How much evap is right?

callsign4223 · 06/14/2014, 03:15 PM

I am running a 120 gallon tall with a 25 gallon sump. When I first set this tank up I only had 1 side of the glass cover. At that point I was getting about 5 gallons of evap a week. I went to lowes and got the other side's glass top and installed it, now I've only had about 2 gallons evap in 2 weeks. Is this a problem?

dmh41532 · 06/14/2014, 03:25 PM

are you covering the tank? I don't think covering the display is a good idea because of gas exchange. the rate of evaporation vary from tank to tank, my tanks have always seemed to evaporate more water during the winter months than the summer, but to answer your question, there's no right rate of evaporation.

callsign4223 · 06/14/2014, 03:44 PM

I'm covering the tank, but the sump is open so there should be plenty of gas exchange going on there I would think.

oh207 · 06/14/2014, 04:41 PM

On my 65g I'm evaporating about 8 gallons in the winter and 5 gallons in the summer. The tank should definitely NOT be covered with the glass cover. As previous poster mentioned, the lid should be off to allow for gas exchange. It also helps with heat issues and also light penetration, especially if you have a high tank.

gpdno · 06/14/2014, 05:08 PM

My 150 gal DT plus 50 gal refugium looses about 8 gal over a 24 hr period.

bnumair · 06/14/2014, 05:48 PM

Every tank is different and every situation is different. My 400 gal in-wall in garage tank evaporates 20+ gal in a week. Garage gets 140F in hot summer days.

jam583 · 06/14/2014, 07:05 PM

I have a canopy on my tank and the glass is on under it. With an open sump, why is gas exchange an issue?

DavidinGA · 06/14/2014, 07:07 PM

1-3% total volume in evaporation.

JR8999 · 06/14/2014, 07:36 PM

I have the same question jam. I have the same cover setup.

planedoc · 06/14/2014, 07:47 PM

It depends on aeration, water flow, how much surface area is exposed to the air and how much airflow there is above the water. The current humidity level in the air also is a big factor. Like said above average is 1.5 % or 1.5 gallons per 100 gallons of tank water per day.

James77 · 06/14/2014, 08:04 PM

There is no set amount. Planedoc pointed out many of the factors.

I have had tank setups that lost 5 gallons (175g with basement sump) a day to some that lost a half gallon a day(120g with glass tops).

Losing too much or too little is not a problem at all....as long as you keep salinity constant. The more that is lost is the more heat that is released.....so if you are struggling with heat, more evaporation is better. Heaters running too much, less evaporation is better

callsign4223 · 06/14/2014, 08:19 PM

Ok got it. Worry about the temp and salinity, don't freak out over the evap.

Thanks for all the comments, with this being the first saltwater tank and the price of the livestock I REALLY don't wanna screw anything up so every little thing that seems off kinda freaks me out a little.

Dmorty217 · 06/14/2014, 08:46 PM

My 220g evaps between 25-30g a wk depending on if my AC is on and if my fan is blowing on my hammerhead and over the sump

ReefPony · 06/14/2014, 10:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidinGA

1-3% total volume in evaporation.

Is that a guideline or just personal experience? By my math, I'm losing about 1.75 gallons a week in a system with about 32 gallons of total water volume. That works out to almost 5.5% of my water volume lost to evaporation a week.

Is that high? From my perspective, I barely notice and I'm using the old fashioned "auto" top off - a 4 cup measuring cup.

DavidinGA · 06/15/2014, 07:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefPony

Is that a guideline or just personal experience? By my math, I'm losing about 1.75 gallons a week in a system with about 32 gallons of total water volume. That works out to almost 5.5% of my water volume lost to evaporation a week.

Is that high? From my perspective, I barely notice and I'm using the old fashioned "auto" top off - a 4 cup measuring cup.

Just my experience. As others have said some variables can have a huge impact (like running glass tops to minimize loss).

ca1ore · 06/15/2014, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oh207

On my 65g I'm evaporating about 8 gallons in the winter and 5 gallons in the summer. The tank should definitely NOT be covered with the glass cover. As previous poster mentioned, the lid should be off to allow for gas exchange. It also helps with heat issues and also light penetration, especially if you have a high tank.

There are certainly pros and cons to having glass covers over your tank, but if you have adequate water flow through the sump and/or run a skimmer, gas exchange will not be a problem with a glass cover.

06/14/2014, 03:15 PM	#1
callsign4223 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 348	How much evap is right? I am running a 120 gallon tall with a 25 gallon sump. When I first set this tank up I only had 1 side of the glass cover. At that point I was getting about 5 gallons of evap a week. I went to lowes and got the other side's glass top and installed it, now I've only had about 2 gallons evap in 2 weeks. Is this a problem?

06/14/2014, 04:41 PM	#4
oh207 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Amityville, NY Posts: 762	On my 65g I'm evaporating about 8 gallons in the winter and 5 gallons in the summer. The tank should definitely NOT be covered with the glass cover. As previous poster mentioned, the lid should be off to allow for gas exchange. It also helps with heat issues and also light penetration, especially if you have a high tank. __________________ -oh207 Current Tank Info: DB 65g RR Tank, 30g Sump w sock & fuge, EHEIM 3000 Rtn. Pump, Araganite 40lbs, 40lbs base rock, 60lbs LR, EHEIM 150W Jager Heater, Ecotech MP40wES & MP10wES Vortech Propeller Pump, Ecotech Radion XR30w LED, Seaside Aquatics Protein Skimmer (CS7-150g)

06/14/2014, 05:08 PM	#5
gpdno Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Venice, FL Posts: 147	My 150 gal DT plus 50 gal refugium looses about 8 gal over a 24 hr period. __________________ Greg 150 gal DT, 50 gal Sump/Refugium Enjoy and don't rush it. Your personal reef is like a garden. You can't expect tomatoes the day after you plant the seeds. Current Tank Info: 150 gal Reef w/50 gal refugium

06/14/2014, 05:48 PM	#6
bnumair Dr. Reef at ur service Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tulsa, Ok, USA Posts: 7,751 Blog Entries: 15	Every tank is different and every situation is different. My 400 gal in-wall in garage tank evaporates 20+ gal in a week. Garage gets 140F in hot summer days. __________________ Water Quality: NO3 0,Phos 0,Cal 440,Alk 7.5,Mag 1300 "Reef Fast, You Crash, Reef Slow, You Pass" Mike's Reef 3:16 Current Tank Info: 350g DT,95g sump, 50g Frag tank, 4800gph return 4x Sea swirls. 6x AI Vega Color. 200# Pukani rock, dual recirculating skimmer, Biopellet, GFO Carbon rx's, Cal rx. Closed loop. 1.5hp chiller, genesis renew. Apex & RKE

06/14/2014, 07:07 PM	#8
DavidinGA Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Posts: 2,393	1-3% total volume in evaporation. __________________ Giant money pit, but it's a happy pit ;) Current tank: 6ft 210gal SPS, 3~eBay led boxes, 4~80w T5's, sro3000int, RW20's, Reef Angel, reactors, pumps, rocks, sand, yadda yadda yadda...

06/14/2014, 03:25 PM	#2
dmh41532 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Bellefontaine Ohio Posts: 771	are you covering the tank? I don't think covering the display is a good idea because of gas exchange. the rate of evaporation vary from tank to tank, my tanks have always seemed to evaporate more water during the winter months than the summer, but to answer your question, there's no right rate of evaporation.

06/14/2014, 03:44 PM	#3
callsign4223 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 348	I'm covering the tank, but the sump is open so there should be plenty of gas exchange going on there I would think.

06/14/2014, 07:05 PM	#7
jam583 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Phoenix, MD Posts: 260	I have a canopy on my tank and the glass is on under it. With an open sump, why is gas exchange an issue?

06/14/2014, 07:36 PM	#9
JR8999 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 345	I have the same question jam. I have the same cover setup. __________________ 56g Column DT, 11g Aqueon sump with/socks, Lifereef overflow, Aqumaxx HOB-1 Skimmer, 2 Jaebo heaters, DT: 2 OC Clowns and 1 Royal Gramma along with various corals grown from frags. Current Tank Info: 56g Column

06/14/2014, 07:47 PM	#10
planedoc Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 535	It depends on aeration, water flow, how much surface area is exposed to the air and how much airflow there is above the water. The current humidity level in the air also is a big factor. Like said above average is 1.5 % or 1.5 gallons per 100 gallons of tank water per day.

06/14/2014, 08:04 PM	#11
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	There is no set amount. Planedoc pointed out many of the factors. I have had tank setups that lost 5 gallons (175g with basement sump) a day to some that lost a half gallon a day(120g with glass tops). Losing too much or too little is not a problem at all....as long as you keep salinity constant. The more that is lost is the more heat that is released.....so if you are struggling with heat, more evaporation is better. Heaters running too much, less evaporation is better __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

06/14/2014, 08:19 PM	#12
callsign4223 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 348	Ok got it. Worry about the temp and salinity, don't freak out over the evap. Thanks for all the comments, with this being the first saltwater tank and the price of the livestock I REALLY don't wanna screw anything up so every little thing that seems off kinda freaks me out a little.

06/14/2014, 08:46 PM	#13
Dmorty217 Saltwater Addict Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Vandalia OHIO Posts: 11,624	My 220g evaps between 25-30g a wk depending on if my AC is on and if my fan is blowing on my hammerhead and over the sump __________________ Fish are not disposable commodities, but a worthwhile investment that can be maintained and enjoyed for many years, providing one is willing to take the time to understand their requirements and needs Current Tank Info: 625g, 220g sump, RD3 230w, Vectra L1 on a closed loop, 3 MP60s, MP40. Several QTs