Evaporation rate guesses

[bob carwell]

Could somebody at least give me some very, VERY rough guesses as to on
average how much water I might have to replace due to evaporation for
a pond. I have seen threads and understand it is very complex with
all sorts of equations, variables of relative humidity, amount of
splashing, surface area, etc., etc. but I just need to get a rough
handle on how ambitious to get. Some anecdotal real examples would be
helpful. I'm currently looking at maybe a 10x15x2 ft. pond with
perhaps a run of 75 ft. of water effects (mostly a small stream with a
few little waterfalls) and a recirculating tank below. I'm in Austin,
TX, and the water would get maybe 60 % sun during the day. I am
clueless whether I'm looking at 10 gallons/month or 1000 or whatever..
Thanks.

[UTVOLVET84]

I can't give you an exact number of gallons but I'll share my experience just
to give you a rough idea. I am in Louisville, KY where the summer temps are
high 80's and above with high humidity. My pond is 10' X 16' and 26 inches
deep. There is a waterfall and creekbed. The creekbed measures about 5' wide by
30' long and the whole thing is in full sun.
On those weeks when we have no rain, I will lose maybe 1 inch on water in the
pond. By my caculations, that's about 100 gallons.
Donna

[graham]

I have a 1400 gallon pond with about 140sf of surface area and a 5 foot
water fall. With the heat and humidity we have had the past two weeks I am
replacing about 60 gallons a day with the fall running.



"bob carwell" > wrote in message
m...
> Could somebody at least give me some very, VERY rough guesses as to on
> average how much water I might have to replace due to evaporation for
> a pond. I have seen threads and understand it is very complex with
> all sorts of equations, variables of relative humidity, amount of
> splashing, surface area, etc., etc. but I just need to get a rough
> handle on how ambitious to get. Some anecdotal real examples would be
> helpful. I'm currently looking at maybe a 10x15x2 ft. pond with
> perhaps a run of 75 ft. of water effects (mostly a small stream with a
> few little waterfalls) and a recirculating tank below. I'm in Austin,
> TX, and the water would get maybe 60 % sun during the day. I am
> clueless whether I'm looking at 10 gallons/month or 1000 or whatever..
> Thanks.

[tim chandler]

In a 150 square foot pond, a mere 1" water loss is 12.5 cubic feet of water,
or almost 95 gallons. I have a small 900 gallon pond with about 120 sq. ft
of surface area and a too-splashy waterfall cascading about 3 feet over
rocks which get wetted off to the sides. In the hot summers here in Memphis
I can lose almost 2" a week if I run the falls a lot (about 150 gallons, or
over 20 gallons/day). If I don't run the falls at all, I lose less than 1"
a week. When our power was out for almost 10 days from July 22-31 after the
bad storm here, I lost only about an inch, so that's a rate of about 7-8
gallons/day. The goldfish seemed to be totally unaffected by the stagnant
water, but the algae gained a bit on me...

[jammer]

70 gallon pondlet, north texas, only about 3-4 hrs of sun a day, loses
about 4 gallons a day.




On Sat, 02 Aug 2003 15:17:29 GMT, "graham" >
wrote:

>I have a 1400 gallon pond with about 140sf of surface area and a 5 foot
>water fall. With the heat and humidity we have had the past two weeks I am
>replacing about 60 gallons a day with the fall running.
>
>
>
>"bob carwell" > wrote in message
m...
>> Could somebody at least give me some very, VERY rough guesses as to on
>> average how much water I might have to replace due to evaporation for
>> a pond. I have seen threads and understand it is very complex with
>> all sorts of equations, variables of relative humidity, amount of
>> splashing, surface area, etc., etc. but I just need to get a rough
>> handle on how ambitious to get. Some anecdotal real examples would be
>> helpful. I'm currently looking at maybe a 10x15x2 ft. pond with
>> perhaps a run of 75 ft. of water effects (mostly a small stream with a
>> few little waterfalls) and a recirculating tank below. I'm in Austin,
>> TX, and the water would get maybe 60 % sun during the day. I am
>> clueless whether I'm looking at 10 gallons/month or 1000 or whatever..
>> Thanks.
>

[bob carwell]

(bob carwell) wrote in message >...
> Could somebody at least give me some very, VERY rough guesses as to on
> average how much water I might have to replace due to evaporation for
> a pond. I have seen threads and understand it is very complex with
> all sorts of equations, variables of relative humidity, amount of
> splashing, surface area, etc., etc. but I just need to get a rough
> handle on how ambitious to get. Some anecdotal real examples would be
> helpful. I'm currently looking at maybe a 10x15x2 ft. pond with
> perhaps a run of 75 ft. of water effects (mostly a small stream with a
> few little waterfalls) and a recirculating tank below. I'm in Austin,
> TX, and the water would get maybe 60 % sun during the day. I am
> clueless whether I'm looking at 10 gallons/month or 1000 or whatever..
> Thanks.

Yikes !!! Thank you all for replying with very valuable
information. Exactly what I was looking for to get me in the
ballpark, and I think I will have to consider scaling back some-
perhaps foregoing the pond with covered reservoir and collection tanks
since surface area appears to be the key or maybe if I stay with a
non-organic pond, some sort of cover on it like a swimming pool cover
during the hot days, placing it all in shade, or being satisfied with
the running water effects of the stream and waterfalls. We're coming
up on a week of 100+ degrees here in Austin. Again, very valuable
data points. Thanks !

[LYNN FORRES]

I'm in New Braunfels, with a 700 gal pond - adding about 30 gallons a day.
Hope that is helpful.


"graham" > wrote in message
. ..
> I have a 1400 gallon pond with about 140sf of surface area and a 5 foot
> water fall. With the heat and humidity we have had the past two weeks I am
> replacing about 60 gallons a day with the fall running.
>
>
>
> "bob carwell" > wrote in message
> m...
> > Could somebody at least give me some very, VERY rough guesses as to on
> > average how much water I might have to replace due to evaporation for
> > a pond. I have seen threads and understand it is very complex with
> > all sorts of equations, variables of relative humidity, amount of
> > splashing, surface area, etc., etc. but I just need to get a rough
> > handle on how ambitious to get. Some anecdotal real examples would be
> > helpful. I'm currently looking at maybe a 10x15x2 ft. pond with
> > perhaps a run of 75 ft. of water effects (mostly a small stream with a
> > few little waterfalls) and a recirculating tank below. I'm in Austin,
> > TX, and the water would get maybe 60 % sun during the day. I am
> > clueless whether I'm looking at 10 gallons/month or 1000 or whatever..
> > Thanks.
>
>

[Niko]

Bob:

I'm in Austin as well and I just built my pond (4x4x2, 150 g) on top
with a smaller (8x4x3, ~400 gallons)on the bottom with about 20' of
stream/waterfalls using a 3900 gph pump. It's kind of scary how much
water evaporates, makes you think you have a leak or something,
hopefully I don't. I lose about 1/2 in. overnight and about another 1"
during the day. I do have a lot of splash though.

Is this too much? I'm still paranoid so I keep checking the overlaps
of the liner.

Nik
--
Niko
------------------------------------------------------------------------
posted via www.GardenBanter.co.uk

[~ jan JJsPond.us]

If it's splash just turn off the water fall and see if that corrects the
problem. On average I'd say, without splash out, 1/4" is normal in 24
hours, ime. ~ jan

On Thu, 07 Aug 2003 15:25:10 GMT, Niko >
wrote:

>Bob:
>
>I'm in Austin as well and I just built my pond (4x4x2, 150 g) on top
>with a smaller (8x4x3, ~400 gallons)on the bottom with about 20' of
>stream/waterfalls using a 3900 gph pump. It's kind of scary how much
>water evaporates, makes you think you have a leak or something,
>hopefully I don't. I lose about 1/2 in. overnight and about another 1"
>during the day. I do have a lot of splash though.
>
>Is this too much? I'm still paranoid so I keep checking the overlaps
>of the liner.
>
>Nik


See my ponds and filter design:
http://users.owt.com/jjspond/

~Keep 'em Wet!~
Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a
To e-mail see website

[Dennis Clark]

LYNN FORRES > wrote:

I thought that I'd chip in here on this. We just built a 7000 gallon pond
with two waterfalls, one that splashes a lot (but not much leaves the pond)
with an upper pond of 8x10 ft (more or less) and then a ledge waterfall to
a lower pond that is 13.5' x 14.5'. It appears that I'm losing about an
inch every 3-4 days which is about 172 gallons. If I have any leaks, I'll
never know because the main drain is a three inch pipe that is under the
four foot deep concrete main pond - I'll never see that space!

Does this rate seem reasonable? I'm in Colorado where the average relative
humidity is less than 20% and I have very little cover for the water (it is
new) and the wind is unblocked by trees.

What is the consensus for my losses?

thanks,
DLC

: I'm in New Braunfels, with a 700 gal pond - adding about 30 gallons a day.
: Hope that is helpful.


: "graham" > wrote in message
: . ..
:> I have a 1400 gallon pond with about 140sf of surface area and a 5 foot
:> water fall. With the heat and humidity we have had the past two weeks I am
:> replacing about 60 gallons a day with the fall running.
:>
:>
:>
:> "bob carwell" > wrote in message
:> m...
:> > Could somebody at least give me some very, VERY rough guesses as to on
:> > average how much water I might have to replace due to evaporation for
:> > a pond. I have seen threads and understand it is very complex with
:> > all sorts of equations, variables of relative humidity, amount of
:> > splashing, surface area, etc., etc. but I just need to get a rough
:> > handle on how ambitious to get. Some anecdotal real examples would be
:> > helpful. I'm currently looking at maybe a 10x15x2 ft. pond with
:> > perhaps a run of 75 ft. of water effects (mostly a small stream with a
:> > few little waterfalls) and a recirculating tank below. I'm in Austin,
:> > TX, and the water would get maybe 60 % sun during the day. I am
:> > clueless whether I'm looking at 10 gallons/month or 1000 or whatever..
:> > Thanks.
:>
:>



--
================================================== ==========================
* Dennis Clark www.techtoystoday.com *
* "Programming and Customizing the OOPic Microcontroller" Mcgraw-Hill 2003 *
================================================== ==========================

[groovy]

With my pond the evaporation is due to a constant sea breeze so I
get through about 3 inches a week which is about 120 gallons. This is
without any waterfall. When the wind blows and the sun shines, my
solar fountain just pumps the water straight out of the pond and I get
through 3 inches a day until I do something about it.

"Dennis Clark" > wrote in message
...
> LYNN FORRES > wrote:
>
> I thought that I'd chip in here on this. We just built a 7000 gallon
pond
> with two waterfalls, one that splashes a lot (but not much leaves the
pond)
> with an upper pond of 8x10 ft (more or less) and then a ledge waterfall to
> a lower pond that is 13.5' x 14.5'. It appears that I'm losing about an
> inch every 3-4 days which is about 172 gallons. If I have any leaks, I'll
> never know because the main drain is a three inch pipe that is under the
> four foot deep concrete main pond - I'll never see that space!
>
> Does this rate seem reasonable? I'm in Colorado where the average
relative
> humidity is less than 20% and I have very little cover for the water (it
is
> new) and the wind is unblocked by trees.
>
> What is the consensus for my losses?
>
> thanks,
> DLC
>
> : I'm in New Braunfels, with a 700 gal pond - adding about 30 gallons a
day.
> : Hope that is helpful.
>
>
> : "graham" > wrote in message
> : . ..
> :> I have a 1400 gallon pond with about 140sf of surface area and a 5 foot
> :> water fall. With the heat and humidity we have had the past two weeks I
am
> :> replacing about 60 gallons a day with the fall running.
> :>
> :>
> :>
> :> "bob carwell" > wrote in message
> :> m...
> :> > Could somebody at least give me some very, VERY rough guesses as to
on
> :> > average how much water I might have to replace due to evaporation for
> :> > a pond. I have seen threads and understand it is very complex with
> :> > all sorts of equations, variables of relative humidity, amount of
> :> > splashing, surface area, etc., etc. but I just need to get a rough
> :> > handle on how ambitious to get. Some anecdotal real examples would
be
> :> > helpful. I'm currently looking at maybe a 10x15x2 ft. pond with
> :> > perhaps a run of 75 ft. of water effects (mostly a small stream with
a
> :> > few little waterfalls) and a recirculating tank below. I'm in
Austin,
> :> > TX, and the water would get maybe 60 % sun during the day. I am
> :> > clueless whether I'm looking at 10 gallons/month or 1000 or
whatever..
> :> > Thanks.
> :>
> :>
>
>
>
> --
>
================================================== ==========================
> * Dennis Clark www.techtoystoday.com
*
> * "Programming and Customizing the OOPic Microcontroller" Mcgraw-Hill 2003
*
>
================================================== ==========================

[~ jan JJsPond.us]

>> I thought that I'd chip in here on this. We just built a 7000 gallon pond
>> with two waterfalls, one that splashes a lot (but not much leaves the pond)
>> with an upper pond of 8x10 ft (more or less) and then a ledge waterfall to
>> a lower pond that is 13.5' x 14.5'. It appears that I'm losing about an
>> inch every 3-4 days which is about 172 gallons.
>>
>> Does this rate seem reasonable?

Yes, that sounds very reasonable. ~ jan

Zone 7a from the desert of E.Washington where our humidity is also very
low.
See my ponds thru the seasons and/or my filter design:
http://users.owt.com/jjspond/

~Keep 'em Defrosted~
Tri-Cities, WA Zone 7a
To e-mail see website

[tim chandler]

Yes, sounds reasonable. Here in Memphis, TN with about 120 square feet pond
area, I lose about an inch a week, up to 1 1/2" per week during hot weather
and running the splashy 3 ft. ledgy waterfall, or about 70-80 gallons to 120
or so. You might try not running the waterfalls for a bit and see how much
difference, if any, that makes.

Tim

"Dennis Clark" > wrote in message
...
> LYNN FORRES > wrote:
>
> I thought that I'd chip in here on this. We just built a 7000 gallon
pond
> with two waterfalls, one that splashes a lot (but not much leaves the
pond)
> with an upper pond of 8x10 ft (more or less) and then a ledge waterfall to
> a lower pond that is 13.5' x 14.5'. It appears that I'm losing about an
> inch every 3-4 days which is about 172 gallons. If I have any leaks, I'll
> never know because the main drain is a three inch pipe that is under the
> four foot deep concrete main pond - I'll never see that space!
>
> Does this rate seem reasonable? I'm in Colorado where the average
relative
> humidity is less than 20% and I have very little cover for the water (it
is
> new) and the wind is unblocked by trees.
>
> What is the consensus for my losses?
>
> thanks,
> DLC
>
> : I'm in New Braunfels, with a 700 gal pond - adding about 30 gallons a
day.
> : Hope that is helpful.
>
>
> : "graham" > wrote in message
> : . ..
> :> I have a 1400 gallon pond with about 140sf of surface area and a 5 foot
> :> water fall. With the heat and humidity we have had the past two weeks I
am
> :> replacing about 60 gallons a day with the fall running.
> :>
> :>
> :>
> :> "bob carwell" > wrote in message
> :> m...
> :> > Could somebody at least give me some very, VERY rough guesses as to
on
> :> > average how much water I might have to replace due to evaporation for
> :> > a pond. I have seen threads and understand it is very complex with
> :> > all sorts of equations, variables of relative humidity, amount of
> :> > splashing, surface area, etc., etc. but I just need to get a rough
> :> > handle on how ambitious to get. Some anecdotal real examples would
be
> :> > helpful. I'm currently looking at maybe a 10x15x2 ft. pond with
> :> > perhaps a run of 75 ft. of water effects (mostly a small stream with
a
> :> > few little waterfalls) and a recirculating tank below. I'm in
Austin,
> :> > TX, and the water would get maybe 60 % sun during the day. I am
> :> > clueless whether I'm looking at 10 gallons/month or 1000 or
whatever..
> :> > Thanks.
> :>
> :>
>
>
>
> --
>
================================================== ==========================
> * Dennis Clark www.techtoystoday.com
*
> * "Programming and Customizing the OOPic Microcontroller" Mcgraw-Hill 2003
*
>
================================================== ==========================

[Dennis Clark]

tim chandler > wrote:

Hmm,

Well, it is comforting that I'm apparently not looking for a big leak
anywhere (no doubt there are small ones...). I'd love to be able to
turn off the falls, but I'd have to replumb something to get water back
into the pond, currently, the falls are the exit from the bio filter (ala
skippy's stock tank design.)

thanks all,
DLC

: Yes, sounds reasonable. Here in Memphis, TN with about 120 square feet pond
: area, I lose about an inch a week, up to 1 1/2" per week during hot weather
: and running the splashy 3 ft. ledgy waterfall, or about 70-80 gallons to 120
: or so. You might try not running the waterfalls for a bit and see how much
: difference, if any, that makes.

: Tim

: "Dennis Clark" > wrote in message
: ...
:> LYNN FORRES > wrote:
:>
:> I thought that I'd chip in here on this. We just built a 7000 gallon
: pond
:> with two waterfalls, one that splashes a lot (but not much leaves the
: pond)
:> with an upper pond of 8x10 ft (more or less) and then a ledge waterfall to
:> a lower pond that is 13.5' x 14.5'. It appears that I'm losing about an
:> inch every 3-4 days which is about 172 gallons. If I have any leaks, I'll
:> never know because the main drain is a three inch pipe that is under the
:> four foot deep concrete main pond - I'll never see that space!
:>
:> Does this rate seem reasonable? I'm in Colorado where the average
: relative
:> humidity is less than 20% and I have very little cover for the water (it
: is
:> new) and the wind is unblocked by trees.
:>
:> What is the consensus for my losses?
:>
:> thanks,
:> DLC
:>
:> : I'm in New Braunfels, with a 700 gal pond - adding about 30 gallons a
: day.
:> : Hope that is helpful.
:>
:>
:> : "graham" > wrote in message
:> : . ..
:> :> I have a 1400 gallon pond with about 140sf of surface area and a 5 foot
:> :> water fall. With the heat and humidity we have had the past two weeks I
: am
:> :> replacing about 60 gallons a day with the fall running.
:> :>
:> :>
:> :>
:> :> "bob carwell" > wrote in message
:> :> m...
:> :> > Could somebody at least give me some very, VERY rough guesses as to
: on
:> :> > average how much water I might have to replace due to evaporation for
:> :> > a pond. I have seen threads and understand it is very complex with
:> :> > all sorts of equations, variables of relative humidity, amount of
:> :> > splashing, surface area, etc., etc. but I just need to get a rough
:> :> > handle on how ambitious to get. Some anecdotal real examples would
: be
:> :> > helpful. I'm currently looking at maybe a 10x15x2 ft. pond with
:> :> > perhaps a run of 75 ft. of water effects (mostly a small stream with
: a
:> :> > few little waterfalls) and a recirculating tank below. I'm in
: Austin,
:> :> > TX, and the water would get maybe 60 % sun during the day. I am
:> :> > clueless whether I'm looking at 10 gallons/month or 1000 or
: whatever..
:> :> > Thanks.
:> :>
:> :>
:>
:>
:>
:> --
:>
: ================================================== ==========================
:> * Dennis Clark www.techtoystoday.com
: *
:> * "Programming and Customizing the OOPic Microcontroller" Mcgraw-Hill 2003
: *
:>
: ================================================== ==========================



--
================================================== ==========================
* Dennis Clark www.techtoystoday.com *
* "Programming and Customizing the OOPic Microcontroller" Mcgraw-Hill 2003 *
================================================== ==========================