Evaporation- how much is too much

Yankees2519 · 03/21/2008, 10:46 AM

I recently upgraded from 260w PCs with a glass top, to 350w MHs with egg crate. Im evaporating on average 1-2 gallons a day. I have to top off with fresh RO water every day. Anyways, i was wondering if other people are evaporating that much. My other question is, the tank is in my bedroom, and being winter there is not much ventilation, i cant imagine that evaporating that much seawater (tankwater) into a non ventilated bedroom can be a good thing?

hyperfocal · 03/21/2008, 10:55 AM

Ventilation is your friend.

Yankees2519 · 03/21/2008, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hyperfocal
Ventilation is your friend.

lookin forward to spring, lol

rbursek · 03/21/2008, 11:01 AM

I have a covered hood on mine, and an open fuge/sump in the basement, I loose about 1 1/2gal a day depending on parametric preasure.

luke33 · 03/21/2008, 11:03 AM

I loose 3-5g per day on mine with t5's and two fans. With an open top, fuge and sump.

cfw1199 · 03/21/2008, 11:07 AM

LOL.....I thought my tank was leaking when I added my MH's....I was going nuts.....almost 2 gallons a day...keeps the rodi and the water company happy

Vapour1ze · 03/21/2008, 11:15 AM

i have cases of cases of distilled as i lose about 2 a day in my 29. =]

erikages · 04/14/2008, 11:00 PM

Every ounce of evaporation is a good thing.

More air exchange; more stable temperatures and various gas levels in the tank.

All good.

BLKTANG · 04/14/2008, 11:02 PM

2g a day on my reef.

DJChesnutRabbit · 04/14/2008, 11:09 PM

3 plus gallons a day here.

shackscs · 04/19/2008, 05:23 AM

I added more RO to my sump again today and then started to check for leaks since I had just added a couple of gallons the day before yesterday. I had no idea I would loose this much water a day.

I have a 125 open top tank with a 33 gallon refugium.

Maybe I should have allowed the return area to be larger. Water enters from both sides of the sump into the center and then back into the tank. (Thanks to Melvee for the idea).

Swoop · 04/21/2008, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by shackscs
I added more RO to my sump again today and then started to check for leaks since I had just added a couple of gallons the day before yesterday. I had no idea I would loose this much water a day.

I have a 125 open top tank with a 33 gallon refugium.

Maybe I should have allowed the return area to be larger. Water enters from both sides of the sump into the center and then back into the tank. (Thanks to Melvee for the idea).

Is it me or is your Skimmer and Fuge on the wrong sides?

DLANDINO · 04/21/2008, 08:07 AM

I am looking to upgrade to MH lighting from PC. With my current setup I am evaporating about 1/2 gallon per week. I add back RO water for top off manually. To tag along on this thread for those of you losing like 3 gal per week are you adding back salt water or ro/di alone? I am pretty sure that the salt doesnt evap, only water. Am I correct?

ScottL4619 · 04/21/2008, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Yankees2519
I recently upgraded from 260w PCs with a glass top, to 350w MHs with egg crate. Im evaporating on average 1-2 gallons a day. I have to top off with fresh RO water every day. Anyways, i was wondering if other people are evaporating that much. My other question is, the tank is in my bedroom, and being winter there is not much ventilation, i cant imagine that evaporating that much seawater (tankwater) into a non ventilated bedroom can be a good thing?

It may increase the humidity in the bedroom. But, keep in mind, that seawater is not actually being evaporated...just freshwater. The salt stays in the tank.

As long as you can topoff regularlyl (auto topoff rocks) and the salinity doesn't change dramatically, evaporation is your friend. The gas exchange works wonders and it gives you the chance to add a larger volume of kalk topoff water helping to keep calcium and alk up.

shackscs · 04/21/2008, 09:01 AM

"Is it me or is your Skimmer and Fuge on the wrong sides?"

Nope. Water enters from both sides and then out via the center chamber.

ultra spikey · 04/21/2008, 11:20 AM

I think he meant, the skimmer should be on the other side because that's where you have your baffles/bubble trap.

Quote:

Originally posted by shackscs
"Is it me or is your Skimmer and Fuge on the wrong sides?"

Nope. Water enters from both sides and then out via the center chamber.

aastretch64 · 04/21/2008, 11:34 AM

90 gallons in a 90 gallon tank is too much..LOL

I evap about 1-2 gallons a day.

If you put more ventilation you will get more evap. The more humid the air is (saturated with water) the less your tank will evaporate...but the more you will feel like you are in a sauna

Best of luck

Alex

DEXNC · 04/21/2008, 11:57 AM

H0w is your temp? I went from about 2-3 gals per day at about 81 deg, added 1/4 chiller on a 156 I am down to less than 1 gal

sk8rreefgeek · 04/21/2008, 12:17 PM

Does anyone else add plain water (no salt) daily?

ScottL4619 · 04/21/2008, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by sk8rreefgeek
Does anyone else add plain water (no salt) daily?

Now that I have an auto topoff, it drips water whenever needed. However, I previously had to add between 1 1/2 and 2 gallons daily.

TheMcs · 04/21/2008, 12:38 PM

About 5 gal/day here.

Twz · 04/21/2008, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hyperfocal
Ventilation is your friend.

Yepp the more evaporation the better.
i used to have a 33 in my room with about 1-2 Gallons per day and Man was it hot and humid in there. pretty much slept on the couch untill spring then took it outta there...

03/21/2008, 10:46 AM	#1
Yankees2519 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: West Springfield, MA Posts: 213	Evaporation- how much is too much I recently upgraded from 260w PCs with a glass top, to 350w MHs with egg crate. Im evaporating on average 1-2 gallons a day. I have to top off with fresh RO water every day. Anyways, i was wondering if other people are evaporating that much. My other question is, the tank is in my bedroom, and being winter there is not much ventilation, i cant imagine that evaporating that much seawater (tankwater) into a non ventilated bedroom can be a good thing?

03/21/2008, 10:55 AM	#2
hyperfocal Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Edge of oblivion Posts: 1,708	Ventilation is your friend. __________________ "Froth at the top, dregs at bottom, but the middle excellent." -- Voltaire Current Tank Info: getting back into the hobby

03/21/2008, 11:15 AM	#7
Vapour1ze I'm an Addict. Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Yorkville, IL Posts: 3,036	i have cases of cases of distilled as i lose about 2 a day in my 29. =] __________________ 93 Reef \| 220 Reef \| Basement Fish Life Support Room \| Empty Savings Account

04/14/2008, 11:00 PM	#8
erikages Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Victoria, BC Canada Posts: 150	Every ounce of evaporation is a good thing. More air exchange; more stable temperatures and various gas levels in the tank. All good. __________________ Erik Ages / Victoria BC 100gal reef (LPS); 20gal sump; 20gal refugium Fully automated Current Tank Info: 100gal reef + 20gal sump + 20gal refg

04/14/2008, 11:02 PM	#9
BLKTANG Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Never,Never Land Posts: 7,061	2g a day on my reef. __________________ We the few have done so much,for so long,for so little.That we are now qualified to do anything with nothing. ____________________________________________________________________________ Current Tank Info: RR 90 Maganvore sump,250w Hamilton fixture,VorTec's ASM skimmer.

03/21/2008, 11:01 AM	#4
rbursek Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: germantown,wi Posts: 2,339	I have a covered hood on mine, and an open fuge/sump in the basement, I loose about 1 1/2gal a day depending on parametric preasure.

03/21/2008, 11:03 AM	#5
luke33 Moved On Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 8,375	I loose 3-5g per day on mine with t5's and two fans. With an open top, fuge and sump.

03/21/2008, 11:07 AM	#6
cfw1199 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Colonial Heights, Virginia Posts: 560	LOL.....I thought my tank was leaking when I added my MH's....I was going nuts.....almost 2 gallons a day...keeps the rodi and the water company happy

04/14/2008, 11:09 PM	#10
DJChesnutRabbit Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kissimmee, FL Posts: 1,018	3 plus gallons a day here. __________________ Philosophy is a team sport! -Timothy Leary Freedom is something that dies unless it's used -Hunter S. Thompson Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils. -Louis Hector Berlioz Current Tank Info: Acrylic 25g BB mixed reef, AquaC Remora, AquaC media reactor, Aquamedic Oceanlight 250w MH, Mag 5 return, Iwaki MD-40RLT on closed loop, MRC CR-5, Tunze Osmolator

04/19/2008, 05:23 AM	#11
shackscs Super Premier Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norristown, PA Posts: 849	I added more RO to my sump again today and then started to check for leaks since I had just added a couple of gallons the day before yesterday. I had no idea I would loose this much water a day. I have a 125 open top tank with a 33 gallon refugium. Maybe I should have allowed the return area to be larger. Water enters from both sides of the sump into the center and then back into the tank. (Thanks to Melvee for the idea).

04/21/2008, 08:07 AM	#13
DLANDINO D.L. Heritage Rings Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Clinton, CT USA Posts: 5,610	I am looking to upgrade to MH lighting from PC. With my current setup I am evaporating about 1/2 gallon per week. I add back RO water for top off manually. To tag along on this thread for those of you losing like 3 gal per week are you adding back salt water or ro/di alone? I am pretty sure that the salt doesnt evap, only water. Am I correct? __________________ Dave Current Tank Info: JBJ 8 Nano mixed

04/21/2008, 09:01 AM	#15
shackscs Super Premier Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Norristown, PA Posts: 849	"Is it me or is your Skimmer and Fuge on the wrong sides?" Nope. Water enters from both sides and then out via the center chamber.

04/21/2008, 11:34 AM	#17
aastretch64 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Franklin Park, IL Posts: 384	90 gallons in a 90 gallon tank is too much..LOL I evap about 1-2 gallons a day. If you put more ventilation you will get more evap. The more humid the air is (saturated with water) the less your tank will evaporate...but the more you will feel like you are in a sauna Best of luck Alex

04/21/2008, 11:57 AM	#18
DEXNC Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Greensboro, N.C Posts: 220	H0w is your temp? I went from about 2-3 gals per day at about 81 deg, added 1/4 chiller on a 156 I am down to less than 1 gal

04/21/2008, 12:17 PM	#19
sk8rreefgeek Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lodi, California Posts: 1,352	Does anyone else add plain water (no salt) daily? __________________ It's time for operation crazy-plan Current Tank Info: Drilled 55g, 14g sump, coralife 125 SS: mated pair of b&w misbar clowns, ywg

04/21/2008, 12:38 PM	#21
TheMcs Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Broken Arrow, OK Posts: 2,272	About 5 gal/day here. __________________ Evaporation and top off don't count as water changes... Current Tank Info: 185g Deep Sea display, 2x 40g frag tanks, 90g fuge, 60g sump (400+ gal system)