Natural evaporation or filter sponge problem ?

[Patches&Penny]

Hello, I have a 13.5 fluval sea evo and i am noticing EVERY DAY that my over flow section of my tank loses about 1 inch of water. I LITERALLY topped up my tank less then 5 hours ago and it's already down another inch what is happening

When the water goes down the sponge is always dry . I suspect that this only makes me lose more water because the sponge is constantly trying to absorb water and its constantly drying out .

At first I thought I'll just push the sponge down further but then it allowes for passage of unfiltered water .

The only thing I can think of is mabe raising my tank water level ? Advice ?

 

[andrewey]

This is not due to the sponge. This is just due to evaporation. From the looks of it, you don't have enough total saltwater in your tank. Second issue, this sounds like normal evaporation. The evaporation should be happening only in the compartment with the return pump and not the rest of the tank. It will therefore drop pretty fast here as it's a pretty small volume. You should be able to measure the amount you have to top up and plan accordingly each day.

 

[andrewey]

This is a normal amount of evaporation. Assuming 1inch lost in that back area (3x3"), that's about ~140mL every 5 hours, or 3 cups a day, or 1.3% of your tank volume evaporation per day. Very normal evaporation you're going to have to replace every day. You could add 5 sponges and it wouldn't change this significantly.

 

[Patches&Penny]

The section of my tank where the fish swim isn't evaporating much that's still a once weekly top up and water change .

But the section that holds my media, return pump and heater is evaporating atleast twice a day, like I said I topped up this morning and it's only 3pm and it's already down another inch

My gravity is sitting at 1.024 I just checked it as I made this post

 

[Patches&Penny]

It's not just the 3x3 section that holds the return pump it's the entire back section

 

[Moscar]

It's not just the 3x3 section that holds the return pump it's the entire back section

My tank has a sump with the return pumps in a small section- this is where I measure my make up water needs as the other sections of my sump have constant water levels. I think the back of your tank is acting in the same manner. If you make a line with a marker or tape it can help you top off with your RO/Di water easily. My small tank uses about 1/2 to 3/4 l. water per week. So it can be more than you would think!

 

[Moscar]

A great "next thing to buy" would be an Auto Top Off (ATO). Tunze is the Gold Standard, but the are some newer ones that can be less expensive. Then you just need to remember to fill up your ATO water container!

 

[Patches&Penny]

My tank has a sump with the return pumps in a small section- this is where I measure my make up water needs as the other sections of my sump have constant water levels. I think the back of your tank is acting in the same manner. If you make a line with a marker or tape it can help you top off with your RO/Di water easily. My small tank uses about 1/2 to 3/4 l. water per week. So it can be more than you would think!

I'm dont have constant water levels for the rest of the back of my tank though all three of the back sections are dropping twice a day by 1 inch if this is normal that's fine and I'll top it up

 

[andrewey]

You haven't added enough water total to the tank. Once you do the problem will be contained to one section.

 

[Moscar]

It's not just the 3x3 section that holds the return pump it's the entire back section

 

[Moscar]

When you add water does the water level go up in entire back section? You should not have to top off the tank...adding to the back should do the same thing.

If the water is lower in the pump area only...a sponge may be holding water back - the pump removes water faster than it gets it.

Don't get stressed, top off is a never ending chore that we all deal

 

[Bryknicks]

The issue is one of two things. Evaporation as others have mentioned or the sponge is getting clogged and backing the water up. If you are using the sponge for bio media, I would remove it. If you are using that sponge as mechanical filtration, I would switch to filter floss and change it out every couple days.

 

[92Miata]

A sponge partway out of the water is absolutely going to increase evaporation - its a huge increase in surface area. Whether that's the problem, or the sponge clogging and raising the tank level/lowering the pump section, its impossible to tell without seeing.


AFAIC, nobody should be running a reef without an ATO unit- its one of the best pieces of equipment you can spend $75 on.

 

[Patches&Penny]

My conclusion is that it's a combination of the sponge hanging out of the water and natural evaporation . I cut down my sponge as there was way to much and I rearranged the media, I took out the activated carbon and i replaced it with chemi pure , I also bought a media bag and filled it with bio media.

I also upgraded my return pump so now its pushing 240gph and I added a nano protein skimmer aswell

Next purchase is floss, lights and an auto topup machine