Question:

[Luvbugz]

I read somewhere that in a planted tank you should keep water surface agitation to a min because it refracts the light therefore less lighting will be reaching your plants. Is this true? What then do you use to airate your water?? Do planted tanks produce enough oxygen to get rid of like an air pump/bubble strip??

[Squawkbert]

Many planted tank keepers use CO2 injection to encourage plant growth. CO2 is easily lost as a result of excessive surface agitation. Therefore, CO2 users strive to keep enough surface agitation so that they get some O2 to their fauna without gassing off all of the CO2 that the flora need.

In theory, ripples cause refraction, but most of the light will wind up getting where it needs to go anyway.

[Mgamer20o0]

most tanks dont need air pumps. with or without plants. never heard of the light reflecting part.

[loaches r cool]

Most folks keep surface agitation to a min to reduce CO2 loss - but this is only when your actually adding co2 through diy or a pressurized tank. If you not injecting co2 then you want the surface agitation so atleast co2 and o2 remain near equilibrium with atmospheric levels. I'd not worry to much about the ripples refracting light, yeah they will but I doubt it would make a huge difference unless your whole tank was violently splashing about.