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... An experiment on methods to increase dissolved oxygen

G

gogol

This atricle suggests that an algae trough (perhaps even a refugium ??) with reverse lighting is the best bet at keeping oxygen levels up after lights go out in the main tank. It also refutes the urban myth that skimmers( at least of the sizes that we deploy) help in this regard.

Nature - 1 | Man made contraptions - 0

Interesting read .... http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-08/eb/index.php
 
JRWOHLER

JRWOHLER

Thanks good read. I do keep my fuge on reverse life cycle, when my bulb went I noticed the lowest PH reading overnight for what it is worth.
 
V

vangvace

Borneman really needs an editor. The article seems to coincide with RHF's work on pH, which makes since with how oxygen and CO2 interact.

Edit: and for nanos... 1 for man made contraptions. lol
 
V

vangvace

gogol said:
... a link of the mentioned article pretty please. I am a glowing example of nanos (40G) without the contraption. Here is an RC discussion regarding skimmerless systems:

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?p=15886950&posted=1#post15886950

My post is number 72 where I explain my setup, observations and conclusions.
Click to expand...

No problem, it's mentioned here in regards to photosynthesis and why pH swings occur once the lights go off and here in which aeration and/or injecting CO2 into the system to lower pH. He also mentions in the second one how aeration is easier to bring oxygen into equilibrium than CO2.

Borneman does point out in his article that skimmers have a large effect on nano O2 levels, but as the tank gets larger, the skimmer doesn't increase proportionately.

I am disappointed that only one system was tested purely skimmerless without overflows and that the cheato wasn't tested in a low flow state despite his claims that low flow will have the same effect on oxygen levels as no flow.

Also, I never said that you need a skimmer. I've only recently been running one myself and it's going to transfer from my 18g to 75g soon.
 
G

gogol

1: Aeration does not mean use of a skimmer. The prime gas exchange happens from the water surface. The only way airstones aid is to make the surface turbulent and increasing the water surface. A sump with its many baffles also achieves the same thing.

2: Running refugium/algae trap in a reverse cycle takes care of the pH issue.
In the day cycle of DT : Photosynthesis (zooxanthalea and algae) release O2 consume CO2, animals (fishes, snails, inverts) do the reverse during respiration thus balancing each other out.

In the night cycle of DT: Everything in the DT respire and consume 02 releasing C02, however it is the day cycle in your refugium where Co2 is consumed and 02 is released by photosynthesis.

3. I am sure that pH problems are not the top most concern in the minds of skimmer enthusiasts. They try to remove organics released by tank inhabitants to achieve a more controllable environment.

The third in my mind is a questionable practice. I am perusing a theory that a high amount of nutrients help sustain large colonies of microscopic life which are of immense importance to the reef ecosystem. The gunk in the collection cup may well be living tissue pulp. But that's just my way of thinking.
 
V

vangvace

1: I never implied aeration = skimmer, my apologies if you thought I did. The article does point out that
Airstones and skimmers appear to be a very effective means of oxygenating small water volumes.
Click to expand...

While I disagree with the airstones part because of the salt creep it can produce and other devices available that are superior for what it does.

I'm also not denying that a RDP fuge keeps pH in check, but I am disappointed with how he glosses over something that, even in 2005, was popular when he did his oxygen level checks. No water movement vs a MJ1200 in a 10 gallon??? really??? (Not directed at anyone but Borneman btw) I would have liked to see him test a system with refugium typical flow, whether it was a display refugium or probing the fuge area of one of his systems.

I believe there was a limited study done on what is actually in a collection cup. I'll see if I can find it.
 
JRWOHLER

JRWOHLER

Yes more of a at home study vs serious controlled experiment I hear what you are saying. Was good in that it makes you think but hardly answers all the questions.
 
G

gogol

My reason to concentrate on the skimmer gunk was to find out if microorganisms are being mashed to a pulp by our champion skimmers. I have a sneaky feeling that the needlewheels and pinwheels of our skimmers are more damaging in this aspect when compared to the propeller shaped impalers of our pumps.

The article was a very interesting read, but the writer in his own confession says that he had concentrated more on heavy metal removal than organics. The organics he does say can be taken care of by use of carbon and by having a bio diverse sand bed.

What was disheartening is that he mentions that the high concentration of heavy metal is a result of bad artificial sea salt being used. Has anyone ever tried to boil natural sea water and get the salt from there? Much easier than lugging the water home. If you want to take go a step further you can use a solar cooker to boil the water .. :)
 
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