Rate of evaporation

[Mr31415]

If my tank is at 25C and the ambient is 4C at it's coldest, and 20C at its hottest during a 24 hour period, and assuming the tank is 480g and has closed top, one 150W MH, and two closed sumps (well, there are some opening slits abut 10cm wide) - then what would be an acceptable rate of evaporation?

I measured 2.1 gallons that evaporated in a 24 hour period - is this normal?

[WingnutSr]

I think that evaporations rates will vary from tank to tank.
My set up, a 125g, with canopy, all PC lighting and 1 cooling fan that runs 24-7. I need to replace 2 to 2.5 gallons a day.
another factor that may affect evap. rate is the ambient relative humidity. The drier the air in the room, the more likely you will have a higher evap. rate.
Normal for any given tank can only be detrmined by averages. JMO.

[Ehgemus]

my 46g evaporation back in the winter was almost 2g.

[2farNorth]

That sounds about right... Then also if there is an area in your sump that has alot of splashing/turbulance... that also will make it evaporate more.... That I noticed... That and you get alot of salt creep....

My 120 with open top, open 55g sump... evaps. at least 2.5g's a day....

[2farNorth]

wait, did I read that right... your ambiant ranges from 4c - 20c? Wow, if so, that is quite the range!! Your heaters must get a workout when it gets down to 4c!! (can't remember the conversion to F, but either way, that's kinda chilly!)

[Mr31415]

Yup - like this morning - I had all four 300W Jagers running and it barely managed to keep the temp > 24.4 C

In South Africa we do not have central heating in our homes - in winter sometimes it gets quite chilly during night.

[Satori]

I agree that humidity plays a large role. In the winter when my indoor humidity is in the single digits, my 180 evaporates over 5 gallons per day. My house has a swamp cooler, so in the summer my humidity goes to around 50% and I only evaporate about 2.5 gallons per day.

[frederickk]

My 180g as about the same specs as Satori. I eveporate about 5g per day and a little more when it's more humid.