What Does Aeration Do?

[grimmy]

i courious

 

[SJ2K]

Allows fish to breath

Provided your filter output disturbs the water surface then it isnt essential, alot of people have it for aesthetics.

 

[Underwurlde]

A surprisingly small amount of O2 gets in the water using this method - as mentioned, surface agitation is better. Again I agree, pure asthetics, but the fish do love to play in them, so some interest for them apart from looking at my fat chops surfing TFF!

Andy

 

[12azor]

Supposedly it raises the pH in the water too.

 

[Underwurlde]

May do: It does this because its action releases CO2 from the water. This is why they are not used in planted tanks where some people inject CO2 - if this is the case and an airstone is then added, CO2 is released, pH increases. For tanks without CO2 injection, I'd guess the rise would be minimal due to minimal amounts of CO2 in the first place.

... I could be wrong though!

Andy

 

[Musho3210]

your right andy, i keep as little surface agiation and areation as possible in my planted, fish dont mind, especially the gouramis.

Of couse ATM this isnt the case since my fish are sick and im treating the tank with high heat.... So i really turned up the agiation.

 

[Underwurlde]

*hijack alert - woot-woot*

@Musho: Ahhhhh, but this is the latest 'good' idea I read (rewritten, but mainly a copy of Tom Barr's wisdom):
(Changed my mind, again!)

New CO2 technique: Combine good circulation with CO2 misting.
The CO2 outlet is connected to an atomizer style diffuser (such as the Rhinox or Spio) thus creating a mist of CO2 bubbles which should then be effectively distributed throughout the water column using good circulation thus ensuring all plants get their share.

With this technique increase your water circulation and / or surface agitation and run CO2 all the time (hence no need for timed solenoids or pH controllers). Oxygen levels remain good throughout the night and surface scum that is often an issue for planted tanks is no longer. Use an outflow lily tube half in & half out of the water for good surface agitation & water circulation – this creates a whirlpool effect that removes any oily film on the surface of the water. (e.g. Ebay item 250162179164).

Place the diffuser below the filter inlet pipe for maximum distribution.
If CO2 is always on this means that the CO2 is immediately available to the plants when the lights come on and hence pH is more stable too.

The down-side is that more CO2 is required, but this a trade-off worth considering, especially in a pressurized system where CO2 refills are relatively cheap (I pay £10 for 2Kg, that lasts > 6 months).

Andy

PS, Idea about 9 months-ish old now

 

[Musho3210]

problem is, i dont pump CO2 into the tank, so the source of CO2 from me is fish, hence me trying not to disrubt surface