Avoiding CO2 loss caused by sponge filters

[ilaizm]

I have a planted discus tank with a pressurized CO2 setup. I would like to seed a couple of sponge filters in this tank. Is there any way of doing this avoiding the surface agitation which sponge filters create to avoid the loss of CO2?

[Wahter]

I have a planted discus tank with a pressurized CO2 setup. I would like to seed a couple of sponge filters in this tank. Is there any way of doing this avoiding the surface agitation which sponge filters create to avoid the loss of CO2?


Sure! Just don't hook up the airline to the sponge filter and instead use a powerhead to connect to the sponge filter's uplift tube. You'll get circulation without breaking up the surface.



Walter

[ilaizm]

Could you please explain what I should do after removing the airline as I didn't quite understand how I can set it up

[georgarask]

Hello my friend!

You can achieve a high concentration of CO2 and O2 without any problem -CO2 does not affect O2 and the opposite!


Surface Agitation will insure sufficient gas exchange and will prevent the surface film from forming. Even though plants will provide lots of O2 through photosynthesis especially in CO2 injected systems it can’t hurt to add extra O2 via the surface agitation.
One should bear in mind that Oxygen is one of the most important electron acceptors involved in animal and bacterial metabolism.

At higher temperatures O2 levels decrease especially during the summer. When the temperature gets higher it is beneficial to create a strong surface agitation or add another power head for this purpose only. I have found that it is not the temperature that affects the fish/shrimp/plants during summer months but rather the low O2 levels. At higher temperatures the bacterial metabolism accelerates and uses up lots of O2 for nutrient recycling.

E.g. I live on the top floor and during the summer time the temperature of my tanks do go up to 31’Celsius. In the past I believed that this would harm fish, shrimps and plants. Now I know better. What I do under such extreme conditions is that I create a very strong (but no splashes) surface agitation in all my aquariums for good gas
exchange and I never experience any problems with fish/crustaceans or plants.
In planted aquariums keeping good Oxygen levels is as important as keeping good CO2 levels.

From here: http://lowlightlowtechplanted.blogspot.com/

[Wahter]

Okay - this is easy, but if you don't have a powerhead, such as the Marineland 660, you'll need to buy one.

This is the powerhead I'm referencing. Notice the bottom of the powerhead (intake strainer with the point). I have circled it in red.
http://forum.simplydiscus.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=57430&stc=1&d=1278617489

You currently have a sponge filter like this correct? Notice the clear uplift tube. I have circled it in red.
http://forum.simplydiscus.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=57429&stc=1&d=1278617489

Once you've removed the airline (you can remove the airstone inside as well) from the sponge filter, you take the intake of the powerhead and insert it into clear uplift tube of the sponge filter.

http://forum.simplydiscus.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=57427&stc=1&d=1278617047

http://forum.simplydiscus.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=57428&stc=1&d=1278617047

plug the powerhead into the electrical outlet and there you go. It draws water into the sponge and sends it out without disturbing the surface.

HTH,



Walter

[Altum Nut]

I have to say Walter...very nice presentation.
No one should go wrong with those detailed steps.

...Ralph