Most efficient way of increasing evaporation

andrewey · 03/01/2017, 11:48 PM

Does anyone have an idea as to what the most efficient method of increasing evaporation would be (most evaporation per watt)? I didn't know if this was common knowledge or if anyone had any ideas (cooling fans across the water surface, towards the water surface, powerheads breaking the water surface, etc.) If nothing else, does anyone have an idea as to whether a cooling fan or a powerhead breaking the surface of the water (where power consumption is the same) would be more effective?

Coral Dilema · 03/02/2017, 12:39 AM

moondoggy4 · 03/02/2017, 01:06 AM

Second best idea would be fans across the water that will increase your evaporation and also cool your water not good in the winter.

Legot · 03/02/2017, 01:13 AM

If you can blow air past falling water (think a drip plate into the sump) it would be more effective than just blowing the surface. That way you're evaporating from a significantly higher surface area.

gcarroll · 03/02/2017, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andrewey

Does anyone have an idea as to what the most efficient method of increasing evaporation would be (most evaporation per watt)? I didn't know if this was common knowledge or if anyone had any ideas (cooling fans across the water surface, towards the water surface, powerheads breaking the water surface, etc.) If nothing else, does anyone have an idea as to whether a cooling fan or a powerhead breaking the surface of the water (where power consumption is the same) would be more effective?

Is North Carolina is a humid environment? If so, you would almost have to take measures to dehumidify the room to in turn increase evaporation.

For me, fans across the water surface was the best way. I'm not seeing how a drip plate could be better.

CafeReef · 03/02/2017, 10:50 AM

Just because I simply am unaware, why would you want to have more evaporation? for dosing consistency?

LobsterOfJustice · 03/02/2017, 10:54 AM

Agree with gcarroll - dehumidifying the surrounding air will get you the most increase in evaporation, but may not be the most efficient per watt. A fan blowing on something like an algal turf scrubber would be very efficient, as this is essentially the design of evaporative coolers.

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Coral Dilema · 03/02/2017, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gcarroll

Is North Carolina is a humid environment? If so, you would almost have to take measures to dehumidify the room to in turn increase evaporation.

For me, fans across the water surface was the best way. I'm not seeing how a drip plate could be better.

This time of year, no, not very humid. Give it 2 months. We get the triple H thread between May and September. Hot, Hazy, Humid, every day.

ca1ore · 03/02/2017, 01:10 PM

I built a 'swamp' cooler for my tank many years ago (think a waterfall ATS without lights but with a fan) and it worked really well .... as long as the surrounding environment is nominally below 50% humidity. As room humidity rises, evaporation falls.

03/01/2017, 11:48 PM	#1
andrewey Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: North Carolina Posts: 85	Most efficient way of increasing evaporation Does anyone have an idea as to what the most efficient method of increasing evaporation would be (most evaporation per watt)? I didn't know if this was common knowledge or if anyone had any ideas (cooling fans across the water surface, towards the water surface, powerheads breaking the water surface, etc.) If nothing else, does anyone have an idea as to whether a cooling fan or a powerhead breaking the surface of the water (where power consumption is the same) would be more effective?

03/02/2017, 12:39 AM	#2
Coral Dilema Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Central NC Posts: 953	__________________ Build a man a fire and he is warm for a night. Set a man on fire and he is warm for the rest of his life. Current Tank Info: 20 inch cube running, Looking for a good place to get a 36 X 20-24 X 18-24 tank.

03/02/2017, 01:13 AM	#4
Legot Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 68	If you can blow air past falling water (think a drip plate into the sump) it would be more effective than just blowing the surface. That way you're evaporating from a significantly higher surface area. __________________ 33L → 55 Shallow

03/02/2017, 10:50 AM	#6
CafeReef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Elkhorn, NE Posts: 1,405	Just because I simply am unaware, why would you want to have more evaporation? for dosing consistency? __________________ 50 Gallon cube

03/02/2017, 10:54 AM	#7
LobsterOfJustice Recovering Detritophobe Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 7,443	Agree with gcarroll - dehumidifying the surrounding air will get you the most increase in evaporation, but may not be the most efficient per watt. A fan blowing on something like an algal turf scrubber would be very efficient, as this is essentially the design of evaporative coolers. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ If it's worth doing, it's worth doing right. I remember when zoanthids were called things like "green" and "orange" and not "reverse gorilla nipple." Current Tank Info: 180g reef with all the bells and whistles

03/02/2017, 01:06 AM	#3
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	Second best idea would be fans across the water that will increase your evaporation and also cool your water not good in the winter.

03/02/2017, 01:10 PM	#9
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	I built a 'swamp' cooler for my tank many years ago (think a waterfall ATS without lights but with a fan) and it worked really well .... as long as the surrounding environment is nominally below 50% humidity. As room humidity rises, evaporation falls. __________________ 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