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hi...i just recently added a CO2 injector in my 20g tank coz my plants were dying and the only problem i see is the lack of CO2(reading was 1.6 mg/l)but now its 16. i got 2 w/g lighting and other water parameters are: NH=0, Nitrite= >0.3, Nitrate=>5, GH=8, KH=5..and my pH=7 (was 8 b4 the co2).i have 6 species or so of plants (bacopa, cabamba green and red, anubias nana petite, hygrophila giant and red, rotala nanjin, and another one i forgot the name). fishes are 5 pandas (delightful), 1 platy, 3 danios, and 2 dwarf gouramis.

i havent seen my fish goin to the surface as if gulping for air..they are doin just fine. im worried during nite time when im not there to observe them. plants compete for O2 at nite. i don have so much surface agitation becoz of the plants (im using eclipse 2 hood) to bring more o2 in the water.

so, should i go to lfs and buy an air pump and install it in the aquarium with the co2 to add o2 in there?? will the added o2 displace co2 (i know it will but to what degree)??? additional fish will be added soon, so, is it timely to put that o2??? thx

Usually, when having a planted tank and CO2, water are well saturated with oxygen to last them and the plants for the night, but sometimes it's not enough. The best way to know this is to observe your fish few hours after the lights are out and before they come on again in the morning. If no fish is gasping there is no need for an air-stone, if you do see any of them gasp then you do need one.