Surface Agitation

[catfish4ever]

For sufficient amount of oxygen to enter a fish tank do you have to either

Have the filter breaking the surface of the water

OR

Have a current moving the water throughout the tank?

 

[sawickib]

A mixture of both, you want oxygen to enter the tank through the surface and then be pushed through out the tank, you can use a SW power head or a bubbler to help boost surface agitation.

 

[bluesword23516]

My filter is powerful enough that it actually creates a small current. Depending on the power of your filter it can spread throughout the tank. But if it is a smaller filter then you would need a bubbler or something to help with water flow.

 

[catfish4ever]

The surface has a flow but is not breaking is thus OK?

 

[sawickib]

If its not breaking the the top then you have a problem, it may be catching oxygen in when its inside the filter but i would look into getting a air stone.

 

[bluesword23516]

If its not breaking the the top then you have a problem, it may be catching oxygen in when its inside the filter but i would look into getting a air stone.

I agree

 

[Ch4rlie]

Lower the tank water or raise the filter to level with output, this may get the filter to create more surface agitation.

 

[catfish4ever]

you dont need an airstone, filter do a better job

 

[sawickib]

ummm what are you saying? you asked the question right? If your filter isnt doing proper aeration then i would look into a air stone.

 

[daizeUK]

If your filter is rippling the surface then that's probably good enough.
If the surface is still with no ripples then an airstone is a good idea.

 

[catfish4ever]

If your filter is rippling the surface then that's probably good enough.
If the surface is still with no ripples then an airstone is a good idea.

 
Thank you, a clear answers, nice and simple, thanks all!

 

[mattbleasby]

The surface needs to be moving as said above, Without this you will end up with issues and grime building up. Also the fish could not be getting enough oxygen. 
 
Please see the above answers.They are all giving you sound advice. If your filter isnt breaking the water, then upgrade or get an airstone and you will be sorted. 
 
Good Luck. 

 

[TwoTankAmin]

There are two basic principles at work here - surface tension and gas exchange and then oxygen (and other gases) saturation levels in water.
 
Still water naturally has a surface tension which inhibits the free exchange of gasses between the water and the air. Rippling the surface braks this tension. How much gas can be exchanged between the water is then a function of surface area. That is why similar gallon/liter size tanks but in different configurations have differing maximal excgange rates. long tanks have a greater surface area than tall ones.
 
Finally, the move violently roiled the surface is, the more oxygen it can have added, to a point. The Rio Xingu in Brazil is home to many fish in the hobby. Its water can get very warm (over 86F/30C) and what allows many fish to survive are the series of violent rapids which churn the water which increases the area of water expose to the air and works to bring in even more O.
 
In our tanks there is a limit to how much we can do before we either blow the water and/or the fish out of the tank. But for most of us just having decent surface movement does the trick. Air bubbling does the most good not by adding any O to a tank, but rather by the bubbles roiling the surface to promote gas exchange.