Water evaporation

[uk-sub]

Hi Chaps
I am just setting up my first marine tank, a 180g (72x24x24). I have it reef ready plumbed to a 40g sump, currently just circulating fresh water to check out my pipework / ancillaries for leaks etc. I do not have any skimmer in place as yet. I have no lights or canopy on the main tank and no cover on the sump. I do have a submersible heater in the sump, which is currently only managing to keep the water temp @ 62F
My question is, how much water should I be loosing to evaporation? I seem to be loosing a bit and thought it a bit surprising at this time of year with ambient room temps at around 60 - 65F ish
Neither tank appears to leak, I checked for damp patches all around the main tank support cabinet, there are no signs of water around the sump.
Any input / ideas would be greatly appreciated.
As always...Thanks in advance

 

[maryg]

I am not sure but a 40 gallon sump might be a little small for a 180. I have a 90 and go through a gallon every other day and a 1/2 gallon in my 55. I think the heaters this time of year dries everything out. I live in south florida and do not use as much water when it is warm and humid. But it got down to the 20's and the heat is on

 

[florida joe]

You cannot equate your sump size to the amount of water you will lose in evaporation. Your evaporation will show up in your sump. IMO your 40 gallon sump is fine for your size tank remember what the purpose of a sump is

 

[oceansidefish]

I loose quite a bit all year round. First I would get the temp up in the tank. You should be using 2 heaters in that size of a tank. It also help in case one of them fails. JBJ makes a nice little auto top off, you can put fresh water in a 10g and it will automatically replenish.

 

[florida joe]

the 20's and the heat is on
Originally Posted by MaryG
http:///forum/post/2943377
I am not sure but a 40 gallon sump might be a little small for a 180. I have a 90 and go through a gallon every other day and a 1/2 gallon in my 55. I think the heaters this time of year dries everything out. I live in south florida and do not use as much water when it is warm and humid. But it got down to the 20's and the heat is on

the heat and the fireplace and I am in naples

 

[uk-sub]

Thanks guys
I was just really surprised at how much I was going through...
I have not been able to accurately document a per day amount yet, will know that later tonight, but in a 12 hr period over night I lost around 1 1/2 Liters (about .4 gal)....So I would estimate I must be getting on for 3 L or a gallon a day in old money

 

[ifirefight]

UK-SUB, Before I got a chiller on my 130 Gallon...I was using fans to help keep the temp down...hence,creating more evaporation....I was going through 3 gallons of top off water a day. Cheers

 

[small triggers]

i have a 150g with a 45g sump, i lose about 1.5 gallons a day (heat on in house at 68 and temp in tank at 75)

 

[srfisher17]

Originally Posted by florida joe
http:///forum/post/2943385
You cannot equate your sump size to the amount of water you will lose in evaporation. Your evaporation will show up in your sump. IMO your 40 gallon sump is fine for your size tank remember what the purpose of a sump is

Any sump that will hold what it needs to is fine. I've never heard of a sump being too small.
My tanks lose, on average, about 1 gal for each 75 gallons daily.

 

[uk-sub]

Thanks for all the input guys...
I was really surprised how much we loose each day!
From what a lot of the posts say, I'm not doing tooo bad, I did my first accurate 24 hr check last night and I lost 3.25 L or about .86 gal. On a 180g setup plus 40 g sump (I have not set anything up yet, so got no rock or sand to take water vol, I must have about 220gal of water circulating) I'd say thats pretty damn good! Although, I'm sure that .86 number will fluctuate dependent on conditions....