Pools losing water?!

[Hermit199013]

I'm lost here, my 8 cup pool is losing a ton of water. Seems like it isn't normal at all...I'm putting about 16ounces(a water bottle in almost every day. Am I missing something here?

Heat stays around 80-82 degrees..and I'm not even noticing much help keeping my humidity up. Its a 40 gallon long.

What is going on? I don't see any splashing from bubbles either

[Hermiesguardian]

I'm lost here, my 8 cup pool is losing a ton of water. Seems like it isn't normal at all...I'm putting about 16ounces(a water bottle in almost every day. Am I missing something here?

Heat stays around 80-82 degrees..and I'm not even noticing much help keeping my humidity up. Its a 40 gallon long.

What is going on? I don't see any splashing from bubbles either

Sounds like the pool has a leak. You need to check that asap in case of flooding.

[Hermit199013]

No leaks in pool I have second container underneath of it and was completely dry.

I turned off my air pump and so far it's not losing very much..gonna keep eye out for few days. If turns out to be that gonna try to find a controller to turn down my pump

[Motörcrab]

If you were loosing that much water be sure to make sure your substrate is not flooded. That can turn ugly very quickly.

In line air regulators will be around $3 at Wal Mart for two of them.

I like to put my airstones under the crab mesh at the bottom of the pools too. It helps to spread the bubbles and helps reduce over spray.

Be sure that you aren't using netting or other cloth like material for the crabs to climb in or near your pools. Water will soak into the material and move into the substrate without seeing any real signs.

Also check out my water cabana thread. I basically added roofs on top of my pools to catch even more of the misting and also added a tray under them to collect more water. I have been using that set up for at least 2 months and I haven't had and issues so far. They aren't the easiest to do water changes with but they really help with water build up. Plus if you decorate them, they give additional climbing areas!

[Hermit199013]

If you were loosing that much water be sure to make sure your substrate is not flooded. That can turn ugly very quickly.

In line air regulators will be around $3 at Wal Mart for two of them.

I like to put my airstones under the crab mesh at the bottom of the pools too. It helps to spread the bubbles and helps reduce over spray.

Be sure that you aren't using netting or other cloth like material for the crabs to climb in or near your pools. Water will soak into the material and move into the substrate without seeing any real signs.

Also check out my water cabana thread. I basically added roofs on top of my pools to catch even more of the misting and also added a tray under them to collect more water. I have been using that set up for at least 2 months and I haven't had and issues so far. They aren't the easiest to do water changes with but they really help with water build up. Plus if you decorate them, they give additional climbing areas!

Wow! I didnt even think of that. I had jute rope braided together and was using that as a way in and out! Finally found some craft mesh to use now so gonna redo the entire thing this weekend.

And yes I love your cabana idea and do plan on working that in somehow as well just haven't really figured out how to make the roof yet. Will the same size container work for that?

After just getting home and checked water level it hasn't dropped any in almost 2 days I think. I believe the main issue was definitely the overspray.

[Hermit199013]

Also how is the best way to check for flooding? I hear about the knife/straw truck around edge of tank is this best? My largest crab is down under again and I really don't wanna disturb or hurt him.

[Oliviet#1]

All you really do is check around each side of the tank but sliding a knife against the glass and in the sand and you wiggle it around a bit. It should leave a gap and if the sand is flooded water will probably fill the gap in a few seconds. I think with a straw (you would need a strong one) you just stick it in the sand and wiggle it around to see if it is soggy. The knife one will probably be better if you are concerned about disturbing your hermit crab. I checked my tank a while ago with the knife trick but I should probably check again soon. If it is flooded there is a higher chance of a bacteria bloom and that could also put your molting crab in danger, so you probably want to check for flooding.

[Motörcrab]

Great! It sounds like you found the problem.

Wiggling a butter knife down along the glass works the best for flooding as Oliviet stated. I believe as long as there is no hole near where you are poking down you should be safe. The water will pool up and be a similar color to your substrate when you pull the knife out. It only takes less than a minute for water to fill the hole. I like to check two or three areas along the glass to be safe.

For the cabana toppers I used the same size containers to make the tops. I just drilled small holes on the tops and bottoms to zip tie them together. I imagine you could try and find a slightly smaller tub to fit inside the bottom securely to avoid using zip ties.

[Hermit199013]

All you really do is check around each side of the tank but sliding a knife against the glass and in the sand and you wiggle it around a bit. It should leave a gap and if the sand is flooded water will probably fill the gap in a few seconds. I think with a straw (you would need a strong one) you just stick it in the sand and wiggle it around to see if it is soggy. The knife one will probably be better if you are concerned about disturbing your hermit crab. I checked my tank a while ago with the knife trick but I should probably check again soon. If it is flooded there is a higher chance of a bacteria bloom and that could also put your molting crab in danger, so you probably want to check for flooding.

Thank you very much!! I will check this asap!

[Hermit199013]

Great! It sounds like you found the problem.

Wiggling a butter knife down along the glass works the best for flooding as Oliviet stated. I believe as long as there is no hole near where you are poking down you should be safe. The water will pool up and be a similar color to your substrate when you pull the knife out. It only takes less than a minute for water to fill the hole. I like to check two or three areas along the glass to be safe.

For the cabana toppers I used the same size containers to make the tops. I just drilled small holes on the tops and bottoms to zip tie them together. I imagine you could try and find a slightly smaller tub to fit inside the bottom securely to avoid using zip ties.

Thanks alot man, and yes it was definitely the pools/air pump causing this. I was shocked tbh because I could hold my hand above the pools and felt nothing. But my pools havent lost anything in 3 days since i shut off the pump. So with that said the cabanas are something I will do ASAP!