Oxygenating the water is actually a positive providing oxygen for fish and plants. For my set-up I replaced the spray bar with a venturi valve to suck air and produce micro bubbles. Adding an air leak on the intake side is not recommended, as it will affect pump effeciency and siphon.
ED: I agree very much with this comment. The unit used to have a built-in venturi but it did not work very well so it was eliminated but the idea is sound.