Auto Top-off

My new 80 gal reef tank experiences a lot of evaporation - 2-3 gal. a day.
There are no leaks. Is this normal?

Is there an auto top-off system available that doesn't require a reserve
tank? I'd like to run a water line to my sump and setup a system to
automatically replenish the water when it's low. Maybe something like a
toilet mechanism. Or is something out there that's available commercially?

ls

What is the water source you want to use, if not from a reserve tank? Did you
want to top off with tap water? If so, please do not. Tap water contains a
number of contaminants that would cause your reef tank to react adversely.

Marc


ls wrote:

> My new 80 gal reef tank experiences a lot of evaporation - 2-3 gal. a day.
> There are no leaks. Is this normal?
>
> Is there an auto top-off system available that doesn't require a reserve
> tank? I'd like to run a water line to my sump and setup a system to
> automatically replenish the water when it's low. Maybe something like a
> toilet mechanism. Or is something out there that's available commercially?
>
> ls

--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com

> My new 80 gal reef tank experiences a lot of evaporation - 2-3 gal. a day.
> There are no leaks. Is this normal?

2 - 3 gals a day is nothing its totally normal, by now you should have observed some 4 - 5
gal days also this isnt odd either, the more heat sources you have or the hotter it gets
the more water evaps.

> Is there an auto top-off system available that doesn't require a reserve
> tank? I'd like to run a water line to my sump and setup a system to
> automatically replenish the water when it's low. Maybe something like a
> toilet mechanism. Or is something out there that's available commercially?

there are several ways to hook up your water line to your tank, they exist commercially,
do connect a RO/DI before the mechanism. SW float valves can be had many places online and
at many LFS's, and icemaker tubing can be ran from the closest water source to the tank to
supply your RO/DI



--
Richard Reynolds

Sounds about right for an 80 gallon tank, especially if you live in an
area of low humidity or where the heater just kicked on and dried out
the air.

About the only way to top off without a reserve tank would be to have
an RO/DI filter hooked up right near your tank, with a float valve
attached to it. Definitely resist the temptation to use tap water -
your tank will not be happy.

I created a top-off system using a tiny low voltage pump, an electric
float switch, and a 5 gallon water jug. (Similar to descriptions I
have seen here in this group). One of the few things I have ever made
in my life that worked flawlessly on the first attempt

I have the water jug and pump hidden under a small table with a cloth
table skirt, and a small piece of vinyl tubing goes to the sump for
water delivery. When the water gets low, the float switch is
triggered, and the powerhead pumps water from the water jug to the
sump until the level is high enough.

My only maintenance task is filling up the water jug with more RO/DI.
And my salinity level has not budged from 1.0255 in months.


"ls" <> wrote in message news:<08fib.7256$>...
> My new 80 gal reef tank experiences a lot of evaporation - 2-3 gal. a day.
> There are no leaks. Is this normal?
>
> Is there an auto top-off system available that doesn't require a reserve
> tank? I'd like to run a water line to my sump and setup a system to
> automatically replenish the water when it's low. Maybe something like a
> toilet mechanism. Or is something out there that's available commercially?
>
> ls

I wished I got only 2-3 gallon a day evaporation. my 75 is about 4 and the
180 is just over 6. all tanks in the house evaporate about 18 gallon daily.
the drip tube from my central a/c looks like a water hose all day long,
keeps the azalea bushes well watered thought.

kc

"ls" <> wrote in message
news:08fib.7256$...
> My new 80 gal reef tank experiences a lot of evaporation - 2-3 gal. a day.
> There are no leaks. Is this normal?
>
> Is there an auto top-off system available that doesn't require a reserve
> tank? I'd like to run a water line to my sump and setup a system to
> automatically replenish the water when it's low. Maybe something like a
> toilet mechanism. Or is something out there that's available
commercially?
>
> ls
>
>

The evaporation is great for us here in Seattle. The heater is on for
a good 6 months out of the year, so it keeps a little bit of moisture
in the air - our plants are happy not to be dessicated by the dry air
from the furnace...


"Dragon Slayer" <koi_man(nospam)@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<bmfpih$9c94$>...
> I wished I got only 2-3 gallon a day evaporation. my 75 is about 4 and the
> 180 is just over 6. all tanks in the house evaporate about 18 gallon daily.
> the drip tube from my central a/c looks like a water hose all day long,
> keeps the azalea bushes well watered thought.
>
> kc
>
> "ls" <> wrote in message
> news:08fib.7256$...
> > My new 80 gal reef tank experiences a lot of evaporation - 2-3 gal. a day.
> > There are no leaks. Is this normal?
> >
> > Is there an auto top-off system available that doesn't require a reserve
> > tank? I'd like to run a water line to my sump and setup a system to
> > automatically replenish the water when it's low. Maybe something like a
> > toilet mechanism. Or is something out there that's available
> commercially?
> >
> > ls
> >
> >

(Patrick) wrote in message news:<. com>...
> Sounds about right for an 80 gallon tank, especially if you live in an
> area of low humidity or where the heater just kicked on and dried out
> the air.
>
> About the only way to top off without a reserve tank would be to have
> an RO/DI filter hooked up right near your tank, with a float valve
> attached to it. Definitely resist the temptation to use tap water -
> your tank will not be happy.
>

Some people do this and it works fine but I would encourage you to
think about what will happen to your tank if the float valve fails. If
you check with people here and else where you will find that the float
valves to fail from time to time and if they do and they are hooked to
an endless supply of water such as your RO/DI system then potentially
everything in your tank will end up dead. This is why most people
recommend some kind of reservoir or water container.

Hey I live down in Auburn. I woner if there are other local folks?

Ken
"Patrick" <> wrote in message
news: m...
> The evaporation is great for us here in Seattle. The heater is on for
> a good 6 months out of the year, so it keeps a little bit of moisture
> in the air - our plants are happy not to be dessicated by the dry air
> from the furnace...
>
>
> "Dragon Slayer" <koi_man(nospam)@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:<bmfpih$9c94$>...
> > I wished I got only 2-3 gallon a day evaporation. my 75 is about 4 and
the
> > 180 is just over 6. all tanks in the house evaporate about 18 gallon
daily.
> > the drip tube from my central a/c looks like a water hose all day long,
> > keeps the azalea bushes well watered thought.
> >
> > kc
> >
> > "ls" <> wrote in message
> > news:08fib.7256$...
> > > My new 80 gal reef tank experiences a lot of evaporation - 2-3 gal. a
day.
> > > There are no leaks. Is this normal?
> > >
> > > Is there an auto top-off system available that doesn't require a
reserve
> > > tank? I'd like to run a water line to my sump and setup a system to
> > > automatically replenish the water when it's low. Maybe something like
a
> > > toilet mechanism. Or is something out there that's available
> > commercially?
> > >
> > > ls
> > >
> > >

luckily i add a gallon in my 60 gallon about every other or every third day.
have a nice home built lite lid, and found out that when i have this leather
deerskin sitting over the top for decoration it serves another purpose, keep
all the moisture from escaping thru the two long hinge slits along the top
of the lite lid, dramatically reduced my water loss.

wolfhedd

"Ken" <kensn@com(delete)cast.net> wrote in message
news:lX5jb.774677$Ho3.206505@sccrnsc03...
> Hey I live down in Auburn. I woner if there are other local folks?
>
> Ken
> "Patrick" <> wrote in message
> news: m...
> > The evaporation is great for us here in Seattle. The heater is on for
> > a good 6 months out of the year, so it keeps a little bit of moisture
> > in the air - our plants are happy not to be dessicated by the dry air
> > from the furnace...
> >
> >
> > "Dragon Slayer" <koi_man(nospam)@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:<bmfpih$9c94$>...
> > > I wished I got only 2-3 gallon a day evaporation. my 75 is about 4
and
> the
> > > 180 is just over 6. all tanks in the house evaporate about 18 gallon
> daily.
> > > the drip tube from my central a/c looks like a water hose all day
long,
> > > keeps the azalea bushes well watered thought.
> > >
> > > kc
> > >
> > > "ls" <> wrote in message
> > > news:08fib.7256$...
> > > > My new 80 gal reef tank experiences a lot of evaporation - 2-3 gal.
a
> day.
> > > > There are no leaks. Is this normal?
> > > >
> > > > Is there an auto top-off system available that doesn't require a
> reserve
> > > > tank? I'd like to run a water line to my sump and setup a system to
> > > > automatically replenish the water when it's low. Maybe something
like
> a
> > > > toilet mechanism. Or is something out there that's available
> > > commercially?
> > > >
> > > > ls
> > > >
> > > >
>
>