Condensation

[Reef Monkey]

I'm noticing a bit of condensation behind my tank and on the floor around my tank. Has anybody else had this problem and if they have what have you done to solve it? Normally I wouldn't be to worried except that I've recently noticed that the inside of my stand keeps getting wet near the bottom as if it is sucking up moisture from the floor. I recently took my whole tank apart to see if there was possibly a leak and there wasn't one. I flipped the stand upside down and there is about 1" of a wet spot almost all the way around the very bottom of my stand. My tank is only 29 gallons so I'm a little confused as to why this is even really a problem.

 

[Krish]

Never had that problem other than when my skimmer when nuts and started pumping pure water out of the collection cup! I too thought I had a leaking tank, but sure enough it was the skimmer. Also, what about a leaking sump?? Just a few thoughts...

 

[Scooterman]

Seems like a problem to me, I've head of people using dehumidifiers to reduce the moisture or run the AC unit to remove the extra moisture. If let alone you will have major mildew & mold problems, aerating out the room may also help.

 

[Damsel13]

Could it be salt creep? Kevin told me to loose the bubbles and that almost cleared up a similar problem. Perhaps some water is escaping from the top of your tank? Just a thought.

 

[DonW]

Id start looking for leaks, there should be no moisture building.

Don

 

[krisfal]

I had a problem with condensation in my stand until I installed two little exhaust fans. I run an AC unit in the room in the summer and just bought a dehumidifier for the winter, the tanks have definately increased the humidity in the house and the windows always had condensation on them in the morning last winter.

However, what you are describing sounds like more than condensation. I would be checking all of the plumbing for slow leaks and also check if any wires, tubing etc could be wicking water out of the tank. Also like Deb mentioned, check for bubbles. When I raise brine shrimp a lot of water and salt escapes from all those little bubbles rising up and popping.

 

[lizardarm]

Possibly condensation gathering on then running down the wall into floor/carpet. A wood stand will wick up moisture off of the floor. As Kris said, putting a clip fan or something to exhaust air out of the stand, and/or a fan blowing behind the stand along the wall may help.
-chris

 

[Reef Monkey]

I don't have a sump. The wet spot kept appearing in the same corner of the stand. It's crazy because I've searched all around my tank no leaks, not even any wet spots on the underside of the bottom of the tank. There is about 2 feet of dry wood on both sides in between the wet spot and the bottom of the tank. I'm think of putting my tank stand on casters, does anybody know of anybody that's done this before? Is this a bad idea? I figure that it would help to get the tank stand off of the ground so that it won't soak up any moisture off of the linoleum floor if that is indeed what it's doing and it would allow my tank to be more mobile if I ever decide to move it. Any thoughts?

 

[mmkeeper]

do you have a dog or a cat?

 

[Reef Monkey]

Nope, I have a wife, but I doubt it's her.

 

[DonW]

Nope, I have a wife, but I doubt it's her.

You sure? You can put the tank on cansters depending on its size and stand design.

Don

 

[Reef Monkey]

The tank is a 29 gallon/standard and I'm in the process of building 10 gallon sump inside the stand. Attached is something similar. What do you think as far as casters? What is the best way to reenforce the bottom of the stand where the sump will on top off?

 

[DonW]

The tank is a 29 gallon/standard and I'm in the process of building 10 gallon sump inside the stand. Attached is something similar. What do you think as far as casters? What is the best way to reenforce the bottom of the stand where the sump will on top off?

Need pics of inside of stand.

Don

 

[Reef Monkey]

Here are some. Interested to know your thoughts. The first ones the bottom inside. You can see that notorious wet spot in back corner. The second one is Inside from top.

 

[Reef Monkey]

Here are some more. Whoops a duplicate. The one on the right is underside of very bottom below the floor of the tank.

 

[Reef Monkey]

Whoops duplicated one when I meant to send this one.

 

[Scooterman]

That looks more like you have a drip! How high is the water level to the top of the tank?
Everything looks nice though, If that is press-board wood inside the stand, I'd seal it completely, water will ruin it eventually.
Find that leak LOL, set the tank up where you can observe it throughly.

 

[DonW]

You cant put that on casters. It looks like it needs to be replaced. If any of that partical board is swolen then I'd just get another stand.

Don

 

[Ed Hahn]

Nope, I have a wife, but I doubt it's her.

I think its the wife. You know those Kirkman women. :lol: