Basically I want to avoid having salt creep and the need to top off water as much as possible. The last tank I set up 7 years ago had major issues with evaporation and salt creep (maybe because I had lots of microbubbles and a relatively hot light fixture).For the new tank I am planning on setting up I will have cooler lights with LEDs. I don't have the tank yet and am having a hard time deciding between a 38gal or 40 breeder tank (maybe 30 gallon tank too).
Do you think it would be worth getting a tank with a smaller water surface area (like a 38gal 36x12x20) instead of a 40 breeder (36x18x18)? This is a surface area reduction from 432in2 to 648in2. Mathematically, this suggests that I would need to replace water evaporation 1/3 less often with the 38 gallon tank (yes I am aware that I am overthinking this, probably trivial problem but ocd and an engineering degree don't mix too well here). However, 38 gallon tanks also are a bit taller and I have heard they are more prone to bowing out since they don't have that plastic brace thing, which would be more of an issue than a top off. Does this amount of surface area reduction really matter in terms of evaporation or is it more due to heat sources? I figured you guys may have experience with many sized tanks.
gh=ΘA(xs−x)
gh = amount of evaporated water per hour (kg/h)
Θ=(25+19v) = evaporation coefficient (kg/(m2 h))
v = velocity of air above the water surface (m/s)
A = water surface area (m2)
xs = humidity ratio in saturated air at the same temperature as the water surface (kg/kg) (kg H2O in kg dry air)
x = humidity ratio in the air (kg/kg) (kg H2O in kg dry air)
Thank you - Noah
Do you think it would be worth getting a tank with a smaller water surface area (like a 38gal 36x12x20) instead of a 40 breeder (36x18x18)? This is a surface area reduction from 432in2 to 648in2. Mathematically, this suggests that I would need to replace water evaporation 1/3 less often with the 38 gallon tank (yes I am aware that I am overthinking this, probably trivial problem but ocd and an engineering degree don't mix too well here). However, 38 gallon tanks also are a bit taller and I have heard they are more prone to bowing out since they don't have that plastic brace thing, which would be more of an issue than a top off. Does this amount of surface area reduction really matter in terms of evaporation or is it more due to heat sources? I figured you guys may have experience with many sized tanks.
gh=ΘA(xs−x)
gh = amount of evaporated water per hour (kg/h)
Θ=(25+19v) = evaporation coefficient (kg/(m2 h))
v = velocity of air above the water surface (m/s)
A = water surface area (m2)
xs = humidity ratio in saturated air at the same temperature as the water surface (kg/kg) (kg H2O in kg dry air)
x = humidity ratio in the air (kg/kg) (kg H2O in kg dry air)
Thank you - Noah