Subject: To Aerate, or Not to Aerate?

The beginner aquarist may believe that an aerator, or air pump, is an essential part of an aquarium. While this was a strongly held belief in the past, there are some who no longer abide by this belief.

The plants and fish in our aquarium create quite differing reactions to the proportions of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) in the aquarium.

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While plants use carbon dioxide and create oxygen, the fish use oxygen and create carbon dioxide.

This also occurs with the plants in the dark -- they no longer create oxygen, but carbon dioxide. This puts them in competition with the fish for oxygen in the dark!

When fish stand around gasping in a beautiful, plant-filled aquarium, it is not from a lack of oxygen but from an excess of carbon dioxide! Aerators are switched on to remove the carbon dioxide to enhance the exchange of the carbon dioxide with oxygen.

This situation only occurs in aquariums with an abundance of plants and ones that are overstocked with fish.

A well-balanced aquarium can be maintained without aeration, at least during the day; and fertilization with carbon dioxide should only be done during the day, when photosynthesis can be used by the plants to absorb this excess.

With an aquarium that is lacking in sufficient plants or crowded tanks, an aerator can save the lives of the fish!

However, by using a filter that creates an adequate overturn of water, we can again avoid the aerator.

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In most instances, a filter will be sufficient and preferable to an aerator.

Another positive effect of water turnover is that there are no warm areas in your tank. In some aquariums, the surface of the water is several degrees warmer than the water in the bottom. This temperature change is not healthy for either the fish or the plants.

Aerators can be best used for preparing fish to breed or when raising young. A good filter will eliminate the need for an aerator.

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Thank you,

Bill Anderson
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