evaporating water

Ricky1066 · 02/05/2008, 02:16 PM

Ok Maybe another dumb question I add water everyday to my sump tank as a top off But I never add any to my main tank why is that ?

How does the main tank stay level? I mean if thewater gets low in the sump why does it not get low in the main?

stingythingy45 · 02/05/2008, 02:21 PM

Because your pump is going to keep the display full right up to the overflow.So any evaporation will show in your sump,not your display.

papagimp · 02/05/2008, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ricky1066
How does the main tank stay level? I mean if thewater gets low in the sump why does it not get low in the main?

The return pump area in the sump is the only place you'll SEE evaporation occuring. If water in the display evaporates, reduces the level in the display tank, the return pump keeps pushing water up there and the drain keeps water flowing back down, so the level is always going to stay consistant. The sump on the other hand is where all the water is gathering and waiting to be pumped back to the display, specifically where there return pump is. Turn off the sump and the display will start dropping after awhile, as will the sump...until it gets turned on again.

Not sure on the exact physics of it all, but it's just the way it is.

JUNI0R · 02/05/2008, 03:10 PM

As long as more water is flowing in (From your sump) than is evaporating you will have water flow past the overflow. The overflows keep the water behind the overflow at a constant height(Which is equal to the height of the overflow). You then see the evaporation in the portion that doesn't have an overflow to maintain the water level, which is you sump/return pump area. If you were to run a tank without a sump/overflow you would see the evaporation in the display tank.

This is also how some people use weirs in their sump to maintain a constant water level in their protein skimmer area.

Aquarist007 · 02/05/2008, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by papagimp
The return pump area in the sump is the only place you'll SEE evaporation occuring. If water in the display evaporates, reduces the level in the display tank, the return pump keeps pushing water up there and the drain keeps water flowing back down, so the level is always going to stay consistant. The sump on the other hand is where all the water is gathering and waiting to be pumped back to the display, specifically where there return pump is. Turn off the sump and the display will start dropping after awhile, as will the sump...until it gets turned on again.

Not sure on the exact physics of it all, but it's just the way it is.

I believe you meant--turn off the sump pump and the display will start dropping and the sump level will rise

papagimp · 02/05/2008, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by capn_hylinur
I believe you meant--turn off the sump pump and the display will start dropping and the sump level will rise

Nope, lol, I meant what I said. But I should have stated "after the drainage has stopped". I was getting at, that the sump level will lower as water evaporates as well as it would in the display tank if there were no return runnin' at all. But youre correct, initiall the sumps water level will rise.....then fall

02/05/2008, 02:16 PM	#1
Ricky1066 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Brooklyn Posts: 1,029	evaporating water Ok Maybe another dumb question I add water everyday to my sump tank as a top off But I never add any to my main tank why is that ? How does the main tank stay level? I mean if thewater gets low in the sump why does it not get low in the main? __________________ 75gallon,75lbslr 60pdls, clown,yellow tang.3 cardinals.royal gamma,3 chromis,blenny,torpedo,cleanershrimp Current Tank Info: 75 gallon salt water starter

02/05/2008, 02:21 PM	#2
stingythingy45 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: MA Posts: 3,296	Because your pump is going to keep the display full right up to the overflow.So any evaporation will show in your sump,not your display. __________________ Bob Current Tank Info: 90 gallon,mixed Reef,2-250 watt Optix 3 pendants(Phoenix 14K)2-54 watt T5 Super actnics ,ASM G-2 Gate/recirc mods,70 gal. basement sump,20L ref

02/05/2008, 03:10 PM	#4
JUNI0R Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Pasadena, CA Posts: 272	As long as more water is flowing in (From your sump) than is evaporating you will have water flow past the overflow. The overflows keep the water behind the overflow at a constant height(Which is equal to the height of the overflow). You then see the evaporation in the portion that doesn't have an overflow to maintain the water level, which is you sump/return pump area. If you were to run a tank without a sump/overflow you would see the evaporation in the display tank. This is also how some people use weirs in their sump to maintain a constant water level in their protein skimmer area.