Open cabinet evaporation

[Darsh]

I'll be away from home for 4-5 days around Christmas and I want to keep an eye on my tank with a camera.
If I take the doors off the cabinet I'll be able to see everything including in sump water level, reservoir level, heater controller light etc.
With the doors on all I'll see is the display.

I want to leave the doors off but I'm worried the evaporation will be worse.
Currently my reservoir is good for 1 week and it's not possible to test because I have a young son and an old dog who could interfere with things inside.
Any opinions?

 

[Barnabie Mejia]

if it were me, I would opt for a temporary reservoir that is larger than what you have currently, and use it for at least just the trip. I have a 5 gallon that I use all the time, but if and when I leave town for a while I have a temporary 15 gallon tank that I use for my ato while out..... got it at Petco on the dollar a gallon sale... totally worth the peace of mind... I place outside the stand and when I get back in town I just put whatever is left into the original ato resevoir....

 

[Darsh]

if it were me, I would opt for a temporary reservoir that is larger than what you have currently, and use it for at least just the trip. I have a 5 gallon that I use all the time, but if and when I leave town for a while I have a temporary 15 gallon tank that I use for my ato while out..... got it at Petco on the dollar a gallon sale... totally worth the peace of mind... I place outside the stand and when I get back in town I just put whatever is left into the original ato resevoir....

Thanks
That would be nice but I'm all outta space

 

[Barnabie Mejia]

Thanks
That would be nice but I'm all outta space

even if you were to just place it in front of your stand while you all are away? if i'm seeing it in my head correctly, you should be able to still see the tank and sump with your camera. or you can watch the levels from the camera, and offer $20 bucks to a trustworthy teenage neighbor to be available to refill the ATO if you call on them. maybe an option?

 

[Hal3134]

For 4-5 days it shouldn't be much of a deal. If you can't do a reservoir then overfill your sump (with RO) a little bit. A slight decrease in salinity shouldn't hurt much, and in 2 days it will be back to normal.

 

[Darsh]

even if you were to just place it in front of your stand while you all are away? if i'm seeing it in my head correctly, you should be able to still see the tank and sump with your camera. or you can watch the levels from the camera, and offer $20 bucks to a trustworthy teenage neighbor to be available to refill the ATO if you call on them. maybe an option?

In theory I could, I would just need to make a different reservoir and put it beside the tank because my current one works by gravity only. So I could make it and then I'd have to test it so I could trust it before I leave.

 

[Darsh]

For 4-5 days it shouldn't be much of a deal. If you can't do a reservoir then overfill your sump (with RO) a little bit. A slight decrease in salinity shouldn't hurt much, and in 2 days it will be back to normal.

This is what I'm thinking of doing. With the cabinet closed my current reservoir is good for 6-7 days and if I overfill the sump it will give me about another four days. However, if there was a power outage my sump would overflow.

Does anyone think there could be a big difference with/without the doors?

 

[Barnabie Mejia]

In theory I could, I would just need to make a different reservoir and put it beside the tank because my current one works by gravity only. So I could make it and then I'd have to test it so I could trust it before I leave.

Ah I see, I thought you were running an ATO with a pump and optic / float sensor....

 

[Darsh]

Ah I see, I thought you were running an ATO with a pump and optic / float sensor....

Not yet

 

[Hal3134]

Most fish, but not all, can handle hyposalinity of 1.009. I've done it before to treat for ich. I've also run my tank by mistake at 1.028, and maybe as high as 1.030 with no losses. If it were me I'd add as much RO as I could such that you don't have to worry about overflow issues. The fish can cope.

You didn't say if it was reef or FO tank. If FO I wouldn't give it a second thought. Even if reef I wouldn't worry.

 

[Darsh]

Most fish, but not all, can handle hyposalinity of 1.009. I've done it before to treat for ich. I've also run my tank by mistake at 1.028, and maybe as high as 1.030 with no losses. If it were me I'd add as much RO as I could such that you don't have to worry about overflow issues. The fish can cope.

You didn't say if it was reef or FO tank. If FO I wouldn't give it a second thought. Even if reef I wouldn't worry.

It'd not quite either at the moment. I have 2 clowns and some zoas and lots of creepy crawlies
I think before I go I'll turn off the return pump and fill the sump so I know the max limit. Then unless there's a massive failure with my gravity top off everything should be ok.

 

[Kzang]

I'll be away from home for 4-5 days around Christmas and I want to keep an eye on my tank with a camera.
If I take the doors off the cabinet I'll be able to see everything including in sump water level, reservoir level, heater controller light etc.
With the doors on all I'll see is the display.

I want to leave the doors off but I'm worried the evaporation will be worse.
Currently my reservoir is good for 1 week and it's not possible to test because I have a young son and an old dog who could interfere with things inside.
Any opinions?

If I'm gone for a while, I just use a brute trash can as a reservoir.

 

[Darsh]

So I know what I'll do now

Can anyone answer, will the doors being open effect evaporation?