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Does an increase of water surface agitation (from evaporation) make for a higher exchange of gasses? e.g. increase in oxygen, and decrease in carbon dioxide.

Just curious as to whether or not this is true for the benefit of both my fish and live plants.

Thanks

Yes surface agitation will help exchange gases (CO2 with Oxygen). In a planted tank you want as little surface agitation as possible. This will help you keep as much CO2 in the tank as possible.

To my knowledge evaporation does not cause any sort of surface agitation.

In heavily planted tanks you will want to have an air-stone on a timer to come on after lights out.

Plants use Oxygen when there isn't any light present.


Shannen

In a way evaporation can cause greater surface agitation.

The further water has to fall from a HOB filter the greater the force therefore the greater ammount of surface agitation.

Which is why those of us with HOB planted tanks that are using CO2 like to keep the water level as high as possible to reduce the force of the water and thereby minimize the ammout of CO2 loss.

That is is my physics is correct .

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Last edited by Babelfish at 31-Jan-2005 10:42

errm Babel,

Falling water has very little to do with evaporation. Splashing water will help it.

Definition of evaporation: The change of a liquid to a gas.

So no, evaporation will not cause surface agitation.

It is the filter letting the water fall that is at the root of the agitation.

Errrrrr yes it does!


Water evaporates easier when it's in a smaller droplet ...more suface area so Lower water level>>>>more of a splah>>>>faster evaporation>>>>>lower water level>>>>greater surface agitation>>>>Faster CO2 loss and more splash >>>more surface agitation>>>>lower water level "Ect, ect, ect"


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Your missing my point.

I agree that splashing aids in evaporation.

I'm saying that the act of evaporation it's self does not cause agitation.

It is the filter causeing the splash and the filter causeing the agitation.

great now i'm confused
*goes cross eyed*

If the water wasnt evaporating there would be no splash since I'm sure that the tank was filled properly in the first place.


Therefore

In a [font color="#008000"]way[/font] evaporation can cause greater surface agitation.

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] Good point!!!

*DING DING* Back to your respective corners!

Sorry, but what I meant by evaporation was that with just that happening comes a lower water level unless replenished, and a lower water level means water coming from the HOB filter has further to fall to reach the waters surface creating more surface agitation and a higher exchange of gases. So would it be wise to let the water just run across the surface rather than letting it splash into the aquarium? My 20 gal. has been planted somewhat medium, not heavily yet anyhow.

I do have a small Hagen Elite 802 airpump (that is kind of loud) and a sphere shaped airstone, just have to get a check valve for it. Should it come on as soon as the lights turn off by the timer, and visa versa?

Thanks both for your help

Scrap the airstone...you dont need oxygen in the tank from them...and if you do you've got problems with your stocking .

Keep the water level high so that there is no splash. If you're not adding CO2 to the tank it's not as much of a worry as if you are.

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No stocking problems, although I'd like to get some more fish one day soon. I have 1 female betta, 2 dwarf gourami's, 1 bala shark, and 1 bushynose in my planted 20 gal.

I've been reading a little about the benefits to be had from a CO2 system for plants, but is there many options for a 20 gal.?

Sorry, but you DO have a very serious problem if you have a bala shark in a 20 gallon tank.

Options for a 20 gallon would be a DIY unit. If you see the results you want you could continue with the DIY or purchase a pressurized system.

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I have 1 SMALL 3" bala left out of 2. I had an Ich outbreak sometime around the middle of this January and lost him due to probably major stress One of my Gourami's where picking on him pretty bad. I'm waiting for this bala to look a little better (his caudal and dorsal fins are a little tattered, also looks a little thin weight wise overall) and then he's off to a good home. He's not causing any trouble right now and he'll be gone before he gets to large for the aquarium.

I'll have to look into a DIY CO2 system Thanks Babelfish!