Bowl Build Question on Air Pump

[Mock]

This is more of a Pico build but I am starting a small bowl reef. Its 3 gallons in total but I expect it not to be but about 1 or 1.5 gallons when I fill it with sand and rock. Most of these builds that I have studied are using air pumps as the formal way to keep the water moving because of how small they are. I have though found some very small 5v pumps that average about quarter gallon a minute or 15 gallons an hour and am hoping that this can be used as the primary circulation pump hidden in the rockscape.

I guess the main question is, other than maybe pulling some skimmate up to the surface (which I heard is more of an issue than a plus) and adding flow, is there any other reason one would "need" to add an air pump? This will be coral only, lightly fed almost nothing before a water change bowl for mostly a species only setup.

I have tried to read all the articles written by some of the more popular ones but I cant find anything other than the bubbles are just for water movement.

 

[kharmaguru]

Almost all air exchange happens at the surface so if your pump moves the surface job done. An air stone will cause a 'barrel-roll' effect in your small aquarium which is beneficial, so plan the placement of your pump to achieve a similar effect.

 

[Mock]

Thats what I was th

Almost all air exchange happens at the surface so if your pump moves the surface job done. An air stone will cause a 'barrel-roll' effect in your small aquarium which is beneficial, so plan the placement of your pump to achieve a similar effect.

That's what I was thinking. I found this guy and I figured as long as I kept the surface moving it really doesn't matter how its being accomplished. There isn't going to be a huge demand for keeping the water aeriated as one would want more of if keeping fish but I know I have to have something to keep things moving along. I am hoping this little guy hides well and can be in a location to give me that roll even if I have to mount it in a certain area and run tubing to another to accomplish the movement I want.