Why is my tank water level dropping - Aquarium Advice

swanandmokashi · 06-15-2004, 11:13 AM

I noticed on Saturday that the tank level on my 3 gallon was dropping , so I topped it off. I changed water on Sunday and it was filled to the top.
Today morning (tuesday) I again noticed the water level was good 1/8 th inch lower. I saw no leakage or any water below the tank. Will evaporation cause the level to drop that much? I am confused

My ghost shrimp molted its skin this weekend. I am pretty sure that has nothing to do with the water level but I am a newbie

deli_conker · 06-15-2004, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Will evaporation cause the level to drop that much?

Yep. Just top it off every now and then. Keep in mind that topping the water off doesn't count as a water change...

grimlock3000 · 06-15-2004, 11:15 AM

Yep, sounds like evaporation. Obviously you want to make sure the tank is not leaking either.

ferret · 06-15-2004, 11:16 AM

Simple evaporation. Happens to every tank in the water. Mine drop about an inch every 1.5 weeks or so. If I get busy and don't find time for a water change, and they go say 2-3 weeks without, the water level may be as much as 3 inches below the line. But I'm talking 55, 75, and 90 gallon tanks, lots of water. One of the 90 gallons has a 220 watt lighting system so it zaps off quite a bit of water.

Essayons89 · 06-15-2004, 11:16 AM

Sounds like normal evaporation to me. I wouldn't be too concerned by it. I get a good deal of evaporation in the summer because of the heat and humidity.

Bryan

swanandmokashi · 06-15-2004, 11:17 AM

oh ok cool..i was panicking for no reason then

of course topping off is not the same as water change.
So you guys add small amount of de-chlorinator when you top off the tank ?

ferret · 06-15-2004, 11:20 AM

Someone will probably yell at me, but I've stopped bothering with most chemicals, including de-chlorinators. I should probably start using them again though. I have a 50 ft Python hose/syphon, which is a necessity with the size/number of tanks I have. Water goes straight into the tank.

grimlock3000 · 06-15-2004, 11:25 AM

Right, cuz the cholrine/chloramine is surely much safer than water treatment

deli_conker · 06-15-2004, 11:28 AM

Quote:

of course topping off is not the same as water change

you'd be surprised at how many people think that topping the water off counts as new water and thus don't have to do water changes. Scary (especially for the fish)...

ferret · 06-15-2004, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grimlock3000

Right, cuz the cholrine/chloramine is surely much safer than water treatment ;)

Harhar, agreed. I have a bottle on hand but usually forget :/ I'm afraid of chemicals though, so many new hobbiest get bottles and bottles shoved down their throats at Petsmart and places I cringe. Then I envision them going home to their 10 gallon tank with 10 platies and pouring an entire bottle of Stress Coat in.

06-15-2004, 11:13 AM	#1
swanandmokashi Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Cary NC USA Posts: 650 Images: 6	Why is my tank water level dropping I noticed on Saturday that the tank level on my 3 gallon was dropping , so I topped it off. I changed water on Sunday and it was filled to the top. Today morning (tuesday) I again noticed the water level was good 1/8 th inch lower. I saw no leakage or any water below the tank. Will evaporation cause the level to drop that much? I am confused My ghost shrimp molted its skin this weekend. I am pretty sure that has nothing to do with the water level but I am a newbie __________________ 55 Gallon FW Eco-complete Substrate Equipment : In-line heater, RENA XP3 filter, 130 Watts Fluroscent Plants - Hygrophila polysperma "sunset", Bacopa caroliniana,Bacopa australis,Rotala rotundifolia "colorata", Water Sprite, Ludwigia repens,Hydrocotyle verticillata, Swords, Stargrass, Anubias Nana, Petite Nana, Dwarf Sagittaria, LUDWIGIA ARCUATA,Micranthemum umbrosum Fish - 3 Bolivian Rams, 2 Australian rainbowfish, 6 Bloodfin tetras , 4 julii cory cats, 1 Ottos,1 Bristle nose Pl*co Read my aquarium autobiography at http://www.swanandmokashi.com/HomePa.../Aquarium.aspx

06-15-2004, 11:15 AM	#3
grimlock3000 Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: maine Posts: 1,971 Images: 1	Yep, sounds like evaporation. Obviously you want to make sure the tank is not leaking either. __________________ 26 freshwater 2x Sunburst Platys (2M, 2F) // 3x Neon Tetras (?) // 2x Cherry Barbs (1M, 1F) // 2x YoYo Loaches (?) // 1x Bushy Nose Pleco (M) // 1x Clown Pleco (?) // 15H marine -30# Live Rock -Mixed Snails (Nassarius // Cerith // Astrea // Black Turbo // Mexican Turbo) -8x Blue Leg Hermit Crabs // 1x Banded Serpent Star // 1x Cleaner Shrimp -1x Royal Gramma // 1x Percula Clownfish -2x Mushroom Leather // Metallic Green Star Polyps // Pulsing Xenia // Striped Xenia // Blue Mushroom -Remora + Maxi-Jet 1200 // 2x Maxi-Jet 600 // Maxi-Jet 400 // Visi-Therm Deluxe 50 // Current USA Orbit 2x 40w [acronym:f2db8017b4="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:f2db8017b4]

06-15-2004, 11:16 AM	#4
ferret Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,377	Simple evaporation. Happens to every tank in the water. Mine drop about an inch every 1.5 weeks or so. If I get busy and don't find time for a water change, and they go say 2-3 weeks without, the water level may be as much as 3 inches below the line. But I'm talking 55, 75, and 90 gallon tanks, lots of water. One of the 90 gallons has a 220 watt lighting system so it zaps off quite a bit of water. __________________ Gamer? Like Counter-strike, World of Warcraft, or just games in general? Visit http://www.gamehavoc.com/

06-15-2004, 11:17 AM	#6
swanandmokashi Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Cary NC USA Posts: 650 Images: 6	oh ok cool..i was panicking for no reason then of course topping off is not the same as water change. So you guys add small amount of de-chlorinator when you top off the tank ? __________________ 55 Gallon FW Eco-complete Substrate Equipment : In-line heater, RENA XP3 filter, 130 Watts Fluroscent Plants - Hygrophila polysperma "sunset", Bacopa caroliniana,Bacopa australis,Rotala rotundifolia "colorata", Water Sprite, Ludwigia repens,Hydrocotyle verticillata, Swords, Stargrass, Anubias Nana, Petite Nana, Dwarf Sagittaria, LUDWIGIA ARCUATA,Micranthemum umbrosum Fish - 3 Bolivian Rams, 2 Australian rainbowfish, 6 Bloodfin tetras , 4 julii cory cats, 1 Ottos,1 Bristle nose Pl*co Read my aquarium autobiography at http://www.swanandmokashi.com/HomePa.../Aquarium.aspx

06-15-2004, 11:20 AM	#7
ferret Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 1,377	Someone will probably yell at me, but I've stopped bothering with most chemicals, including de-chlorinators. I should probably start using them again though. I have a 50 ft Python hose/syphon, which is a necessity with the size/number of tanks I have. Water goes straight into the tank. __________________ Gamer? Like Counter-strike, World of Warcraft, or just games in general? Visit http://www.gamehavoc.com/

06-15-2004, 11:16 AM	#5
Essayons89 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 182	Sounds like normal evaporation to me. I wouldn't be too concerned by it. I get a good deal of evaporation in the summer because of the heat and humidity. Bryan

06-15-2004, 11:25 AM	#8
grimlock3000 Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: maine Posts: 1,971 Images: 1	Right, cuz the cholrine/chloramine is surely much safer than water treatment __________________ 26 freshwater 2x Sunburst Platys (2M, 2F) // 3x Neon Tetras (?) // 2x Cherry Barbs (1M, 1F) // 2x YoYo Loaches (?) // 1x Bushy Nose Pleco (M) // 1x Clown Pleco (?) // 15H marine -30# Live Rock -Mixed Snails (Nassarius // Cerith // Astrea // Black Turbo // Mexican Turbo) -8x Blue Leg Hermit Crabs // 1x Banded Serpent Star // 1x Cleaner Shrimp -1x Royal Gramma // 1x Percula Clownfish -2x Mushroom Leather // Metallic Green Star Polyps // Pulsing Xenia // Striped Xenia // Blue Mushroom -Remora + Maxi-Jet 1200 // 2x Maxi-Jet 600 // Maxi-Jet 400 // Visi-Therm Deluxe 50 // Current USA Orbit 2x 40w [acronym:f2db8017b4="Power compact fluorescent"]PC[/acronym:f2db8017b4]

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