Do you need aeration in an aquarium?

Aeration is the saturation of aquarium water with air using special equipment. This is necessary so that the fish and plants receive the optimal amount of oxygen and do not experience oxygen starvation. But how is aeration provided in nature? After all, there is no equipment in rivers and lakes.

In natural reservoirs, water is constantly in motion. It is affected by surface and deep currents. Atmospheric air “blows through” the water layer, and air bubbles are formed in it, which are necessary for all living beings. A large volume of water and a rich world of underwater plants maintain an optimal level of oxygen in a natural way.

But in the aquarium there is much less water, and there may not be any plants at all. Does this mean that every aquarium needs an aerator?

Whether an aerator is needed in an aquarium depends on the specific case. If the ratio of the volume of water, fish and plants is correct, then the water will be saturated with oxygen and no additional equipment is required. However, it is not always possible to create an ideal underwater world, and even experienced aquarists are not immune from missteps.

To understand if the fish have enough oxygen, observe their behavior. If they often float to the surface to take a breath of air, and hang near the surface, then there is not enough oxygen in the water.

Aeration is necessary if there are many fish in a small aquarium or if there are few (or no) plants in a large, densely populated aquarium. The more fish in the aquarium and the larger they are, the more oxygen they need.

Saturation of water with oxygen is not the only task of aeration. It is also needed for:

– to ensure the circulation of water and equalize the temperature throughout its thickness

– remove the bacterial layer from the surface of the water

– create a current, which is necessary for some types of fish.

There is a misconception that it is enough to plant plants in an aquarium – and everything will be in order with oxygen. Fish breathe oxygen and release carbon dioxide, while plants consume carbon dioxide through photosynthesis and release oxygen. It seemed like the perfect teamwork. But at night, without sunlight, plants stop producing oxygen and begin to actively consume it themselves. Accordingly, the level of oxygen in the water drops, and the fish may experience oxygen starvation.

There will be enough oxygen in the water when:

– a large surface area of ​​the aquarium

– the optimal balance of the number of plants and fish.

In other cases, artificial aeration will be required. It is easy to organize it – just purchase a special aerator (compressor) and install it according to the instructions.

Before buying, carefully read the specifications and make sure that the model you choose is suitable for the volume of your aquarium. Ready!

We hope the fish will be comfortable in their house and they will delight their caring owner for a long time.