how much evaporation can you expect?

stanleo · Mar 6, 2020

I just switched over my sump from the smaller one under the tank stand to a larger DIY one made out of a 55 gl tank that is in the basement fishroom. With the small sump I was having to add about one liter of a RO water for topoffs a day. With the new sump I am now going through over 3 liters a day. I have looked all over everything several times and can't find any leaks in my plumbing. The whole system went from 135 gallons to 160 gallons so it might be normal but I want to make sure. I worry that the pump is either pumping too fast or there is a leak that I just can't detect. I am getting a new ATO on Sunday.

ROB2005 · Mar 6, 2020

Due to the higher volume of water I figure that number would rise. I lose a 1.5 gallons a day through evaporation.

MTBake · Mar 6, 2020

I lose about a gallon a day on my 40 breeder setup. My larger setup(130gal) loses a little over a gallon per day.

NowGlazeIT · Mar 6, 2020

If the baffles were set up differently and flow is more aggressive then before you could expect more evaporation. Rise in total water volume also contributed to evap

piranhaman00 · Mar 6, 2020

I lose 2-3 gallons a day on 230 gallon system.

W1ngz · Mar 6, 2020

3L a day isn't bad, but there's no one answer to this question. You have more surface area, as well as a sump that I presume isn't enclosed anymore, plus it's in the basement so the relative difference of the air and water temperature may also be different.

I get the new plumbing jitters though, no one wants to find out their tank is dripping water between the floors or walls where you can't see it.

If your pump was pumping too fast you'd see it in the display waterline and the overflow would be making above average noise.