How Much Top Off Water?

[RDuhb]

How much water per week can I expect to use for top-off? The tank will be a 75 gallon with sump. I'm sure there are things that will impact the number, but what's the general rule? Thanks!

 

[disc1]

I lose anywhere from half a gallon to nearly two gallons a day from my 75 depending on the humidity and temperature.

 

[shaginwagon13]

Evaporation is different for every tank and is dependent on outside temp, humidity, what lights your using, etc.

I loose roughly 5 gallons every 2-3 days in the summer if humid and a little more in the winter if the air is dry.

 

[erock68]

I lose about 1 - 2 gallons per day in my 75. A little less now, not been as warm outside.

 

[planedoc]

One of the best things I ever did was plump my ro/di directly into both of my sumps. They are on float valves. I never have to add water.
Before the mod I added 1 Gallon every day to my 75. On Saturday I would top off the tank with an additional 3 to 5 gallons. So 1 to 2 gallons a day.

 

[MicReefing]

I like the idea of float system in the sump. My question in response to that is how to maintain your salinity. I am a newbie as well, so not sarcasm.

 

[Jakers88]

One of the best things I ever did was plump my ro/di directly into both of my sumps. They are on float valves. I never have to add water.
Before the mod I added 1 Gallon every day to my 75. On Saturday I would top off the tank with an additional 3 to 5 gallons. So 1 to 2 gallons a day.

That is a great idea :idea: ! I wonder if there is a way I can do that on my 120g I'll be setting up in about 6months. How difficult was the plumbing to set that up house wise and aquarium wise?

 

[Dr. Reef]

20 gal per week about 3 gal per day, my tank is in wall and the tank sits in garage in Oklahoma heat of 130+F.

 

[serion]

I'm losing about 1/2 gal per day to evaporation in my 55. I have been topping off every other day. Sometimes its a little more sometimes less, but If I go more than 3 days between topping off my return pump gets closed to being exposed. No ATO yet, but its on the To-Do list.

 

[mgrmax]

I like the idea of float system in the sump. My question in response to that is how to maintain your salinity. I am a newbie as well, so not sarcasm.

Your salinity should maintain itself because only the water evaporates, not the salt.

 

[kriv4o]

I go trough about 6 gal give or take a week on a 40b-20l sump system.

 

[sammy77]

One of the best things I ever did was plump my ro/di directly into both of my sumps. They are on float valves. I never have to add water.
Before the mod I added 1 Gallon every day to my 75. On Saturday I would top off the tank with an additional 3 to 5 gallons. So 1 to 2 gallons a day.

This works great...the only problem is those float switches tend to fail often. Setting up a a potential disaster.

 

[Thunder3]

I would say anywhere from 5 -10 gallons. depending on room temp.

 

[Tasler]

In my 20 gallon I lose 1 gallon a day. Open top, pendant led light so not much heat like a halide but still a lot of evap. Your salinity will change, lower if you add to much fresh water and raises as water Evaps. If you can best thing I did to upgrade tank to actually make it easier and more enjoyable is get an automatic top off. (ATO) I like mine from automatictopoff.com got the 2 float for added safety feature and using Toms aqua lifter pump. Makes your tank so much more enjoyable, plus later you can dose from it!

 

[planedoc]

I clean them every week and Ive been replacing them every 6 months. At 10 bucks its worth it. On my big tank I have a safety switch that turns off my return pump if sump overfills. It won't stop a flood but it will prevent the DT for losing salinity.

 

[gonpostal]

This works great...the only problem is those float switches tend to fail often. Setting up a a potential disaster.

+1, someone I know had a flood because of this. IMO it's much safer to have your ATO water in a container.
I go through a little over a gallon of ATO a day with my 120.

 

[Mavrk]

My 90 (just a tall 75) loses about a gallon a day. In my old house this would change depending on the weather. I have a 5 gallon bucket of ro/di water and an ATO pump inside (Tunze osmolator). One of the best investments I have made that is not absolutely necessary to have.

 

[devimik]

Same here - I have a 90g and lose about 1 gallon per day. I too have a Tunze Osmolator with a 7 gallon Tunze bucket for ATO RODI water storage. I just add 5 gallons every 5 days, so it doesn't run dry. I can't imagine having to do this w/o the ATO.