Exodus Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 hello I have recently got into the hobby and am getting to the end of my cycling period and plan to add my clean up crew next week, currently I have a 125 Gallon tank with built in overflows, under the tank I have a 55 gallon long used as a sump, the pluming drains into the compartment with a protein skimmer, then through the baffles to eliminate bubbles, then through a chamber with live rock and greens and finally to the pump that sends it back to the main display. so respectively looks like this --------------------- |................|.........| |___|_____|__|___ | Pump LR BAF Skimmer Now Ive noticed on a daily basis I'm losing a little over 2 Gallons of water, confused at first i checked for leaks there's none, as well I did the power down test, no overflowing So I'm assuming the water must be evaporating but at a very quick rate I check the salinity every day and I generally have it sitting around 1.022 - 1.023 / after I check the salinity when the water is gone I get 1.024 so I then have to add more fresh water to the sump to get it back to the appropriate level and the salinity goes back down of course. The most interesting thing though is that the water drop is primarily seen in the part where the pump is so i just fill that up to an inch above the divider and again the following day i will do the same. I just cant see water evaporating at this quick of a rate. Any suggestions as to what i can do to fix it? thanx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barelycuda Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 What temperature do you keep the tank and your house? Also is your house heated with gas? Even though this is the cold season there are things that can effect evaporation. Don't feel bad, I evaporate over 5g a day between my systems. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 my 100 gallon system has auto top off, the auto top off sump is 15 gallons and require refill once a week, so you could say I lose 2 gallons a day, in actuality its a little less but its right in that ballpark. This is with 400 watt MH lighting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andy Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Sounds about right to me. I lose a little over a gallon a day on my 55gal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewie Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 2g on a 125g isn't that extreme. I evap 1.5g on a 90g everyday. Wait until summer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 By the way, welcome to the Community Exodus and good luck in the hobby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsoz Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 Welcome. I agree, it sounds normal. That is why we invest in an RO/DI unit to make water instead of buying it. dsoz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blaster_works Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 And i thought my 2 gallons a day was bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
salty419 Posted February 6, 2009 Share Posted February 6, 2009 I go threw about two gallons a day on my 125 i do have 500 watts of MH ya wait for summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishmanmike01 Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 I too lose about 1.5 gal a day on my 70 w/500 watts of MH.You should think about doing an auto top off reservoir to eliminate hassle and add stability to your salinity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 I had a set-up very similar to the way yours is set-up. And everything you describe sounds the same as I went thru. Don't worry it is very normal. All of mine was on a 100g set-up. just be glad you aren't evaporating around 5 gallons a day like I am now with my 240. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 I was wondering about enclosing the sump to cut down on evaporation- any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 Evaporation is a good thing. It is the cooling method of the tank. Set up a drip line to your top-off and take advantge of the chance to add Kalk back into the tank. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downhill_biker Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 i lose 1.5 gal on my 72 gallon tank every day. i run 2x250 metal halide, and 2 fans on display, one on the sump, so you are within range. evaporation is a GREAT thing. it allows you to add more supplement via top off. i mix saturated kalk in my ATO, and it keeps up with my heavily stocked SPS tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downhill_biker Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 sorry micheal, didn't see your last post. i kindof repeated...thus enforcing the point. lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CA2OR Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 Maybe dumb input or question but do you have a chiller? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exodus Posted February 7, 2009 Author Share Posted February 7, 2009 Well I feel a bit better now then, I use Dual 400 MH's and the temp is a bit higher than the tank so Ill just keep topping it off daily it only takes a Few mins Thanks Guys Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrgreenthumb Posted February 7, 2009 Share Posted February 7, 2009 i evaporate 4.5 gallons out of my 90 gallon, and 20 gallon frag tank connected inline. I freaked out to, until I asked around and found that it is quite normal. Eventually I would consider ATO if I were you, helps keep your salinity consistent, and saves time and your back from manual top off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael7979 Posted February 8, 2009 Share Posted February 8, 2009 Well I feel a bit better now then' date=' I use Dual 400 MH's and the temp is a bit higher than the tank so Ill just keep topping it off daily it only takes a Few mins Thanks Guys[/quote'] I have 4- 400w MHs! But yeah just keep topping off and you'll be good. ATO unit would be a great help as greenthumb said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reefer Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 my 150 lost a lil less than a gallon a day until i finally added o/f n sump!!(clap)but now its more like 2 a day!!(sad) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Exodus Posted February 11, 2009 Author Share Posted February 11, 2009 So how essential are water changes in this case? In the effort of putting in about 2 1/2 gallons of water daily that's 17 1/2 gallons weekly of new water already being supplied to the tank? thnax Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyles Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Well evaporation is exactly that, water evaporation. It does not remove waste, solids, nitrates or phosphates. Only a water change can do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidalsculpin Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Water changes are essential to remove the unwanted nutrients(NO3 and phosphates) and reintroduce trace elements like iodine, strontium, calcium and so on. RO water used for auto top off only replenishes H2O not the other important trace substances necessary for coral growth and fish health. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beckie Posted February 18, 2009 Share Posted February 18, 2009 I have a 150 gl. Acrylic using t-5 lights and 45 gl. sump/fug. I keep the house around 70 all year long. I loose maybe 2 qts a day. I'm calling me lucky after reading other posts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fakkzz Posted March 12, 2009 Share Posted March 12, 2009 Brand new on the forum.... had tanks for a long time though. I was jsut wondering why gas heat in a house matters? Does this affect the avaporation per Barelycudas response? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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