Tank evaporation - Auto Top Off

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

My new 60G tank is currently open top. I am running a AI LED light so heat is not an issue. The tank is evaporation 1-2 gallons a day. Way more than I would like.

I am only planning on having a 10-15G top off reservoir. Don't have room for much bigger. .This will become a pain to fill every other day as I make the RO in another room. ATO will be pumped to the tank via a Litre Meter

I am thinking of either a piece of glass that covers most of the tank with a 3 inch piece of glass towards the front on a hinge for feeding or a piece of glass covering most of the top and having just one of the front corners cut out with a hinge for feeding.

Do you see any problems with having a glass top on the tank? The sump will still be open.

 

[KathyC]

A glass cover on the tank will reduce your oxygen exchange, which is important. It will also lessen your lighting's effectiveness to a degree.

It would help the evaporation rate if you slow the flow of the water running through the sump. Do you have a decent amount of powerheads in the DT that provide you with enough flow? If so, the amount of water flowing through the sump becomes less important.

 

[Rob_Reef_Keeper]

A glass cover on the tank will reduce your oxygen exchange, which is important. It will also lessen your lighting's effectiveness to a degree.

It would help the evaporation rate if you slow the flow of the water running through the sump. Do you have a decent amount of powerheads in the DT that provide you with enough flow? If so, the amount of water flowing through the sump becomes less important.

Right now its only the return pump. The MP10 will be added in a week. I have a Tunze 700 GPH pump restricted ~ 1/2 way already. Why would slowing the water through the sump slow evaporation?

 

[Deep Dive Coral]

Water movement is what causes evaporation more then heat. On my 125 I lose about 3 -5 gallons every other day. And I keep the tank at 77 degrees. But my flow is verry hi, 2 tunze 1040's and the return pump 1400gph.

 

[reefs4life]

I have a 120 gallon sump and I had it open for about 2 weeks before I decided to cover it with acrylic covers because I was loosing way too much water. I think covering your sump wouldn't be as bad in regards to gas exchange compared to covering your DT

 

[Deep Dive Coral]

+1 what kind of skimmer do you have?

I have a 120 gallon sump and I had it open for about 2 weeks before I decided to cover it with acrylic covers because I was loosing way too much water. I think covering your sump wouldn't be as bad in regards to gas exchange compared to covering your DT

 

[Bilk]

Your water evaporation rate is probably due to the humidity conditions within your home. In colder months when the air is drier tanks will naturally have a higher rate of evaporation. If you live in an older home, where the insulation is somewhat compromised, this will have a greater effect. It should begin to lessen and stabilize once we get to more humid weather conditions.

The only way to ameliorate this is to provide additional humidification to your home and or insulate better, sealing around windows and doors. If the tank is in a room with a door, keeping that closed could also help somewhat as long as you can provide a seal at the bottom using one of those beanbag door sealers. However again, once the weather changes and the humidity outside rises, the evaporation should lessen.

 

[saltwaterinbrooklyn]

another thing to think about is salt creep on that tank cover! i have an all glass 54 corner tank and like kathy said it would decrease the light entering the tank and also causes light glare, not to mention the algae that may begin to grow on it from condensation, my tank is open top and i to lose an annoying amount of water due to evaporation.

p.s. im also using the ai led light module and you get much better lighting without top