Air Pump in planted

[no_one]

guys do i need an air pump in a planted tank ? or will the plants supply oxygen to the water ? i seem to have read somewhere that in planted tanks you dont want water agitation so you dont release the co2 out of it ..

Any thoughts ?

 

[benzjamin13]

I don't think air pumps are necessary at all. I've actually stopped running air pumps in my tanks for many years now. I have them for "just in case" purposes, but other than that, they don't serve a purpose for me. Personally, I think that with plants and the agitation from your filter (depending on what style), oxygen levels should be fine for your fish (depending on stock levels as well).

 

[anarekist]

in darkness plants convert to using o2 so if you have oxygen sensitive livestock you should have an air pump for when the lights are off.

 

[skjl47]

in darkness plants convert to using o2 so if you have oxygen sensitive livestock you should have an air pump for when the lights are off.

This is correct. In the dark plant cells consume O2 and some of the sugars made during daylight. I have tried it both ways in planted tanks and prefer to have at least a bubbler. I have read about the dissipation of CO2 with bubblers. I have grown a lot of very nice plants in tanks with bubblers running