Oxygen

[Murray]

will i get enough oxygen in my tank without yusing a pump and airstone if i just use my filter

its a 20 u.s. gallon tank and there is an aquaclear mini filter on the back of it, i am thinking of replacing it with the next size of aqua clear filter which is for more gallons but can i leave out the pump and airstone, the tank is where i sleep and that thing is so annoying

thanks

 

[BigIan]

Aim the filter outlet at the surface of the water this will help with the xygen exchange

 

[Rooster]

Write out a hundred times:
AIR PUMP DOES NOT ADD OXYGEN !


Gas exchange happens at the surface, more agitation more gas exchange ! It movement that does the job...

 

[InaneCathode]

Write out a hundred times:
AIR PUMP DOES NOT ADD OXYGEN !


Gas exchange happens at the surface, more agitation more gas exchange ! It movement that does the job...

Technically speaking, doesnt each bubble have a finite surface area, therefore increasing the surface area that gas exchange occurs with?

 

[andywg]

Technically speaking, doesnt each bubble have a finite surface area, therefore increasing the surface area that gas exchange occurs with?

It does, but the bubbles are not in the water anywhere near long enough for any noticeable gas exchange to take place. They can help with bringing water from the bottom to the top and also will aid in surface agitiation (more surface area=more gas exchange as the bubble pops) but will not be as effective as pointing a powerhead or filter outlet at the surface.

Proof of this can be found in a CO2 supplied planted tank. Pump loads of CO2 into the tank through an airstone and you will notice that the CO2 levels are lower than without the air stone going, despite each bubble being almost pure CO2. This is because the gas exchange takes place at the surface not with the bubble.