Thoughts on Gas exchange for huge tanks.

[LukeOscar]

What's everyone's thoughts and opinions on gas exchange and how sealed the top of a tank should be?

I'm seeing a build floating around on Facebook of an approximate 3000 gallons. Looks to be in a basement. The Poster seems to be getting alot of questions regarding humidity issues. His response is that he will just cover the tank and that will be that.

Does the access to fresh air need to increase with the size of the tank?

Would it be related to stock?

In my brain as stock and gallons increase so would the requirement for more exchange. At some point you'd be into dehumidifiers or exterior venting once a tanks size gets over a certain point. Maybe I'm wrong. But it's not something I see discussed often.

 

[12 Volt Man]

that much water volume in a basement would definitely require a dehumidfier. Thousands of gallons of water is a whole different ballgame than most of us have. Most of us even with many tanks only have hundreds of gallons of water (eg. I have 240g in my basement, a 90g and a 150g) and its fine. Tanks have normal glass tops.

Covering the top does reduce evaporation but some will always escape. Tank tops are not air tight and they shouldn't be. At some point if the top were sealed the gas exchange process that takes place at the water's surface would have 'used up' the available oxygen in that space if it was not replenished with circulating air.

 

[duanes]

When I lived in the states, I had about 1500 gallons of tanks, mostly uncovered, average 125 gallon each, on the 1st floor of a small house.
Before I could sell the house, I had to replace some warped flooring, and a few other incidentals, and have it totally remediated

 

[puffers4puffers]

Smells like a not great idea…3000 gallons…in the basement!
I hope there is a dehumidifier AND copious amounts of auxiliary ventilation