Evaporation is nothing more than the water evaporating. Answering the question of how to stop water evaporation from the aquarium, there is only one answer: you can’t do it.
It’s a process that generally cannot be stopped. It’s important to realize that the only thing you can do is take actions to reduce water evaporation.
The most important element is, of course, regularly adding water to the tank to replace the evaporated one.
Most fish tanks lose about approximately half a gallon of water per day.
Water must be added regularly to the aquarium so it’s good to have prepared water ready for any refills.
How quickly your fish tank water will evaporate depends on many factors. In this article I will describe what affects water evaporation and what to do to reduce it.
Why does water evaporate from the aquarium?
Evaporation is a completely normal process, and it cannot be prevented. However, we can slow down the process if we are aware of what causes it.
Factors that influence the evaporation of water include water temperature, humidity outside the tank, airspeed over the water surface, and moving water surface.
Temperature
Higher temperature increases evaporation in the aquarium. The heat causes water molecules to bounce and collide, moving faster as the heat increases.
This extra energy transforms water from liquid to gas, leading to evaporation.
Lower temperature reduces evaporation, but it should still be suitable for the fish species kept.
Humidity outside the tank
Lower humidity outside the tank leads to faster water evaporation. Dry air increases the evaporation rate.
If the air is warm, it retains more water vapor, slowing down the process.
Of course, we can draw an easy conclusion – evaporation tends to be faster in summer when the temperature is high.
Airspeed over the water surface
The speed at which air flows over the water surface affects evaporation.
Excessive air movement on the surface raises water vapor, making the evaporation process more efficient.
Faster evaporation may occur when you use fans to cool the water surface. In such a situation, air movement over the surface will cause vapor to rise more quickly and more efficient evaporation.
Moving Water Surface
Proper water mixing is essential for oxygen enrichment.
However, you should be borne in mind that the moving surface of the water allows the evaporation process to proceed faster.
Any air stones or accessories that increase water movement through the tank can cause increased evaporation.
How much water evaporation is normal in an aquarium?
As mentioned earlier, he amount of water evaporation varies due to several factors.
It depends on the aquarium’s size, environmental conditions, air temperature, and air movement, Freshwater tanks always evaporate more water than saltwater tanks.
A standard 50-gallon tank will evaporate approximately one gallon of water per day or even more. Therefore, So we’ll need to add just under 4 gallons of water in a week.
How to add more water to the aquarium?
Replacing evaporated water simply means adding fresh water to the tank. However, the water must be adequately prepared as it may contain unnecessary nitrates and phosphates.
The alkalinity and pH of water are also important.
Of course, I’m not talking about regular water changes, which also aim to remove accumulated compounds in the aquarium.
Adding water involves mixing fresh water with the existing water in the aquarium, which can affect water parameters.
It’s best to use reverse osmosis water or water prepared earlier.
If we want to add tap water, we must make sure it’s safe. It’s best if it has been standing for a day or more.
Water temperature is also important. In the case of tropical aquariums, we shouldn’t add cold water directly as it can stress the fish.
We can add water to the aquarium manually or automatically. I probably don’t need to explain how to add water manually.
In such a situation, we can use regular water bottles. You cannot use bottles from any other drinks in this case.
The water should always be prepared beforehand.
However, let me explain a bit more about automatic water pumping. In the case of automatic filling, we can use a special dosing pump.
They work well for pumping small amounts of water into the tank, preventing a rapid drop in water level.
The advantage of dosing pumps is that we don’t have to remember to regularly add water to the tank. With the right settings, the dosing pump does it for us.
How to reduce water evaporation in the aquarium?
As mentioned earlier, we cannot stop evaporation entirely, but we can significantly slow down the process. Here are some proven methods to reduce water evaporation.
Adjust the water temperature
As we know, fish cannot regulate their body temperature, so the surrounding temperature, especially the water temperature, is crucial.
Excessive heat causes evaporation and speeds up the fish’s metabolism, leading to an increase in toxins in the tank.
Although tropical fish prefer high temperatures, they can tolerate a certain temperature range.
In such situations, you can lower the water temperature to the range tolerated by the fish.
Fish feel stressed when the water is too warm, so it’s essential to monitor the temperature and prevent unexpected increases, especially in summer and winter when you heat your homes.
You can learn more about temperature in here.
Adjust the room temperature
I mentioned earlier that the surrounding temperature affects the temperature of your aquarium. You need to maintain temperature outside the tank at the right level.
Of course, it’s better if your room is cooler but not cold. This will prevent water from evaporating too quickly.
Maintaining the proper humidity in the room will also help.
You need to pay attention to whether the tank is near a window or not.
Too much light coming in through the window will cause the water in your aquarium to evaporate faster.
Of course, the most crucial element is the water temperature. It must be comfortable for the fish.
If lowering the room temperature significantly affects the water temperature in the aquarium, you should always consider what’s best for the fish.
You can also try adjusting the tank temperature to match the room temperature.
If you’re using a heater, you can slightly lower the temperature, which should reduce evaporation.
But don’t forget to make sure the lower temperature is tolerated by your fish.
Of course, assuming that the water in the tank is warmer than the room it’s in.
Cover the aquarium
Many fishkeepers have open tanks. In the case of open tanks, water evaporation is very fast.
Additionally, other factors come into play, such as water temperature, air temperature, and air movement above the water surface.
Evaporation is made more difficult if we add a cover to the aquarium. It can be a glass cover or a cover with lighting.
Water that condenses on the inner side of the cover will drip back into the aquarium, slowing down the evaporation process and mimicking the natural process of rain falling on the ground.
Moreover, using a cover helps maintain the proper water temperature in the tank.
It also prevents fish from jumping out because some species have a tendency to do so.
Choose suitable fish species
Often, when choosing fish, we go for them based on their appearance. However, that’s not the best way to build a community.
Some fish species require specific conditions, which can be challenging to maintain.
It’s worth considering the climate in which we live.
Keeping tropical fish will be much easier in a warm climate.
This is related to the slight temperature difference between the water in the tank and the room temperature.
Moreover, if you want to reduce evaporation, you can choose fish that prefer lower temperatures like zebra danio, pearl danio or rosy barb, for example.
You must remember that maintaining a lower tank temperature in a warm climate will be more difficult.
Check the filter and reduce water movement
It’s worth checking if our filter is working correctly.
Old and clogged filters can cause them to overheat excessively and, as a result, heat up the water too much.
It’s also worth considering whether to invest in a new, more efficient filter.
Water flow is a crucial factor. In case of intense evaporation, reduce water flow.
Shorten lighting time
Light produces heat that increases water evaporation. At night, you turn off the lights, but that doesn’t solve the increased evaporation problem.
In such a situation, you can shorten the lighting time.
Furthermore, the lighting used in the aquarium can overheat.
You can replace bulbs with high-efficiency and energy-efficient ones that provide the right amount of light but do not emit too much heat.
You should also know that LED lights cause more evaporation than regular lighting.
Manipulating light will help you reduce water evaporation.
However, you must remember that if you have a large number of plants in the aquarium, you need to adjust the amount of light to their needs.
In exceptional situations, you can, of course, completely turn off the lights, but it is only a temporary solution and absolutely does not solve the problem of water evaporation.
Test the water
It’s worth testing the water and checking its temperature. Thermometers can sometimes give false water temperatures.
Sometimes the temperature rises without warning, and we don’t see it on the thermometer.
The best solution is to use a thermometer with a probe that allows you to check the water temperature, not just the glass.
Reduce tank size
Of course, in larger tanks, water evaporation will be greater.
We can use a smaller tank only if our fish won’t suffer from it.
Consider a smaller tank only in exceptional situations. You can also reduce the number of your fish or simply not introduce new ones.
Problems caused by water evaporation
Evaporation is an essential part of having an aquarium. Typically, evaporation shouldn’t affect the health of our fish, but it can cause some other problems.
Rising Ammonia Levels
As the water evaporates, the ammonia level increases because there is less water in the tank. The number of fish and the waste they produce remain the same.
However, with less water, there are more nitrite and ammonia particles.
In small amounts, this shouldn’t be a problem, but if we don’t replenish the water in the aquarium quickly enough, it can lead to unnecessary issues with the fish.
Fish are very sensitive to toxic substances in the aquarium, and you can learn more about it in this article.
Low oxygen levels
High temperature not only increases evaporation but also decreases the amount of oxygen in the water. A decrease in oxygen in the aquarium can even lead to the death of your fish.
Pay attention to symptoms such as fish gasping for air at the surface, lethargy, decreased appetite, and rapid opening and closing of gills by the fish.
These symptoms may be related to a reduced oxygen level, usually associated with high water temperature.
Fish stress
Water evaporation itself is not stressful for fish, but the consequences can affect their well-being.
As I mentioned earlier, too low oxygen levels or even too much ammonia can impact their health. Additionally, if water evaporates too quickly and is not replenished, fish will have less space to swim, contributing to stress. Improper water parameters are a major cause of stress in fish. Remember to regularly monitor the parameters of your water.
In conclusion
After reading this article, remember one key point: evaporation is a process that cannot be stopped.
It’s not a problem if water in your aquarium evaporates. If you add water regularly, you don’t have to worry about anything.
By taking certain actions, you can prevent excessive water evaporation.
