Evaporation Question

[The Morning]

Recently I removed the plastic pieces that extend my glass hoods to the back of the tank. I added an extra filter and needed the space. However over the last two weeks I have noticed that the water level in my tank has dropped what I would consider significantly every few days. Previously I would replace water when i did my water changes and never noticed a drop in levels. It seems to me that it drops about an inch per day, to the point that I was looking for leaks.
Could the removal of the plastic strips suddenly account for the water loss by evaporation or am I way off base and need to be concerned about something else?

 

[Glenn238]

Is there any kind of lid covering the top of the tank

 

[MrsE88]

It could be possible. An inch a day sounds pretty excessive. What dimension tank are we talking about?

I have noticed a 1/4 drop on a few of my tanks between water changes since running our furnace. I don’t seem to have this problem in the summer.

 

[The Morning]

Tank is a standard 150. 6 foot long. I am going to mark it and see what it drops in the next 24 hours.

 

[Jexnell]

Yes taking out that strip will let more water evaporate out instead of condensing inside the tank.

 

[Steve_C]

You'll lose some to evaporation without lids for sure, but 1" per day seems a bit much in a 6' tank with just the plastic strips taken off. I run lids on all my tanks these days but I do remember back when I had an open top 55g and it lost a bit, but I don't think it was ever more than maybe 1/4" per day if even that.

 

[The Morning]

Ok. Thanks for the replies. I marked the tank and will see how much it goes down. I was climbing under the thing with a flashlight looking for any water marks.

 

[Steve_C]

Ok. Thanks for the replies. I marked the tank and will see how much it goes down. I was climbing under the thing with a flashlight looking for any water marks.

You'd know if it were leaking that much. It's probably just some evaporation, but since you're not use to it I bet it just seems like a lot more than it actually is

 

[BIG-G]

The air tends to be a lot drier In the winter and with the water temperatures being higher than the air evaporation is increased.
I have to top all my tanks more in the winter.
I need better covers.

 

[Jexnell]

Along this topic....
My acrylic tank is not as sealed up and it drops an inch over three days between water changes. The glass tank is a lot more so with typical hinged glass tops with the plastic back pieces in place. It drops maybe half an inch more like 3/8's over the same time frame.