Reptile & Amphibian Forums

the problem is that the water just disapears! in our first tank we have a shallow 'pond' but when we put water in, it diapears within hours! there its any plants touching it so no plants are sucking it up and i don't see how it could be evaporating because the tank is very humid.

in the second tank there is a creek flowing throgh it again same situation with the water diapearing with no plants touching the water... the tank recently got a lot of water on the bottom after nearly all the water was out of the creek. so we took it out and filled it with water but it didn't leak! i don't know what to think but it is very fustrating!

please help if you have any suggestions!

could it be the pump tubing?(it goes under the bedding and rocks) i'd hate to have to take the creek out because it looks really good and really makes the tank.

thanks in advance!

k

did you use a false bottom?
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Nate
1.1 alanis tincs
0.0.2 imitators(looking for sens and horn line frogs)
0.0.2 Azureus
0.0.3 green pumilio(On waiting list that puts the waiting in waiting list )

no, there is not a false bottom. i used stones for the bottom

Are the water features touching soil. Soil can wick water away from the pond or creek. Other then that it has to be evaporation or leaks. For leaks I just give them time, if possible, algae and other gunk will block them up. Don't underestimate evaporation. maybe that's why your tank is so humid!

its on and around co-co bedding but the water doesn't touch the bedding. i just don't see how it could evaporate so quickly! within a couple hours.

What are they made out of?

How long does it take to disapear? Secs? Days?
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

they're made out of plexy-glass

the water is gone within a couple hours.

The water feature? or the tank? You really need to give some more information, and picture might help also.

If the water feature if above the water line, then there is a leak.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

the water feature is made of plexi-glass. i'd put up a picture if i could be i don't have a digital camera or anything to do so with. i know there is no leak because the water feature was taken out and filled and no water dripped out anywhere.

there is a tube that carries the water out the 'deep' end and under the ground and carries it out the other end to the higher side of the creek.

The only thing I can offer is that there has to be a leak. Or the pumnp is pumping water away from the feature. Try filling it with the pump off, and see if the water stays.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

How much water is in the whole water feature when it is filled? Did you use a false bottom? How are the features set up?
We really need a little more info.
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Nate
1.1 alanis tincs
0.0.2 imitators(looking for sens and horn line frogs)
0.0.2 Azureus
0.0.3 green pumilio(On waiting list that puts the waiting in waiting list )

The last waterfall that I created had the same problem. I spent over an hour trying to figure it out. Was the soil just sucking it all up? Was it running in a different direction that I hadn't noticed? It turned out that the dried green moss that I had placed around the border was sucking the water up and transferring it to the soil on the other side. Maybe check to see if you are having the same problem. If not there has to be some sort of leak somewhere. The hard part is finding it but once you do you should be able to reposition the rock or wood so that it stops leaking or seal it over with silicone sealant. Good luck,
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Devin
devin@amphibiancare.com
www.amphibiancare.com
3.2 Dendrobates tinctorius 'Dwarf French Guiana'
1.1 Dendrobates tinctorius 'Powder Blue'
5.1 Mantella aurantiaca
2.1 Mantella crocea
1.0 Ceratophrys cranwelli
1.0 Bufo americanus
0.0.1 Salamandra salamandra
1.0 Ambystoma tigrinum
0.1 Chamaeleo calyptratus
0.1 Phelsuma dubia
1.1 Uroplatus ebenaui
0.0.1 Chrysemys scripta
0.0.1 Chrysemys picta belli
1.0 Terrapene carolina triunguis

If you are using a water heater of some type, or the pump you are using is heating your water it can easily evaporate a small pond in a short amount of time.

Nate,
How long have these vivs been set up? Evaporation won't account for this in a short amount of time and a leak ... well, let's face it, would be fairly obvious.

1. If the soil is not saturated and is in contact with the water, then it will soak up water(through capillary action) until it is saturated. Especially if you are using a lot of coconut fiber.

2. If the soil is not saturated and you are using a gravel bottom (vice false bottom) ... same as above since the gravel also induces capillary action (a good case for false bottoms - they keep water from saturating your soil).

3. If you are using a false bottom, then your pond must be below the level in your false bottom in order to stay full.

Donn