Water Level, Filters and Oxygenation.

[Hugh Mann]

Greetings folks, I just have a couple questions regarding the title topics. This is my first aquarium, ever, so I know I am jumping into the deep end, so to speak, which naturally leaves one with many questions to put to more experienced aquariumists or whatever the parlance may be.

How far from the top of the tank should the water level be to maximize both oxygenation from the filter and used? I currently have my water level about 2" below the top of the aquarium, maybe 1" below the plastic rim. I'm concerned about having it too high and not getting proper oxygenation in the water. I personally don't mind where it's at, but my woman is complaining about how loud the water splashing down is.

Could one have the water level equal with the filter and just run an air pump with stones, or does that pose other issues?

Another concern regarding oxygenation is that pretty quick I'm getting a fairly tight fitting solid glass and plastic lid because my eel is a little escape artist, could that also cause issues getting oxygen into the water?

Thanks in advance, and apologies for the travesty that is my aquascaping.

 

[boacvh]

Greetings folks, I just have a couple questions regarding the title topics. This is my first aquarium, ever, so I know I am jumping into the deep end, so to speak, which naturally leaves one with many questions to put to more experienced aquariumists or whatever the parlance may be.

How far from the top of the tank should the water level be to maximize both oxygenation from the filter and used? I currently have my water level about 2" below the top of the aquarium, maybe 1" below the plastic rim. I'm concerned about having it too high and not getting proper oxygenation in the water. I personally don't mind where it's at, but my woman is complaining about how loud the water splashing down is.

Could one have the water level equal with the filter and just run an air pump with stones, or does that pose other issues?

Another concern regarding oxygenation is that pretty quick I'm getting a fairly tight fitting solid glass and plastic lid because my eel is a little escape artist, could that also cause issues getting oxygen into the water?

Thanks in advance, and apologies for the travesty that is my aquascaping.

Hi! You have come to the right place. If you haven't yet, I recommend you read

https://www.reef2reef.com/ams/the-supreme-guide-to-setting-up-a-saltwater-reef-aquarium.84/

It will answer many of your initial questions.
I am not an expert and pretty sure some will soon chime in. But here are my 2 cents.

I am assuming you are asking because you have a HOB filter and you think the water splashing back in is oxygenating the water? I have this setup on my QT tank. I believe as far as water height, I think as long as you have some powerheads to agitate your surface enough you should have good gas exchange. Raise the water to where you don't have much noise it won't matter.
Curious, do you have a skimmer or a sump for your setup? Depending on what you are planning to have in your tank just an HOB filter might not be enough later on.
I wouldn't run an air stone. Don't think there is anything wrong with it, but the bubbles will spray salt all over the place and make a mess.

The lids will definitely reduce your gas exchange. Perhaps other owners of eels can give you some good advice on this.

And finally, your aquascape is far from travesty, I like it a lot. Just make sure it is sturdy.

Anyway, good luck and I am pinging the experts so they can help you better!

#reefsquad

 

[Hugh Mann]

Thanks for the link, and the information.

Yeah, I've got an aquaclear 110, I was figuring a longer fall, more splashing, more surface agitation. I don't have a skimmer, and the tank isn't drilled for a sump, though I am planning on a HoB refugium or some sort of chaeto reactor due to space and budget limitations. Hoping between that, the live rock and a basic cuc should be enough.

Noted on the airstone. With the lid splashing wouldn't matter, though I could see over time crusting the glass up with salt. My concern with a power head is that my current and most future fish don't like much flow, though if it's only agitating the surface, that might not be so bad.

There's going to be a 2" strip of acrylic on the edge of the glass to have cutouts for all the cords and filters, so I could drill holes in what's left to help gas exchange, might be enough. I just really don't want the eel to end up on the floor and become expensive cat food. I read that this species, Golden Dwarf Moray are good at escaping.

Thanks, it's not all perfectly stable, but takes a good amount of effort to move around. It's not exactly how I want it, but there has to be holes and caves for the critters. It's mostly towards the back of the tank leaving the upfront mostly empty for future fish that like to swim.

 

[SudzFD]

I would fill it up, the horizontal surface movement creates more gas exchange than a waterfall (supposedly). I would add a power head or wave maker and a hob protein skimmer. You will want the skimmer for the eel anyway. They make the water dirty.

 

[Hugh Mann]

I would fill it up, the horizontal surface movement creates more gas exchange than a waterfall (supposedly). I would add a power head or wave maker and a hob protein skimmer. You will want the skimmer for the eel anyway. They make the water dirty.

You think having an almost the whole top covered will have too much of a negative impact? I would've gone pure plexi, but that would've cost nearly as much as the tank itself.

Do you have a recommendation of a powerhead/wave maker/protein skimmer that won't also break the bank? A quick look showed me that half the skimmers out there cost half as much as what I've spent on the entire setup so far.

 

[SudzFD]

It looks like you have about a 60 g tank?

I have you used these two:

this one on my 60 gallon with a moray eel. Works amazing, but a little loud.

https://www.marinedepot.com/aquamax...MI-ZG52rv05wIVhaDsCh3vNw8YEAQYASABEgLDEvD_BwE

I am currently using this one on my 36g. It works. It’s quiet, needs to be unplugged to dump the collection cup and took a while to break in (a week or so). You will need to add a tube to the cup to overflow back into the tank until it breaks in (and leave it there for safety).


For the wave maker, I really like the Jebo’s. cheap but effective. I used a previous version of it in my 60gallon for a couple years.




If you want just a constant flow power head, anything rated for your tank size will work. You could also opt for 2 opposing power heads instead of the wave maker.

 

[Hugh Mann]

It looks like you have about a 60 g tank?

I have you used these two:

this one on my 60 gallon with a moray eel. Works amazing, but a little loud.

https://www.marinedepot.com/aquamax...MI-ZG52rv05wIVhaDsCh3vNw8YEAQYASABEgLDEvD_BwE

I am currently using this one on my 36g. It works. It’s quiet, needs to be unplugged to dump the collection cup and took a while to break in (a week or so). You will need to add a tube to the cup to overflow back into the tank until it breaks in (and leave it there for safety).


For the wave maker, I really like the Jebo’s. cheap but effective. I used a previous version of it in my 60gallon for a couple years.




If you want just a constant flow power head, anything rated for your tank size will work. You could also opt for 2 opposing power heads instead of the wave maker.

It's a 55, but close enough to a 60. About how loud would you say that one is? Personally I don't mind a bit of noise, helps drown out my tinnitus, but noise drives my lady batty.

 

[SeaSickness]

I've used these before: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/koralia-nano-240.html
They were very quiet and reasonable in cost.

 

[SudzFD]

It's a 55, but close enough to a 60. About how loud would you say that one is? Personally I don't mind a bit of noise, helps drown out my tinnitus, but noise drives my lady batty.

i don’t think it will be too loud. You can just here the sound of air moving through sometimes.

 

[SudzFD]

i don’t think it will be too loud. You can just here the sound of air moving through sometimes.

that said, the cheap One I am using now is very quiet, just hear a slight hum from the pump. The other one, the aqua max, you hear the air drawing in and it’s not super loud like the waterfall you have now, but it is noticeable.