water movement question

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Jan 1, 2006
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Houston, TX
So if I decide to get a Fluval 404 or 405 for my 80g tank will this be enough water movement for aeration or should I get a bubble wand or a air pump with an airstone?? I really don't like all the bubbles from an air stone and air pump though. Or are there other choices out there too??( I'm still a noob to all this high tech stuff ;) )
I'm thinking of having my tank pretty well planted too, so I don't want too much water movement, but I don't want too little aeration for the fish either.
What do you experts think will be the best??
 
First of all movement and plants do not go together. Just monitor the CO2 levels if you are that worried. I have kept plants for about 7 years and have had fish in the house for almost 18 and I never put an airstone in. Well I take that back. I did for my stingray, but that is because it was my first and I did not want to kill the thing. You should be fine. I would not worry about the levels. If your fish start swimming towards the top gasping at the surface, then I would worry.
 
Agreed, if you need more water movement to add oxygen, then your tank is probably overstocked. Gas exchange with the water surface should be sufficient.
 
Thanks!! So that sounds good to me! I thought that I heard that you don't need an airstone in most tanks, but I wanted to be sure. So a good filter and a heater, weekly water changes and live plants should be enough to keep my fish with proper amounts of oxygen, correct?? (just wanted to double check ;) )
 
Plants do need water movment, it gets nutrients through the boundry layer effect. What is not needed is suface disruption which can blow off CO2. There is a world of difference between current in the water column and surface distruption.
 
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