Oxygen

[mikky77]

Hello, i have a Juwel Rekord 60 (55 litre). The water is sucked up through the filter and comes out above the surface of the water, agitating the surface.Is this enough to provide adequate oxygen ? I also have 3 live plants. Thank you for your advice.

 

[JenCliBee]

are ur fish sitting at the top of the tank looking like there breathing rapidly? if no then u probably alrite but if ur concerned u could just get a small air pump and throw a stone on the end of it


jen

 

[waterdrop]

Yes, surface agitation is the most important factor in providing adequate oxygenation.

When I was a kid I always looked at the thousands of tiny bubbles from my airstones and thought they were significantly increasing the oxygen (and other gaseous) exchange and that they represented a greatly increased surface area. I learned here on TFF that that is not the case. Bubbles are not nearly as significant a factor as surface agitation and area is. They do cause some added circulation of the water from below and they can be an added source of surface agitation obviously, but in general, the spraybar or other surface agitation device of the filter is fully sufficient to provide enough gaseous exchange.

Total surface area is significant (discussed recently by oldman47 in another thread here) in that a shallower tank can maintain more fish when the power goes out!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[ox5477]

If you feel that your fish need more O2 in the water, then buy a small powerhead and point the output of the powerhead at the surface. Anything that agitates the surface will promote O2--CO2 exchange

Ox

 

[mikky77]

Thanks for the super fast replies,much appreciated and reassuring. My fish are not at the surface,or breathing rapidly.Thanks again to you all