Balancing the O and CO2

[prinmel]

I am in the works for planting my 55 gallon tank with 7 swordtails and many babies of multiple sizes. If I do not start with a heavily planted tank, maybe adding 5 plants, and stop surface aggravation for co2 to build for the plants to breath, will my fish suffocate? If I continue surface aggravation for my fish to breath, will the plants suffocate?

[pejerrey]

If you are not using pressurized co2 then surface agitation helps you get the atmospheric co2 into the water.
The splashing is what you must avoid.

What kind of light you have?

[prinmel]

ok so technically a backpack filters waterfall in not bad if the tank is filled all the way to the bottom of the filter? So what about with a canister filter? how do you get the atmospheric co2 into the water.

Lighting: I will have my compact florescent fixture with 2.3 wpg, mix of 10000K and a pink grow light bulb.

[pejerrey]

Yes, about the HoB filter.
The canister is the same, just point the jet towards the surface from under it without causing splashing like In this picture:

The atmospheric co2 gets in the water as well as the o2, by surface agitation.

I'm not sure if your light is low, med or high. However, you can lift or lower it to increase or decrease intensity.
Ask hoppy, he will tell you what you have in terms of intensity.

[JasonG75]

You want ripples..not splashing.

Hob's are easier because they spray out not fall down. With the spraybar you slightly tilt it upwards to create ripples. This also keeps protien buildup off the water surface.

[prinmel]

does the surface agitation without splashing bring oxygen into my fish as well?

[DerekFF]

Originally Posted by prinmel

does the surface agitation without splashing bring oxygen into my fish as well?

Yes

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