How do you deal with evap?

Now that my hex is going I am dealing with evaporation obviously. I want to automate it somewhat again.

What are your routines to deal with it?

 

I've got a 55gal tank with no cover glasses so I lose alot in one day! I just fill up what was lost every day with a gallon jug of deionized water.Some times twice a day. But one thing that was helpful , I glued a small piece of plastic bent down into my tank in an out of the way place and marked the water level with a marker so I can tell whats been lost and how much I need to add. Other than that Iv'e seen little pumps on e-bay with a sensor. When the water level falls below the sensor it tells a pump to turn on in a container of water. Then shuts it off when the level has been met. But I've never used one because it dosen't look like the pump is very big so I don't think it would provide enough head to push the water off the floor into the tank ;D happy reefin' ;D

 

Thanks David.
You know, the pumps for evap are nice, but you know what? I kinda prefer the old school mechanical float switches because they don't wait for the water to go down a 1/2 inch before replacing water. They maintain the water at a constant level.
I had one (kent-marine) going for over 3 years and it never failed. I had a 5 gallon reservoir on a stand next to the tank and it gravity fed to the switch.

Problem is, I don't have a sump now. So I am thinking about a hard plastic IV setup. I used to have one, but that was years ago and I can't find it.

 

Hey Matt, what i do for my tank is i have the Liter meter three dosing pump. Awesome device. You can set it in increments as small as 10 ML. I have it set to dose about the same amount i evap per day. Yes during the seasons you have to adjust it as evap rates have seasonal changes even indoors.. But no worry about float switches failing or sticking The pump breaks up the does into 150 doses over each 24 hour period. That way you do not have a drastic change in salinitty before your pump kicks in and another drastic change as it fills the tank back up. Good thing with the liter meter is You can set it on a timer and even when the pwoer is cut off or interrupted. It wil still remeber its settings. It can control up to three pumps at a time. Mine is connected to my kalk holding tank. I use Kalkwasser as all my replacement water.

 

I was looking into Tunze top up system or a float switch system. But after all my research I'm topping up by hand. This allows me to dose additives and I like being involved every day with the tank.


That's what I do it cheap and easy
J

 

On a bigger tank I'd consider the Liter meter, that's good info Apophis. Thanks.

J- I just added some by hand too, but I miss the old days where I didn't have to do that for over a week! I also did kalk in my make up water.

I'll do some more research and post back here...

[smiley=2thumbsup.gif]

 

Looking forward to reading you findings

J

 

Matt, I've got you coverred, again. My buddy is an EMT and I've got several IV set-ups and I can definitly part with one. I've got a threaded plastic valve you can install on any plactic container with silicone sealant, and attach the IV unit to it(I have a completed 1 liter unit if you want it). Been working for me and my friends for years. Email me, we'll hook-up again.

 

COOL! Thanks G. I am having a hard time finding an I.V. for aquarium use.

But I found something similar, just looks a little bit big, maybe not though, check it out:





http://www.marinedepot.com/a_dp_kmad.asp

I like the hard plastic bottle as opposed to the bag. I might just get this for $20.

Here is my old school float switch by the way:



http://www.globeaqua.com/floatvalve.html


Mine was pretty sweet and came with a plastic bracket that attached to the side of the sump. I don't see those anymore for some reason.

 

Hey Matt I have that one.  It's 1 Liter right.  If your using it for top up you may want to go bigger.  I know my tank goes through more that 1 liter a day.  In the summer.  I think Kent even has a 10G.  You can also just get just the IV tube and needle

J