To cover or not to cover?

[Fatman]

Currently my 55g is open on top, and Im having to deal with major evaportaion issues. I always heard that covering it helps to eliminate some of that evaporation.

[jerryc]

It will do that. but will not be good for gas exchange
Evaporation to me is good lets me add my calcium aka pickling lime water.
And helps to cool the tank

[Fatman]

Ive been refilling it with R/O water but its about half a gallon a day I'd say. BTW can you explan more about that lime water, my tank is low on calcium and I heard I should have at least 440ppm before I put coral and inverts.

[graphixx]

you can supplement calcium with your top off water. some people use lime water some people use a 2 part supp and some people use kalkwasser. half gallon a day your lucky, between all of my tanks I top off approx 8 gallons a day from evap alone

[Fatman]

you can supplement calcium with your top off water. some people use lime water some people use a 2 part supp and some people use kalkwasser. half gallon a day your lucky, between all of my tanks I top off approx 8 gallons a day from evap alone

What do you recommend as the "best" or more natural approach? Im not wild about all these chemicals and stuff, but if its the norm I guess I'll bite.

[jerryc]

Ive been refilling it with R/O water but its about half a gallon a day I'd say. BTW can you explan more about that lime water, my tank is low on calcium and I heard I should have at least 440ppm before I put coral and inverts.

I use Mrs Wages pickling lime you can get it at the supermarket for cheap
mix about 2 teaspoons to a gallon of water let set over night and drip in to
your tank to replace the evaporation water
i don't use the last 1/2 pint or so it will contain whit little impurities that may be in it
also use a food grade container to mix in i use a 3 gallon water bottle

[Whoyah]

I just wanted to clarify something. A drop in calcium is not tied to evaporation. A drop in calcium shows your system (corals, inverts, coraline algae...) is using calcium. If you add more items that need calcium, your dosing will need to increase to keep up. Your evaporation is tied to things like humidity, air movement across the water, air temp. Your evaporation rate will vary some as these things change. Actually if your system wasn't drawing any calcium, the level of calcium would go higher as the water evaporated.

[jerryc]

I just wanted to clarify something. A drop in calcium is not tied to evaporation. A drop in calcium shows your system (corals, inverts, coraline algae...) is using calcium. If you add more items that need calcium, your dosing will need to increase to keep up. Your evaporation is tied to things like humidity, air movement across the water, air temp. Your evaporation rate will vary some as these things change. Actually if your system wasn't drawing any calcium, the level of calcium would go higher as the water evaporated.

GOOD point Whoyah
I thank fatmans problem with calcium at this time is probable from using a low
calcium salt like IO. That wont hurt anything till he starts adding coral

[davejnz]

I agree with the points made above,evaporation is good,it means your getting good gas exchange for one.As for your low calcium,I think Jerry hit it,IO is low on calcium.I'd like to make a point though,calcium is not the limiting factor in calcification of stoney corals.Its carbonate/bi-carbonate otherwise known as alkalinity.Calcium and alkalinity depletion go hand in hand.These 2 levels need to be balanced.I recommend 9dKH for alkalinity and 425ppm for Calcium.You will need to test both of these levels and get them in balance.Liquid Calcium(CaChl) can be used to raise calcium levels,baking soda can be used to raise you alkalintiy levels.Once you've achieved a balanced alk/calc level then kalkwasser/limewater is excellent at maitaning these 2 levels as well as maintaing your PH.

[Fatman]

Actually I didnt use a salt to mix, I got natural sea water from the ocean (live in Miami), I got the water tested last Friday and they said my Alk was low and Calcium was at 225ppm (low) I only have 5 live rocks (about 5 to 8 lbs each) and 1 hermit crab and 1 chromie while I wait for the tank to cycle. I plan to get the water re-tested this Friday to check if any levels have gone up to high since then (with the introduction of the fish and crab).