Evaporation almost cost me a puffer

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knowthemath

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Feb 16, 2004
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Actually evaporation didn't almost cost me a puffer, but my negligence may have.

I didn't add water yesterday even though the tank was low. This morning my puffer was hiding behind a power head, all puffed up. I thought he was dead. He didn't look good, and my salinity was over 1.026. (I did check salinity yesterday afternoon, it was 1.025) I added almost 2 gallons of water and the salinity came back down to 1.024. I hope the rapid change didn't finish the job that the high salinity started.

I am having a terrible time with evaporation. I am losing close to a gallon a day in a 30. Is this normal:confused: I have ordered glass slats to put on top. I know it's better to have it completely open, but this evaporation stuff is ridiculous.

The moral to this story is not to put off til tomorrow what needs to be done today.:shake:
 
Are you running any airstones or the venturi on powerheads? The splash from those can increase evaporation considerably.

I lose about 1 qt per day from the 20, which has no lid. Just for comparison.
 
At this moment, I have a Maxi-jet 900 as well as a Remora skimmer. I also have an AquaC powerhead running my plenum. On Friday, I will have another Maxi-jet and my lights.....a 36" PC with 95W 10K and Actinic.
I just moved my puffer in there Friday. I thought he could help my tank cycle...... I've had a live sand activator in there for 2 weeks and reading of just a little ammonia and no nitrites and nitrates. Good pH.
 
No nitrite spike. :shake: I keep waiting for one......I don't think it's going to happen. I thought about getting a couple of damsels to help with the cycling. I thought by now (two weeks after I put the live sand activator in) I would have had a nitrite spike.

Suggestions????? :scratch:
 
Usually will take more than 2 weeks. The cycle is really hard on the fish and I would reccomend against using fish to cycle but since you already hav fish dont add any more and be ready to do alot of water changes. Don't add anything else until ammonia and Nitrite are both 0.
 
I was told the tank would be ready in two weeks. I guess w/o a nitrite spike that were be incorrect. Do you have an idea how long it will take?

Since I have only base rock with the activator in the tank, should I purchase a couple of pieces of cured LR to help things along?
 
cured live rock would help greatly and would reduce the stress on the fish as it would essentially cycle your tank depending on how much you purchase.

I have never seen a cycle take place in 2 weeks.
 
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