What is pearling?

[Avonlea,PA]

I've done a search, but nothing really explained what it was. Is it good or bad? How can you tell you have it?

I just finished setting up my pressurized CO2 system this morning. I'm using a 5 lb CO2 tank and requlator with solenoid valve and a needle valve. That is feeding into a Duetto power filter. Still fine tuning the regulator, but so far, so good.

[OrionGirl]

When a plant is producing enough oxygen that it actually produces a stream of small bubbles, it is pearling. You will see the streams of air coming from the plant, usually in the afternoon (after the lights have been on a while).

Pearling means all your plants needs are being met, which is a good thing.

[Slappy*McFish]

Another thing I may add here...plants are always producing oxygen as long as they are photosynthesizing..pearling is when the water has reached an oxygen saturation point and can no longer absorb any more oxygen...the plants will continue to produce oxygen, however, but it will just form as tiny bubbles that collect on the leaves of the plants and eventually rise to the surface.

[Avonlea,PA]

Thanks for the info. That helped a great deal.

[carpguy]

Pearling…

http://www.nature-aquarium.com/Pictures/Pencil1.jpg

It's a good thing.

[wetmanNY]

Plants are photosynthesizing away long before there's any "pearling." Lots of oxygen gets stored in the plant's aerenchyma, keeping it bouyant, So don't worry that if you don't see "pearling" if the plants aren't photosynthesizing.