Aeration importance

[Family Tank]

While I believe aeration of our water column is important. Can we discuss the different setups and how this is accomplished. AIO and biocubes use a slight trickle over baffles with a very closed top/lid, and seem quite successful. Alot of folks run skimmers while stressing the importance of maintaining an open top. Can you safely run a closed top tank and a skimmer and have sufficient aeration? My reason for asking is to reduce top off. I realize open top is better for heat, lights and carpet surfing ;Wideyed!

 

[mtraylor]

Closed top aquariums do not let the aquarium outgas properly. Not to mention the salt creep issues you may run into. Aeration of the water is achieved with the movement of water and injected bubbles of a skimmer, etc and not from an open top. If you have an aquarium with an open top vs closed top with no aeration.....both environments would be equally uninhabitable due to lack of oxygen.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Skimmers aerate better than the tank top in many cases, but I expect that evaporation goes in lock step with aeration in most cases.

Do you presently have a skimmer?

What is the goal in reducing evaporation?

 

[Family Tank]

I do have a skimmer, an Octopus 110 ,not up and running. I'm putting together a 40 breeder with a 29gallon sump. The sump could off gas,correct? Would an ATS would help with both, aeration and evaporation?
I have a 14gl bio cube and a 15 gallon octogon. They both have stock hoods. The octogon the backside has been cut upon for different HOB filters over yrs. I never have to add top off to the bio.
I was just wondering if it would be easier to maintain a constant salinity w/o the evaporation.

 

[mtraylor]

An ATS will be the best for evaporation. If will do nothing for aeration. A hood will help prevent evaporation. Without evaporation, you are correct that its easier to maintain salinity.