evaporation

[mantis32]

How much evaporation can I expect daily from my 55gal tank w/ 30gal sump/fuge?

Currently it's empty, long term goal is for a mixed reef w/ halides and t5. Right now lighting is default FW flourescent lighting.

 

[Deanos]

Humidity & airflow in and around your tank will determine evaporation levels.

 

[fritz]

As Dean mentioned, there's no steadfast formula. It depends on the temp in your home, the humidity (which changes daily), the amount of circulation in the tank, how open the tank top is, and the amount of air circulation.

Roughly a gallon a day, more or less is a reasonable estimate.

 

[mantis32]

Open tank top. no airflow around the tank when I'm not home. A/C when I'm home. Currently trying to keep tank cool w/out having to shell out for a chiller.

It does seem like I'm putting in about a gallon/day, so I wondered if that was normal.

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

On my 55 with a HOB fuge I averaged about a gallon per day but it fluctuated, sometimes it was a cup sometimes it was a gallon and a half to 2 gallons.

 

[House of Laughter]

mantis,

if you're adding a gallon a day and you are doing it manually, think about this:

If you drink coffee and you like it a certain way - concentrate 1/11th of your coffee additive (milk, creamer etc) and tell me how it tastes. For illustration purposes . .

I would look to automating to auto top off - you'll have less salinity fluctuation.

House

 

[fritz]

I'd invest $10 in a 5 gallon tank, place it next to your sump and fill it with RO/DI water. Pick up an auto top off device and you're all set. Instead of filling your tank every day, you only have to fill your Auto Top Off resevoir once or twice a week!

Your skimmer will perform better, your salinity will remain constant. It will really do wonders for the stability of your tank. Dollar for dollar it's the best money you'll spend on your reef.

 

[Milkbone]

I think that Fritz hit the nail on the head. Your salinity will increase as your water evaporates, so adding RO/DI water straight will do the job. Make sure not to put back the evaporated salt on the top of your tank/ lights due to the radiation that the salt absorbs from your MH. Just increase salinity as needed to your smaller tank.

 

[meschaefer]

I'd invest $10 in a 5 gallon tank, place it next to your sump and fill it with RO/DI water. Pick up an auto top off device and you're all set. Instead of filling your tank every day, you only have to fill your Auto Top Off resevoir once or twice a week!

Your skimmer will perform better, your salinity will remain constant. It will really do wonders for the stability of your tank. Dollar for dollar it's the best money you'll spend on your reef.

I concure. With the recent change in weather and my use of a 10 inch fan mounted over the sump for cooling, I can loose as much as 2.5 gallons per day on my 65g.

 

[emps]

Bought a Home depot 5 gal bucket and the top off from http://autotopoff.com/ along with a maxijet 404. Works great and it's cheap.

 

[Reefer420]

yeah, I just got a ato unit from them, and even though it is a bit large for my 16g tank, it works like a charm.

I have a large fan blowing on my tank all day to keep the temp down, and I think It loses a little less than a half gallon a day...

 

[reefman]

my guess. 1 to 3 gallons.

 

[o0jmadr0x0o]

i get only about half gallon a day on my 50 with 29g sump.


also, does there need to be a heater and circulation in the a auto top off reservoir i would be using a 120gph power head to pump water into the sump

 

[nemo]

I put a glass canopy over my tank to minimize evaporation and to prevent fish form jumping out the tank and clean the glass twice a week to get rid of salt buildup.

 

[Awibrandy]

Make sure not to put back the evaporated salt on the top of your tank/ lights due to the radiation that the salt absorbs from your MH. Just increase salinity as needed to your smaller tank.

What???


o0jmadr0x0o, I thought one had all ready answered this. Guess it must be in another thread. No! as long as you have no chemicals or salt in there, and you shouldn't since it is just your ATO. Plain old RO/DI water.

 

[Milkbone]

?????

Read quote twice & not sure what you mean :question:. His main display tank will have evaporation which will lead to salt build up on his glass/ top of tank. This salt build up is extremely bad to put back into tank. Great site w/ exceptionally good advice, but some of you guys need to ease up w/ your responses.

What???


o0jmadr0x0o, I thought one had all ready answered this. Guess it must be in another thread. No! as long as you have no chemicals or salt in there, and you shouldn't since it is just your ATO. Plain old RO/DI water.

 

[Awibrandy]

Milkbone you have PM.:usa1:

 

[mantis32]

Is me entering up to a gallon/day manually really going to affect my salinity that much?

 

[mantis32]

It's about two quarts per day to be a bit more accurate.

 

[mantis32]

Okay. I'm at autotopoff.com and will grab the 66gph and a double controller, sump version.