Actual Total Water Volume??

[NanaReefer]

This subject isn't talked about much. But I think it is important especially when it comes to dosing.

I tried really hard to measure my total water volume when setting up my new 40B/20L sump. After adding 80# of live sand to tank/sump and 25# of cured (water logged) reef saver rock, I was only able to add 42-45 gallons of water to my tank. Does this sound about right?
When and if I ever need to dose anything should I not go by total actual water volume and NOT the size of the 2 tanks?

 

[joekool]

Yes nanna your actual water volume not tank size. Glad you asked lots of people don't actually know exactly how much water is in there system.

 

[NanaReefer]

I think this is the reason so many go wrong when dosing. Their dosing because they have a 90g tank, when they only have 70g's of water.

 

[DaveMorris]

I just got my 130g tank running after one year of delays and waiting. I put in the sand and rock prior to filling it and I now that my tank (including sump of course) holds 145 gallons of water. I wanted to make sure I knew for the very reasons stated above. Mostly when I dose something, such as Prodibio, I wanted to make sure I was doing it accurately. Makes me feel a lot better knowing for sure.

 

[BlueChromis]

Actual water volume is a very important, but often overlooked aspect of aquarium management. It is important not only in relation to dosing, but also for stocking.

In addition to the main tank, the Aquarium may include a sump, a plenum, protein skimmer, etc. All of these components contain water. As such, they all add to the water capacity of the aquarium. Substrate, live rock and glass thickness displace water, which reduce water capacity.

The stated water capacity disclosed by the aquarium's manufacturer usually means the outside volume of the tank. Even if the tank holds nothing but water and is filled to the brim, the actual water volume will be less than the stated capacity due to the thickness of the glass.

The porosity of live rock and the granularity of substrate also alter the water capacity.

BlueChromis Aquarium Management Software has a water capacity and surface area calculator that takes account of all the above factors for each aquarium. To see this feature for yourself follow the link below:

BlueChromis Water Volume Calculator

You can get a free trial version at out website. There is a also special price discount for the REEF2REEF community here.

This is a great topic!

 

[_sludgefactory]

This is the old standard reef calculator. http://reef.diesyst.com/volcalc/volcalc.html

 

[BlueChromis]

Thanks for posting the link. This is quite useful.

While the water volume calculator is only a small part of BlueChromis, it does have advantages over an internet calculator. First, the BlueChromis calculator is integrated into the application and is a separate form for each aquarium. For easy reference, the data is saved and is always on display whenever you view the form. You don't have to keep going back to a web site and filling in all the data again every time something changes. You can add an unlimited number of aquarium subsystem components, auxiliary tanks, etc.

Also, being part of an application that will be continually updated and improved, the calculator will also be enhanced over time.

Thanks.

 

[footballdude2k3]

The other important thing to remember when dosing, it is safer to start with a smaller amount, rather than raising things too much, it is very easy to add something, but without a significant water change, it is hard to bring things down.