Where Does The Oxygen Come From?

[The brave Stickleback]

I recently purchased an all in one aquarium set which apparently has everything I need to get going, apart from the fish of course. It included a filter which when I put in the water does produce the odd bubble. However when I was a kid I remember the family aquarium had a proper pump with a top potruding from the water which would then pump O2 into the water below. With this in mind how does the tank I purchased produce an O2 rich enviroment for the fish? The filter does not go above the water line and the kit included no additional pump. Am I missing something really obvious here?

 

[Wrams]

If its an internal filter then make sure the outlet is on the surface of the water. What filter are you using? ie: make.
Also use the suction cups provided and the filter mount and stick to the back of the tank and adjust until you have the right position and flow. You will know when you have it set right, there will be water movement and bubbles created by the water movement.

 

[tangokitty]

Yes, you will get oxygen exchange by having surface movement, so you need your filter to move the surface of the water. Air pumps are not necessarily needed, but some people use them anyway. They are the things that make the bubbles inside the tank which also creates surface agitation for gas exchange.

 

[Tolak]

As long as you have surface motion you will have O2 exchange. The earth's atmosphere is around 21% O2, this is where O2 comes from in an aquarium.

All air pumps do is create surface motion, this is where the gas exchange occurs. Mose surface motion, more exchange. This is achieved through friction between the water & air, more movement, more friction. There is also an exchange of H2O via this friction, tanks with more surface motion will experience more evaporation.

 

[The brave Stickleback]

Guys the filter is an Elite Stingray 15 and the instructions do not mention placing the top above the water line. However I've now adjusted the filter so the top is slightly touching the surface and the difference in bubble production is huge, so I'm now assuming that the tanks O2 production is now OK.

Thank you for your swift answers.

 

[Wrams]

Guys the filter is an Elite Stingray 15 and the instructions do not mention placing the top above the water line. However I've now adjusted the filter so the top is slightly touching the surface and the difference in bubble production is huge, so I'm now assuming that the tanks O2 production is now OK.

Thank you for your swift answers.

If theres more bubbles than viewing then adjust the flow slightly. If the tank starts to merk or go cloudy then turn it back up until you get it right...Also when you stock your tank you will find it puts more strain on the filter so you might need to do more adjustments in the near future, just until it settles. It will all be worth it in the end.

Goodluck with your NEW set-up.