Crazy Evaporation

mikesbales · 10/07/2008, 10:57 AM

in my 94g system i typically lose about 3/4g per day in evaporation, but the past couple days i've been losing almost double that. I'll wake up to my water having dropped an inch in my sump!!! (it usually drops less than 1cm) I HAVE CHECKED FOR LEAKS!!! NO LEAKS ANYWHERE!!! and the weather has been consistant. Any ideas??

Also, i know this doesnt fall under water chemistry, but i figured it was kinda close. Thanks

Bonebrake · 10/07/2008, 11:00 AM

Outside of a serious leak or reef gnomes filling up their hats at night and emptying it out in their caves, the only other possibility is your home is drier and more is going into the ambient air.

Do you have an automatic top-off?

hypernesia · 10/07/2008, 11:02 AM

humidity levels in your house would be the culprit in my opinion. If your air is drier as of late you will evaporate more.

mikesbales · 10/07/2008, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bonebrake
Outside of a serious leak or reef gnomes filling up their hats at night and emptying it out in their caves, the only other possibility is your home is drier and more is going into the ambient air.

Do you have an automatic top-off?

No, unfortunatly no one around here (lowes and H.D.) sells float switches and I havent sucked it up and just bought one online yet.

mikesbales · 10/07/2008, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hypernesia
humidity levels in your house would be the culprit in my opinion. If your air is drier as of late you will evaporate more.

I do run a dehumidifier in my basement where the tank is, but I have always run it and it keeps my basement at a constant 10% humidity.

hypernesia · 10/07/2008, 11:22 AM

wow 10% humidity that is really dry. Sparks a flying. Do you measure the humidity by what the dehumidifier says? As those things work they pull more and more water from the air throughout the entire house. The drier the air gets in a larger area the more your tank will evap. Its all about water vapor pressures and equillibrium.
You can always bring in drier air from outside when you open and close windows and doors

AZDesertRat · 10/07/2008, 11:24 AM

I'll bet its a drop in relative humidity. 3/4 gal a day is not much for a 94 gal system, on my 100G with a 30G sump its normally 2 gal a day and can be 3 a day at times. Relative humidity makes a big difference dehumidifier or not.

Randy Holmes-Farley · 10/07/2008, 03:54 PM

I agree that is not much. Evaporation varies greatly with season and climate, but 1-4% daily is not unusual.

10/07/2008, 10:57 AM	#1
mikesbales Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 9	Crazy Evaporation in my 94g system i typically lose about 3/4g per day in evaporation, but the past couple days i've been losing almost double that. I'll wake up to my water having dropped an inch in my sump!!! (it usually drops less than 1cm) I HAVE CHECKED FOR LEAKS!!! NO LEAKS ANYWHERE!!! and the weather has been consistant. Any ideas?? Also, i know this doesnt fall under water chemistry, but i figured it was kinda close. Thanks

10/07/2008, 11:02 AM	#3
hypernesia Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 313	humidity levels in your house would be the culprit in my opinion. If your air is drier as of late you will evaporate more. __________________ Astropyga Magnifica Current Tank Info: 220 reef

10/07/2008, 11:22 AM	#6
hypernesia Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 313	wow 10% humidity that is really dry. Sparks a flying. Do you measure the humidity by what the dehumidifier says? As those things work they pull more and more water from the air throughout the entire house. The drier the air gets in a larger area the more your tank will evap. Its all about water vapor pressures and equillibrium. You can always bring in drier air from outside when you open and close windows and doors __________________ Astropyga Magnifica Current Tank Info: 220 reef

10/07/2008, 03:54 PM	#8
Randy Holmes-Farley Reef Chemist Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Arlington, Massachusetts Posts: 81,937	I agree that is not much. Evaporation varies greatly with season and climate, but 1-4% daily is not unusual. __________________ Randy Holmes-Farley Club 65535 Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

10/07/2008, 11:00 AM	#2
Bonebrake Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Danville, PA Posts: 519	Outside of a serious leak or reef gnomes filling up their hats at night and emptying it out in their caves, the only other possibility is your home is drier and more is going into the ambient air. Do you have an automatic top-off?

10/07/2008, 11:24 AM	#7
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,686	I'll bet its a drop in relative humidity. 3/4 gal a day is not much for a 94 gal system, on my 100G with a 30G sump its normally 2 gal a day and can be 3 a day at times. Relative humidity makes a big difference dehumidifier or not.