Is it bad for your house to have such a high evaporation rate from your tank?

John Hartford · 05/20/2006, 11:11 PM

My 210 tank uses metal halides and I have a rather large refugium/Sump that evaporates quite a bit of water in a weeks time.

I was wondering if this is bad for my house, or more partiucularily for my room in which the tank itself is situated? I mean the water evaporates so it must stay in the room or house somehow?

Has anyone else thought about this before? Or is it really not a concern, if its not a concern...why do you think that...just interested.

Thanks,
John.

mg426 · 05/21/2006, 12:06 AM

Never really gave that one much thought. I do however believe that it is only water thats is the issue, and it would be of no problem other than mabe some humidity.

Sk8r · 05/21/2006, 12:09 AM

You could get a dehumidifier, which at least would recondense it. I like to have air circulation in the fish area for that reason, so that you don't have mold growth or the like. If your area is prone to it, it's worth worrying about, particularly if you have paneled walls or other places that might afford a space for mold. Brisk air circulation like a ceiling fan would help, IMHO. I use one.

jay24k · 05/21/2006, 12:26 AM

It can be bad yes. You need to find out exactly how much water your AC can handle in evaporation. If your house can't get the water out, mold will form and it will form bad. Check inside your AC on the A coil. If you evaporate quite a bit, I'd invest in a dehumidifier.

Sidewinder · 05/21/2006, 05:50 AM

With larger tanks humidity most definately can be a problem;especially with high wattage MH and evaporative (fans) cooling. If using a chiller, it's probably not as much a concern. Get an accurate hygrometer to measure humidity. My 180 with sump, fuge, 3 400W MH and fans evaporates between 3 and 5 gallons/day. That's a major problem.
Excessive humidity can, as stated above, cause mold (which is generally excluded on most homeowners policies), will rust your tools and over a long period of time can actually cause the wood in your home to rot (probably also excluded).
If I didn't have a dehumidifier and central air, I 'd have to get rid of the tank. When buying a dehumidifier buy the largest gallon per day (GPD) that you can afford. Also reduce the manufacturers claim of GPD by 50%.
HTH,
Ed

Danster · 05/21/2006, 06:52 AM

I would like to know how much evaporation you are having. In my 225 gallon I'm getting about 2 gallons of evaporation a day and I have 3 MH going for 10 hours. If you have 3 to 5 gallons a day you probably need to do what everyone else has said stated above.

Saltz Creep · 05/21/2006, 06:56 AM

I wouldn't worry about if you have the AC on most of the time. AC's act as dehumidifiers. Ever see all the the water constantly coming out an AC condenser drain?

Sidewinder · 05/21/2006, 07:13 AM

Saltz is correct however since you're in Iowa it's climate is probably similiar to here in PA. You're not running AC Oct to April. That's the time for the dehumidifier. One problem I've had to deal with: with central AC that drains through a PVC pipe, drilled through the cement slab on the floor (basement), it will eventually clog (not sure with what). Since the AC unit / drain are about 3 feet from the tank and the floor was soaked I thought "Holy Christ, the tank is leaking!!!" Wrong (thankfully), it was a clogged AC drain. A little chlorine or bleach, periodically, down the drain sloves that problem.
Isn't reefing fun?.?.?....WARNING: Do NOT consume alcoholic beverages prior to application; confusing drain with tank. Consider yourself forewarned ;-)

samtheman · 05/21/2006, 07:59 AM

If Humidity remains above 50% for any length of time, mold will grow.

Reefski's · 05/21/2006, 08:13 AM

does anyone use a humidity meter so they know what it is? i don't, i live near the beach where it is usually fairly high naturally. i know our humidity is naturally above 50% frequently.

also during the winter you may not need the dehumidifier so much as you think because heating will decrease the relative humidity.

Carl

MCary · 05/21/2006, 08:40 AM

I have a bathroom fan attached to a humidistat above the tank. When the humidity gets above the level I've set the fan automatically kicks on.

Mike

64Ivy · 05/21/2006, 09:21 AM

In addition to a household dehumidifier, I run a fan which is vented to the outside to control humidity. My 650+g system evaporates about 10g a day!

IPowderBlueTang · 05/21/2006, 09:33 AM

I use a dehumidifier all year round and my tanks are in the basement and It fills the container in the dehumidifier once a week. Even with the central air on it doesn't dry up the basement enough. The couches are damp, thats when I know to turn the dehumidifier higher.

tkeracer619 · 05/21/2006, 10:01 AM

I moved from NC to CO I went from humid air to dry air. MY skin hates the dry air and since the addition of the tanks my skin and lips thanked me every minute for it.

John Hartford · 05/21/2006, 10:53 AM

Thank you for all of your help, I will think I will invest in a dehumdifier!

05/20/2006, 11:11 PM	#1
John Hartford Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 256	Is it bad for your house to have such a high evaporation rate from your tank? My 210 tank uses metal halides and I have a rather large refugium/Sump that evaporates quite a bit of water in a weeks time. I was wondering if this is bad for my house, or more partiucularily for my room in which the tank itself is situated? I mean the water evaporates so it must stay in the room or house somehow? Has anyone else thought about this before? Or is it really not a concern, if its not a concern...why do you think that...just interested. Thanks, John.

05/21/2006, 12:06 AM	#2
mg426 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: maryland Posts: 6,923	Never really gave that one much thought. I do however believe that it is only water thats is the issue, and it would be of no problem other than mabe some humidity. __________________ I found a way to make a small fortune running a reef tank. Start with a large fortune. Unofficial President of the SEACLONE haters club Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef 110 lbs LR, 1x250watt XM 20K MH 2x175watt XM 20K MH on Magetics 2X96 watt actinic PC, 220 watt VHO actinic, 30 gallon refugium, closed loop system powered by Sequence Dart MSX 200 skimmer 38 gallon sump, Oceansmotions squirt

05/21/2006, 12:09 AM	#3
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	You could get a dehumidifier, which at least would recondense it. I like to have air circulation in the fish area for that reason, so that you don't have mold growth or the like. If your area is prone to it, it's worth worrying about, particularly if you have paneled walls or other places that might afford a space for mold. Brisk air circulation like a ceiling fan would help, IMHO. I use one. __________________ 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%.

05/21/2006, 06:56 AM	#7
Saltz Creep Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hickville, FL Posts: 3,728	I wouldn't worry about if you have the AC on most of the time. AC's act as dehumidifiers. Ever see all the the water constantly coming out an AC condenser drain? __________________ veni, vidi, vici piscis merda

05/21/2006, 09:21 AM	#12
64Ivy B'rer Reefer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Greenwich, CT Posts: 3,194	In addition to a household dehumidifier, I run a fan which is vented to the outside to control humidity. My 650+g system evaporates about 10g a day! __________________ Be Kind To The Elderly. Life Without Parole Means Nothing To Us. ToTM 3-03 Current Tank Info: Between tanks. Searching for a home

05/21/2006, 12:26 AM	#4
jay24k Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Leesburg, Florida Posts: 6,546	It can be bad yes. You need to find out exactly how much water your AC can handle in evaporation. If your house can't get the water out, mold will form and it will form bad. Check inside your AC on the A coil. If you evaporate quite a bit, I'd invest in a dehumidifier.

05/21/2006, 05:50 AM	#5
Sidewinder Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Downingtown PA Posts: 177	With larger tanks humidity most definately can be a problem;especially with high wattage MH and evaporative (fans) cooling. If using a chiller, it's probably not as much a concern. Get an accurate hygrometer to measure humidity. My 180 with sump, fuge, 3 400W MH and fans evaporates between 3 and 5 gallons/day. That's a major problem. Excessive humidity can, as stated above, cause mold (which is generally excluded on most homeowners policies), will rust your tools and over a long period of time can actually cause the wood in your home to rot (probably also excluded). If I didn't have a dehumidifier and central air, I 'd have to get rid of the tank. When buying a dehumidifier buy the largest gallon per day (GPD) that you can afford. Also reduce the manufacturers claim of GPD by 50%. HTH, Ed

05/21/2006, 06:52 AM	#6
Danster Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 161	I would like to know how much evaporation you are having. In my 225 gallon I'm getting about 2 gallons of evaporation a day and I have 3 MH going for 10 hours. If you have 3 to 5 gallons a day you probably need to do what everyone else has said stated above.

05/21/2006, 07:13 AM	#8
Sidewinder Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Downingtown PA Posts: 177	Saltz is correct however since you're in Iowa it's climate is probably similiar to here in PA. You're not running AC Oct to April. That's the time for the dehumidifier. One problem I've had to deal with: with central AC that drains through a PVC pipe, drilled through the cement slab on the floor (basement), it will eventually clog (not sure with what). Since the AC unit / drain are about 3 feet from the tank and the floor was soaked I thought "Holy Christ, the tank is leaking!!!" Wrong (thankfully), it was a clogged AC drain. A little chlorine or bleach, periodically, down the drain sloves that problem. Isn't reefing fun?.?.?....WARNING: Do NOT consume alcoholic beverages prior to application; confusing drain with tank. Consider yourself forewarned ;-)

05/21/2006, 07:59 AM	#9
samtheman Moved On Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 605	If Humidity remains above 50% for any length of time, mold will grow.

05/21/2006, 08:13 AM	#10
Reefski's Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Topanga Posts: 3,016	does anyone use a humidity meter so they know what it is? i don't, i live near the beach where it is usually fairly high naturally. i know our humidity is naturally above 50% frequently. also during the winter you may not need the dehumidifier so much as you think because heating will decrease the relative humidity. Carl

05/21/2006, 08:40 AM	#11
MCary Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Hardin, Montana Posts: 3,142	I have a bathroom fan attached to a humidistat above the tank. When the humidity gets above the level I've set the fan automatically kicks on. Mike

05/21/2006, 09:33 AM	#13
IPowderBlueTang Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Kalamazoo, Canada Posts: 769	I use a dehumidifier all year round and my tanks are in the basement and It fills the container in the dehumidifier once a week. Even with the central air on it doesn't dry up the basement enough. The couches are damp, thats when I know to turn the dehumidifier higher.

05/21/2006, 10:01 AM	#14
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	I moved from NC to CO I went from humid air to dry air. MY skin hates the dry air and since the addition of the tanks my skin and lips thanked me every minute for it. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

05/21/2006, 10:53 AM	#15
John Hartford Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Iowa Posts: 256	Thank you for all of your help, I will think I will invest in a dehumdifier!