Chemicals
Some chemicals used to treat disease or modify water parameters can also impact the oxygen-carrying capacity of the water. Whenever using chemical additives, always read product literature to ensure it doesn’t have a negative effect on oxygen capacity. When troubleshooting an oxygen problem, discontinue the use of any chemicals that are not absolutely needed. Obviously, fish need oxygen to breathe, plants need oxygen at night and the beneficial bacteria need oxygen to break down (oxygenate) waste. Basically everything that dies off or decays in the aquarium requires and therefore depletes oxygen. Unhealthy or dead plants, decaying live rock and live sand, and uneaten food just to name a few.
Organic acids, proteins, and carbohydrates can also reduce the oxygen level in the aquarium. Oxygen enters the water through gas exchange in two ways: Surface agitation Plant photosynthesis The amount of oxygen that can be dissolved (saturated) in the water is dependent on the water temperature and salinity levels. Increasing temperatures and salinity will allow less oxygen to be saturated in the water. For example, a freshwater aquarium with a temperature of 75 F can dissolve 8.4 ppm of oxygen. A saltwater tank with a temperature of 82.4 F and a salinity of 15 ppt can dissolve 7.18 of oxygen. The above levels show 100% saturation, the maximum possible. The average saturation in an aquarium is about 70%. The level of dissolved oxygen varies throughout the day, it is higher during the lighting period and has the lowest concentration in the early morning hours. Some reasons for low dissolved oxygen levels are: a short lighting period in planted tanks, plants produce oxygen during the lighting period and use up oxygen at night an overstocked tank, which translates to larger amounts of waste created that in return requires more bacteria to oxygenate the waste no or too little water agitation waste rotting in the filter or in the gravel Another term in connection with dissolved oxygen is the Redox (reduction-oxidation) potential. In simple words Redox refers to the relation of oxygen and waste particles. The more waste, the less Redox potential due to lesser oxygen. Redox can be measured in mV and the range should be between 150 to 250 mV. Redox is also related to the biological oxygen demand (BOD). BOD is the measurement of how much oxygen is needed to break down the waste created. The higher the BOD value, the worse the quality of the water. An acceptable BOD value is at about 1-2 mg/l (ppm). Nitrates contribute to high BOD levels, since this generally indicates a high break down rate of waste.