Excessive Evaporation

I inherited a tempered glass 55 gallon tank and some equipment from a friend. It wasn't ever drilled for a sump and after doing some research I decided it was easier not to run one.
 
Is there any other method that can prevent evopration? I don't own a Rodi because it cost too much to change filter. I have calculated and it worth more buying water from a reef store than Buying a rodi + filter... Also, i cant set an Autotop off because i will need to drill my floor lol to connect my Rodi to my Aquarium lol...
 
Is there any other method that can prevent evopration? I don't own a Rodi because it cost too much to change filter. I have calculated and it worth more buying water from a reef store than Buying a rodi + filter... Also, i cant set an Autotop off because i will need to drill my floor lol to connect my Rodi to my Aquarium lol...

My tank is covered and I top off maybe a gallon per week. I have a 60 gallon tank.
 
Check out craigslist .... you can pick up a good ro/di unit for a lot less than buying water from the store. My 125 gal tank goes thru about 2 gallons of top off water per day. Buying that much water adds up in a hurry. I think a ro unit is just a must have if you have a reef tank.
 
Agreed^ I don't have a RODI unit yet but will buy one as soon as I find a good one on Craigslist. I am budgeting myself and am spending all of my April budge on new lighting :).
 
I inherited a tempered glass 55 gallon tank and some equipment from a friend. It wasn't ever drilled for a sump and after doing some research I decided it was easier not to run one.
You have to be a little creative with your hydraulics but, it can be done without drilling the tank.
My 2nd salt tank was an un-drilled 55. (If posting the picture works) I drew out real quick a way to have a sump and all the fixin's. The size of the the "overflow" and return is up to you and what your pump can handle.
Be SUPER CONSCIENCE of the your water level in relation to the overflow and return and how well you seal the plumbing. Or you can very easily empty the display tank into the sump (or living room, if you will).
And I literally just drew this out. So, if it doesn't make sense, ask a real expert.

image.jpeg
 
A big bonus to having a sump is cleaning up the display tank of heaters and hang on filters and such. It also affords you space to have skimmers or reactors or whatever underneath (oh, say an ATO -?-) where it can function but be hidden.
 
On the ATO topic. DO NOT set up an ATO directly connected to your RODI unit. I had what I thought was a bullet-proof dual fail safe system with a timer and a float valve. Worked flawlessly for 3 years. Decided to fail simultaneously while I was on vacation for 6 days. Came home to a flooded living room and a brand new freshwater tank full of dead coral and fish. This is why I have a 6-month old reef in my basement now instead of a 6-year old reef in my living room.

Only ever do an ATO with a reservoir that is small enough that you won't crash your reef if the entire reservoir dumps into your system. For example, my 10g reservoir for my 65g tank would certainly make things unhappy and get some water on the floor, but it won't nuke the tank. Your sensor/float valve/timer will fail at some point. I still use an ATO now, but set up so the inevitable oops won't cause permanent issues.

I should really have this warning saved as a quick text; I post it a lot but if I can save one reef by posting this lesson all the time, it's worth it. I lost thousands of dollars in old-growth coral and had a $15,000 homeowners insurance claim (for home damage only) due to this foolishness.
why isn't there a dislike button, that sucks dude thats my biggest fear i think I'm only gonna run like 7-10 gallon ATO tank next to my tank.
 
Check out my thread (in my signature) for a cheap overflow and sump setup :D Eshopps overflow (mine's bigger than yours would be) and a cheapo black trough (waterproof, rubber, safe. People tend to use them for huge systems, but they make small ones that can be used for smaller systems)
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

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