Water change and evaporation

GoLowDrew · 04/22/2011, 01:31 PM

I moved the location of my tank. For some reason, it seems the water seem to evaporate a bit faster.

That's not my question.

Let's say my water change is 3 gallons old out, 3 gallons new in .

With evaporation, I only have to take out 1 gallon of old, and put 3 gallons new in.

**The numbers are just an example to set up my question. I don't loose 2 gallons of water between changes.**

My question is, then should I be taking out more? Does water lost via evaporation the same as me taking it out?

Virtuoso · 04/22/2011, 01:34 PM

No, it is not the same. When the water gets evaporated it leaves the salt behind. When you take water out you take the salt with you.

So doing what you are suggesting would make the salinity jump all over the place.

Rule of thumb - If the water is evaporating, replace with normal RODI water. If the water is taken out or somehow "lost" without evaporation, then fill with salt water that matches your current salinity.

clarky11 · 04/22/2011, 01:54 PM

whatever amount of gallons you remove for a water change the same amount must be put back in.

04/22/2011, 01:31 PM	#1
GoLowDrew No Title Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 390	Water change and evaporation I moved the location of my tank. For some reason, it seems the water seem to evaporate a bit faster. That's not my question. Let's say my water change is 3 gallons old out, 3 gallons new in . With evaporation, I only have to take out 1 gallon of old, and put 3 gallons new in. The numbers are just an example to set up my question. I don't loose 2 gallons of water between changes. My question is, then should I be taking out more? Does water lost via evaporation the same as me taking it out? __________________ Thanks for answering my questions. Current Tank Info: 29G with 30lbs Live Rock, powerhead, one Clown fish.

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04/22/2011, 01:34 PM	#2
Virtuoso Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 727	No, it is not the same. When the water gets evaporated it leaves the salt behind. When you take water out you take the salt with you. So doing what you are suggesting would make the salinity jump all over the place. Rule of thumb - If the water is evaporating, replace with normal RODI water. If the water is taken out or somehow "lost" without evaporation, then fill with salt water that matches your current salinity.

04/22/2011, 01:54 PM	#3
clarky11 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 64	whatever amount of gallons you remove for a water change the same amount must be put back in.