Not what I expected

[texdoc77]

So I got my cool new avast ATO with digital I/O for my apex controller. Set it up last night, made sure it would come on and got ready to see how much water it added throughout the day so I could calculate how much kalkwasser I might need.

Here is the problem: I guess I don't get that much evaporation. It hasn't come on once in the last 24 hours. I do have a wooden canopy that I leave open just about a 1/2 inch to help with heat buildup and keep the tank between 80-81, but I guess I just don't lose a ton of water during the day. It is a tall 55gal tank, you know the ones 48" wide, so maybe the top surface area is relatively small.

My questions:
1. Is this normal? Do other reefers just not have that much evaporation?
2. Now what do I do about adding Kalk? Can I use my apex to have it deliver a little daily in addition to whatever top off requirements it might need every other day or so?

Thanks in advance. Oh and I really do love my avast and am loving my apex the more I get used to the programming!!!

 

[AZBigJohn]

Has your water level changed, or stayed constant? I cannot believe in Waco Texas in the middle of summer you would not have any evaporation in 24 hours,

Are you using fans to keep your temperature in line, or does the tank remain at 78-80 just on room temperature alone?

I have a 155 gallon, 6 foot long tank in Phoenix AZ. I keep three clip-on fans over it on my Apex that go on and off to keep my tank between 78-79 degrees, and I go through 5-6 gallons of top-off water per day....

I would expect you would have at least almost a gallon of evaporation if you use Air Conditioning, but I am not an expert on the issue by any means.

 

[Ron Reefman]

I have a 180g and 75g tanks tied into a 150+g sump/refugium and I evap about 1 to 1.5 gallons a day. Like you, here in SW Florida, the A/C is more evap than winter then the A/C is off.

 

[texdoc77]

I do not use chillers or fans and do not have a sump. Obviously we need A/C but I keep the house pretty cool, around 70. I checked the water level and salinity again last night and neither had changed...

Any more thoughts??

 

[ericarenee]

Move a power head/ wave maker pump aimed to disturb the water Surface more....
This should help Sounds like you really did not need a ato at this time...

 

[wicz101]

evporation is an important part of any system, allows for O2 exchange, I would to "open the top of the tank" more and get a fan blowing across the surface. I bet your evporation picks up a bunch. I have about 3-6 gallons a day of top off.

 

[fishgate]

With no sump and a closed top, that is about right.

 

[Sk8r]

Put a fan kit under the canopy. That should do it.

 

[texdoc77]

Move a power head/ wave maker pump aimed to disturb the water Surface more....
This should help Sounds like you really did not need a ato at this time...

LOL, I think you are right. I have two powerheads just at the surface and get quite a bit of surface agitation. I also have my protein skimmer in the DT, but not sure if that really helps gas exchange...

evporation is an important part of any system, allows for O2 exchange, I would to "open the top of the tank" more and get a fan blowing across the surface. I bet your evporation picks up a bunch. I have about 3-6 gallons a day of top off.

I'm not sure I have heard that evaporation is important, but rather the gas exchange. But I'm new. Can someone shed some light on this for me. I was under the impression that evaporation did not really affect gas exchange directly, but was itself a byproduct of good aeration and surface agitation.

With no sump and a closed top, that is about right.

This is now what I am thinking...

Put a fan kit under the canopy. That should do it.

Thanks for the reply Sk8r! I might just give this a shot, I wonder if it will also affect my pH as I might get better CO2 equilibrium as well as keep my temp a little more stable.