Water changes??

[zslaugh]

I have had tanks my whole life. I recently started up a 12g nano reef with an open top. I soon realized how much water evaporates from an open top talk. I do weekly water changes, but after adding so much top off water it got me thinking. Is doing close to 3 gallons a week of top off water enough to not have to do water changes? Or does evaporated water not carry harmful stuff like nitrates and ammonia?

 

[Ljaus]

Evaporated water doesn't take anything with it. It leaves the salt, nutrients and everything else behind. Water changes also replenish trace elements

 

[Jack Eskay]

This is a great question I've also been wondering! Following along!!

 

[FugeTown]

I have had tanks my whole life. I recently started up a 12g nano reef with an open top. I soon realized how much water evaporates from an open top talk. I do weekly water changes, but after adding so much top off water it got me thinking. Is doing close to 3 gallons a week of top off water enough to not have to do water changes? Or does evaporated water not carry harmful stuff like nitrates and ammonia?

I'm pretty sure it's pure water vapor leaving your nano, water changes would be a good idea still.

 

[Roy 9121]

Only water evaporates from your tank, so water changes are still needed, unfortunately.

 

[JMLewis]

I have had tanks my whole life. I recently started up a 12g nano reef with an open top. I soon realized how much water evaporates from an open top talk. I do weekly water changes, but after adding so much top off water it got me thinking. Is doing close to 3 gallons a week of top off water enough to not have to do water changes? Or does evaporated water not carry harmful stuff like nitrates and ammonia?

I might be reading this wrong but are you saying your adding 3 gallons of salt water a week as your water evaporates?

 

[zslaugh]

Evaporated water doesn't take anything with it. It leaves the salt, nutrients and everything else behind. Water changes also replenish trace elements

How does acid rain work then? It's all evaporated water with crap in it right?

 

[zslaugh]

I might be reading this wrong but are you saying your adding 3 gallons of salt water a week as your water evaporates?

Ha no fresh Rodi

 

[JMLewis]

Ha no fresh Rodi

OK good lol...Sorry glad I was reading that wrong

 

[FugeTown]

How does acid rain work then? It's all evaporated water with crap in it right?

doesnt acid rain happen from falling over pollutants in the air (smog/exhaust)?

 

[Ljaus]

I once worked at a steel smelter that used to rain acid and it came about because the pollution was vented into the atmosphere in the form of steam and vapour, thus it went up with the precipitation and formed clouds If you pour acid into the ground it doesn't evaporate straight away and form acid rain.

 

[FugeTown]

Well I guess alcohol and different chemicals can evaporate but at high temps

 

[Viracon13]

I don't think replenishing evaporated water equates to doing a water change. I personally do a water change maybe twice a year but that is on a 120 gallon system. A nano tank will not be as forgiving. Nobody enjoys doing a water change but you have to listen to what your system tells you. All about the nutrient balance

 

[FugeTown]

I let this chaeto remove all the nutrients for me, thank you chaeto :D