Noob question about oxygen...

[FortuneFavours]

Hi all

Just a simple question really: I was just wondering why isn't there much discussion about oxygen needs in a reef aquarium? Is that because the water agitation from the wavemakers/powerheads is enough?

Do people use oxygen pumps in sumps?

Thanks

 

[disc1]

Do people use oxygen pumps in sumps?

Most of us run protein skimmers which do more than enough.

 

[shesacharmer]

If you don't have a skimmer you want your pumps in the display to agitate the surface to at least some degree.

 

[FortuneFavours]

Most of us run protein skimmers which do more than enough.

Ah, OK. I'll definitely have a skimmer. Thanks!

By the way, do people bother measuring dissolved oxygen levels?

 

[shesacharmer]

Not so much.

 

[FortuneFavours]

Not so much.

OK, thanks.

 

[VAReefDog]

+1- Protein skimmer and water falling over overflow into sump should provide all 02 needed.

 

[FortuneFavours]

+1- Protein skimmer and water falling over overflow into sump should provide all 02 needed.

Will this be sufficient if I both the tank and sump will be covered with lids, thus reducing the amount oxygen available for surface exchange?

Thanks

 

[Sk8r]

Sources: the downflow: should be violent. The skimmer: should be a mass of bubbles going constantly. The flow rate: I use an Iwaki 100 RLT in a 100 gallon tank, flow rate 2136 gallons an hour. The places your return flow doesn't get: a powerhead, to keep the water turning over. Your refugium cheatomorpha moss: very productive of oxygen. And your surface agitation: if you do use a lid on your tank, you should have a fan kit to keep the air moving over the water.

 

[FortuneFavours]

Sources: the downflow: should be violent. The skimmer: should be a mass of bubbles going constantly. The flow rate: I use an Iwaki 100 RLT in a 100 gallon tank, flow rate 2136 gallons an hour. The places your return flow doesn't get: a powerhead, to keep the water turning over. Your refugium cheatomorpha moss: very productive of oxygen. And your surface agitation: if you do use a lid on your tank, you should have a fan kit to keep the air moving over the water.

Ok, I know this is a really stupid question, but does the fan go under the lid and above the water line (to keep the air moving over the water)? Given that there'll only be a few inches of space, what type of fan would I use? Would a semi-submerged wavemaker work?

 

[wooden_reefer]

Both the rate of gas transfer and the saturation level are important.

For saturation, lower temp is important. In fo tanks, lower salinity can also increase saturation concentration but reef tank cannot take lower salinity.

As for rate of transfer, rapid renewal of top layer, agitation of surfaces thus increasing the effective surface area, and bulk circulation in the tank are the keys.