthetics you want for your molly fish. If you have a tank without a filter or an air pump, I suggest choosing a good bubbler for oxygenation.
Also, molly fish will find bubbles from the aquarium bubbler pleasing and playful. Again, we may not understand the science behind the preference of each fish, but we already know the science behind how bubbles can maintain the oxygen level in the tank.
Similarly, you need to know that molly fish don’t need bubbles until and unless they have other things to enjoy and live in a tank with enough oxygen. It all comes down to how you oxygenate your tank and what equipment you want to use. Bubbler is the cooler version of an air pump, so make sure you use what you want to keep after thorough research.
What Is A Bubbler?
A bubbler is a device that emits bubbles into the Molly fish tank. Bubblers have many advantages, but one disadvantage is that they might be too noisy for some people. In addition, a Molly fish needs about 20% oxygenated with air exchange every hour, which can only hap. Use an external filter or an internal wet/dry filter system on your aquarium.
A bubbler is an air pump that provides a constant stream of bubbles to the surface, which diffuses when the water comes into contact. Molly fish often live in tanks that include a bubble filter because this can help aerate Molly’s living space and keep Molly from getting sick or dying due to poor oxygen levels. The placement of your bubble should depend on whether you want Molly swimming through them or not and how much current you desire for your tank.
Bubblers placed at the top center allow Molly easy access while providing sufficient moisture and gas exchange below them. The most common material used to make Molly’s fish tank is acrylic, so you’ll want to make sure the bubbles can diffuse through it and not trap. This means that Molly needs a filter with an air tube attachment or one specifically for Molly’s fish tanks so that the fishes can swim freely without sticking in any aquarium equipment.
You will need to use a bubble tube with most external filters.
How Do You Use A Bubbler?
A bubbler is a device that emits bubbles, typically from the air pump. Molly fish can use this to their advantage since they naturally like to swim in water with currents and oxygen levels that increase with the movement of these bubbles. If you plan on using Molly fish as tank mates for your other aquarium inhabitants, then install a bubbler before Molly gets home.
Most owners keep Molly’s fish in a tank that includes a bubble filter because this can help aerate the tank and keep Molly’s living space clean. Molly requires fresh oxygen, so adding more than one type of aeration will ensure Molly gets enough oxygen to meet his needs.
The placement of your bubbler should depend on whether you want your Molly Fish swimming through them or not, as well as how much current you desire for your tank. Bubblers placed at the top center allow Molly easy access while providing sufficient moisture and gas exchange below them.
What Are The Types Of Bubble Filters?
Molly fish need a filter in the tank, but what about a bubbler? What kind of bubbler will they need in the tank? A bubbler is an air pump that provides a constant stream of bubbles to the surface, diffusing water. These bubbles are necessary for Molly fish to survive, and it’s not uncommon that most aquarium tank filters use bubblers.
Moreover, the types of bubbler used in Molly fishtank are:
Internal
This type of filter will be inside Molly’s tank. You do not need them to connect with power or water since they are inside the tank. These are best for tanks with a lid on them as fish are more likely to jump out of the open-top and swim out too far.
External
The external air pump needs access to both electricity and freshwater. So it is better to place the bubbler outside Molly’s tank instead of hiding them inside as an internal one does. So often, these filters often ide more current than others because Molly Fish prefers low currents with no bubbles. If you want your Molly Fish swimming through the bubbles, place it below his surface level but keep him from direct contact with any electrical parts.
How To Install A Bubbler In Molly’s Tank?
Molly Fish tanks need a filter with an air tube attachment or one specifically for Molly fish tanks as they have cuts in their design where Molly can pass through them without sticking. You may also use a sponge filter, but this will take up more space than other options.
Once you’ve picked your type of bubbler, then follow these steps:
- Next, use the air tube and suction cup to attach it to the Molly fish tank.
- Fill a container with water from Molly’s aquarium. You’ll need about an inch of water above your bubbler on top of this, so make sure you have enough space or use multiple containers for added height.
- Pour some salt into the water until it covers all surfaces not occupied by bubbles (this will improve Molly’s health).
- Connect one end of the tubing near Molly’s swims and put them both at opposite ends of their bowls. Wait 15 minutes before turning off both pumps, then switch back after 20 hours. It ensures adequate oxygenation in Molly’s tank.
- If Molly is sensitive to noise, you may want to buy a bubbler with an attached soundproofing pad or make one yourself with wrapping tape and cotton balls.
Molly Fish are intelligent animals and can learn a lot about their environment. However, Molly needs stimulus to keep his brain developing, so adding new things into the tank will help Mollies grow.
Do Molly Fish Need Bubbles?
Molly fish do not need bubbles. These fish are very hardy and adaptable to new environments, popular for beginner aquarists. They like to live in colonies of around 12-15 individuals or more, which means you can keep them in smaller aquariums because other Mollies densely pack their environment.
Molly fish might only require bubbles if you were trying to keep these guys as pets outside the water column (in an open tank). However, doing so will make it difficult for the Molly fish’s eyesight since they rely on sight when looking at movement patterns. Bubbles can also carry away food from your pet Molly Fish, reducing how much nutrition they have available every day while making it difficult for Molly fish to find food sources.
If you’re not using bubbles, Mollyfish will get all the oxygen they need from natural currents in the water column created by an aquarium filter or powerhead.
This is because Mollyfish comes equipped with a labyrinth organ that allows them to take oxygen directly from air-filled pockets within the tank (or other containers) rather than swimming up and down constantly trying to keep their gills wet, which can cause stress on their body.
In addition, Molly fish can also absorb dissolved CO² through their skin like plants do. This means Mollyfish don’t have any trouble getting enough oxygen even without bubblers.
What Are The Advantages Of Keeping Bubbler In Your Molly Fish Tank?
Bubbles are necessary for Molly fish to get oxygen. Without bubbles, Molly will become lethargic, and the Molly fins may fall off because of lack of dissolved gases in water.
So, some of the advantages of bubblers are:
Improves Oxygenation
Molly fish need high-quality oxygen to survive. Bubblers in your Molly Fishtank will promote the movement of water, which helps with gas exchange and promotes a healthier environment for your Molly fish. A bubbler also provides aeration by allowing tiny bubbles to break at the tank’s surface – this is important because Molly fish can breathe air from either their gills or mouth, so they need easy access to it.
Advantage Of Keeping Bubbles In The Tank
A sound quality filter system in your Molly Fish aquarium means that no harmful bacteria can develop under normal circumstances. But if you give back up with regular use, there will be little chance of unnecessary build-up.
Aesthetic Benefits
Molly fish are generally beautiful and peaceful creatures. But they can be quite the opposite when you don’t keep them well! Bubblers in your Molly Fishtank will provide an extra sense of calm without reducing their natural beauty. In addition, keeping Molly at home with children is a bonus because there isn’t any risk of sudden movement or noise disturbing them during bedtime.
Adds Current
Owners may find Molly Fish interesting to watch if kept in dry tanks. Still, bubblers can also add interest by creating current for Molly fish to swim against – providing more stimulation than just still water alone would do. This could allow owners with Mollies in different levels to give them the kind of stimulation and environment they are more familiar with within their natural habitat.
What Are The Types Of Bubbler For Your Molly Fish Tank?
There’s no need for Molly owners to worry about whether they can increase the level of oxygen or stimulate their Molly fish with bubbles – different types are available, and each has particular benefits.
Some of the types of bubbler you can use in Molly fishtank are:
Airpump Bubbler
The air pump bubbler is a common type of Molly Bubbles that’s easy to use. This is similar to the air pump you use for the molly fish tank. It sits at the top of the tank and has an inlet pipe (where you attach your airline) that then passes bubbles through the water at the surface, providing Molly fish with plenty of oxygenation and a current to swim.
Filter Sock Bubbler
This type may not be so obvious, but Molly owners should know about it – if they don’t have room for anything else, this can serve as their Molly bubble maker. Stones or gravel placed within the tank fill the filtered stock. When turned on, it creates bubbles by forcing water from one side to pass over these objects before going back into the tank.
Pond Bubbler
This Molly bubbling device oxygenates the water in a pond or large Molly fish tank. You should not place them inside of one another as this will affect its effectiveness and lead to disaster.
Bubble Wands
Similarly, bubble wands are commonly present around the edge of Molly tanks. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes. They can provide beneficial currents for Molly’s who like swimming against the flow but don’t produce bubbles on their own – you’ll need an air pump nearby or another way to create them before attaching these stones inside your Molly fish tank.
Substrate Bubblers
These are specifically for aquariums with Molly fish who like to bury themselves in the substrate. Rather than using an air pump, Molly bubblers use a current of water pumped through the tubing and into holes at the bottom of your tank. Molly will then be able to breathe from this source instead.
What Are The Cons Of using Bubblers?
Bubblers provide a form of aeration and oxygen. However, you can also consider their interference with the Molly fish’s natural habitat. Some of the disadvantages of bubblers in your Molly fish’s tank are:
Bubblers Make Noise
The bubbler system might produce a noise that Molly fish find distracting. This is because Molly fish are susceptible to changes in their environment, and they can quickly feel stressed out. However, Molly fish that lives with a bubbler for some time might be familiar with the noise, and it will not bother them as much.
Bubblers Are Larger Than Molly Fish Tanks
The size of the Molly tank is usually smaller than that of the bubbles, which means there won’t be enough room for Molly’s natural habitat and will instead force them into an artificial one. But, of course, this makes up another disadvantage since Molly fish need space to swim around freely just like any other type of creature does – this includes insects such as bees or worms.
Difficult To Clean
Bubblers have a lot of equipment and accessories that can make them difficult to clean. Molly fish tanks are not as hard to maintain, but they will still need regular cleaning for the Molly fish tank bacteria levels to stay at an optimum level, which is necessary for Molly’s health.
Too Much Current
Molly fish thrives best when there is little or no current in their environment, which makes bubblers ineffective if you want them to swim around without much resistance from water currents.
Bubblers Interrupt Molly Fish’s Natural Habitat
Since bubble machines produce large amounts of bubbles, Molly fish might find the experience of it overwhelming. Molly’s natural place is in a small tank, and they would not be familiar with living in an area that produces large amounts of water flow.
You should maintain a tank according to the natural habitat of the Molly fish, without any artificial interference from humans. The usage of Bubblers is one such human-made interference that could disrupt their environment and behavior pattern.
Fish Can Might Feel Trapped In Bubbler
Since many Molly fish tuck themselves up in a corner, they can be on the base, leading to suffocation when there are no other openings available for air intake. In addition, this would make your tank unliveable by adding more waste introduced from trapped Molly fishes. There are also some cases where owners use powerheads (a type of Molly fish pump) in Molly Fish Tanks.
Invasive Plants And Algae
The plants in Molly fish tanks can start to grow and invade the bubbler, which will make Molly Fish Tank cleaning difficult. Algae is also a problem since it will require more time for Molly’s tank maintenance by scrubbing off remaining algae spots on rocks, aquarium walls, or other places where you might find them growing.
If the Molly fish tank is not deep enough, it will be difficult for plants and algae to reach the surface, which will grow on your bubbler ornaments instead.
Can Cause Injury To Molly Fish
Molly fish can feel injured in the turbulent water caused by bubbles. In addition, Molly fish are often more sensitive to pressure changes and sudden movements than other types of aquarium life because they live closer to the surface.
Some Molly fish do not like their tanks with bubblers as they find it an intrusion into their natural habitat and may cause them distress or discomfort. In addition, the water pressure coming out of some types of bubbles may cause injury to your Molly fishes, like fin damage, as seen in fish aquariums.
What Are Alternatives To Bubble Filters/Bubblers?
Despite the benefits of bubblers, there are some life-threatening risks. There is a higher risk of Molly fish getting an electric shock. It would be best to avoid tanks that allow direct contact between water and electricity sources.
However, a few things can use instead of bubblers in Molly’s fish tank. Such as:
Air stones
Air stones are a great alternative to bubblers because they create bubbles that Molly fish enjoy. The only risk is that their gills are more likely to remain stuck or clogged with rocks and gravel.
Unfortunately, this happens more often than you imagine. To prevent this from happening, make sure Molly’s fish tank has plenty of space for them to swim away if necessary or buy an air stone bubbler filter where water will go over it instead of directly into it.
Water Change
You can also improve Molly fish’s oxygen levels by changing the water more often. When you change your Molly fish tank’s water, it will release air bubbles into the tank and make Molly fish feel like they are in a new environment where there is plenty of food for them to enjoy.
Molly fish also need less oxygenated water than they would get if you had a bubbler. So, their owners should not worry about them if they have water with bubbles.
Filter
A Molly fish tank filter is important in your Molly fish tank. It will remove any impurities from the water, which Molly fish can’t do on their own, and it also creates a flow of current that helps keep Molly fish entertained.
These filters are great because they help Mollies with oxygen levels. They also ensure there is no leftover food for them to eat. So you don’t need to worry about changing the water very often or adding chemicals that may be harmful to Molly’s fish.
Waterfalls
Waterfalls are a great alternative to Molly fish tank bubblers because they still provide Molly fish with oxygen and offer Molly fish plenty of things to explore, such as rocks or plants. The only downside is that waterfalls may cause excess noise, disturbing the Molly fishes from their sleep, but this isn’t an issue if you have another room where you can leave your Molly fish tank.
Live Plants
Live plants are Molly fish-friendly because Molly fishes eat them instead of the algae that grow on rocks in Molly fish tanks. It also helps Molly fish with oxygen levels and gives them a place to explore, which is something they need as much as their food when it comes to having enough space.
The only downside is that Molly fish may eat the leaves or flowers, which might not be safe. But if you don’t mind this risk, then live plants are a great alternative to bubblers for Mollyfish tanks.
Conclusion
If you’re someone with Molly fish who’s struggling for advice on how to get bubbles for them or if they need bubbles at all, hopefully, our article has helped. We hope we covered everything from what types are available and their need. But, of course, it depends on which type of Molly fish you have (and their individual preferences).
For example, Bubble wands might not work so well for burrowing Molly fishes, but Molly owners should know that they can swap this for a Molly bubbler if they need to.
Keep Molly fish happy, and Molly fishes will keep you happy too!
