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question about evaporation and topping off.

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by mthomp, Dec 30, 2010.

  1. Dec 30, 2010 #1
    mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

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    I was watching my return chamber lastnight because I noticed my ato kicking on a lot more often then normal.   I can litterly watch my water level drop in this chamber which doesnt seem normal to me.  My question is could be i be really evaporating this much water?  or perhaps I have my return throttled down to low or not low enough?  I have no leaks, I am pretty confident i would see water all over my floor by now if i did.
     
  2. Dec 30, 2010 #2
    adampottebaum

    adampottebaum Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Can you be more specific on how much evaporation a day you're talking about, your tank size, sump size, lighting, canopy yes/no, fans...

    This will help us answer your questions better.
     
  3. Dec 30, 2010 #3
    mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

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    90 gal tank, 30gal sump. no fans or canopy. 2 150 watt halide.

    I went through 1 gal of water over night. I just dont feel i should be able too watch the water level drop like that. it will go from my mark to inch below it in 45 secs.
     
  4. Dec 30, 2010 #4
    iaJim

    iaJim Inactive User

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    When I was topping off manually, I added two gallons a day. I had a lot of light on a 58 gallon tank and was running a fan though. I don't think a gallon a day is more evaporation than you should expect in the winter.
    Edit: I just reread your reply, and now realize that isn't what you said. I can't visualize your set up. Sorry.
     
  5. Dec 30, 2010 #5
    Big John

    Big John Inactive User

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    Your really sure you don't have a leak?
    This seems like an excessive amount of water loss. I know from experience that water can run in some weird ways.

    I hope you find a solution for this situation.

    John
     
  6. Dec 30, 2010 #6
    mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

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    LOL I figured it out. My fresh water supply and the ato pump sit about 2 inchs lower then my sump. So I think what is happening is when the pump is not on. water is syphoning back into my 5gal bucket of top off water.  yeah im sure I do not have a leak, everything is dry as a bone.
     
  7. Dec 30, 2010 #7
    iaJim

    iaJim Inactive User

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    Mystery solved!
     
  8. Dec 30, 2010 #8
    mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

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    Yup deffinitly it. I stuck my hand in the water to get the pump. and the water around the pump was near tank temp while all the rest was noticeably cooler.
     
  9. Dec 30, 2010 #9
    AJ

    AJ Inactive User

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    Ha! Interesting scenario. I would have chimed in with something, but I couldn't visualize things well enough to help out. In any case, glad you got it resolved. Planning to install a check valve on that line? :) I bet all that on and off is hard on your ATO pump.

    --AJ
     
  10. Dec 30, 2010 #10
    iaJim

    iaJim Inactive User

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    That's why I love my Litermeter III. My top off is in the basement.
     
  11. Dec 30, 2010 #11
    mthomp

    mthomp Inactive User

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    yeah I do but for now i raised the bucket with a milk crate.
     
  12. Dec 30, 2010 #12
    bobsfish

    bobsfish Experienced Reefkeeper

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    You have double the surface area as my tank/sump and so I would expect you to have roughly double the evaporation...which you do. So, it doesn't seem too high to me.
     
  13. Dec 30, 2010 #13
    williamh

    williamh

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    You could also have the ato water line sit out of the water slightly?Be careful to not have a siphon the other way also ( Ato reservoir into sump).
    William
     

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