We all breathe oxygen – even fish. Humans inhale air, and the oxygen in the air is transferred to the red blood cells in the lungs. Fish take in water, and the oxygen in the water is transferred to the blood when it passes through the gills. Aeration is the process by which oxygen is transferred from the air to the water. This is relatively easy to accomplish in a freshwater tank, a bit more difficult in a saltwater aquarium
In your fish tank, this happens in a few ways.
First, on the surface of the water in the tank, dissolved gases are released into the air and exchanged for oxygen. The greater the surface area, the greater the amount of oxygen taken in, which is why fancy narrow tanks or fish bowls with very little surface area can only support a couple of fish.
Second, when water passes through a power filter and is exposed to the air before it's pumped back into the tank (which is the case with most power filters) the water is being aerated.
Finally, an air pump connected to a bubbler in the tank - an airstone or one of those little bubbling divers - provides air from the bubbles as they burst in the tank. These are all methods of mechanical aeration. Aeration also occurs when live plants release oxygen as they grow.
Since small freshwater tanks - 10 gallons and less - have little surface area, adding aeration through an airstone can be helpful. In larger freshwater tanks outfitted with power filters, the movement of the water caused by the filter will usually provide enough oxygenated water without an airstone, although the stream of bubbles from the stone can be pleasant to watch and certainly won't be doing any harm.
Related Articles
-
1
Selecting Heaters For Your Freshwater Aquarium
Your aquarium will require a heater to keep the water temperature consistent and provide the optimum conditions for your fish and plants. Like most aquarium equipment, heater types vary in size, efficiency...
» Read More
-
2
Your Guide to Freshwater Aquariums
If you have never had a fish tank before, setting one up may be confusing. To help you establish a freshwater tank, we have assembled some articles to guide you through the initial setup.
» Read More
-
3
Top 20 Freshwater Fish
Building a successful aquarium involves more than just selecting fish on the basis of appearance alone. This guide profiles the 20 most popular freshwater fish. Use it as a summary, then head to your local...
» Read More
-
4
Choosing Fish for Your First Freshwater Aquarium
Your first fish should be hardy species with few special food needs. If you are planning a community tank, find out how big each fish will get, whether they swim in schools, and whether they’re aggressive....
» Read More
