What will happen if I use the bubble bars in my aquarium??

Question

Will it reduce co2 levels because I wanted to have my tank planted and I thought it might reduce it? Also I have heard that most plants need 2wpg and I have some Anacharis in my 60 gallon tank with 1 20 watt light bulb but it has 9,235*K and I wanted to know why have they flourished if they need all that light.

Answer 1

Yes it will reduce CO2 in your tank. As it creates surface movement you are dissolving more oxygen into the tank and releasing CO2. Don't worry about it though, oxygen for your fish is way more important. If you plant your tank really well, you should not need an airstone any longer since the plants will produce oxygen during the day. If you are wanting to try more difficult plants that require high lights, then you should go with 1-2 watts per gallon, and something with a spectrum of at least 15,000K. Your anacharis has thrived probably because it is an easier plant to grow, it only requires medium lights, and it was the only plant in your tank so it had enough nutrients from the fish. Hope this helps :)

Edit: If you are wanting to have a well planted tank, you will want to get CO2 injection. If below me knew anything about photosynthesis or respiration, then she would not have given me thumbs down. Plants take in CO2, and produce O2, and people, animals AND fish, all take in O2 and produce CO2. The CO2 produced by your fish has been enough to supply the plant with CO2. If you are getting more plants, that CO2 will be used up at a higher rate, which requires more lights, and more CO2. The more lighting you have, the more CO2 you should also have. Plants will not take in CO2 at night nor produce oxygen at night. Therefore your CO2 levels will rise at night in your tank, which actually also decreases the pH in your tank. If you are concerned with your fish not getting enough oxygen, added water surface movement will increase oxygen levels in the tank, and at the same time decreasing the CO2 levels. When using CO2 injection I strongly suggest using more air stones.

Answer 2

useing a bubble bar will reduse some of the co2 but is easly replaced useing supliment co2 if needed more over it will create more water flow and plants tend to do better with less water flow

as far as the lighting and why the plants are doing so well unless you have the tank in a dark room the plants are getting more light than just that provided by the lights they are also getting natural light and if you have a reflective background it is enhanceing the light from the lighting