Co2 Vs Air

[Rorie]

I know Aeration will defeat the purpose of my CO2, so i gather i would not have them on at the same time. However, i was looking through ADA books and he seems to put on an aeration system after the CO2 goes off at night. Does anybody on here do that? Why would we do it?

I am worried my Corys are not getting enough Oxygen. They are always TRYING to get to the surface. My CO2 is at good levels, and the other fish seem fine, so i wonder if this would be of use?

I have just added my second filter, and put the output just on the surface so to disturb it enough to get rid of my 'film' on the surface. THis will add air to my water though -good for the corys, bad for the CO2. Views on this?

 

[SuperColey1]

Some people like to use aeration at night because they are getting plenty of O in whilst the CO2 is off. I myself have a decent ripple throughout the 24 hours from the filter. I do not subscribe to the 'perfectly still' water surface to hold CO2 in.

Thus I would add a little more CO2 into the tank to compensate.

Corys always go to the surface and take a gulp of air. CO2 injected or not. And they splash me every time if I am sat near the tank.

AC

 

[Rorie]

I have corys in my 90L and never see them going to the top these days....but hopefully as you say, its normal behaviour and they'll be fine

Is there a typo in your comment?

Some people like to use aeration at night because they are getting plenty of O in whilst the CO2 is off

If not, what do you mean they are getting enough oxygen in....so they add aeration?

Can you see the air bubbles forming with your ripple effect? As i mentioned, i have a filter output hitting the water which is now moving the surface....but i cannot see any air being put into the tank...

 

[SuperColey1]

I mean whilst the aeration may be 'gassing' off the CO2. It is also increasing the oxygen levels by disturbing the water surface more. A bit pointless really as the filter can do that and I do that all day long.

Air bubbles forming? If I let the water level get a little low it is splashing. lol You get air bubbles on the top but not many in the water. They rise and pop like CO2 but it is more the unseen gaseous exchange that is important.

For example something I've long said is those people who warble on about reactors being better than diffusers and talk about seeing the diffuser bubbles going to the surface and popping. They can't see their fully dissolved CO2 or where it is going however rest assured....the same thing is happening but they can't see it. lol

The same is true of O. Doesn't matter what you can see. It is coming in through gaseous exchange and it is leaving via gaseous exchange. The only factor is the surface area of the water and a flat undisturbed surface has a lower surface area than a rippled one thus more gas can exchange on the rippled surface.

O is as important as CO2 IMO both for plants, fish and water clarity.

AC

 

[Rorie]

cool thanks for the reply!

I will see how the CO2 is distributed today with the first full day of my second filter hitting the water surface!

 

[ian]

Personally i feel that reactors are best to be used when you have a grip of how to flow in your tank is. This is me personally, but i would start with a glass diffuser, so you 'can' see where the bubbles are going. Once things are sorted, then move over to a reactor.

 

[SuperColey1]

This is where we differ Ian. I would stick with diffuser whether it be inline or in tank. Not a fan of reactors.

AC