Wet Dry Filter?

Question

I have a 44 gal satwater tank and wet dry filter. Every 3~4 days, the water level in the filter goes down and start to sucking the air and the tank is all small air bubbles. So every 3~4 days, I have to add saltwater. I don't know what am I doing wrong? Help!!

Answer 1

That sounds to be about normal to me. Any tank on which I have run a wet dry with an over flow box intake has had this problem to one extent or the other. You should however be adding conditioned freshwater to make up for the evaporation as the salt does not go out with the water and by adding saltwater you are steadily increasing your salinity.

Just part of the perils of fish keeping :)

MM

Answer 2

I agree with magicman on this, but wanted to add that you should use a hydrometer to check your salinity before you add the new water. There is a possibility that you may have a slow leak somewhere. If the leak is slow enough, you may not get obvious water, but there may be a salt deposit forming along a corner or plumbing joint. I had this happen to me once!

If the problem is normal evaporation, you'll see an increase in salinity as the water goes down. If it's a leak, the salinity will stay about the same.

You should do a salinity check now, if you've been adding salt water to top off the evaporation - Like MM said, the salt doesn't evaporate, just the water. You don't want this getting too high!