Thanks for the reply. I concur that its harder to get the O2 to dissolve into the water. I don't intend to do the standard air stone in the tank method. Do u not think bubbling the air into a Rex style reactor would increase the amount of air O2 dissolved into the water? It seams logical that you would get a higher rate of diffusion than a standard air stone in the water method.CO2 dissolves very easily into water, but O2 is hard to get dissolved into water, and water holds a lot less O2 than CO2. Bubbling air through the water isn't an effective way to get more O2 dissolved. A wet/dry filter is a very effective way to do that, and those can be relatively cheap, for example http://www.amazon.com/Hagen-14003-F...1&sr=8-4&keywords=wet+dry+filter+for+aquarium
You'd probably get better oxygenation using an air stone in the tank than pumping air into a reactor. An air stone adds O2 by breaking the surface tension of the water which increases the rate of gas exchange at the surface. Since you have a larger surface area in the tank than the reactor you would do better by just using an airstone in the tank. The stone in the tank also will increase circulation somewhat, moving more oxygenated water throughout the tank and bringing less oxygenated water to the surface.Thanks for the reply. I concur that its harder to get the O2 to dissolve into the water. I don't intend to do the standard air stone in the tank method. Do u not think bubbling the air into a Rex style reactor would increase the amount of air O2 dissolved into the water? It seams logical that you would get a higher rate of diffusion than a standard air stone in the water method.
I had an idea.. To increase the level of O2 in the HOH, why not install another hose barb on my reactor and pump air into it. Would this not disolve more O2 or air than just running an airstone?
I would love to hear your thoughts.
What about injecting O2 in the same manner as CO2, assuming for a moment that sourcing it is not an issue.
You should post that in the DIY forum.My O2 reactor is a big rectangular tank with plants in it. I pump co2 into it and shine lights on the plants.
My O2 reactor is a big rectangular tank with plants in it. I pump co2 into it and shine lights on the plants.
I think I like both of you. :biggrin:Rainer said:You should post that in the DIY forum.
I do exactly that...and its quite easy to doI had an idea.. To increase the level of O2 in the HOH, why not install another hose barb on my reactor and pump air into it. Would this not disolve more O2 or air than just running an airstone?
I would love to hear your thoughts.
Simple surface agitation should have fixed thatI do exactly that...and its quite easy to do
...hook up a cheap air pump on a separate airline tube and check valve and inject it into my reactor right before lights out (because plants are not converting CO2 at night)...it mists the tank and the bubble is gone by the morning
my fish used to gasp at the surface in the mornings -they stopped doing that but personally I think they were just being dramatic because when the lights turned on, they would swim mid tank with no problems after less than 10mins
since then, Ive given away my fish and started my tank over...but will probably reconnect it after my tank has established and cycled
Then ur not benefitting the fish right thereI know...I do it more for my benefit than the fish
but I try to minimize surface agitation to maximize the amount of CO2 that stays in the water when the lights are on
I used to think like that, but when I started to let the water return ripple the surface I saw a huge improvment in my fish and a few plants.I know...I do it more for my benefit than the fish
but I try to minimize surface agitation to maximize the amount of CO2 that stays in the water when the lights are on
AIR is cheaper
my fish were fine, my plants were fine and my tank/filter was healthy
...so what are we even discussing here? obviously, there are many different ways to approach a tank and be successful