Water in the bottom of my 30 gallon tank

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Xenocrab
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Water in the bottom of my 30 gallon tank

Post by Xenocrab » Sat Dec 22, 2018 1:55 pm

I was changing the location of my water dishes and as I was digging down, I noticed that the bottom 2 inches of substrate is muddy. Way too much water has accumulated in the bottom. My humidity doesn't stay as high as it should. Usually in the low to mid 70s so I spray my tank at least twice a day. How do I go about removing this extra water? Should I completely change all the substrate? Just add more eco earth to soak it up? And how can I keep my humidity higher without having to spray 2-4 times a day?

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Re: Water in the bottom of my 30 gallon tank

Post by wodesorel » Sat Dec 22, 2018 4:11 pm

Does it smell at all? If it does, save the top layers that are okay and toss the wet smelly parts at the bottom. If it doesn't smell, I'd add in some dry and mix well to prevent any problems going foward. That is a lot of standing water to try and sop up.
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Re: Water in the bottom of my 30 gallon tank

Post by Xenocrab » Sat Dec 22, 2018 4:17 pm

No smell yet. No mold yet. I'll probably take out as much soggy substrate as I can and put in some fresh to make sure they have enough.

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Re: Water in the bottom of my 30 gallon tank

Post by curlysister » Sat Dec 22, 2018 7:19 pm

Re- humidity. What do you use for heat? What kid of lid do you have? What kind of substrate do you have?
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Re: Water in the bottom of my 30 gallon tank

Post by Xenocrab » Sat Dec 22, 2018 7:41 pm

Heat is 2 ultratherm heaters, one on the back and one on the side. Lid is glass, snug fitting. Substrate is 5 parts play sand to 1 part eco earth.

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Re: Water in the bottom of my 30 gallon tank

Post by Xenocrab » Sat Dec 22, 2018 7:42 pm

Substrate is mixed with dechlorinated fresh water.

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Re: Water in the bottom of my 30 gallon tank

Post by wodesorel » Sat Dec 22, 2018 8:32 pm

Are you sure the hygrometer is reading right? Have you tried it in different spots?
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Re: Water in the bottom of my 30 gallon tank

Post by Xenocrab » Sat Dec 22, 2018 8:46 pm

Good question. I'll have to move it around and see. I'm still trying to figure out how to get my excess water under control before I get mold. It always feels humid in there and the glass is steamed up, but the accurite says 71-75, so I mist a lot. Maybe I'm missing too much

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Re: Water in the bottom of my 30 gallon tank

Post by wodesorel » Sat Dec 22, 2018 9:01 pm

Don't overthink it too much. If it feels clammy and there is condensation (especially if the room is 68+ degrees) it's high enough for them.
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Re: Water in the bottom of my 30 gallon tank

Post by Xenocrab » Sat Dec 22, 2018 9:44 pm

Good point. I do have a habit of overthinking! I just want to do the very best for my crabbies!

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Re: Water in the bottom of my 30 gallon tank

Post by RiNiKy506 » Fri Dec 28, 2018 4:24 pm

How’d you make out, Xeno? Did you get everything straightened out?


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Re: Water in the bottom of my 30 gallon tank

Post by Xenocrab » Fri Dec 28, 2018 4:27 pm

We slightly tilted the tank so the water would drain to one side. I scooped out the muddy substrate, added eco earth, a layer of the mud and more eco earth. It absorbed and the problem is solved! And the humidity is fine!

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Re: Water in the bottom of my 30 gallon tank

Post by Xenocrab » Fri Dec 28, 2018 4:34 pm

The 5-1 mix is a little off, but the crabbies will mix it up. I still have what I scooped out to add back in once the substrate settles. It always settles and compacts

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Re: Water in the bottom of my 30 gallon tank

Post by RiNiKy506 » Fri Dec 28, 2018 10:19 pm

Awesome! Glad you got it all fixed up. :)


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