Aeration in planted tanks

love_my_fish

I always use an air stone in my planted tanks -- do I really need to? I wouldn't consider my tanks heavily planted, nor do I have strong lighting. How do I know if my plants are producing enough oxygen for my fish? Would my plants do better without the airstone running?

Aquaticmoon

How are you injecting CO2 ? What kind of filter are you running?

love_my_fish

Haven't used any CO2, the tank with the most plants uses an Eheim Ecco canister filter, and I only have about 1.5 wpg.

my other tanks have hob filter and even less lighting

crazie.eddie

Since you don't use CO2, it should be no problem. Plants use CO2 during the day and O2 during the night. I normally only turn on the bubbles at night with the use of a timer. Besides, I don't like seeing bubbles anyways, so I usually leave it off during the daytime.

The only way you can really tell if do not have enough O2 in the tank is if the fish appear to be constantly gulping for air at the surface.

fish_4_all

I use an airzstone in my non CO2 tank and the plants are thriving. The surface agitation will help with oxygen and CO2 exchange and keep it at constant levels, although I don't know that is reeded to do so. At 1.5 w/g, it can't really hurt so I would use it, the fish should appreciate it. It also helps with circulation if the airstone is on the other side of the tank.

caferacermike

Keep in mind that you want to keep as much CO2 in the tank with the lights on. Air stones provide agitation which releases CO2 from the tank.

I aagree with Eddie. Put it on a timer in the evening when the lights go out.

fish_4_all

I like this one. Good topic to really get to the bottom off.

One hand, airation will help the exchange of CO2 with the air, this is true.
What is also true, is without CO2 injeciton, an airstone is actually putting Oxygen AND CO2 in the water to be dissolved. I know my non CO2 tank benefits from the airstone but I do dose Excel and get readings of about 15ppm CO2. This could be way off but is higher than you would expect.

I am actually about to remove the DIY CO2 from my other tank as I have had much better growth without it. Is this because of the Excel, the airstone, both? I don't know but it works so why fix it?

love_my_fish

what is excel?

Amphitrite

I think that's Excel Flourish plant food :)

fish_4_all

It is flourish Excel. Excel is a replacement carbon product for those that can't get their CO2 to work right, like me! It really works well to control and kill some types of algae and really makes the plants grow.