A virtually sealed aquarium

[121]

If an aquarium and sump was 95% sealed on the top with clear acrylic, the water would not be able to carry out natural gas exchange.
Say oxygen was replenished with ozone set on a timer to release at set times throughout the day and night.

Because the tank is virtually sealed, it would not equilibrate with the high level of CO2 in the house. Also you wouldn't have to top up anymore.

What am I missing here?

 

[KafudaFish]

You would still have gas exchange and evaporation due to the 5% opening.

 

[121]

You would need some gas exchange, but you'll only have to top up 5%. I'm thinking the ozone will supply the need oxygen. The lack of nitrogen might retard cyanobacteria.

 

[disc1]

You would need some gas exchange, but you'll only have to top up 5%. I'm thinking the ozone will supply the need oxygen. The lack of nitrogen might retard cyanobacteria.

I don't understand the adding ozone to add oxygen idea. Where is the CO2 produced in the tank going? Photosynthesis? Then why do you need to add oxygen? The idea of a sealed micro-ecosystem has been demonstrated before but the point is not to add or take away anything.

Also I fear that adding enough ozone to take care of all your oxygen needs would result in burning up everything in the tank. Need math to figure for sure but it just seems like that would be an awful lot of ozone.

 

[disc1]

I also think you are grossly underestimating the ability of CO2 to equilibrate itself across that 5% that isn't sealed. That doesn't mean CO2 will only equilibrate to 5% of the level. It only means it will do it at 5% the speed. After a few hours you'll have the same CO2 inside as you do outside even with just a very tiny hole.

 

[kaskiles]

You could seal off both the display tank and sump 100%. Then provide a low flow positive pressure on both with an oxygen/argon gas blend (maybe a scuba blend), allow gas out through a one way valve. Possibly put a fan in the head space to keep it mixed well. After a while of keeping the seal, it should eliminate indoor air CO2 pH impact and possibly inhibit some nitrogen fixation.

 

[Sk8r]

I used to work with this in a very unofficial way, back in the day: one of our friends was the son of a scientist working on space life support, and we were aquatic hobbyists. We were trying to get a scat to live in a sealed bottle. But the 'energy budget' is a pita---a little too much light, this goes out of line; a little more heat input and you've got a problem: you almost need a lab setting to keep that under control. I do have a little remnant of that research: two shrimp in a glass egg that I've had living happily in their little world for 13 years, now. But trying to bottle an entire marine tank? Not so easy as a scat or a shrimp.

 

[disc1]

Not really related to the question, but Sk8r's post made me think of it and it is so cool it must be shared.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencet...garden-thriving-40-years-fresh-air-water.html

 

[Sk8r]

Yep, you can go nuts trying to get sterilized soil and not get mold and then somebody pops some dirt and exactly the right amount of water into a bottle with their seedling and gets an epic terrarium! Neat!

 

[Kawi9_cf]

I used to work with this in a very unofficial way, back in the day: one of our friends was the son of a scientist working on space life support, and we were aquatic hobbyists. We were trying to get a scat to live in a sealed bottle. But the 'energy budget' is a pita---a little too much light, this goes out of line; a little more heat input and you've got a problem: you almost need a lab setting to keep that under control. I do have a little remnant of that research: two shrimp in a glass egg that I've had living happily in their little world for 13 years, now. But trying to bottle an entire marine tank? Not so easy as a scat or a shrimp.

I would absolutely love to see the glass egg!!!