Very Rapid Evaporation Rate, please help.

borillion_star · 12/23/2010, 07:46 PM

I have a 50 gallon bow-front tank at 79 Degrees F and I have a glass cover over the top with a 36" T5 only coralife aqualight.

Im having to replace about half a gallon of water every 3 to 4 days, and Im very worried about the effect its having on my livestock, I keep the house at 65 Degrees minimum.

I dont have a sump and only have a hang on back aqua-clear filter. I'm at of how to slow it down. I brought the temp down from around 82.

Anyone have any experience or know anything I can do?

muppet · 12/23/2010, 07:51 PM

Half a gallon every 3 days seems like very little evaporation to me. I operate a 55 gallon with a two bulb 48" T5 fixture and I replace a gallon per day. Half a gallon every 3 days will barely even swing your salinity. Make sure you're topping off with RO/DI or at least distilled.

dixiedog · 12/23/2010, 07:52 PM

I'm surprised you don't replace more water than that. It must be the glass top because that's way less than normal.

You should get rid of the glass top.

borillion_star · 12/23/2010, 07:52 PM

I do the RO/DI and nothing else :P I just seems like a lot and has me a bit nervous, I didnt have the issue before and am not sure what caused it to jump ROFL

BASA · 12/23/2010, 08:00 PM

I have a 90 and have to replace about 5 gallons of evaporation a week. I use a chiller so no need for fans to cool the tank. Friends who use fans over the sump are replacing about 5 gallons of evaporation every 2nd day.

Whisperer · 12/23/2010, 08:02 PM

My evap rate is around 2 liters per day in my 120G. I do not have cover and I have pendant MH. I just placed an order for an Eshopps auto top off system and I am going to use a 6G water jug as a ro/di reservoir. I am hoping to at least just refill the jug once a week instead of topping off 2 L everyday.

borillion_star · 12/23/2010, 08:02 PM

LOL, what good does ditching the glass top to allow evaporation do? I mean it has an opening so it doesn't stop it completely.

t4zalews · 12/23/2010, 08:11 PM

haha..yea..I have like 5 gallons every 3-4 days of evaporation. I know this cuz I can always hear my osmolator gurgling because of low water in the reservoir

why do you have a glass top on the tank? that really takes away from you're lighting system. I'd recommend removing it completely.

dixiedog · 12/23/2010, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by borillion_star

LOL, what good does ditching the glass top to allow evaporation do? I mean it has an opening so it doesn't stop it completely.

It's not for evap, it's for PH/Alk stability, oxygen levels, light ... someone smarter can elaborate

hvacman250 · 12/23/2010, 08:31 PM

Smallest amount of topoff Ive ever heard.

I replace a gallon a day in a 40 breeder, and 13 gallons every 10 days on a 100 gallon.

Whisperer · 12/23/2010, 08:31 PM

I understand what you meant, Dixie. You threw it there when we were talking about evaporation. However, the glass top will have little effect in oxygenation if you have an overflow/sump.

stanlalee · 12/23/2010, 08:35 PM

I have a 30g with open top and halides. it evaporates half a gallon a day. I think you'll probably have a bit more if you remove the top.

Frogmanx82 · 12/23/2010, 08:37 PM

I like my glass top. You can run around half naked if you want to, I'm keeping my top on.

cubman20 · 12/23/2010, 08:43 PM

In a 65 i get 1 gallon a day 2 250s

Gary Majchrzak · 12/23/2010, 08:44 PM

evap is a reefkeepers best friend because it allows you to top up with more kalkwasser

another vote for remove the top

dixiedog · 12/23/2010, 08:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whisperer

I understand what you meant, Dixie. You threw it there when we were talking about evaporation. However, the glass top will have little effect in oxygenation if you have an overflow/sump.

... which the OP doesn't.

Gary Majchrzak · 12/23/2010, 08:49 PM

no skimmer either. Another reason to lose the top.

Better check pH on this aquarium.

borillion_star · 12/23/2010, 09:13 PM

PH has always been around 8 to 8.3

Gary Majchrzak · 12/23/2010, 09:20 PM

what is alkalinity?

removing the top will also have a cooling effect on your aquarium.

You won't have to keep the apartment at 65F anymore.

borillion_star · 12/23/2010, 09:21 PM

double post

borillion_star · 12/23/2010, 09:22 PM

Im going to be moving this tank during the weekend, so thats a good time to get some overflows and a sump put in along with a skimmer. I mostly have fish two clowns, a little neon goby and two striped damsels atm, some button polyps a torch coral and a LTA.

Im planning on adding more corals after moving though so tis good to get everything right.

preef · 12/23/2010, 09:27 PM

I go through about 1.5 gallons every day in my 72 bowfront. I'd also get rid of the glass top. Replace it with a netting to prevent jumpers. You'll get better gas exchange and more light.

I made mine from deer netting and dowel rods from Home Depot. The rods are connected with airline tubing. With a bowfront you really can't cover the entire front but you greatly reduce the odds of finding fish jerky on your floor.

borillion_star · 12/23/2010, 09:36 PM

The alkalinity is at 9 dhk seems ok

Gary Majchrzak · 12/24/2010, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by borillion_star

The alkalinity is at 9 dhk seems ok

yeah- that's good.

Overall things should get better after removing the glass top. The netting top is your best choice.

12/23/2010, 07:46 PM	#1
borillion_star Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: San Jose Posts: 297	Very Rapid Evaporation Rate, please help. I have a 50 gallon bow-front tank at 79 Degrees F and I have a glass cover over the top with a 36" T5 only coralife aqualight. Im having to replace about half a gallon of water every 3 to 4 days, and Im very worried about the effect its having on my livestock, I keep the house at 65 Degrees minimum. I dont have a sump and only have a hang on back aqua-clear filter. I'm at of how to slow it down. I brought the temp down from around 82. Anyone have any experience or know anything I can do? __________________ Look at all the Swimmies!!! The ocean is the place for me :P Current Tank Info: 46 Gallon reef tank

12/23/2010, 07:51 PM	#2
muppet Misanthrope Join Date: May 2010 Location: Plainville, CT Posts: 2,759	Half a gallon every 3 days seems like very little evaporation to me. I operate a 55 gallon with a two bulb 48" T5 fixture and I replace a gallon per day. Half a gallon every 3 days will barely even swing your salinity. Make sure you're topping off with RO/DI or at least distilled. __________________ Vertex IN-100 Skimmer 5g fuge area in the works JBJ Ocean Pulse 1600GPH wavemaker CoralVue 4x54 fixture running?: 2xATI Blue Plus, 1xRed Sea Pink, 1xRed Sea 12K, 10x1w LED blue moonlights Current Tank Info: Deep Blue 75G RR with 20H sump

12/23/2010, 07:52 PM	#4
borillion_star Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: San Jose Posts: 297	I do the RO/DI and nothing else :P I just seems like a lot and has me a bit nervous, I didnt have the issue before and am not sure what caused it to jump ROFL __________________ Look at all the Swimmies!!! The ocean is the place for me :P Current Tank Info: 46 Gallon reef tank

12/23/2010, 08:00 PM	#5
BASA Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 59	I have a 90 and have to replace about 5 gallons of evaporation a week. I use a chiller so no need for fans to cool the tank. Friends who use fans over the sump are replacing about 5 gallons of evaporation every 2nd day. __________________ 90 Gallon water went in on 01/02/2010 Current Tank Info: 90G Cycle started on Jan 2, 2010

12/23/2010, 08:02 PM	#6
Whisperer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Punta Gorda, FL Posts: 4,020	My evap rate is around 2 liters per day in my 120G. I do not have cover and I have pendant MH. I just placed an order for an Eshopps auto top off system and I am going to use a 6G water jug as a ro/di reservoir. I am hoping to at least just refill the jug once a week instead of topping off 2 L everyday. __________________ The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten. --------- No one is born with intellect and age guarantees wisdom to no one. Current Tank Info: 120G reef, 30G sump, 10G QT tank

12/23/2010, 07:52 PM	#3
dixiedog Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Gainesville, Florida Posts: 1,626	I'm surprised you don't replace more water than that. It must be the glass top because that's way less than normal. You should get rid of the glass top.

12/23/2010, 08:11 PM	#8
t4zalews 65g Ritteri Tank Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Royal Oak, MI Posts: 2,673	haha..yea..I have like 5 gallons every 3-4 days of evaporation. I know this cuz I can always hear my osmolator gurgling because of low water in the reservoir why do you have a glass top on the tank? that really takes away from you're lighting system. I'd recommend removing it completely. __________________ - Taylor - 65g - Radion XR30 G3 Pro x2 - Deltec SCA 1351 - APEX - Tunze - Vortech

12/23/2010, 08:31 PM	#10
hvacman250 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 733	Smallest amount of topoff Ive ever heard. I replace a gallon a day in a 40 breeder, and 13 gallons every 10 days on a 100 gallon. __________________ 220 in-wall reef, 10 clown pairs, 4 fry tanks, 18 grow-out tanks Current Tank Info: 220 in-wall reef, clownfish breeding/growout system, 20L coral QT and 29 fish QT

12/23/2010, 08:35 PM	#12
stanlalee Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: hampton roads, va Posts: 1,799	I have a 30g with open top and halides. it evaporates half a gallon a day. I think you'll probably have a bit more if you remove the top.

12/23/2010, 08:37 PM	#13
Frogmanx82 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 1,515	I like my glass top. You can run around half naked if you want to, I'm keeping my top on. __________________ Exodus 8:2 Check my homepage for tank pics and details. Current Tank Info: 90 gallon, 2x maxspect R420R LED, 4 Ocellaris Clowns, Yellow Eye Kole Tang, Flame Angel, Foxface Rabbitfish, Banggai Cardinals, Azure Damsel, rock flower anemone, cleaner shrimp, serpent star

12/23/2010, 08:43 PM	#14
cubman20 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: tinley park il Posts: 710	In a 65 i get 1 gallon a day 2 250s

12/23/2010, 08:44 PM	#15
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	evap is a reefkeepers best friend because it allows you to top up with more kalkwasser another vote for remove the top __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

12/23/2010, 08:49 PM	#17
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	looks like no skimmer either. Another reason to lose the top. Better check pH on this aquarium. __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

12/23/2010, 09:13 PM	#18
borillion_star Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: San Jose Posts: 297	PH has always been around 8 to 8.3 __________________ Look at all the Swimmies!!! The ocean is the place for me :P Current Tank Info: 46 Gallon reef tank

12/23/2010, 09:20 PM	#19
Gary Majchrzak Team RC Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 41,560	what is alkalinity? removing the top will also have a cooling effect on your aquarium. You won't have to keep the apartment at 65F anymore. __________________ over 24 years experience with multiple types of marine aquarium systems see Upstate Reef Society Forum on RC and FB GOOGLE JUNIOR'S REEF Current Tank Info: 84x24x30 265g reef past TOTM honors

12/23/2010, 09:21 PM	#20
borillion_star Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: San Jose Posts: 297	double post __________________ Look at all the Swimmies!!! The ocean is the place for me :P Current Tank Info: 46 Gallon reef tank

12/23/2010, 09:22 PM	#21
borillion_star Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: San Jose Posts: 297	Im going to be moving this tank during the weekend, so thats a good time to get some overflows and a sump put in along with a skimmer. I mostly have fish two clowns, a little neon goby and two striped damsels atm, some button polyps a torch coral and a LTA. Im planning on adding more corals after moving though so tis good to get everything right. __________________ Look at all the Swimmies!!! The ocean is the place for me :P Current Tank Info: 46 Gallon reef tank

12/23/2010, 09:27 PM	#22
preef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Algonquin, IL Posts: 809	I go through about 1.5 gallons every day in my 72 bowfront. I'd also get rid of the glass top. Replace it with a netting to prevent jumpers. You'll get better gas exchange and more light. I made mine from deer netting and dowel rods from Home Depot. The rods are connected with airline tubing. With a bowfront you really can't cover the entire front but you greatly reduce the odds of finding fish jerky on your floor. __________________ 72 gal bowfront mixed reef. Tank born 10/14/2007

12/23/2010, 09:36 PM	#23
borillion_star Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: San Jose Posts: 297	The alkalinity is at 9 dhk seems ok __________________ Look at all the Swimmies!!! The ocean is the place for me :P Current Tank Info: 46 Gallon reef tank

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