Evaporation.

[DarkSide]

Yeah lately, i've been having a little problem with water evaporation in my tank. I'm just going to guess that I lose atleast 4 gallons of water every week, which makes my water line drop very fast. I don't get to add more water often just because I have to haul a 2-3 gallon bucket (approx?) up and down a flight of stairs.

I leave the fish tank lights on during the day, and shut them off when I go to sleep, and I turn them back on when I wake up in the morning.

So does anyone have any suggestions on how to stop this, or why its happening?

 

[black angel]

to stop it happening you can buy condensation trays which sit on the tank under the hood and stop a lot of water disappearing.

 

[DarkSide]

I've never heard of them, i'll have to check my LPS for them, if that doesn't work. I'd have to go to the pet stores in Edmonton to see.

 

[pahansen]

Stupid question, but... Do you use a hood that doesn't have any openings or do you use a canopy with lights in it? Obviously you'll have less evaporation if your tank is covered.

 

[DarkSide]

I think it would be a canopy, it came with the tank, everything is closed of except when I open the feeding duct thing, and the hole in the back where the filter and the cord that comes from my heater comes out.

 

[pahansen]

Well, I think I just had my terms mixed up here. I think of a canopy as one of the things where the light is suspended above the tank, leaving some/most of the surface area of the tank water exposed, but from doing some checking it seems like the terms hood and canopy are frequently interchangeable. Sounds like your tank is pretty well closed off. I know that people who do keep "exposed" tanks (for lack of a better term) have significant problems with evaporation, so I figured it was worth asking.

Good luck with a solution that doesn't involve harfing more water up steps!
-- Pamela

 

[DarkSide]

Okay thanks anyways

 

[DarkSide]

 

[littlefishie]

I have no top on my tank because my dad is lazy and hasn't made it yet.
I lose about 2-3 inches of water per week.

..Chances are it's just warmer in the room with the tank, causing the water to evaporate faster. That's what does it in mine.. with 6 bettas and a tank my room's pretty humid.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi DarkSide

When water evaporates, the minerals and chemicals in it become concentrated and when you add more water, you are also adding more minerals. Eventually, if you don't do very good water changes, you might have a problem with them.

Even though you have to carry the water upstairs, please do not take the easy way out and skip or skimp on this necessary chore.

If it would be easier, just leave the big bucket upstairs and fill it by carrying a smaller one up during the course of your normal trips. Then, when it is time to use it, the water will be there for you.

 

[yvez9]

if your room is really dry and your tank temperature is alot higher than room temp, water tends to evaporate faster. Try putting a humidifier in your fish room. that should help a lot

 

[LoachLover]

Yeah my tank loses quite a bit of water too, but I use it to my advantage.