ripples create o2? co2?

andiruleu · 04/16/2006, 04:59 PM

ive read somewhere where if you blow your powerhead against the surface to create ripples it will catch o2? or was it co2? i dont remember.. but is this true?

boxfishpooalot · 04/16/2006, 05:16 PM

oxygen and other gasses are exchanged based on water surface agitation, and mostly surface area. By more surface area done by diffusing air stones into the water colum it allows more suface area for gas exchange. Because you have bubbles in the water wich take up space.

Powerheads pointed at the surface will do a little towards gas exchange. A better way is by using air stones, or prefferably a good protein skimmer.

Oxygen and Co2 are best removed and added by growing green plant life. On the reef,as the sun rises, photosythesis of plants produce the highest oxygen content by noon. Usually above saturation levles. At sunset, oxygen levels deplete in deeper waters.

mr pink floyd · 04/16/2006, 05:16 PM

it wont really help gas exchange, i dont think it will grab anything, the density of air, a gas is much less dense than water of course, so it might get stuck under a millimeter of water for a split second, but it would go out of the water right away

JmLee · 04/16/2006, 05:47 PM

i have read that the quality of your air in the room that the tank is in can also effect your PH. Ive read some tests where they had tanks by open windows and noticed a big difference when compared to sealed rooms with little fresh air coming in. I am a believer that if you aggitate the surface, that you will get better gas exchange.

Paintbug · 04/16/2006, 07:56 PM

it does help with the gas exchange. not by the current catching O2 but by creating more surface area for the gasses to exchange. a rippled water surface has about 50% more surface area than a flat water surface. same goes with airstones, the create more surface area and current in your tank.

04/16/2006, 04:59 PM	#1
andiruleu Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 631	ripples create o2? co2? ive read somewhere where if you blow your powerhead against the surface to create ripples it will catch o2? or was it co2? i dont remember.. but is this true?

04/16/2006, 05:16 PM	#2
boxfishpooalot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada, Grande Praire, Ab Posts: 5,824	oxygen and other gasses are exchanged based on water surface agitation, and mostly surface area. By more surface area done by diffusing air stones into the water colum it allows more suface area for gas exchange. Because you have bubbles in the water wich take up space. Powerheads pointed at the surface will do a little towards gas exchange. A better way is by using air stones, or prefferably a good protein skimmer. Oxygen and Co2 are best removed and added by growing green plant life. On the reef,as the sun rises, photosythesis of plants produce the highest oxygen content by noon. Usually above saturation levles. At sunset, oxygen levels deplete in deeper waters. __________________ Its a good idea to have a refrence sample for alk test kits. 1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1gallon of distilled water=10dkh. Check your alkalinity test kit! Algae is Mother Natures phosphate remover Current Tank Info: 220 galon mixed reef.

04/16/2006, 07:56 PM	#5
Paintbug Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Stoneville, NC Posts: 6,169	it does help with the gas exchange. not by the current catching O2 but by creating more surface area for the gasses to exchange. a rippled water surface has about 50% more surface area than a flat water surface. same goes with airstones, the create more surface area and current in your tank. __________________ Never ask a girl over to see your crabs!! <-Tony-> Current Tank Info: NONE currently

04/16/2006, 05:16 PM	#3
mr pink floyd Moved On Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: west hartford, CT Posts: 3,480	it wont really help gas exchange, i dont think it will grab anything, the density of air, a gas is much less dense than water of course, so it might get stuck under a millimeter of water for a split second, but it would go out of the water right away

04/16/2006, 05:47 PM	#4
JmLee Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hohensfels, Germany Posts: 1,545	i have read that the quality of your air in the room that the tank is in can also effect your PH. Ive read some tests where they had tanks by open windows and noticed a big difference when compared to sealed rooms with little fresh air coming in. I am a believer that if you aggitate the surface, that you will get better gas exchange.