Is no evaporation bad?

[Anonymous]

This nano cube has been running for several days and no water has evaporated due to the closed lid.

Doesn't that mean there is very little air circulation? Doesn't that lower the O2 levels in the water?

My reef tank is always healthiest when I run the vent fan 24/7 and leave the hood open so that it gets as much surface air exchange as possible.

I have to think that a reef with no interaction with the outside air is going to suffer, but maybe some macro algae will help.

 

[anemonelover]

if you need a completely closed lid (i.e. octopus tank), maybe you can add an air stone to your refugium or sump? Not sure what type of setup you have for your nano. Maybe you should try an O2 test before you start worrying too much!

 

[Anonymous]

Could just mean the closed top keeps the humidity levels right above the water line at such a high level that very little water is coming out. If you're worried about aeration check your pH, low pH is often a sign of that.

 

[Anonymous]

It's a jbj nano cube. Popular tank...lots of people use them. There doesn't appear to be any air exchange happening. The water level has been stable for 4 days.

My 10 gallon at home needs a half gallon a day to keep the water level up.

 

[Anonymous]

No evaporation does not mean there is no air exchange going on.

Your O2 level might in fact be low, but of course it might not be.

Check out some of Brandon's tanks. Completely sealed.

 

[Omni2226]

Mmm if there are fish in it a o2 problem would show up fast..as in dead/dying fish.

I was looking at some of those nanos at my LFS and they are neat. The water filters through a overflow on the back builtin right? Seems like they get enough gas exchange or they wouldnt work and people would be posting all over the forums raising hell.

 

[Anonymous]

Mmm if there are fish in it a o2 problem would show up fast..as in dead/dying fish.

I was looking at some of those nanos at my LFS and they are neat. The water filters through a overflow on the back builtin right? Seems like they get enough gas exchange or they wouldnt work and people would be posting all over the forums raising hell.

That's what I figured. Plus there are three of them set up at my LFS with full reefs and fish in them, so they must work.

I just think it's strange to have a tank that doesn't need an ounce of top off in 5 days. :?

 

[Omni2226]

Heh speaking of those nano cubes..the LFS Im speaking of had some set up with fich coral and everything as one unit...from 499 to 899...very nice setups but out of my league for a 12 to 15 gallon tank.

 

[Meloco14]

Manny did yours come with a fan? Mine didn't, and I put a radio shack fan in the back right over the sump area. My tank definitely evaporates, I have to top it off at least once a week. But I also have some extra heat through lights, 56 watts of PC, and I have a second pump in the tank that creates some surface action. Also, I live in a much less humid climate than you. So maybe you are not having enough movement/surface agitation, or maybe your tank is just at equilibrium with the outside air conditions. As mentioned, you may just want to check your param's, and if nothing is wrong then don't worry about it.

 

[Anonymous]

Manny did yours come with a fan? Mine didn't, and I put a radio shack fan in the back right over the sump area. My tank definitely evaporates, I have to top it off at least once a week. But I also have some extra heat through lights, 56 watts of PC, and I have a second pump in the tank that creates some surface action. Also, I live in a much less humid climate than you. So maybe you are not having enough movement/surface agitation, or maybe your tank is just at equilibrium with the outside air conditions. As mentioned, you may just want to check your param's, and if nothing is wrong then don't worry about it.

The surface has good movement, but the lid just closes so tight that there is little interaction with outside air. Lower humidity indoors because of air conditioning, but that might be a factor anyway in this climate.

It has cooling fans for the lights, but the lights are sealed away from the water by plexi, so the air the fans move is only to cool the lights and does not interact with the surface of the water or the rear "sump" area.

I don't have anything in the tank yet...it's just running with water. But when I do put stuff in, I'll know if there is a problem.

I think it will be fine, since a lot of people have reefs in this same tank without a problem.

 

[brandon4291]

Manny one thing I'd like to mention is to celebrate your non evap!!! I don't like to assume anything is out of whack until an animal or test kit tells you so. Since these nano cubes aren't perfectly sealed, they get air-in/air-out exchange just not to any notable degree. There is an inch or so of air space above your water, under your hood, and relative to oxygen consumption in your system (clean, well maintained, not overstocked with fish etc) it seems to be fine. Fish are your #1 indicator in this setup...if they are breathing heavily at the surface each morning, I'd do something. If not, enjoy your non topoff luck!