CO2 exchange problems in Oceanic Biocube14?

D

DarthFred6996

AC Members
Mar 13, 2007
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I am just curious if others have problems keeping the ph stable in a non-modified Biocube14 (or similar) with the tank lid intact? It would seem the trickle in the back would help with oxygen/CO2 exhange as well as having the output directed at the water surface to create ripples. I was reading that a poor CO2 exchange could cause ph problems, and I was wondering if this may be the reason I have to add buffer every 5 days to keep my ph at 8.2.

What can be done to increase the gas exchange in this "closed" system?
 
I was using Instant Ocean but have changed to Reef Crystals as of my last 3 gallon water change. I hope when I get the water changed to all Reef Crystals that it will stabilize. I may see about adding another pump with a spraybar.
 
can you use reef crystals in a FOWLR tank?
 
Added Powerhead

I added a Hagen Aquaclear 402 (now called a 50) with the flow adjusted to 125 gph. With the 143 gph from the stock pump it gives me right at 20 times turn over. I figure the increased circulation has got to help. I also aimed the diverter on the stock pump at the surface more to create more surface agitation. I had to aim the powerhead at a rock to disperse flow better along the back of the tank but I definitely do not have any dead spots now. When I turned it on the detritus from the old dead spots flew around the tank for 30 minutes. My xenia had a field day with the floating particles and the shrimps and wrasse soon adjusted well to the new tank dynamics.

Maybe this will help with my nitrates and algae as well as helping the ph stabilize by greater gas exchange.
 
If you have the room you may also try picking up the AquaClear surface skimmer for your filter. It will help in breaking the water surface and also help keep DOC's from forming at the top of your tank.
 
It is just a powerhead. The filter is integrated into the body of the BioCube14. I do not run carbon, but I have phos-zorb to get rid of any unwanted phosphates. I have 18 LR for my filter. I have 2 lbs in the middle rear chamber and have removed about 75% of the bio-balls. I chose to leave the rest and to have a little trickle effect still remain as I hope it will aid in gas exchange. I do a 3 gallon WC weekly with Reef Crystals being used as of the last WC (IO before that). The surface skimmer you refer to would not work in my application. The Biocube14 has an inflow at the top and the bottom of the tank. The top one is partially in/out of the water so the surface skum gets pulled through and gets sent through the cycle of water. Do you think that a protein skimmer is necessary?
 
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