Topping off tank question

[gwand]

I find that my tanks without lids, especially those with agitation from air stones or power heads, lose a gallon or more of water each week. This process results in increasing concentration of toxins in the tank water as the week progresses. So I top off those tanks around midweek since I perform weekly water exchanges. Do most of you top off your tanks?

 

[MattW]

For a while all I did was top-ups. Now I try to get a weekly WC done if I have the time (only 10-20%). I have lids on both, but they also have air-driven and powerhead filters. I found I lost about 2-3 L a week. I thought the main reason for the loss of water in my tanks was my pothos sucking it all up . I have new leaves often growing, and they are big plants now.

 

[Uberhoust]

I find that my tanks without lids, especially those with agitation from air stones or power heads, lose a gallon or more of water each week. This process results in increasing concentration of toxins in the tank water as the week progresses. So I top off those tanks around midweek since I perform weekly water exchanges. Do most of you top off your tanks?

I have glass covers over my tanks, and the RH in my home is usually no less than 55% so I don't get a lot of evaporation. The weekly drop from evaporation is no more than a 2 mm. The water gets changed long before it drops below the bottom of the black strip on the top of the aquarium. I do use air in conjunction with the canister filter.

 

[GaryE]

I rarely top up. I figure if I have to drag out the refill hose, I might as well do a water change while I'm at it. But I don't have wild evaporation.

 

[EmmaS]

I did top off but since i found out my tds goes up. I try to do big weekly water changes instead. I'm seriously considering buying ro water for top offs and for a new breeding project. I don't want the hassle of going out buying ro water but needs must.
I want to breed gold ring danios as this fish is stunning. They are easy to feed, active and not shy. They school quite well and stay near the top.

 

[seangee]

Mine are covered so evaporation is low. When I do top off I use pure RO to keep the water parameters constant. Water evaporates but the minerals stay behing (along with the toxins )

 

[Magnum Man]

kind of like @GaryE ... only I don't have to drag anything out... I used to do midweek top offs, but now, I'm using the low tank, to tell me it's time to do water changes... right now, with the bigger RO I just do water changes, instead of top offs, just under twice a week...

 

[gwand]

In the past I had glass covers on all my tanks. But once I decided on adding hydroponic plants placed in planters along the rim of the tanks the glass lids no longer fit correctly. So I removed them. The only tank I have covered is my 60 gallon African tank.

 

[Innesfan]

In the past I had glass covers on all my tanks. But once I decided on adding hydroponic plants placed in planters along the rim of the tanks the glass lids no longer fit correctly. So I removed them. The only tank I have covered is my 60 gallon African tank.

I assume you have no species with suicidal tendencies--hatchets, some nannostomus, some killies, etc-- or does floating plant-cover address that issue?

 

[gwand]

I assume you have no species with suicidal tendencies--hatchets, some nannostomus, some killies, etc-- or does floating plant-cover address that issue?

Correct. No jumpers.

 

[Magnum Man]

I've rarely had one jump out... with most tanks being built in, most have at least a few "sides" and then a top, the ceiling, or if a lower tank, the shelf the tank above sits on, then I have "hedges" of plants across the backs, I use mostly peace lilies, or a heavy growth of pothos vines for my hedges... so "flying" fish like hatchets might make it over or through the hedge, but in my main tanks, I've never had a fish go over the wall... in this group only the bichir tank is covered, at the top of the tank...

 

[Back in the fold]

I haven’t topped up an aquarium in decades . Like most have said , I do my water changes every week so it isn’t an issue . You’re getting the evaporation because your aquarium is warm and the room is not .

 

[Magnum Man]

I lose that much, but expect the terrestrial plants account for at least half the water loss...

 

[Colin_T]

In the past I had glass covers on all my tanks. But once I decided on adding hydroponic plants placed in planters along the rim of the tanks the glass lids no longer fit correctly. So I removed them. The only tank I have covered is my 60 gallon African tank.

Your hydroponic plants will be using a bit of water and transpiring it out of the tank.

You could have partial covers on the tanks. Leave areas open for the plants and cover the rest.

 

[Colin_T]

Full coverglass on all tanks to stop evaporation, reduce humidity in the house, stop fish jumping out, reduce heating costs by trapping heat in the tank, and to keep dust out of the tanks.