Oxgenation in a Nano Cube

[Steve W]

How can I be sure that I am getting enough oxygenation? Other than the small protein skimmer there are no other obvious sources of oxygen being added to the tank. There is no wet/dry trickle filter in the nanocube. I have a used JBJ 24 gallon deluxe. It is my first tank and I am just getting set up. Should I be doing something more to oxygenate my water. I have a small airstone driven Protein Skimmer (pretty lame - only skims about half the time but the air goes all the time)

I have about 25 # of live rock and about 3 inches of live sand. The one small zoanthid that the guy who sold me the tank threw in, seems to be doing fine, along with a few narc. snails and a couple of blue leg hermit crabs.

Steve Waddell

 

[Engloid]

A skimmer that is sized for the tank, or larger, is more than sufficient for putting oxygen into the water. As long as your skimmer's working, don't worry about it.

If you're really paranoid, take a water sample down to the Aquarium and they can test it for you.

 

[macclellan]

Yeah skimmers are great for oxygenating.

 

[Engloid]

Yeah skimmers are great for oxygenating.

the reason you rarely see a "bubble wand" in a saltwater tank.

On another note, I sold some of my old dead corals that came with an old fish tank the other day. Now, if I could get rid of the cheesy FAKE corals, it would be nice. Anybody want this stuff? I hate to give it away, because I figure it's like a mullet...some people still think it's cool. :lmao:

 

[macclellan]

the reason you rarely see a "bubble wand" in a saltwater tank.

I did run an airstone at night in my skimmer-less reef tank though.

Mullets ARE cool. Skullets are my personal favorite. Can't say the same for fake coral though.

 

[Runner]

I have a 24G Nano cube (probably like yours) with no skimmer or bubble wand or anything like that. Only oxygen exchange is across the water surface and assisted by the twin fans in the hood (which I replaced with some beefier ones on my path to LED (which still lags at the moment even though I have all the parts at home). I have hammers and frogspawn and zoanthids growing well in my tank. I also have a couple of fish and a pistol shrimp and a few snails. No signs of lack of oxygen.

So that being said, your airstone skimmer is more than sufficient for this purpose. Which skimmer are you using? I was thinking about adding one like that to my tank to get a little skimming to off-set waste caused by the voracious appetite of my harlequin basslet.

 

[MattAndKim]

Properly testing for dissolved oxygen is sensitive to the point that, without training or access to a range of reliable standards, you cannot rely on the analysis. Proper testing needs to be done with recent manufacture ampoules and obtained directly from the tank. I sincerely doubt you have any issue with DO levels.

If you desire to properly test DO, these kits are quality and very reliable.
http://www.chemetrics.com/Oxygen+(dissolved)/Visual+Kits/K-7512

The indigo carmine 1-12's are what you would need. Improper use of these could result in a visit to your friendly neighborhood ER.