How fast does water evaporate?

[Schteeve]

Hey all,
As i understand it the only part of the setup that varies in the water level would be the final compartment of my sump, where the return pump lives.
I placed a strip of masking tape at the water level and when i woke up the next day the water level had sunk to about 1/2 and inch below the tape.
I topped the water back up again and in only 10 minutes it sunk back down.

At first i thought my water was evaporating very quickly but now as im writing this that seems wholly impossible for it to evaporate that quickly.

If someone could shed some light as to where this water is disappearing to that'd be great

 

[Antics]

How much water are you adding at each time? I think it's normal to have some fluctuation when adding water to the return section. My ATO habitually fills, pauses for a bit, and then fills again to reach it's correct height.

 

[brian222]

I am still a newbie in saltwater tank but based on my experience for the last few months, the speed of evaporation depends on various factors such as temperature, humidity, surface etc. The very first equipment I got for my tank was a ATO, which was much needed for my 90 gallons.

My 90 gallons evaporates around 2 gallons of water every day, maybe more in a hotter day.

I would personally recommend to get an ATO (I have a Tunze), if this is not an option for you then I think closing your lid is definitely going to slow down the evaporation rate, however the trade of is the water temperature may increase.

 

[Dom]

There are many variables that impact the rate of evaporation. Temperature and humidity come to mind.

When your water level in your sump is low, it means that the water volume in your entire system is low. If you add water up to the line on your sump, realize that the level in your tank is low too. So what you see isn't evaporation, but the added water moving up to the display tank.

Not until the water in the display tank is at its normal level will the water come up to and stay at the line on the sump.

 

[Schteeve]

Im adding the water directly into the Display tank (which is empty at the moment since im just starting out)
as im pouring water into the display the water level IN the display isnt changing, but i can see the water level in the sump immediately increasing as a result

 

[happyhourhero]

I lose about a gallon a day.

 

[ihavecrabs]

Im adding the water directly into the Display tank (which is empty at the moment since im just starting out)
as im pouring water into the display the water level IN the display isnt changing, but i can see the water level in the sump immediately increasing as a result

Tell us a little about your overflow. Restricting water in the overflow may lead to surges and varying water height in the sump. Water definitely doesn’t evaporate 1/2” in 10 min.

Pictures would help. Display, sump, overflow, and plumbing!

 

[PatW]

Im adding the water directly into the Display tank (which is empty at the moment since im just starting out)
as im pouring water into the display the water level IN the display isnt changing, but i can see the water level in the sump immediately increasing as a result

Remember, the return section of the sump has a very small volume compare to the display tank. Also the system is designed for every compartment to have a very nearly constant volume. The only compartment to vary should be the return chamber of the sump. You install an auto top off in the return chamber to add water as evaporation lowers the level and you are good to go.