Habitat - Indoor :: Water missing from tank...

[Turtle_Love45]

I have noticed that during the past few days, water has been slowing gone missing from the tank. I say missing because it is not leaking, just disappearing.

Does anyone know of some reasons of why this would happen?

[seanwb]

Evaporation!

[Turtle_Love45]

That is what my husband said, but it seems to be a lot. Or maybe I just did not notice until it got below a certain point. I was just taken back because I had no idea that it can be so much water.

I thought I was going crazy! Thank you!

[YourOtherLeft]

I lose about an inch or so a week due to evaporation

[jenaero]

Are you using a water heater? That'll make it evaporate much faster.

[moldygrape]

yep its evaporation im so sorry i was mad too every week i fill up my tank with a cup going back and forth and yep its alot!!!!

[TheComputerGremlin]

I'd estimate that my tank (a 40 gallon breeder with a canister filter and a water heater) loses about 4 gallons a week. That's nuts! It really depends on your room temperature, your room humidity (our apartment is very dry from electric heaters), your tank temperature, your tank footprint, etc.

[meltedspork]

I'm constantly adding more water to Toby's tank. Especially when you have an open tank top, water will evaporate very quickly.

[LorJ]

I too lose a lot of water every week. It can be annoying to fill back up, but I clean it weekly anyway. Right now one of the tanks has a hang on the back filter. That drives me insanse listening to the water noise when the tank gets low.

[StevenAkaProek]

this problem can be solved by adding a sump filter

you will have extra water below, to replenish the evaporated water

[thegrandpoohbah]

this problem can be solved by adding a sump filter

you will have extra water below, to replenish the evaporated water

Sure, but then you're still replenishing water in the sump instead of the tank. The only real way to avoid this would be with an auto top-off system.

[MoreBloodWine]

If you wana see just how much your losing over a period of a few days just tape a piece of tape and mark the water level on the outside of the tank.

Also, an ATO system would be a good idea... I bought one myself that I plan on using with Nikos permanent home when I get it / get it all set up. Its made by JBJ... heres a link to it.

JBJ ATO

The only thing with using any ATO system is making sure your resovoir (sp?) doesnt run dry or you can burn the pump motor out.

this problem can be solved by adding a sump filter

you will have extra water below, to replenish the evaporated water

Sure, but then you're still replenishing water in the sump instead of the tank. The only real way to avoid this would be with an auto top-off system.

ATO or not your still replenishing water in the resovoir (sp?) unless your get creative like I'm thinking of doing and tap your ATO into an open water line, but thats risky in itself because you can end up with a tonf of water on the floor if soemthing goes wrong.

[seanwb]

[quote="TheComputerGremlin"]I'd estimate that my tank (a 40 gallon breeder with a canister filter and a water heater) loses about 4 gallons a week. That's nuts! quote]

Just to cheer you up, I think now I am losing around 30 gallons per week! And my office has a tropical rain forest feeling to it!

Fortunately the tap for the hosepipe and a outside drain are about 15 feet away, so water top up and changes are easy.

I have a plan to reduce evaporation, which I will share if I ever get around to implementing it (and assuming it works)

[StevenAkaProek]

this problem can be solved by adding a sump filter

you will have extra water below, to replenish the evaporated water

Sure, but then you're still replenishing water in the sump instead of the tank. The only real way to avoid this would be with an auto top-off system.

True, but isn't an Auto top off system just a seperate water container? that just refils the sump/tank. So you would have to replenish that to

A sump works greats, since you have no limit on how much extra water you can have. I have a 50 galllon sump and I never have to worry about water evaportation. Since it's done when I do my water changes

I can go on a long vacation and rest safely

[Caphits]

Well, speaking of evaporation... We have an evaporation humidifyer at our house, and it can use upwards of 5 gallons in one day!!!

I also think that people with lidded tanks dont lose as much to evaporation. It traps the humid air near the tank, whereas a tank with light diffuser would allow the humid air to escape easily into the surrounding air.