It's not the movement but the surface tension that promote air exchange. Most plants actually don't like to have their root disturbed too much, so having a current strong enough to promote sufficient air exchange may be bad to them. Speaking of experience, I once have a set up with a slow too strong and it make the roots all tangles up and it kinda stunt the growth of the plants. Also it might not generate enough oxygen if you start getting green water which you will most certainly do with the high amount of nitrogen waste and direct sunlight.philip_hughes wrote:Nice. I may have to resort to something like that, i would prefer it if the mass movement from the plants could generate a similar effect.
Do not overestimate the need of nitrogen of plants, they require a very small amount very slowly, almost guarantee slower than what your fishes will produce. That's why in aquarium, it takes a large amount of plants that turn the tank practically into a rain forest to achieve a perfect balance just for a few fishes.