Enough Gas Exchange?

[Oxymoron]

I would imagine that if you pointed your powerheads to create some surface agitation. As well as using a skimmer in the sump would provide enough gas exchange.

[Ryan]

Rippling the surface does nothing for gas exchange, there has to be a break in the water for proper gas exchange.

[intarsiabox]

I only have an Aqua C Remora at the moment so I don't know if this gives me a lot of O2 into the water. The sump itself would stay open top.

[Myka]

The Remora should do a fine job. It uses a spray injection for the bubbles, and it creates quite a few. I shouldn't think you would have any issues. If you do, blow a small fan on the skimmer so it gets more fresh air.

[Oxymoron]

Originally Posted by Ryan

Rippling the surface does nothing for gas exchange, there has to be a break in the water for proper gas exchange.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I was under the impression that surface agitation created by powerheads helps break up the film on top of the water for filter's to pick up.
Breaking this film in turn creates a larger surface area for gas exchange to occur.

[Ryan]

Yes but there has to be a break in the tension of water for the air to mix into the water. This is why airstones work so well. There are so many bubble breaking the surface of the water helping with gas exchange.

One question that hasnt been asked is what stocking levels do you have in the tank? How big is the tank?

[Oxymoron]

After reading your first post I spent some time researching the matter.
From what I've found, the general consensus seemed to be that airstones are one of the poorest forms of gas exchange as the surface area of the tiny bubbles are so small.

[Ryan]

There is going to be more surface area in 1000 1ml air bubble there there is on 1 1000ml air bubble. Surface area is what you want with oxygen exchange. Why do you think skimmers have millions of little bubbles instead of a few big bubbles? Because there is more surface area.

[Oxymoron]

I believe that airstones in a reef tank are unnecessary and not needed as long powerheads are positioned to continuously roll water from the bottom of the tank to the top. Your dual overflows and the use of a skimmer should be more than enough. Airstones can also introduce micro bubbles in the display which are unhealthy for the fish. And there's also a build up of salt creep from the spray they create. Hope this helps. Others may have other opinions as this is a topic that has been argued about many times lol.

[intarsiabox]

Originally Posted by Ryan

Yes but there has to be a break in the tension of water for the air to mix into the water. This is why airstones work so well. There are so many bubble breaking the surface of the water helping with gas exchange.

One question that hasnt been asked is what stocking levels do you have in the tank? How big is the tank?

My tank has a 30" x 20" surface area, no stocking yet as I just finished leak testing all the plumbing and am in the process of refilling with RO/DI water. The tank is about 50g and about 15g more in the sump/refugium. It sounds like I should be okay with a glass top. I have never used one before as I've always used MH but for this tank I bought a T5HO fixture so heat shouldn't be as big an issue.