Effects of Evaporation?

[wtrujillo]

My wife and I have had our 150 gallon tank set-up for about 7 months now. This will be our first summer with our tank in the house. Over the course of the last couple of weeks I’ve notice an increase in the amount of evaporation in the tank.

We are in the process of purchasing and constructing a new house. With the increase in evaporation I’m beginning to have some concerns about what effects this evaporation will have on our new home? In the new house we are planning to upgrade to a larger tank (240 or 320).

Are their any harmful effects caused by evaporation? Does it effect electronic equipment (TV’s, computers, stereos)? What does it do to the actual structure of the house?

I’m hoping some of you can shed some light on this matter and tell me what steps I can take to overcome any problems caused by evaporation.

[Thunderkat]

If you are here in San Antonio the humidity level is already pretty high in your house. If you are very worried about it you can get at hang on the window type of ac unit that dehumidifies your house. You can also buy a dehumidifier (http://www.delonghi-products.com/delonghi-ddh30-dehumidifier.html) to keep your house dry if you are very worried about your electronics.

[StephenA]

I loose a gallon a day and have never noticed any issues. The Hum in the house is at about 70% most of the time. The tank is 6 feet from all of the electonic stuff in the den.

[::pete::]

I dont think its that much of an issue unless there was actually a salt dust getting on things! I have read where people have had this happen. Your ballast are electronic (maybe) and they are close to the tank.

In the 100 I lost up to 3 gallons a day with no bad effects.

[brewercm]

Shouldn't be any negative effects I could think of. Rememeber that you are just evaporating fresh water not the salt so it shouldn't be any more than your regular humidity levels. Like stated earlier, if you are worried you can put in a dehumidifier.

[jaded]

Your ac is going to keep the humidity level fairly constant... the tank is actually allowed to evaporate water by the dryness of the air in the house. thats why you have to be very carefull when you turn off the ac and open the windows when the weather is nice. As the humidity rised in the air the evaporation level falls in the tank. Then the temp goes up!!!

I really doubt it there would be any issue at all, even with a HUGE tank!!! I have a small electronic thermometer and hyrdometer in the room with my tank and it sets in the 55% to 60% humidity range all the time.

[GaryP]

Once you start running your AC it will pull most of the humidity out of the house as condensate. The evaporation will go up as the humidity in the house goes down so plan on increasing the amount of make up water you will be using. Humidity can only go to 100% and other than mold I don't know that it will cause a problem. Think about the people living in Houston and New Orleans. Water vapor will not effect electronics, just liquid water, otherwise no TV in Houston would work.

[wtrujillo]

Thanks for the help guys. Now i can get the mrs. to chill out about getting mold in the house.

[GaryP]

She probably creates as much humidity as the aquarium. Tell her to quit breathing. OK, maybe not.

[jaded]

thats a great way to put it into perspective Gary!!!

[GaryP]

Talk to one of these guys that are running 4-5 400 watt MH and see if they are having mold problems. I'm sure your evaporation isn't anything like theirs.

[don-n-sa]

I think you would be fine for a tank up to around 500g...but you should be venting into a large space where your ac will pick up the humidity.

The very large tanks need to be ventilated properly or you can ruin your whole house...do a search on RC for MR. 4000. He destroyed his home with his tank and is currently out of the hobby but still active on RC for advice.

[wtrujillo]

I think you would be fine for a tank up to around 500g...but you should be venting into a large space where your ac will pick up the humidity.

The very large tanks need to be ventilated properly or you can ruin your whole house...do a search on RC for MR. 4000. He destroyed his home with his tank and is currently out of the hobby but still active on RC for advice.

i can't imagine talking to the insurance adjuster on that deal. :sick

[eric]

All good points here. But if you're noticing more evaporation in the last few weeks, wait till the dry summer months.

I'd point out, you and your wife are going to be bothered comfort-wise in high humidity before any of your house/electronics are. And running the AC for even a short period of time can do wonders to dehumidify the place. Go outside and watch your condensate (hmmm, or collect. better than RO water discounting the grime in the pipe.)

But if *I* were building a new house with a 2-300 gallon tank in mind, I *would* plan trying to vent tank plume (listen to me and my cooling tower talk) outside. I'm considering it now, just for the reason of removing some of the additional humidity thus giving me more ability to evaporate.

But with that being said, if I were to have a larger tank like that, I'd have a chiller rather than trying to keep the temp down by increased evaporation.

[z28pwr]

I have a 380 gallon aquarium in a 1750 sq ft home and my humidity stays normal as long as the AC is running. If you are concerned about the humidity by a Humidistat from Radio Shack so that you can keep an eye on it. For the most part mine is around 50% with the AC on and 70% with the AC off.