Plants and air stone.

[kevfiz]

I have an Air stone at the back of the tank and I have some plants with the bubbles travelling right through the plants. maybe this sounds silly but can it be bad for the plants?

 

[Byron]

Yes the is a possibility, depending. Aquatic plants assimilate nutrients through the leaves as well as the roots. Some nutrients are primarily taken up through the leaves (ammonium and CO2 for example). They also release oxygen as a by-product of photosynthesis through the leaves and roots, primarily the roots I believe but i am here going from memory. In any event, water currents around the leaves and roots do affect this uptake of nutrients, which is why some plants will not do well too near the filter return [I've had this occur with Echinodorus cordifolius], and it also partly explains why plants like Java Fern which is a slow grower (meaning, it takes up fewer nutrients slowly compared to fast-growing plants) can do quite well next to a stronger current--it has less effect on their metabolism.

I'm not suggesting this air stone is going to kill your plant; but there is reason to consider it. Air stones generally do not serve much benefit; surface disturbance is much more crucial to the balance/exchange of oxygen/CO2.