Hey Nikki
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I need to know if you can over aerate your tank and how you know if you've done this? Is there a "rule of thumb" when it comes to the amount of aeration?
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If by aeration, you mean an air pump and stone, no
O2 does not dissolve in water very easily. Bubbles from an air stone do not really add a significant amount of O2 to the water. It is the surface of the water in contact with the air in the room where O2 and CO2 exchange takes place. The turbulence on the water surface caused by aeration increases the water surface in contact with the atmosphere. Does that make sense?
I'm not quite sure of what your concern is. The bubbles from an air pump are really only an aesthetic display which happen to facilitate O2 exchange by ruffling the surface. As far as water chemistry you are only going to achieve a level that the water can hold, the rest will gass off.
Take a planted tank for example. My plants produce O2 as photosynthesis takes place. The O2 is gradually dissolved in the water. When the water can not hold anymore O2 they begin to send streams of bubbles (excess O2) to the surface.
I think the real issue is surface agitation and good tank circulation to keep the O2 from being deficient.
Regards,
Jay