Airation question ??

[impossible]

Would it be benificial or detremental to have an airator in my 29 gallon planted tank. ( no co2 injection,low light plants,,,,java fern crypts,,,etc) THX

[phanmc]

More oxygen won't be detrimental to your planted tank. Since you're not injecting CO2, then the surface agitation caused by the airator won't cause much CO2 to be aired off and lost.

Unless oxygen is an issue, like in warmer waters or tanks with very little surface movement, an airator isn't necessary.

[impossible]

I read that an airator actually increases in the amount of co2 in the tank,via the atmosphere,,,,anyone out there that can confirm this ?

[dougall]

Don't count this as confirmation, But I heard the same thing..

Basically the airation will dissolve a certain amount of air that is converted to bubbles via the airpump + bubbler. Some of that air will be CO2, Some O2, etc.

The surface agitation, especially if water breaks will allow regular air to be dissolved in the water also..

AFAIK the bubbler would only be detrimental if CO2 was being injected, with the bubbler causing/helping the CO2 to escape the water.


(But I'm certainly no expert)

[phanmc]

Basically, water will absorb gases from the atmosphere until it reaches an equilibrium, surface agitation increases the water surface and thus promote the transfer of gases. So if there is more CO2 in the air, then the surface agitation will cause CO2 to be absorbed quicker into the water.

Now fishes releases CO2 through respiration, so there will be CO2 already present in the water. While plants do use up CO2, the amount of CO2 absorbed from the air through surface agitation will have a very minimal affect on the plants.

[TwoTankAmin]

The amount of O and co2 in the water will tend to equalize to that in the air unless there is no aggitation at the surface. Without the aggitation surface tension will block the free exchange of gasses. An air stone does not add much in the way of gasses to the tank, rather it is the bubbles breaking the surface tension that facilitates the free exchange of gasses between the water and the air.