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for those people who put air bubbles in their tank....do u guys keep live plants as well>>>

im wondering if plants and air bubbles go side by side...i have a ph of 8 and kh of 5...that means....my co2 is at low 0.9 give or take!!! i did a diy co2 and the ph goes to 7-7.3...so the co2 level is somewhere 6-9 to 15 depending on the co2 output...now...will the air bubbles and its agitation definitely affect the dilution of the co2 in the water and thus, displaces co2 more rapidly???...which plant is gud at this condition?? i can only think of java fern, if im right!!!

thx

If you're losing that much CO2 because of your bubbles and trying to find plants that can deal with lowered CO2, then why are you adding CO2 at all? A lot of plants benefit from added CO2, but it's not strictly necessary, and the fluctuations you describe in your CO2 levels can be harmful to fish.
How bright are you lights (Watts per gallon)? If you have less than 3 watts per gallon, then I would say quit the CO2 and just enjoy the bubbles. If you have very high lighting, then just use CO2 and don't have bubbles causing surface agitation.

Hoping that there must be a word for everything I mean...

tankie,

I am not a pro in the CO2 – plant world, but I hear over and over again that plants and air bubbles don’t mix. CO2 is added to your water by being absorbed from the surface and during water changes (when not added via injection etc.), up to a certain saturation point. If you add air bubbles to your tank, your water would certainly have higher levels of oxygen and displace the sparse CO2 that you could have. Plants need CO2 to thrive, in any tank, with or without injection.

Hope this helps,

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

Phoooey. I have a planted tank with bubbles that is absolutely thriving. I didn't need any co2 infusion, just enough light and nutrients to make lush green plants. Yes, I could take the bubbles out at any moment, but I like them and so do the fishies who enjoy frolicking in them. There's really no hard and fast recipe, just what works for you. what I do may or may not.

Just to make things clear...

CO2 doesn't displace O2 or vice versa. Both can exist in sufficient amount in the water at the same time. Doesn't mean that you can add as much CO2 you can, as for the fish to be able to breathe properly they need a lower concentration of CO2 in the water than in their blood. The problem with air stones and the bubbles that they produce is that they cause surface agitation which causes the CO2 to escape from the water into the atmosphere.

So, to your question as it was put: all plants can live with air bubbles. The question, I believe, should be what plants can live in CO2 levels of 6 - 15ppm. Well, there's quite a difference between 6 - 15ppm, but still all plants should thrive in those levels (more so at 15ppm), but it depends on other factors as well.

Hope this helps.