replacing evaporated water

rwyankees · 02/22/2008, 07:25 PM

I was just curious. I have to replace water in our tank about 2-3 times a week due to evaporation. Should I top it off with freshwater since salt doesn't evaporate, or should I mix up some saltwater to top it off with. Just curious eventually I want to put a sump in but since I am new to the hobby I will have to do some more research before I do that. Any thoughts would be nice.

horwitzs · 02/22/2008, 07:28 PM

Your theory is correct, top off with fresh water.
(but make sure you still test salinity regularly anyways)

NewFish3 · 02/22/2008, 07:33 PM

YES.......horwitzs is correct....and yes always always test the salinity. But depending on how big the tank is, you wont get a correct reading right away.

You might want to wait about a hour or so....again depending on how big the tank

rwyankees · 02/22/2008, 07:34 PM

it is a 55 gallon tank

horwitzs · 02/22/2008, 07:38 PM

And remember it is better to top off with smaller doses more often, than once in a while when it needs a lot. This will reduce fluxuations that will stress inhabitants, especially inverts.

NewFish3 · 02/22/2008, 07:42 PM

I would wait 3 -4 hours for a accurate reading. Also what are you checking the salinity with.

If your using a plastic DeepSix or some other plastic hydrometer......IMO....give it to the dog to play with.

Invest in a refractometer, You can get a good one for around $50.00 to $80.00.......as long as you calibrate it once and a wile., its balls on

NewFish3 · 02/22/2008, 07:47 PM

Again.......IMO......I check my water level almost every time I walk by the tank. even if it 3 times a day or 20. I just look.

Depending where you live & weather conditions will affect it.

I have had times where I go 2 days before I have to top off & I have days that I have done 2 little top offs in one day

rwyankees · 02/22/2008, 07:52 PM

Thanks I appreciate the comments..... do you recommend any special brand of refractometer good quality with low price?

woogy · 02/22/2008, 07:56 PM

i have a sybon refractometer...never had to calibrate as of yet and had it for over a year...cost about 40 bones

NewFish3 · 02/22/2008, 08:10 PM

I dont have a Sybon....( my dumb butt ) I paid $95.00 for mine.....But you can get a good Sybon FG100SA from www.aquacave.com for $49.95.

My friend bought this Sybon, we compared them in my water & then in his water......NO DIFFERANCE..

BUT....IMO you can calibrate it with RO water ao 0.0
But I buy the pinpoint cal fluid....& its balls on

jamest0o0 · 02/22/2008, 08:16 PM

(sorry to hijack) but does evaporation cause a huge change in salinity because I just manually top off and I plan on eventually having an anemone..... could this cause any problems?

NewFish3 · 02/22/2008, 08:21 PM

Are you topping off with RO water or salt water ???

jamest0o0 · 02/22/2008, 08:30 PM

RO

NewFish3 · 02/22/2008, 08:46 PM

If you are topping off with RO it should not make that much of a dif. However....how much are you having to toop off ???

If your salinity is changing that much......how much water are you having to top off.

If its that much...........maybe start looking for a leak

jamest0o0 · 02/22/2008, 08:49 PM

no, I'm not having problems I mean could manually topping off and not using an ATO cause problems with more sensitive inverts?

NewFish3 · 02/22/2008, 09:01 PM

Well... some a anemone like to go toward the top because thats where the light is. If the water gets too low, he might start to shrivel up.

My anemone in my BioCube is right at the top, when I do a water change the water drops 2 inches & he just curls up.

As long as the salinity doesn't change to much, you should be ok....BUT Dont rely on the ATO... check it for your self.. averytime you walk by the tank, Dont forget

lol lol lol ...... I just had a flashback of what my dad used to ask me.

Did you pick up the dogs poop..... I would say, sorry I forgot

His responce....You didn't forget to eat today did you????

Next time you eat, go out & pick up the poop

((( sorry, just a flash back )))

cilyjr · 02/22/2008, 09:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by NewFish3
Well... some a anemone like to go toward the top because thats where the light is. If the water gets too low, he might start to shrivel up.

I just had a flashback of what my dad used to ask me.

Did you pick up the dogs poop..... I would say, sorry I forgot

His responce....You didn't forget to eat today did you????

Next time you eat, go out & pick up the poop

((( sorry, just a flash back )))

hahahahahahaahahaha are we cousins or something

NewFish3 · 02/22/2008, 09:14 PM

cilyjr,

?????? why...... same flashback. lol lol lol lol

Well Iam Italian & have family in NY...????

jamest0o0 · 02/23/2008, 11:09 AM

haha .... anyways thanks!

02/22/2008, 07:25 PM	#1
rwyankees Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Robins AFB Posts: 33	replacing evaporated water I was just curious. I have to replace water in our tank about 2-3 times a week due to evaporation. Should I top it off with freshwater since salt doesn't evaporate, or should I mix up some saltwater to top it off with. Just curious eventually I want to put a sump in but since I am new to the hobby I will have to do some more research before I do that. Any thoughts would be nice.

02/22/2008, 07:33 PM	#3
NewFish3 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,096	YES.......horwitzs is correct....and yes always always test the salinity. But depending on how big the tank is, you wont get a correct reading right away. You might want to wait about a hour or so....again depending on how big the tank __________________ On a scuba dive in the Cayman Islands, I kept thinking.........Why is that Fish getting bigger.........Then it hit me Current Tank Info: 7 years saltwater.. Setting up a 120 gal reef. Office BioCube 14...1 perc clown, 1 royal gramma, 1 six line wrasse, fire shrimp, cleaner shrimp, green stripe, brown shrooms, coco worm, purple leather, Misc CUC

02/22/2008, 07:42 PM	#6
NewFish3 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,096	I would wait 3 -4 hours for a accurate reading. Also what are you checking the salinity with. If your using a plastic DeepSix or some other plastic hydrometer......IMO....give it to the dog to play with. Invest in a refractometer, You can get a good one for around $50.00 to $80.00.......as long as you calibrate it once and a wile., its balls on __________________ On a scuba dive in the Cayman Islands, I kept thinking.........Why is that Fish getting bigger.........Then it hit me Current Tank Info: 7 years saltwater.. Setting up a 120 gal reef. Office BioCube 14...1 perc clown, 1 royal gramma, 1 six line wrasse, fire shrimp, cleaner shrimp, green stripe, brown shrooms, coco worm, purple leather, Misc CUC

02/22/2008, 07:47 PM	#7
NewFish3 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,096	Again.......IMO......I check my water level almost every time I walk by the tank. even if it 3 times a day or 20. I just look. Depending where you live & weather conditions will affect it. I have had times where I go 2 days before I have to top off & I have days that I have done 2 little top offs in one day __________________ On a scuba dive in the Cayman Islands, I kept thinking.........Why is that Fish getting bigger.........Then it hit me Current Tank Info: 7 years saltwater.. Setting up a 120 gal reef. Office BioCube 14...1 perc clown, 1 royal gramma, 1 six line wrasse, fire shrimp, cleaner shrimp, green stripe, brown shrooms, coco worm, purple leather, Misc CUC

02/22/2008, 08:10 PM	#10
NewFish3 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,096	I dont have a Sybon....( my dumb butt ) I paid $95.00 for mine.....But you can get a good Sybon FG100SA from www.aquacave.com for $49.95. My friend bought this Sybon, we compared them in my water & then in his water......NO DIFFERANCE.. BUT....IMO you can calibrate it with RO water ao 0.0 But I buy the pinpoint cal fluid....& its balls on __________________ On a scuba dive in the Cayman Islands, I kept thinking.........Why is that Fish getting bigger.........Then it hit me Current Tank Info: 7 years saltwater.. Setting up a 120 gal reef. Office BioCube 14...1 perc clown, 1 royal gramma, 1 six line wrasse, fire shrimp, cleaner shrimp, green stripe, brown shrooms, coco worm, purple leather, Misc CUC

02/22/2008, 07:28 PM	#2
horwitzs Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Kitsap Penninsula Posts: 470	Your theory is correct, top off with fresh water. (but make sure you still test salinity regularly anyways)

02/22/2008, 07:34 PM	#4
rwyankees Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Robins AFB Posts: 33	it is a 55 gallon tank

02/22/2008, 07:38 PM	#5
horwitzs Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Kitsap Penninsula Posts: 470	And remember it is better to top off with smaller doses more often, than once in a while when it needs a lot. This will reduce fluxuations that will stress inhabitants, especially inverts.

02/22/2008, 07:52 PM	#8
rwyankees Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Robins AFB Posts: 33	Thanks I appreciate the comments..... do you recommend any special brand of refractometer good quality with low price?

02/22/2008, 07:56 PM	#9
woogy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Western PA Posts: 986	i have a sybon refractometer...never had to calibrate as of yet and had it for over a year...cost about 40 bones

02/22/2008, 08:16 PM	#11
jamest0o0 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,325	(sorry to hijack) but does evaporation cause a huge change in salinity because I just manually top off and I plan on eventually having an anemone..... could this cause any problems? __________________ Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby

02/22/2008, 08:21 PM	#12
NewFish3 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,096	Are you topping off with RO water or salt water ??? __________________ On a scuba dive in the Cayman Islands, I kept thinking.........Why is that Fish getting bigger.........Then it hit me Current Tank Info: 7 years saltwater.. Setting up a 120 gal reef. Office BioCube 14...1 perc clown, 1 royal gramma, 1 six line wrasse, fire shrimp, cleaner shrimp, green stripe, brown shrooms, coco worm, purple leather, Misc CUC

02/22/2008, 08:30 PM	#13
jamest0o0 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,325	RO __________________ Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby

02/22/2008, 08:46 PM	#14
NewFish3 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,096	If you are topping off with RO it should not make that much of a dif. However....how much are you having to toop off ??? If your salinity is changing that much......how much water are you having to top off. If its that much...........maybe start looking for a leak __________________ On a scuba dive in the Cayman Islands, I kept thinking.........Why is that Fish getting bigger.........Then it hit me Current Tank Info: 7 years saltwater.. Setting up a 120 gal reef. Office BioCube 14...1 perc clown, 1 royal gramma, 1 six line wrasse, fire shrimp, cleaner shrimp, green stripe, brown shrooms, coco worm, purple leather, Misc CUC

02/22/2008, 08:49 PM	#15
jamest0o0 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,325	no, I'm not having problems I mean could manually topping off and not using an ATO cause problems with more sensitive inverts? __________________ Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby

02/22/2008, 09:01 PM	#16
NewFish3 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,096	Well... some a anemone like to go toward the top because thats where the light is. If the water gets too low, he might start to shrivel up. My anemone in my BioCube is right at the top, when I do a water change the water drops 2 inches & he just curls up. As long as the salinity doesn't change to much, you should be ok....BUT Dont rely on the ATO... check it for your self.. averytime you walk by the tank, Dont forget lol lol lol ...... I just had a flashback of what my dad used to ask me. Did you pick up the dogs poop..... I would say, sorry I forgot His responce....You didn't forget to eat today did you???? Next time you eat, go out & pick up the poop ((( sorry, just a flash back ))) __________________ On a scuba dive in the Cayman Islands, I kept thinking.........Why is that Fish getting bigger.........Then it hit me Current Tank Info: 7 years saltwater.. Setting up a 120 gal reef. Office BioCube 14...1 perc clown, 1 royal gramma, 1 six line wrasse, fire shrimp, cleaner shrimp, green stripe, brown shrooms, coco worm, purple leather, Misc CUC

02/22/2008, 09:14 PM	#18
NewFish3 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,096	cilyjr, ?????? why...... same flashback. lol lol lol lol Well Iam Italian & have family in NY...???? __________________ On a scuba dive in the Cayman Islands, I kept thinking.........Why is that Fish getting bigger.........Then it hit me Current Tank Info: 7 years saltwater.. Setting up a 120 gal reef. Office BioCube 14...1 perc clown, 1 royal gramma, 1 six line wrasse, fire shrimp, cleaner shrimp, green stripe, brown shrooms, coco worm, purple leather, Misc CUC

02/23/2008, 11:09 AM	#19
jamest0o0 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,325	haha .... anyways thanks! __________________ Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby