Very Rapid Evaporation Rate, please help.

[borillion_star]

I have a 50 gallon bow-front tank at 79 Degrees F and I have a glass cover over the top with a 36" T5 only coralife aqualight.

Im having to replace about half a gallon of water every 3 to 4 days, and Im very worried about the effect its having on my livestock, I keep the house at 65 Degrees minimum.

I dont have a sump and only have a hang on back aqua-clear filter. I'm at of how to slow it down. I brought the temp down from around 82.

Anyone have any experience or know anything I can do?

 

[muppet]

Half a gallon every 3 days seems like very little evaporation to me. I operate a 55 gallon with a two bulb 48" T5 fixture and I replace a gallon per day. Half a gallon every 3 days will barely even swing your salinity. Make sure you're topping off with RO/DI or at least distilled.

 

[dixiedog]

I'm surprised you don't replace more water than that. It must be the glass top because that's way less than normal.

You should get rid of the glass top.

 

[borillion_star]

I do the RO/DI and nothing else I just seems like a lot and has me a bit nervous, I didnt have the issue before and am not sure what caused it to jump ROFL

 

[BASA]

I have a 90 and have to replace about 5 gallons of evaporation a week. I use a chiller so no need for fans to cool the tank. Friends who use fans over the sump are replacing about 5 gallons of evaporation every 2nd day.

 

[Whisperer]

My evap rate is around 2 liters per day in my 120G. I do not have cover and I have pendant MH. I just placed an order for an Eshopps auto top off system and I am going to use a 6G water jug as a ro/di reservoir. I am hoping to at least just refill the jug once a week instead of topping off 2 L everyday.

 

[borillion_star]

LOL, what good does ditching the glass top to allow evaporation do? I mean it has an opening so it doesn't stop it completely.

 

[t4zalews]

haha..yea..I have like 5 gallons every 3-4 days of evaporation. I know this cuz I can always hear my osmolator gurgling because of low water in the reservoir

why do you have a glass top on the tank? that really takes away from you're lighting system. I'd recommend removing it completely.

 

[dixiedog]

LOL, what good does ditching the glass top to allow evaporation do? I mean it has an opening so it doesn't stop it completely.

It's not for evap, it's for PH/Alk stability, oxygen levels, light ... someone smarter can elaborate

 

[hvacman250]

Smallest amount of topoff Ive ever heard.

I replace a gallon a day in a 40 breeder, and 13 gallons every 10 days on a 100 gallon.

 

[Whisperer]

I understand what you meant, Dixie. You threw it there when we were talking about evaporation. However, the glass top will have little effect in oxygenation if you have an overflow/sump.

 

[stanlalee]

I have a 30g with open top and halides. it evaporates half a gallon a day. I think you'll probably have a bit more if you remove the top.

 

[Frogmanx82]

I like my glass top. You can run around half naked if you want to, I'm keeping my top on.

 

[cubman20]

In a 65 i get 1 gallon a day 2 250s

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

evap is a reefkeepers best friend because it allows you to top up with more kalkwasser

another vote for remove the top

 

[dixiedog]

I understand what you meant, Dixie. You threw it there when we were talking about evaporation. However, the glass top will have little effect in oxygenation if you have an overflow/sump.

... which the OP doesn't.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

looks like

looks like

no skimmer either. Another reason to lose the top.

Better check pH on this aquarium.

 

[borillion_star]

PH has always been around 8 to 8.3

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

what is alkalinity?

removing the top will also have a cooling effect on your aquarium.

You won't have to keep the apartment at 65F anymore.

 

[borillion_star]

double post