Evaporation Question

[asder112]

Hi -
I'm not sure if this is really an issue for a lot of you guys, but I have three tanks currently (a 125, a 135 and a 50) running. Mostly in my two bigger tanks I notice that the effects of evaporation from the tanks are quite visible - around a good half inch of water has evaporated after a week, presumably into the air in the rooms where they're at. I was just wondering, firstly, if this is a bad thing and secondly, how to decrease the amount evaporated besides covering most of the openings with, say, plastic wrap, and sealing it in some way.

Thanks!

*note - this may just be stupidity on my part but either way it would be nice to at least stop some of the evaporation

 

[chemicall]

If you cover the openings the harmful gases will be trapped, not good.

do you have air stones in the tank? those help towards evaporation greatly.

You could try leaving a basin of water on top the tank.......maybe that will evaporate first and hopefully keep the air moist enough to not suck so much from your tank........

 

[Pharaoh]

Evaporation is a necesssary evil when it comes to takes. Water needs to contact the air to ensure that the proper gas exchanges are made. The best way I now to reduce it is to do this.
1. Tank at operating temperature
2. Lid on tank (Not completely sealed though.
3. Have it a little cooler in the room that the tanks are in

The cooler temperature will cause the water to condense on the lid and fall back into the tank. You will still lose a little water, but not a much. I notice a big difference between the tanks w/lids and the tanks w/o.

 

[asder112]

alright - thanks for the responses. I figured it would be a bad idea to cover all of the openings. I'm just curious as to what you mean as to "tank at operating temperature"? Currently my tanks are around 80 degrees F whilst the rooms are around 45 - 50 degrees.

 

[srikamaraja]

If you can do 1/3 water changes once a week, as I do(thank the powers that be for well water), you can just add the water back, the dissolved solids will remain in the tank, but will be well mitigated by the next large water change.

I would say in a 30gal tank, i lose 1 gallon a week, but change 10. Shouldn't be any problems.

 

[Pharaoh]

alright - thanks for the responses. I figured it would be a bad idea to cover all of the openings. I'm just curious as to what you mean as to "tank at operating temperature"? Currently my tanks are around 80 degrees F whilst the rooms are around 45 - 50 degrees.

I was just being general about the temperature you run your tank. Yours sound good.