Is your aquarium open-top?

I understand gas exchange, but how much of that can be attributed to open tops compared to skimmers? Just curious how much a good skimmer has to do with it.

I plan on putting my tops back on for Winter to save heat, but I have a 60g sump/fuge too.

 

You dont have a heater? Luna

 

Skimmers do a great job of exchange but they can’t do it all. Especially when many of us have the skimmer in the cabinet which is housing stale air with elevated levels of C02.

Many years ago when I finished my basement I spoke with Tangster who advised my to install a fan over the 55 gallon sump to ensure fresh air over it. It's amazing how stale air can get without movement.

 

I replaced my 300w htr with a 400w heater because it could not keep temp when the halides are off and I live in Colorado.

 

interesting. No matter how brutal the winter I still maintain my house at a comfortable 70 ?

I can see issues in the summer time. I like to maintain my homes ambient air temp at 70 year round, but on the hot and humid summer days of 90+ I can save money and feel comfortable with the house at 76 or so. But I have a hard time understanding what your home temperature is doing during the winter? Do you live in an igloo ? seriously tho, try using both heaters rather than replacing one for the other ?

Edit - a better question is, what are your temperature swings? I am curious as to how high the MH's are taking you during the day. Perhaps a fan might be able to help ?

 

I upped my temp to 80. Htr on at 79.4 off 79.7. My sump/fuge is in my stairway closet with concrete floors and foundation at one end. Had to put up styrofoam on that end because of water condensation. Tank is on foam mats (not insulation). Skimmer and return pump is all. My tank has hit 82 as the highest with halides. Been unseasonably cool this year. Colorado is very dry in the Winter. I evaporate more in Winter than Summer. So I need heat for the Winter, been OK this Summer. Have a chiller but think a fan will do it for me.

I unplugged my heater the other day and forgot about it. My tank got to 75 over night.

 

Not dramatic swings, but I undersand you wanting to maintain a more stable temperature.

 

Absolutely not. I lost 2 diamond gobies due to jumping and that was with a glass lid. There was only a 1/2 inch crack in the back but somehow they found it. So I made my own form fitting top out of acrylic. Jumping out now will be nearly impossible unless they catapult themselves into the filter. lol

 

Just caught up on this thread. We lost our spawning female Six Line Wrasse due to jumping out during the spawn. Our tank has a hanging T5 light over it, which we like and consider the open fresh air circulation necessary. We obtained a second female and spawning has become a daily occurrence along with jumping out of the water. Our solution is a nylon bird netting used for fruit trees. The net gauge is very thin and the openings are 1/2 x 1/2". While possible to get through the net slows them down and they fall back in. It has worked thus far without injury. We have the net stretched over an acrylic panel that has a 1" border. The thinness of the net allows probably 98% of the original light through and acts like an upside down trampoline, very flexible. It is easily removed to wash any salt etc. and put back in before the evening spawn. It does not show at all as it fits between the water surface and the top of the tank. Will try and post some pictures.

 

I voted "No" to the tank being open top because we have a canopy. Three sides of the canopy is wooden, and the back side is eggcrate. Our T5 fixture has about 1/4" clearance from either side, and the fixture has cooling fans built in. So those fans actually do a decent job at circulating the air. And then add on our sump/fuge and Reef Octo skimmer, gas exchange and temperature are definitely not a problem.

Our tank used to be open top. I have noticed no difference between open top and canopy except that the canopy looks 10 times more awesome, and the fish can't make it to the carpet like they could before.