New tank..leakage or evaporation?

[FreshyNut]

I finally got the manpower to move my new 180 gal tank into the basement! I filled it with water in the garage and it seemed like all was well so I moved it on in.
I marked the water level about 14 hours ago and it seemed to have moved about 1/4 of an inch.
There is a very slight drip leak out of the out take for the sump which are ball valves I have capped currently and there is no top on the tank. There is a single vent above the tank which would blow out pretty hot air over the night, but the tank had dropped in temp since I filled it yesterday.
I cannot find any water around the tank or stand, but I am slightly worried it may be under the bottom pane (I can't see due to reflection of the glass).
What do you all think?

I also need suggestions of what to do with the intake caps for the sump, looking for something else besides what is there now..not the prettiest or most functional I'm.
Thanks in advance

 

[tlindsey]

I finally got the manpower to move my new 180 gal tank into the basement! I filled it with water in the garage and it seemed like all was well so I moved it on in.
I marked the water level about 14 hours ago and it seemed to have moved about 1/4 of an inch.
There is a very slight drip leak out of the out take for the sump which are ball valves I have capped currently and there is no top on the tank. There is a single vent above the tank which would blow out pretty hot air over the night, but the tank had dropped in temp since I filled it yesterday.
I cannot find any water around the tank or stand, but I am slightly worried it may be under the bottom pane (I can't see due to reflection of the glass).
What do you all think?

I also need suggestions of what to do with the intake caps for the sump, looking for something else besides what is there now..not the prettiest or most functional I'm.
Thanks in advanceView attachment 1303903 View attachment 1303905 View attachment 1303906

I'm going to say evaporation but sorry have no experience with intakes.

 

[Leebtattoos]

So the drip is sealed off? Or it’s dripping?

A 1/4 inch over night seems like a crazy evaporation rate.

 

[FreshyNut]

So the drip is sealed off? Or it’s dripping?

A 1/4 inch over night seems like a crazy evaporation rate.

I measured it and it was more like an 8th inch. You can see one cap in the picture where I marked the water level. The caps have a VERY slow drip coming out probably because I didn't use Teflon tape

 

[Leebtattoos]

How many drops a minute? If I were you I’d fix that leak now. It’s only going to get worse.

https://water.usgs.gov/edu/activity-drip.html

 

[DN328]

I'm not understanding where the slow drip leak is? You mention ball valve but Im not seeing the picture. Is that what is now capped off on the first picture?

Did you measure at the same spot on the tank and the tank is now in your basement? If the tank is not currently sitting level as when you measured upstairs, could that be the reason? It's like if you measured the water level in a cup, then slightly tilted the cup?

If you are keeping the overflow pipes, you could replace with newer looking strainers, no?

 

[FreshyNut]

Yeah the caps are attached to these and they are dripping around 1 drop a minute so not too much water.
I did write the line once it was in place before I went to bed. I do want new strainers, just wanted to see suggestions of what others have used.

 

[skjl47]

There is a single vent above the tank which would blow out pretty hot air over the night,

Hello; Absent other clues this is the more likely culprit. The warm dry air moving across the surface of the water may cause more evaporation. Even tho the temp of the water does not increase.

cannot find any water around the tank or stand

Hello; leaks can be a chore to find. It can take several days. I give my new setups time for any spilled water to dry up. First I use dry cloth/towels to wipe down all the outside surfaces After the tank sits for some time (hours /days) I use some paper towels to wipe around the outside again. Any spots where a paper towel gets wet is a suspect. Could be a leak or just some residual dampness. If a leak the same spot will keep on wetting the paper towel.

One other possibility is that there was some trapped air in the pipes and places when the tank was first filled. As the air escapes the water level can go down.

 

[FreshyNut]

Hello; Absent other clues this is the more likely culprit. The warm dry air moving across the surface of the water may cause more evaporation. Even tho the temp of the water does not increase.


Hello; leaks can be a chore to find. It can take several days. I give my new setups time for any spilled water to dry up. First I use dry cloth/towels to wipe down all the outside surfaces After the tank sits for some time (hours /days) I use some paper towels to wipe around the outside again. Any spots where a paper towel gets wet is a suspect. Could be a leak or just some residual dampness. If a leak the same spot will keep on wetting the paper towel.

One other possibility is that there was some trapped air in the pipes and places when the tank was first filled. As the air escapes the water level can go down.

Great tips I'll try this! The thing that makes it harder is that there is trim on the stand that comes up over the bottom border of the tank but if I can squeeze a paper towel in there it should work

 

[JK47]

If you want to take up much less space and still plug the capped lines, use slip bulkhead fittings and plugs. That will get that down to around 3.5” vs the bulky lines there now.

The intake strainers you have now look like the threaded type. You can order FIT low profile intake strainers from lifeguard aquatics. They take up much less space and won’t restrict flow nearly as much as those older style ones. You can trim out some material and it will flow even more. Be sure to check your fitting for slip or thread before ordering new ones if you want to use the existing plumbing.

Bulk reef supply has these for $3.50 ea. Search SKU: 209050
It will be found here, select your size. Looks like 1” to me.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/low-profile-bulkhead-overflow-strainers.html

There are 92k drops in a gallon. That slow leak isn’t the culprit but the leak needs be addressed nevertheless.