Evaporation question

Odysi · 02/13/2014, 09:45 PM

My set up is a 40b (no cover) with a 20g sump holding about 15 gallons of water and im topping of about a gallon a day. Im just wondering does that sound about right for the volume of water i have. I know every set up is different but just wanted to see how much others top off per day so i can gauge if mine is ok.

sleepydoc · 02/13/2014, 10:01 PM

Very possible depending on temp, ambient humidity, etc

five oh · 02/13/2014, 10:03 PM

I top off about a gallon on my 125g display / 29g frag tank and a 29g sump all attached a day.

julie180 · 02/14/2014, 06:20 AM

So many variables, whats "normal" for you could sound excessive to others. The important thing is that you are monitoring and keeping up with it.

thegrun · 02/14/2014, 07:49 AM

It seems a little high, but as posted above there are a lot of variables. I would say that "normal" is closer to one gallon of evaporation to 100 gallons of water. Tank shape, type of lighting, relative humidity, temperature and types of equipment all factor in.

Odysi · 02/14/2014, 08:04 AM

could too much surface agitation have to do with it?

thegrun · 02/14/2014, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Odysi

could too much surface agitation have to do with it?

Yes, surface agitation will increase evaporation, but in general that is a good thing. I would not worry about your evaporation rate unless the room you are keeping the tank in has a humidity issue.

Clamagore · 02/14/2014, 09:12 AM

I have a system with a rimless tank, that's about the same volume as your setup. The water temp is 78F and there is almost exactly 1 gallon of evaporation per day.

ca1ore · 02/14/2014, 09:14 AM

Ambient humidity makes a huge difference! Not sure where you are located, but a friend of mine who lived in Phoenix used to evaporate at least 2 gallons/day out of a 90 gallon tank.

Rob0910 · 02/14/2014, 12:27 PM

I am losing about one gallon a day on a 75 gallon. I was at 4 a day, but that was a skimmer problem.

Sugar Magnolia · 02/14/2014, 12:28 PM

I top off a half gallon a day on my 40b.

ken6217 · 02/14/2014, 12:33 PM

Basically, it is what it is based on reasons mentioned above.

Evaporation can be your for end if you are using kalkwasser in your top off water.

Years ago before I had a calcium reactor, I had a kalk reactor hooked up my ATO. I wanted to get as much evap as possible to keep adding kalk. I floated a wide thin sponge on my sump and took a fan and blew it across the sponge to increase evaporation. I was evaporating about 5 gallons a day on a 90 gallon tank.
Ken

raybyrne67 · 02/14/2014, 01:13 PM

4 gallons every 3 days.

tommyz44 · 02/14/2014, 01:36 PM

my house has been really dry. 29 gal with 20 long sump, i go through about 3/4-1 gallon a day, my sumpless frag tank 24"x24"x9 runs about a gallon a day,

jgalen0025 · 02/14/2014, 04:13 PM

1 gallon per day on 100 total gal with 400 watt mh

mh6i · 02/15/2014, 01:23 AM

My 46G takes about 2 gallons per week. No sump but decent surface agitation.

levitt456 · 02/15/2014, 01:29 AM

I have been topping off about 3/4 gal. On my 30 gal.

trinidiver · 02/15/2014, 03:55 PM

I use about 3/4 gal a day on my 200+ gal reef. I run a chiller which is at 78F

Sk8r · 02/15/2014, 05:39 PM

1 gal a day for a 55 with 30 sump. 2 a day with a 102 gallon same sump.

trinidiver · 02/15/2014, 08:55 PM

^^^^^ wow.......2 gals is alot.

rocsec1 · 02/15/2014, 10:28 PM

That sounds ok.that is why an ato is great.

sleepydoc · 02/16/2014, 05:13 PM

As evidenced above, there's a wide range of normal. What it come down to is that there are two places for the water to go - into the air and onto the floor. If it's not the latter, it must be the former!

02/13/2014, 09:45 PM	#1
Odysi Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 401	Evaporation question My set up is a 40b (no cover) with a 20g sump holding about 15 gallons of water and im topping of about a gallon a day. Im just wondering does that sound about right for the volume of water i have. I know every set up is different but just wanted to see how much others top off per day so i can gauge if mine is ok.

02/13/2014, 10:01 PM	#2
sleepydoc Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,907	Very possible depending on temp, ambient humidity, etc __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 120 gallon, coast to coast overflow w/beananimal overflow. Waveline DC 10000 II return pump, 40 gal sump, Octopus XS200 skimmer, T5 lighting

02/14/2014, 09:14 AM	#9
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Ambient humidity makes a huge difference! Not sure where you are located, but a friend of mine who lived in Phoenix used to evaporate at least 2 gallons/day out of a 90 gallon tank. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

02/14/2014, 12:28 PM	#11
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	I top off a half gallon a day on my 40b. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

02/14/2014, 12:33 PM	#12
ken6217 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NJ Posts: 2,179	Basically, it is what it is based on reasons mentioned above. Evaporation can be your for end if you are using kalkwasser in your top off water. Years ago before I had a calcium reactor, I had a kalk reactor hooked up my ATO. I wanted to get as much evap as possible to keep adding kalk. I floated a wide thin sponge on my sump and took a fan and blew it across the sponge to increase evaporation. I was evaporating about 5 gallons a day on a 90 gallon tank. Ken Last edited by ken6217; 02/14/2014 at 01:16 PM.

02/13/2014, 10:03 PM	#3
five oh Moved On Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Homestead / Miami Beach Posts: 21	I top off about a gallon on my 125g display / 29g frag tank and a 29g sump all attached a day.

02/14/2014, 06:20 AM	#4
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	So many variables, whats "normal" for you could sound excessive to others. The important thing is that you are monitoring and keeping up with it.

02/14/2014, 07:49 AM	#5
thegrun Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Garden Grove, Ca Posts: 17,023	It seems a little high, but as posted above there are a lot of variables. I would say that "normal" is closer to one gallon of evaporation to 100 gallons of water. Tank shape, type of lighting, relative humidity, temperature and types of equipment all factor in.

02/14/2014, 08:04 AM	#6
Odysi Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 401	could too much surface agitation have to do with it?

02/14/2014, 09:12 AM	#8
Clamagore Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Jersey City, NJ Posts: 119	I have a system with a rimless tank, that's about the same volume as your setup. The water temp is 78F and there is almost exactly 1 gallon of evaporation per day.

02/14/2014, 12:27 PM	#10
Rob0910 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 90	I am losing about one gallon a day on a 75 gallon. I was at 4 a day, but that was a skimmer problem.

02/14/2014, 01:13 PM	#13
raybyrne67 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Albuquerque Posts: 353	4 gallons every 3 days. __________________ Ray, Current Tank Info: 75G, Salinity 1.025, Temp 80.5, Ca 430, Alk 9, Mg 1260, mixed reef, Radion XR30w Gen 2 x2, MP10w ES x2,Vertex 130, Eheim 1260 return, Apex, Tunze ATO

02/14/2014, 01:36 PM	#14
tommyz44 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: CORNING NY Posts: 435	my house has been really dry. 29 gal with 20 long sump, i go through about 3/4-1 gallon a day, my sumpless frag tank 24"x24"x9 runs about a gallon a day,

02/14/2014, 04:13 PM	#15
jgalen0025 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 246	1 gallon per day on 100 total gal with 400 watt mh

02/15/2014, 01:23 AM	#16
mh6i Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 33	My 46G takes about 2 gallons per week. No sump but decent surface agitation.

02/15/2014, 01:29 AM	#17
levitt456 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: louisville Posts: 1	I have been topping off about 3/4 gal. On my 30 gal.

02/15/2014, 03:55 PM	#18
trinidiver Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Sweet Trinidad & Tobago. (West Indies) Posts: 1,141	I use about 3/4 gal a day on my 200+ gal reef. I run a chiller which is at 78F __________________ Always expect anything from your friends......they will shoot you down as they get a chance. Current Tank Info: Its a 220gal reef.......LPS/leathers/zoas. Check my album.

02/15/2014, 05:39 PM	#19
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	1 gal a day for a 55 with 30 sump. 2 a day with a 102 gallon same sump. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

02/15/2014, 08:55 PM	#20
trinidiver Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Sweet Trinidad & Tobago. (West Indies) Posts: 1,141	^^^^^ wow.......2 gals is alot. __________________ Always expect anything from your friends......they will shoot you down as they get a chance. Current Tank Info: Its a 220gal reef.......LPS/leathers/zoas. Check my album.

02/15/2014, 10:28 PM	#21
rocsec1 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Medina oh Posts: 1,782	That sounds ok.that is why an ato is great.

02/16/2014, 05:13 PM	#22
sleepydoc Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 3,907	As evidenced above, there's a wide range of normal. What it come down to is that there are two places for the water to go - into the air and onto the floor. If it's not the latter, it must be the former! __________________ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 120 gallon, coast to coast overflow w/beananimal overflow. Waveline DC 10000 II return pump, 40 gal sump, Octopus XS200 skimmer, T5 lighting