sasaki@harvard.ARPA (Marty Sasaki) (10/27/85)
The common myth that bubbling air into an aquarium adds oxygen to the
water is not true. Almost no gas exchange happens with bubbles. All of
the gas exchange happens on the surface of the water. This is why
tanks with lots of surface area are "better" for your fish. You can
encourage the gas exchange by agitating the surface of the water.
Actually, bubbling air will help with the oxygen exchange because it
will cause the water in the tank to move around more (sort of like
having a little pump.
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Marty Sasaki net: sasaki@harvard.{arpa,uucp}
Havard University Science Center phone: 617-495-1270
One Oxford Street
Cambridge, MA 02138ned@scirtp.UUCP (Ned Robie) (10/29/85)
> The common myth that bubbling air into an aquarium adds oxygen to the > water is not true. Almost no gas exchange happens with bubbles. All of > the gas exchange happens on the surface of the water. This is why > tanks with lots of surface area are "better" for your fish. You can > encourage the gas exchange by agitating the surface of the water. > > Actually, bubbling air will help with the oxygen exchange because it > will cause the water in the tank to move around more (sort of like > having a little pump. > -- > ---------------- > Marty Sasaki net: sasaki@harvard.{arpa,uucp} Bubbling air into an aquarium DOES add oxygen to the water (albeit indirectly) by agitating the surface (all the bubbles popping) and moving the water around. So it really isn't myth after all, is it? Let's not confuse people... An air pump and a stone in your tank WILL add oxygen to the water and make your fish healthier, livelier, and more colorful. As Marty implies, a large surface area is the most important factor, which is why the standard fish bowl is such bad news for fish. -- Ned Robie