Oxygen - How much is enough?

[ryanoh]

Now that I'm running a canister filter I don't have the waterfall effect from my HOB filter, and I'm sort of worried about not aerating the water enough. Should I be running a an airstone, or do you think that my plants are putting enough O2 into the water? Other than just making sure the fish aren't gasping for air is there a way to test the O2 in my water?

 

[Lotus]

As long as the tank isn't overcrowded, it has a reasonable surface area and you have live plants, it shouldn't be an issue.

If your canister has a spray bar, that will give a lot of surface movement for oxygen -- some brands have them as an add-on.

 

[ryanoh]

I do have a spraybar, but I have it set a few inches under the water so it isn't really breaking the surface. Are you saying that just by causing current its helping to aerate?

 

[Lotus]

Yes, it will aerate the water, even if it's not breaking the surface.