question about o2

[boxedfish]

Hi, my tank water PH 8 and KH 4. This works out to be co2 1.2ppm. Does this means that my tank is well oxygenated? i am using crushed corals inside a HOF to bring the PH up. Do i still need to use an air pump to provide oxygen? My fauna in the tank needs well oxygenated water.

thanks

[vinz]

The amount of CO2 in the tank water has no direct co-relation to the amount of O2 (oxygen) in the water. So those numbers are useless to you as far as O2 levels are concerned.

Your HOF will churn the water a fair bit, so if you have a few fishes needing normal amount of O2, the HOF is probably doing a good enough job of dissolving O2 into the water.

If you have a lot of plants in the tank, and you are providing the plants with enough fertilisers (including carbon either as CO2 or products like Seachem Excel) and light to photosynthesise, then the plants will provide your tank with enough O2 for the fauna.

If no plants, and:
- If your fauna needs well oxygenated water, then yes, use an air pump.
- If you have a lot of fauna in the tank, use an air pump.

[boxedfish]

thanks for the explanation. appreciate it