Evaporation

[judgek]

I am getting a large amount of evaporation.

In my final chamber of my sump, I notice after say 12 hours, around half the final chamber has evaporated.

I have no auto top up system in place, nor do I particluarly want one.

How can I help prevent this water loss?

I am going to buy a condensation tray for the sump to help a litte. Is there anything else I can do?

Also with regards to the condensation tray, I was wondering can I also put one in the main display tank, between the lights and water? Or will the effect to effeciency of light getting to corals when I buy them?

Thanks.

 

[seffieuk]

Welcome to TFF Judge

Not sure on the answer here so will let someone more experienced help out

Seffie x

 

[xxBarneyxx]

The typical condensation try you get from your LFS will diffuse the light to much on the display. Personally I would recommend a glass cover sheet (if you have something you can stand it on in the tank) or acrylic (check which type you get as some of clear acrylic is designed to filter out certain wavelengths of light).

I have just got an auto top up unit myself and after using it for a couple of weeks I would strongly recommend it. I get massive evaporation from my tank and since putting the ATU on I have noticed the corals seem a lot healthier because the SG is constant all the time (rather then going up during the day and rapidly dropping down again when I get home and top up).

 

[Colin_T]

just get some 4 or 5mm thick coverglass for the tank and sump. If the covers are a snug fit they will stop virtually all of the evaporation. I have covers on my tank and only need to top up the tanks about 1/2inch of water about once a month.
If you keep the covers clean it will allow most of the light to get through.

 

[SkiFletch]

If you limit evaporation watch out for temperature spikes (getting too hot) and watch out for poor gas exchange leading towards low O2 and poor fish health... I'd get an ATO if it were me

 

[rabbut]

How big is the system and how much water are you loosing.

Under some lights, cover glasses can create a "green house" effect, caursing temperature rases in teh tank that you probibly don't want. What lights are you running? My 70l nano looses about 2g a week to evaporation under a 150W Halide, but a 40l nano with PC's looses about 1/2 a litre... Lighting can make a big difference... The coral display tank looses about 5-10g a week under 2 150W halides (abbout 80g) and 4 18W atinics and the FO displays loose about 2g under T8's (about 50-60g each).

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Jimyfloyd]

Rabbut - where you have put "g" is that gallons?

I'm quite shocked at the 5-10 gallons per week if it is!!!

 

[rabbut]

Yes, g = gallons, or roughly 4.5l if you prefur

 

[Jimyfloyd]

Yes, g = gallons, or roughly 4.5l if you prefur

So we're talking 10-15% loss!

 

[ben1987]

what size tank is it?
what lighting?
how far is the light off the water?

 

[rabbut]

Yes, g = gallons, or roughly 4.5l if you prefur

So we're talking 10-15% loss!

In mine over a week, yes, thats about normal... Keep getting glazing companies (or should that be vultures) comming round asking if we want the bust and condensated windows on the porch replacing when they are doing work in the area. They get rather baffled when I point out they are only steamed up due to the tank

The ammount of evaporation you get will depend on many varibles, the three main ones Ben covers

All the best
Rabbut

 

[jack-100]

I used to get lots of evaporation on mine, roughly a litre a day at times. I now have a condensation sheet and it has almost stopped it altogther. I have left gaps in the sheet (due to poor cutting ) but it allows air to escape and what not. Just make sure you keep an eye on the temperatures and make sure you keep it clean and it should be okay