This might be a stupid question

muppet

muppet

Misanthrope
But I'm more than a decade out of a good physics class...

Is it POSSIBLE that electrical wiring running from my pumps to the floor (where the outlets are) could become wet enough from evaporation that they actually set up an extremely low-flow siphon out of the tank?

I ask because what I thought at first might be a pinhole leak seems like it might actually be an extreme case of evaporation. This is in a 14g Oceanic biocube. The hood on this tank is only about an inch and a half off the surface of the water, and even with fans running it gets pretty warm up there with the 10K light on (water temp stays around 76-78F).

Thoughts?
 
Hehe, I'm about two decades out of a good physics class.

I can see you point and concern however if you have an extreme case of evaporation, this is where your water loss is going to occur.

If you have noticeable water collecting on the wiring make sure the cords have a loop before the plug so that you don't get the shock of your life when you go to plug/unplug something.


Scott
 
I've got loops in the cords but I can't figure out how they're getting so soaked. They seem to be wet all the way up to the hood.
 
Cords are the wettest, but the back of the tank is wet with salt deposits, as are the sides. There is "salt creep" all the way around the seam where the lid meets the tank.
 
Are you having to top off a lot? It sounds like you are getting a lot of evaporation, that or you may have a leak.
 
I top off at least a quarter gallon a day, which seems normal to me? The other day I had to do a HUGE top off, almost a gallon, but that hasn't happened again since. I'm not sure what went on there... Maybe one of my big dogs bumped the tank and caused some sloshing.
 
I had something happen a few years ago that might be of help to you. I had powerheads in the tank, with the cords running to a power strip on the floor behind my tank (for the record, power strips on the floor are a BAD idea). Where the cord exited the water, there was some algae buildup. Although I scraped the glass of algae, etc, I never reall thought about the little tuft of algae at water line. Over time, the algae grew and actually made its way out of the tank and to the rim. Water traveled up that algae via osmosis and caused a drip down the cord. It ended up, you guess it, in my power strip. Luckily my wife was home and unplugged the whole tank before the fire started...just sparks and some ruined carpet....ohh and a ruined power strip. Not sure if it helps, but thought I would throw it out there.
 
most electrical cables are not 100% sealed as well so it is possible for water to travel inside them between the jacket and conductors. but i don't think this is what you see
 
if its leaking and your topping off with straight RO water your SG is gonna get way off. if your measuring this and its staying stable then its evap but if its getting lower then you got a leak
 
SG is staying stable. I measure it daily. I think it's just HORRENDOUS evaporation that happens to run down the pump cords. The Biocube 14 is set up so that all the cords enter at the top back of the tank just above the water line, so they set up a path for the water to condense on and then run down.

I just can't believe how much water is pouring down those wires. I have my light cycle down to 6 hours on a timer.
 
could just be condensation colecting on the cord and running down them. i would try to position the cord so there is a drip loop on it so the drips will stay in the tank instead of on the floor.
 
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