To Oxygenate, or Not To Oxygenate?

[JakeH]

I have a 40g breeder tank with dual 20w AquaGlo lights & heavy circulation/filtration. Since my Loaches like high O2, I have had trouble keeping plants thriving in the past. I finally got rid of my airstone & switched to a Koralia powerhead (no aeration) & now my plants are going ballistic. I have 8 baby Java Ferns & 2 adult Amazon Swords. I want to make sure my Loaches are getting enough O2, so...

The Questions: I have heard that some plants will absorb O2 at night, but are my plants doing this? Should I run an aerating powerhead at night to counteract this?

All opinions welcome! Thanks!

 

[Noto]

All plants take in O2 all the time; they just aren't offsetting the O2 intake with O2 production at night. This shouldn't be an issue in a lightly planted tank, but if your tank is a jungle then additional oxygenation may be necessary. Keeping the tank as cool as possible will also help, by increasing O2 saturation threshold and decreasing biological oxygen demand by loaches, plants, and bacteria in tank.

Are you running CO2? If not, then aeration should only help your plants, as it increases the diffusion rate of atmospheric CO2 into the water.

 

[swede]

if you are not running any CO2, oxygenation shouldn't be too big a deal. However, if you have CO2, an added source of oxygen is vital since the ratio of oxygen to CO2 will greatly change. Plants through photosynthesis will actually add oxygen to the tank in very small amounts

 

[Sab_Fan]

I split the difference by running two small airstones on my 90G planted (no CO2) . . . it may not be ideal for them, but near as I can tell, my yo-yo loaches are doing just fine . . .

 

[mgamer20o0]

what kind of filtration? if its hobs you really shouldnt have to worry. personally i dont like the look of air bubbles in the tank but it wont hurt if you are not adding co2.

 

[JakeH]

Thanks all! I'm gonna add just 1 airstone & see how they do.

 

[Deaths Sting]

i run Co2 during the day and air at night.