ATO- What's Your Weekly Gallon Consumption?

[dimik]

Since this is my first reef tank with an ATO system I'm not sure what the normal is. My reef tank is evaporating roughly 5 gallons a week. Is that normal?

 

[EvanDeVita]

What are the tank’s specs? What’s the temperature of the water/room? What kind of lights do you use?

 

[dimik]

What are the tank’s specs? What’s the temperature of the water/room? What kind of lights do you use?

I have a 75G with a 20G sump
Using 2 AI Primes
Water temp fluctuates btwn 79/80 F

The temperature of the room now in the winter is about 80 F

I'm also 100% positive there are no leaks anywhere and there is no excess splashing.

 

[EvanDeVita]

I’m not sure about your specs (remember that evaporation is primarily determined with area of exposed water), but 80 degrees is warm for a room. Mine is around 70 degrees and my tank doesn’t consume as much RO (my tank probably has a smaller area exposed but even proportionally yours consumes a lot).

 

[jgirardnrg]

I go through 4-5g a week in a 60g cube with a 20g sump. Consumption went up when we switched from AC to heat. With an 80 degree room I'd say your consumption is about normal.

 

[EvanDeVita]

I go through 4-5g a week in a 60g cube with a 20g sump. Consumption went up when we switched from AC to heat. With an 80 degree room I'd say your consumption is about normal.

Agreed. With an 80 degree temp it’s normal. I wasn’t clear.

 

[Flippers4pups]

It's highly dependent on water volume, tank temperature and your house and outside air humidity. Here in the midwest it gets hot and humid during the summer months and cold and dry usually during the winter months. Highly dependent on how tight your house is.

I typically go through 6-10 gallons weekly on a 240 gallon system throughout the year.

 

[jgirardnrg]

Agreed. With an 80 degree temp it’s normal. I wasn’t clear.

And if that warm, I assumed the heat is on which means the air is probably pretty low humidity. The room my tank is in ranges from 74-78 degrees right now and the humidity ranges from 30-35%. It's being moved next weekend so hopefully the consumption drops a little. My consumption doubled once the heat went on here.

 

[dimik]

Thank you all for the replies. I just wanted to be sure I'm not going crazy

 

[Mical]

Another consideration - is it covered IE: Glass or screen. Both of mine (120 & 65) have glass lids and evaporate 3-4 gals per week - year round

 

[Arabyps]

I go through 10-15 gallons per week. My system is 180 gallons total volume (probably more like 150 after subtracting rocks, etc.). Dry climate here sucks the water out of the tank.

 

[dimik]

Another consideration - is it covered IE: Glass or screen. Both of mine (120 & 65) have glass lids and evaporate 3-4 gals per week - year round

No not covered yet. Ordered some greenhouse panels to build a custom cover. SO I would assume evaporation rate will drop when covered.

 

[Mical]

No not covered yet. Ordered some greenhouse panels to build a custom cover. SO I would assume evaporation rate will drop when covered.

I have screens also but the evap rate literally doubles 6+ gallons per week.