Kind of crazy.....driftwood took down water level

[shelbyzman]

I recently installed my pond with a firestone liner. Everything was fine...no leaks or anything. I used some driftwood (large piece) to cover up my filter and it was partially submerged in the water. I started noticing my water level going down some each day. I checked my waterfall and couldn't find anywhere it would leak. So.....I really didn't think it would fix the problem, but I was willing to try anything....I moved the piece of driftwood so that it was completely out of the water. It has been 4 days and the water level hasn't gone down any I guess it was soaking water up and then it evaporated....pretty crazy

 

[Fat Homer]

this is just speculation, but is the driftwood actually protruding out of the water? coz if its not then i doubt its evaporating after being absorbed by the wood...

 

[shelbyzman]

the driftwood (huge piece) was barely in the water but enough to get the bottom part soaked. Maybe some other factor has made the difference in my water level....only thing I know is that I haven't changed anything else

 

[mamapuff]

If it was barely in the water, then the rest of the piece was sucking water up to the rest of it. It's just like if you put a sponge in bowl of water, it's going to absorb as much as it can hold, then it won't hold anymore. The wood has dry parts, and wet parts. The dry parts are still absorbing water. The part that is constantly out of water, will keep drying if not submerged in water. Just keep filling it up, IMO. I have a piece in one of my tanks that sticks above the water line , but with how I have it sitting, I need it like that to keep the wood stable.

 

[amazonfishman]

If it's Malaysian wood it's not going to absorb much water if any definitely not enough to make a noticeable change in your ponds water height. I'd assume warmer weather causing quicker water evaporation or a small leak that somehow stopped itself.

 

[shelbyzman]

I noticed that water level has gone down some....not near as much as it did before though. I think it was part of the problem, but I think that the waterfall might be the main culprit

 

[Muske]

Does the liner attach to the face/lip of the filter?

 

[shelbyzman]

yeah, the liner is attached to the lip of the waterfall / filter with expanding foam. I think it is where the leak is coming from It seems like the water level is fine for a couple of days, and then 3 or 4 days later it goes down about an inch a day.

 

[coope12]

Any drift wood should be Quarintined and sterilized, basicly presoaked all depending where you got it, it will have contaminants on it from the area it was in. this will affect you water qualilty and possibly your fish. Even purchased decor, all purchased decor in will have foriegn particles on them, but this sterilizing process should be followed with a few rinse cycles. all depending on the weight of the wood most store bought wood is fairly light, in which the wood will ABSORB WATER and will do a better job of staying on the bottom of the tank.

 

[Muske]

Any pics. of the attachment point?